Grouping objects

When you need to move, scale or rotate multiple objects as one unit it is easier if they have been grouped together so that they transform as one unit.

Many primitive objects in Maya are grouped objects. For example, the NURBS cube primitive is comprised of 6 flat squares or planes that have been grouped together as one unit. When the plane objects are grouped together they create a hierarchy.

A hierarchy is a collection of nodes or objects that are connected together to form a unit for some purpose. Hierarchies are useful for describing how the objects within them share similar characteristics or attributes; move, scale, rotate for example.

To group the objects for the column

1. Select the four objects that comprise the column simultaneously by doing one of the following:
   • With your left mouse button, shift-click each object in turn until the four objects are selected in the scene view.
   • With your left mouse button, drag one large bounding box around the column objects in an orthographic view.

   It is important that you do not select any of the templeBase objects as part of your selection. If you accidentally select any of the base objects, deselect them.

2. From the main menu, select Edit > Group >.
3. In the Group Options window, select Edit > Reset Settings and then set the following options:
   • Group Under: Parent

   Leave the other options at their default settings

4. In the Group Options window, click Group.

   Maya groups the objects together in a hierarchy. You will learn more about hierarchies in the steps that follow.