unable to move pivot

[Anonymous]

Hy there,

we just figured out a strange problem:

On one machine, we can´t move the pivot point of an object. On another machine it´s no problem.

Does anybody having the same problem?

Config is:
win xp64
MAX 2009 - Design

Cheers and thanks in advance...d.

[Steve_Curley]

Do you mean the actual pivot (in relation to the object) or you can't move the object itself?

No idea on the former, but the latter is a regular occurrance. See this thread for how to cure the problem.

[RobH2]

I'm having the same issue. All of a sudden I cannot move any pivot points. The link that was referenced is dead. I've apparently hit something that is causing the issue. Any ideas?

[Steve_Curley · Accepted solution]

Sorry about the dead link - all forum links broke when the forums were moved to this system a few months back. This is the current link, but the thread refers to moving objects, not just the pivot point though I guess it could have the same root cause.
http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/Autodesk-3ds-Max-3ds-Max-Design/Everything-starts-at-the-center-of-gri...

If that doesn't help, can you post a small example scene showing your problem?

[RobH2]

Thanks Steve. I appreciate it. Looks like we keep the same kind of hours.

Yes, if I don't solve it I'll post a sample. I'll also report back how I solve it to help others.

[RobH2 · Accepted solution]

The link Steve provided is a good one and good to have in your back pocket in case this issue crops up but it was not my issue. The functionality in my file appears to have just stopped working for some reason. Closing and reopening the file did not solve it. I rebooted my machine and that initially didn't solve it either. So, I rebooted again, opened a new file and was in fact able to move the pivot points. I tried a new file earlier before rebooting and it has the same problem. So the 2nd reboot apparently repaired something. Now my original file works normally and I can move pivot points. 

So, from my perspective, rebooting twice solved the issue.

[Steve_Curley]

Well, that's a novel way to fix problems 😉
Quite why doing that should fix anything I don't know but I'm sure glad you sorted it - I probably would not have tried that method 🙂

That other thread (and probably several more like it) are useful reminders NOT to ignore warning prompts in Max, however irritating (or inviting) they may be. To quote (or possibly misquote - it's been a while) a certain game character - "beware of unforeseen consequences".

[RobH2]

Yea, I know. If one reboot doesn't fix an issue then I really begin scratching my head. Not sure why I thought a 2nd one was worth doing but I'm glad it did it. So here's a new quote, "when in doubt, reboot twice."

[Anonymous]

I had this problem so ill share how i solved it, the objects i were trying to move set as bones, to change this use bone tools in the animation tab, scroll down and tick the bone tick box 

[jon.bell]

Hi @RobH2, @Steve_Curley and @Anonymous,

Just reviving this old thread to note that we have an AKN article outlining this issue, and I'm lobbying for the "Make Default" controller button to be removed from the Change Controllers menu (or else come with a big warning asking, "do you REALLY want to do this?!") 🙂

Please let us know if this helps!

[RobH2]

Wow, how much dust was on this old thread, even back to Steve C days? Good to see the AKN about it. I haven't had the issue for, well, 7 or so years now. But if it rears its ugly head we know what to do. 

Is it still an issue in the newer releases? Are you getting reports about it?

[jon.bell]

Hi @RobH2 ,

We'll occasionally see support cases where a new user of Max says, "my objects are frozen and I can't move them!"

In the last case of this, the customer was following a tutorial and the tutorial said to change an object's default XYZ controller to a Path Controller, then click on Make Default. (No!!!)

Hence, the article. 🙂

[RobH2]

Danger Will Robinson.... yep, that can cause some problems. Kidding aside, over the years, I've inadvertently done that, made something the new 'Default' and then spent two days trying to figure out what the heck happened. 

[jon.bell]

Hi @RobH2 ,

Just wanted to put this thread to rest now noting this AKN article again. 🙂

3ds Max objects cannot be moved in the workspace; newly-created objects are also locked at 0,0,0 or ...

Thanks!