how to nudge multiple selected objects?

[Anonymous]

if i select a single object and i'm in transpose mode, W key, the spinners on x y and z at the bottom let me nudge objects but when i have several objects selected the spinners go away, don't know why

also, the arrow keys don't nudge objects like they do in every other 3d program which is annoying

so how do i nudge multiple selected objects? thanks

[10DSpace · Accepted solution]

@Anonymous 

 With multiple objects selected you just have to switch to "Offset Mode" for the transform dialogue by clicking on the icon shown below:

[Anonymous]

great, thanks again

any idea about how to get the same effect as the spinners with the arrow keys? i found a script in another thread but it was old and doesn't seem to work on 2017

[10DSpace]

any idea about how to get the same effect as the spinners with the arrow keys?

Sorry, I do not.   The transform spinners do not appear to be accessible to hotkey via Customize User Interface.  Out of curiosity, can you provide the link to the maxscript you found that doesn't work?

[Anonymous]

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/3ds-max-animation-and-rigging/move-objects-with-the-arrow-keys/td-p/4...

i installed the script and connected to arrow keys but nothing happens for me

[10DSpace]

@Anonymous 

Thanks for posting the link.  Actually, the 12 macroscripts do work for me but there are some caveats that the author describes in his  notes:

-- Known issues:
-- 1. The macros use the currently selected coordinate system in the max toolbar pulldown.  If mode is set to View, nothing will happen and the objects will not move. Use something other than View (not a big deal to me, as I never use View anyway).
-- 2. Moving subobjects in spline objects (ie, spline points or segments, etc) is not supported...

So, if the Reference Coordinate system is not set to "View",  the macros should work (they do for me) .     "World" or "Local"  work fine.  "Screen" will technically trigger movement but since the coordinate axis may be different depending on orientation of the viewport for Screen, the assigned hotkey may trigger movement not in the same direction as it does for "Local" or "World"; this makes "Screen" not a practically useful mode  either in my opinion for these macros.     

Personally, I prefer the Transform spinners which also allow entry of exact offset amounts which I use often enough.   But it is  always interesting to check out other possible workflows and approaches to scripting.