Hi - I have searched all around and cannot find how to make a single mesh object the only thing selectable, so I can adjust it without grabbing other mesh objects. Is this possible to do? Thanks - Eric
Mark everything lkse as reference. Also if you force component mode instead of rmb cliking i then you can oly operate on those components you explicitly selected for this.
Hi Joojaa- thanks for your reply. How do you mark everything else as a reference?.... newbie here sorry 
Hi First create a new layer in the layers panel. Select all the meshes that you want unclickable. Right click the layer and choose "Add Selected Objects." Then, click the second box next to the layer until a 'R' appears. The objects in the layer will be referenced, and you won't be able to select them. Alternately, 'V' will turn the visibility of these objects off, and i think 'T' makes them semitransparent.
Hope this helps!
Aprilfoolie - thank you , thank you, thank you for the little hair I have left that I didn't pull out yet. Worked perfect. I appreciate yout time. Thanks again - Eric
No problem! As a fellow new user i feel your pain
Ah - were in the same boat. I've been working w/ Maya for about 1 week. 
Talk soon - Eric