I think I am missing something

[heyzeus]

I am using the Maya training that came with the program. I am on lesson 3 "Polygonal Modeling"

In the lesson it request that I do the following:

Select the face center at the top of the cube. Whenever you select a face, tumble the view in several directions to check that you've selected only the desired face.

Select Edit Polygons > Extrude Face.

Maya creates a new face in the same position as the previously selected one.

Here is where I am stumped!

The extrusion manipulator works like a combined Move, Rotate, and Scale Tool, but it modifies the new face rather than the whole object.

Ok...its on the tool bar![img]http://www.highend3d.com/boards/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif[/img]

Or atleast I thought!

---

Drag the blue arrow up a little to extrude the face (see following figure). The blue arrow turns yellow when selected.

What blue arrow? Appearantly the extrusion manipulator tool is on my tool bar. BUT, the gui button is useless! I dont get an instant pop up of arrows, like in the Move, Rotate and Scale tool!

Is there a reason my extrusion manipulator tool isnt showing up? Has anyone else had this problem?

If so, what did you do to fix it?

Thanx in advance

[heyzeus]

After further research... the tool is simply known as the "Manipulator tool". (like you all didn't already know that)

When I select it, nothing happens. I get no display of a tool with arrows under blocks!

Why is my manipulator tool missing? Is this a bug?

[stevesayer]

You're misunderstanding. The Manipulator tool is used to access the hidden manipulators of certain things, like deformers, lights, creation nodes, etc. Try selecting a light in your scene and then selecting the 'Manipulator' tool, you'll see what happens.

The manipulator that you get when you extrude a polygonal face is entirely different, and has nothing to do with the Manipulator tool. It will show up automatically when you perform an Extrude Face action, which you haven't done yet.

Select the face as instructed, then go to Edit Polygons -> Extrude Face. Once you select that, THEN you will see the manipulator you want.

Good luck!

-Steve

[heyzeus]

I have already tried that. It highlights the four sides for the face. BUT, there is no tool that shows up.

The step following states that I need move the blue arrow. There is no blue arrow.

Here are my steps:

Right click> Choose Face
Click on desired face (top face in this instance)
Edit Polygons>Extrude Face

Piece of cake, eh.

Right after the directions say "Edit Polygons>Extrude Face". It says the following:

Maya creates a new face in the same position as the previously selected one. The extrusion manipulator works like a combined Move, Rotate, and Scale Tool, but it modifies the new face rather than the whole object.

I am however able to extrude the object highlighting the "move tool" from the toolbar.

Although, another concern I have is, why wouldn't the directions tell me to highlight the "move tool"?

Upon further scrolling I see this.

"Note that if you deselect the face, the manipulator disappears from the face. To display the manipulator, select the face, select Modify > Transformation Tools > Show Manipulator Tool, then click the polyExtrudeFacen in the Channel Box. "

The face that I supposedly extruded with the move tool, does not show up in the channel box! The only thing that shows up in the channel box is "pCubeShape1"

Also in the example diagram it shows that after I click editpolygons>extrude face. There should be a tool displayed that consist of a blue, green and red arrow. (like the move tool) There is also a blue, green and red square located at the points of the arrows. Also at a 45 degree angle in between the arrows is a line with a light blue ball at the end. The tool appears to be completely surrounded by a light blue circle )which reminds me of the rotate tool)

I am extremely frustrated and confused. I would appreciate someones time in giving me an answer. Maybe I am not understanding what is going on. BUT, I am following these instructions step by step. Why would Maya show show something in "Instant Maya" and it not be what I would see. Everything else up to this point has been quite easy and the diagrams were true to the lesson.

[stevesayer]

Ahhh, I think I've got it.

I suspect that you have turned off History. See that little scrolly icon between the 'Outputs' and the 'Render' button? --If there's a big red X on it, it's been turned off. Click it to toggle it back on.

Having History enabled allows you access to construction nodes like Extrude Face. Again, they are the ones that can be accessed with the Show Manipulator tool. Without history, you still have an extruded face, but you need to reselect it and use the normal Move tool to affect it.

Let me know if this works.

-Steve

[heyzeus]

D'oh!

The lesson requested that I disable history. Yet it never requested that I re enable it.

I was really starting to get frustrated and annoyed with it.

BUT, your suggestion has resolved my issue. As soon as I read your reply I went back and started over with history enabled. This time when I hit extrude face, I had the tool pop up!

Thank you for your help. I can now continue my lessons!

[stevesayer]

You're welcome!

I'm sorry to hear there's such a frustrating oversight in the tutorial.

-Steve