How can I group elements in a subset so it is one object for translating/rotating in another scene?

Brycescaper

I've learned to use subsets to create charecters, and as their clothes, hair, etc. are parented to the main figure, when I merge them into a scene, I can move them all as one group. My problem is I have several tropical islands/scenes (Ultimo Paradiso, Palm Island) and I also have Marabella Hotel and Bora Bora villas, both with furniture and seperete elements. All objects brought into a scene enter at world zero, and I have to move them around in the scene to where I exactly want it. I would like to know how I can group these elements into a single object so when I import a subset into another scene, I can group them then move the entire object around the scene. For example, when I export a scene into Bryce, or even a dressed figure with hair , I select all the items in the group, by drawing a box around it, and hitting the group (G) button. I save it in the preset libraries, and use it in other scenes. I can move and rotate the object to fit where I want it to go in the scene as a single grouped object, everything staying in place as a single object..

In DAZ Studio, whether as a subset or straight from the library the elements are not linked and I have no way of moving the complete Bora Bora Villa, the furniture inside and the pier together as a group like a charecter with parented clothes and hair, around the scene I imported it into in Sudio. I can't take a piece of furniture, have it 'fit to' the Main Bora Bora like I can a shirt to Genesis, then have the furniture stay in place within the villa as I move it around the scene. I have to calculate the new position and add or subtract the X-Z difference individually for each object, and with roomsfull of furniture, moving each item sperately is a huge undertaking. Is there a way to group items in a scene and move or rotate them as a grouped object?

Etheral

You can add stuff to a group so they all translate/rotate together. Select all the items you want in the group and go to "Create > New Group...". You can then move the group around. I'm not sure if there's a way to group them automatically as you import them, but you can make a separate scene with the environment you want and group it there and then import that scene into your current scene and the group heirarchy is preserved. I know some environments are already in a group by default because the author actually knew what they were doing.

Also, kind of a random tip and a bit unrelated, but you can hold down alt and then drag stuff out of the content browser which lets you place stuff down in a specific spot in your scene.

nicstt

You can also add the group, or the items ungrouped to a Null; very useful for rotating.

Brycescaper

Etheral said:

You can add stuff to a group so they all translate/rotate together. Select all the items you want in the group and go to "Create > New Group...". You can then move the group around. I'm not sure if there's a way to group them automatically as you import them, but you can make a separate scene with the environment you want and group it there and then import that scene into your current scene and the group heirarchy is preserved. I know some environments are already in a group by default because the author actually knew what they were doing.

Also, kind of a random tip and a bit unrelated, but you can hold down alt and then drag stuff out of the content browser which lets you place stuff down in a specific spot in your scene.

Really?  That is just about the handiest shortcut I've ever heard of for Studio. As first and foremost a Brycer I'm used to storing models as presets, now I can group and save as a subset and it'll be ready to go out of the box... this'll speed up my projects immensely. Thanks again.