Stop Maya from selecting other objects when in component mode?

[patrick8CTF6]

I know there is a benefit to selecting components and separate objects for constraints, etc.

When modeling and editing curves, it would be amazing if there were a way to prevent Maya from selecting unselecting objects. Especially when the cursor barely misses selecting vert or CV. Maya selects and entirely different object. 

Any way to do this?

[Kahylan]

Hi!

I don't think there is a way to fully stop Maya from selecting different objects when you are in componentselection in a different object. But there are two ways I can think of to atleast partially prevent it.

The first way is to enter the "Select by Component Type" mode in your top toolbar.

This wont fully prevent maya from selecting another object when you missclick, but on the first missclick it will only turn the other object into component mode and not select anything. Also it will prevent objects that don't have components (Joints, Locators, Lights) from being selected. If you just turn on point selection it will not select anything that isn't a curve.

The second way is to use the Isolate Selected view in your viewport.

You select the curve you want to manipulate in object mode and then you click this button in your viewport toolbar.

Then you should only see the curve you want to manipulate and can go into component mode without accidentally selecting other things.

Once you are done you just switch the mode off.

I hope it helps!

[patrick8CTF6]

Thank you for the reply, Kahylan. I use both of those and probably wouldn't even notice an issue if I weren't so accustomed to 3DsMax's sure-fire approach.

From 2008, I feeeeel like I remember a preference setting for this? I don't think it is the "ignore selection priority".

It can get really sticky when you need the other objects visible and they are very close to each other. 

Oddly, it takes 3 ctrl+z's to get the selection back.

Thanks again

[Kahylan]

No, "Ignore selection priority" sadly just means that it doesn't select a joint behind a surface if the surface is in front.

I don't think there is a Preference setting for this. But I'm not sure if there was in earlier versions, since I only used maya 2015+.

Whenever I need to have a second object visible and close by I either turn the second into a live object or I create a layer and put it on reference. Both solutions aren't perfect because they need some additional clicks and need to be reversed after, but it beats having to deselect the second object after a missclick, especially if you need to fit a lot of curves around a mesh.