3ds max 2016 - Multiple object selection by cross/window selection not working

[Anonymous]

Hi,

I have been looking for the solution to this problem for a long time but I couln't find the answer though the problem seems so basic:

When I want to select multiple objects with the mouse with selection window or crossing window it doesn't work. I can only select the objects with the mouse one by one.

Besides that, when I want to select multiple polygons or multiple edges or vertices in sub-object mode with the crossing window, it works well as expected.

Anyone knows what's wrong?

I can only use the object list for multiple selection of objects.

Thank you for your help

[Fadhil_Farook]

Check if the Window/Crossing is turned on? I doubt that this is your problem. See attachment.

[Anonymous]

I have checked this many times, It doesn't work though.

i can only pick one object at a time

[darawork]

There was a bug with the selection window when using 'Auto Window/Crossing by Direction' but it was fixed in a service pack for 2016. I know this is not your problem, but it could be worth it to check if you have all the service packs installed, you should be up to SP4 for 2016.

I have looked in page after page online, and in the help manual but I really can't see what is causing this to happen.

It might even be a graphics driver issue, it could be worth checking if you have the most up-to-date driver installed there too. Hopefully you have a dedicated graphics card and are not just using an Intel on-board GPU chip, because those things are quite frankly disgusting to use Max with, and a graphical anomaly like this could be deduced to using one.

Another few things to check:

http://bestanimationbooks.com/general/top-10-reasons-why-you-can%E2%80%99t-select-your-object-3ds-ma...

[Alfred.DeFlaminis]

Hello @Anonymous,

There are some great suggestions in this thread by some heavy hitters.  If none of them solve your issue, would you be willing to record a Screencast of your issue and post it here, please?  That might be helpful to see the missing parts of the puzzle.  Thanks!

Best Regards,

[Anonymous]

thanks for the answers.

I had already checked the "top-10-reasons-why..." . And it could'nt help for my problem.

I have to say that I am learning 3DS max. So I am for now using a laptop with window 7 64bits. Does it mean I don't have de right equiptment so that max 2016 can work normally? Is it what you call a "just an Intel on-board GPU chip"?

If so, why the selection of multiples polygons in sub-object mode using crossing window with the mouse is it working normally?

besides, sorry for the question,  but where can I check if I have max 2016 SP4 or not?

thank you again for the answers.

[Alfred.DeFlaminis]

Hello @Anonymous,

It's true that the intel on-board GPU's aren't certified with 3ds Max, but those types of problems can usually be mitigated by a different display driver in 3ds Max.  (See my sig.)  I'm not sure it would affect the border crossing but anything is possible.  Would you try a different display mode for me, please?  (DX9, OpenGL, or LegacyD3D for example.)  Also, a screencast might shed some light on the problem if you have time and thanks!

You can check which version of Max you are using via Help->Product Information->About 3ds Max or in the Control Panel ->Programs ->Installed Updates.  If you don't have any service packs installed that may very well be the problem.  You can get the updates via the desktop app, your manage.autodesk.com account page, or from here.  

Best Regards,

[Anonymous]

Hello!

I have some news:

I  first installed the SP4 for max 2016 ( I was only on SP2) but nothing changed for my multiple selection problem. I still could pick only one object at a time and the selection by window/crossing didn't do anything.

then I tried other drivers as you suggested:

1/ the currently installed driver was : "Nitrous direct3D 9", (apparently not working)

2/ with "Nitrous software", I was able to select multiple objects with a window/crossing selection, but I had some bugs in the display

3/ with Legacy Direct 3D, I was able to select multiple objects with a window/crossing selection but I couldn't see no highlight nor bounding box for the selected objects.

4/ with Legacy Open GL, I was able to select multiple objects with a window/crossing selection but I couldn't see no highlight nor bounding box for the selected objects.

So it seems that this is a problem due to the driver.

Can I do something to update my driver? and how?

thank you again for the help.

best regards

[Alfred.DeFlaminis]

Hello @Anonymous,

Based on your last post I think we have successfully identified your graphics card as the source of the problem.  You can update the drivers on Intel's website or through the manufacturer of your machine.  Which GPU do you have?  

My opinion if that fails is that this issue cannot be resolved unless you acquire a graphics card more suitable to 3D graphics.  You can see a list of certified cards in the hardware link in my signature, if you go that route.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Best Regards,

[Anonymous]

Hi,

the graphic card on my Dell latitude E6410 laptop is : Intel HD Graphics (Core i5)  - 1696MB

I have made the updates on Dell's website but this didn't solve the problem.

I'm afraid I will have to deal with this selection problem while I am learning to use Max 2016? 

thanks anyway, I have learned a bit about hardware topics.

best regards

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

I might have something to do with the hit testing which is accelerated by the GPU in 3dsmax.

So what you can try is to type following command in the Maxscript Mini Listener and press enter. It should return 'false'

NitrousGraphicsManager.HardwareHitTestEnabled=false

Be aware that selection in scenes with a large number of objects might become slower.

[Anonymous]

Hi!

It works,that's great!!

after typing:

NitrousGraphicsManager.HardwareHitTestEnabled=false

then I can select multiple objects at a time with the window selection and it works normally.

Is there anything I can do not to have to type it each time I open 3DS Max?

thank you.

best regards

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

You can put a script into the script startup folder. You can find the path under: Main menue->Customize->Configure System path.Use the path as specified by the 'Additional Startup Folder'.

It should be similar to:

C:\Users\[Username]\AppData\Local\Autodesk\3dsMax\2018 - 64bit\ENU\scripts\startup

Just copy the script into this folder and restart 3dsmax.

[Anonymous]

It works perfectly

thank you very much!

Best regards

[Anonymous]

Thanks, it solved my problem