group <node_collection> [name:<string> ] [prefix:<string> ] [select:<boolean> ] Makes a group of the given nodes and returns the group node. You can optionally specify the group name or group name prefix. Not specifying a name or specifying a group name prefix ensures that the group name assigned is unique. Specifying select:true selects the group after it is made.
result = group $box*
if (isvalidnode result) do ...FOR EXAMPLE:
group $box* name:"boxes"--makes a group of all box*'s named "boxes". group selection--groups current selection.
ungroup <group_head_node> -- mapped Ungroups one level of a group node.
FOR EXAMPLE:
ungroup $group001--ungroups group $group001
explodeGroup <group_head_node> -- mapped Ungroups all levels in a group node.
attachNodesToGroup <node_collection> <targetNode> Attaches a node collection to an existing group. Nodes that are already members of a group cannot be attached to another group.
<node_collection> is an array of nodes to be attached to the group of targetNode.
<targetNode> must be a group member or a group head node and cannot be a member of <nodeCollection>.
Available in 3ds Max 2010 and higher.
detachNodesFromGroup <node_collection> Detaches the specified nodes from the groups they belong to.
<node_collection> is an array of nodes that must be detached from their group heads. All members of <nodeCollection> must be open group members.
Available in 3ds Max 2010 and higher.
isGroupHead <node> Returns true if node is group head, false otherwise.
isOpenGroupHead <node> Returns true if <node> is the head of a group, and that group is open.
isGroupMember <node> Returns true if node is in a group, false otherwise.
isOpenGroupMember <node> Returns true if <node> is a member of a group, and that group is open.
setGroupOpen <group_head_node> <boolean> Sets whether the group is set as open or closed. If <boolean> is true , the group is set as open. If <boolean> is false the group is closed.
Use the following methods with care. You can place nodes in states that are impossible to accomplish using the 3ds Max user interface.
setGroupMember <node> <boolean> Sets whether the node is a group member or not. If <boolean> is true , node is set as a group member. If <boolean> is false and the node is a group member, the node is set as not being a group member and is unlinked from the group head.
If you set a node to be a group member using this method, you need to set the node to be a child of a group head. Otherwise, the node name is not shown in the Select By Name dialog.
FOR EXAMPLE:
setGroupHead $dummy001 true append $group003.children $dummy001
setGroupHead <node> <boolean> Sets whether the node is flagged as a group head or not. If <boolean> is true , node is flagged as a group head. If <boolean> is false , the node is set as not being a group head.
If you flag a node as a group head using this method, the node's mesh will not be displayed in the viewports and its properties will not be shown in the Modify panel. If you flag a group head node as not being a group head using this method, you will not be able to Open or Explode the group using the Group menu command.
FOR EXAMPLE:
-- create a set of spheres, group them, and test group head and member of group mySpheres=for i = 1 to 5 collect sphere pos:(random [-100,-100,0] [100,100,0]) group MySpheres name:"MyGroup" isGroupHead $MyGroup-- returns true isGroupMember $sphere001-- returns true -- check to see if group is open. Open group and test member of group isOpenGroupHead $MyGroup-- returns false setGroupOpen $MyGroup true isOpenGroupMember $sphere001-- returns false -- create a new set of spheres, append the group to the set, and then group them all NewSpheres=for i= 1 to 3 collect sphere pos:(random [-100,-100,0] [100,100,0]) append NewSpheres $MyGroup group NewSpheres name:"BiggerGroup" -- open the group head, test member of group, and then close the groups. setGroupOpen $BiggerGroup true isOpenGroupMember $MyGroup setGroupOpen $MyGroup false setGroupOpen $BiggerGroup false