Move Tool

Shows a move manipulator for the selected objects or components.

Move Tool options

Choosing a coordinate system for the Move Tool

Use the Tool Settings window to specify the coordinate system (Move Axis) for the Move Tool.

Object: Moves an object in object space coordinate system. Axis orientation includes rotations on the object itself. If several objects are selected, each object moves the same amount relative to its own object space coordinate system.
Local: Aligns the object to the rotation of the parent object. Movement is constrained to those axes in the local space coordinate system. The object is aligned to the rotation of the parent object and does not include the rotations on the object itself. If several objects are selected, each object moves the same amount relative to its own object space coordinate system.
World: Moves in the world space coordinate system. The object is aligned to the world space axis. This is the default.
Normal: Moves selected vertices or CVs in the U or V direction of the surface. Typically you would use this option for small sets of CVs. The manipulator indicates the surface Normal, U, and V directions.

When you select Normal, the Update [UVN] Triad check box appears. Turned on, this option causes the manipulator orientation to reflect the moved surface rather than the original surface. This is the default. Turned off, the manipulator retains the orientation for the original surface.
Along Rotation Axis: Aligns to the Rotate Tool’s axes on the object. If you have set the Rotate Axis in the object’s Transform Attributes to a different value (which offsets the orientation of the object relative to the orientation of the object's local rotation axis) this attribute will have an affect; otherwise, Along Rotation Axis is the same as Object.
Normal Average: Moves selected vertices or CVs along the average of their combined normals.
Along Live Object Axis: (This setting does not work with Reflection on.) Sets the Move Tool to move objects along the axis of a live object. Most commonly, you would make a construction plane live, but any object can be set live. When you have a live object and select this option, the move arrows of the Move Tool align to the live construction plane. (The geometry of the live object doesn’t matter; the move aligns to the axes of the live object.)
Custom Axis Orientation: Enter the x, y, and z offset of the custom axis in radians.
Set to Point: You can set the Move Tool to move the selected object along a axis defined by selecting a point.

To set a point in order to change the move axis

Select an object.
Click Set to Point.
Select a point in the scene. It can be a point on any object, including the currently selected object.

The axis of the Move Tool changes.

You can see the new axis settings in the three boxes under Custom Axis Orientation.

Set to Edge: You can set the Move Tool to move the selected object along an axis defined by an edge.

To set an edge in order to change the move axis

Select an object.
Click Set to Edge.
Select an edge in the scene. It can be an edge on any object, including the currently selected object.

The axis of the Move Tool changes.

You can see the new axis settings in the three boxes under Custom Axis Orientation.

Set to Face: You can set the Move Tool to move the selected object along an axis defined by a face.

To set a face in order to change the move axis

Select an object.
Click Set to Face
Select a face in the scene. It can be a face on any object, including the currently selected object.

The axis of the Move Tool changes.

You can see the new axis settings in the three boxes under Custom Axis Orientation.

Preserve Child Transform: When on, moving a parent object does not move its children.
Preserve UVs: When this option is selected, moving components in the scene view causes the corresponding UVs to move accordingly in the UV space. The net result is that the texture does not become warped.
Discrete Move: The Discrete Move setting enables the Relative option and lets you specify the amount an object is moved in increments (determined by the Step Size value).
Relative: While Maya moves the object, relative spacing is maintained. Turn this option off if you don’t want to preserve relative spacing while translating.
Step Size: Enter a value to determine the amount an object is moved in increments when the Discrete Move option is selected.
Tweak mode: Allows you to quickly move components, position objects in a scene, and make adjustments to a specific mesh. See Move components with the Tweak mode.
NoteIf you set the active handle of the Show Manipulator tool to a particular axis while in Tweak mode, then the active handle will remain on the same axis even if you select multiple faces. If you want to use Tweak mode with the center handle, then make the center handle the default handle.

Joint Orient Settings

Automatically Orient Joints: When on, joint offset values are automatically updated when you move joints in a skeleton, ensuring that the parent joint points correctly toward the first child joint.

See also Move joints.
Orient Joint to World: When on, all joints you create with the Joint Tool are set to align with the world frame. Each joint’s local axes have the orientation of the world axis, and the other Orient Joint settings are disabled. When off, you can specify the joint alignment using the other Orient Joint settings described below.
Primary Axis: Lets you specify the primary local axis for the joint. This is the axis that points down the bone that extends from this joint.
Tip
If you want a joint to rotate about a particular axis, that axis must not be the Primary Axis. For example, a joint cannot rotate about its local X-axis if its Primary Axis orientation is set to X.
Secondary Axis: Lets you specify which local axis to use as the secondary orientation for the joint. Select one of the two remaining axes. To have Maya determine the Secondary Axis automatically, set to None.
Note
You cannot set the same axis for both the Primary and Secondary orientation. If you set either option to use an axis already specified, Maya automatically switches the other option to use a different axis.
Secondary Axis World Orientation: Lets you set the direction (positive or negative) in which the secondary axis points.

Move Snap Settings

The following settings let you snap to polygon face centers and vertices while translating.

Retain Component Spacing: Turned on by default. This means that while Maya moves the component, relative spacing is maintained. Turn this option off if you don’t want to preserve relative spacing while translating and snapping polygonal components.
Snap to Live Polygon—Face Center or Vertex: These settings let you move and snap to a live polygon’s components (face centers and vertices).

To snap to components on a live polygon

Select the polygon you want to snap to and click the Make Live icon on the Status Line.
Double-click the Move icon from the Tool Box to open the Tool Settings window .
In the Tool Settings window, select a Snap to Live Polygon setting—Face Center or Vertex.
Click the object you want to move and use the center Move manipulator handle to drag. The movement is restrained to the nearest face centers or vertex locations of the live polygon.
Note
The arrow manipulator handles do not restrain movement.