Grouping Objects
Based on lack of Google results, I think this is not possible but want to make sure because it would be very useful.
I am using Max Msp 6.1. I understand abstractions (subpatches) and I am using them. However it would still be very useful to group a handful of related objects together which would lock their relative positions.
The easiest way to describe this is Adobe. In Adobe Illustrator if you select several objects and select Object->Group (Command G on Mac). This is exactly what I'm trying to find in Max 6.1. Does it exist?
Maybe bpatcher is what you're looking for? It's not exactly the same as what you are describing in illustrator but it's the closest equivalent I can see. They are like subpatchers, but you can expose the GUI things to the top level patch. You have to edit the copy of the patch externally however.
are you using "encapsulate" too?
There's a kind of "temporary" grouping option. If you select the objects while pressing the cmd key (on mac), you will create a group of objects and you can move them around keeping their relative positions. However, when you deselect it, the group won't be stored.
I think bpatcher is closest to what I was looking for. Thank you.