Some commands for managing modifiers are available by right-clicking the modifier stack display. Some options are unavailable if they don't apply to the current modifier. For example, Make Unique is available only if you select an instanced modifier.
The main uses of the right-click menu for the modifier stack are:
You can cut, copy, and paste multiple modifiers at one time. You can also cut and copy discontiguous selections of modifiers.
Collapsing the stack removes modifiers from the object. Collapsing a stack typically converts an object into an editable version of the original object (unless the object was editable to begin with, such as a NURBS model). Collapse To is unavailable unless you select one or more modifiers in the stack. Using Collapse To removes all stack items from the creation parameters to and including the uppermost selected stack item.
Following are suitable reasons to collapse a stack:
After you collapse an object's stack, you can no longer parametrically adjust either its creation parameters or its individual modifiers. Animation tracks that were assigned to such parameters also disappear.
To move one or more modifiers:
To select multiple modifiers, click to select one modifier, then hold down Ctrl and click to select the others. Holding down Shift selects the two modifiers you click and all modifiers in between them.
To copy one or more modifiers:
To select multiple modifiers, click to select one modifier, then hold down Ctrl and click to select the others. Holding down Shift selects the two modifiers you click and all modifiers in between them.
To copy modifiers from one object to another:
To select multiple modifiers, click to select one modifier, then hold down Ctrl and click to select the others. Holding down Shift selects the two modifiers you click and all modifiers in between them.
The modifiers from the first object are pasted above the current selection in the second object. Choose Paste Instanced to make the pasted modifiers instances of those you copied.
Pastes the modifier into the stack. The modifier appears above the currently selected object or modifier, unless it is a world space modifier, in which case it is pasted at the top of the stack.
You can paste a modifier from one object into the stack of a different object.
Paste is unavailable when more than one modifier is selected in the stack.
Pastes an instance of the modifier into the stack. The modifier instance appears above the currently selected object or modifier, unless it is a world space modifier, in which case it is pasted at the top of the stack.
You can paste a modifier instance from one object into the stack of a different object.
Paste Instanced is unavailable when more than one modifier is selected in the stack.
Converts an instanced modifier to a copy that's unique to the current object. This button is unavailable unless the modifier you right-clicked is instanced. See Make Unique.
Collapses a portion of the stack. Collapse To is unavailable unless you select one or more modifiers in the stack. Using Collapse To collapses all stack items from the object itself, up to and including the uppermost selected stack item. If there are modifiers above the uppermost selection, they are not changed.
The resultant object type depends on the uppermost modifier that outputs a specific geometry type, if any. If the stack contains no such modifier, the result is an editable mesh. If the collapsed portion of the stack contains a modifier that outputs a specific geometry type, and no other such modifier is above it, the result is that type of object. For example, if the topmost such collapsed modifier is Edit Poly, the resultant object is Editable Poly.
The resulting stack list shows a single entry: Editable Mesh, unless any modifiers on the stack output a different type of geometry. For example, if the topmost such modifier is Edit Poly, the resultant object is Editable Poly.
When on, collapsing an object's modifier stack or converting it to a different format such as Editable Poly preserves any custom attributes applied to modifiers in the stack.
When on, collapsing an object's modifier stack or converting it to a different format such as Editable Poly preserves any custom attributes applied to a Pick Explicit Track or tracks of modifiers in the stack. Available only when Preserve Custom Attributes (see preceding) is on.
If the object is an instance, converts it to a reference. This option is available only when the base object is an instance.
When you make an instanced object into a reference, a heavy, "derived object" bar appears at the top of the stack. You can select this bar and apply modifiers above it. Modifiers applied above the bar affect the reference object only, and not its parent object.
Gray bar denotes a reference object at the base of the stack