Linking limits

What is the general rule for linking limits. Sometimes, when I try to link I get the message that they are too far apart. It only happens when I try to link over a certain number of prims.... is it distance or number or what?

You can link upto 255 prims in a single set. Distance depends on size. Larger prims can link at further distances, up to a max of about 30-40M on center. The math gets pretty complicated when there are a lot of pieces at radically different sizes involved, and sometimes links then fail even though they look like they should work. Generally speaking though, the drop-off in link distance is proportionate with prim size, and it's usually pretty easy to predict what will work and what won't, once you get used to it.

The maximum linking distance is 30m (center to center) for 10m big prims. The linking distance gets smaller as the prims get smaller (so for example you can't link 0.5m objects 30m apart). You can cheat that with adjusting position of the linked prims (using "Edit link part" but such links tend to fall apart if you re-rez or copy them (or if the sim reboots).

Limit might be smaller than 40m. I had a 30m square building. When selecting just one pair of opposing walls and the floor, I was getting the too far to link message.

Thank you! That explains why I was having problems linking together a set of particle generators over a 30m span!

Will this go away? Or be expanded? Its extremely worrisome if your mathaphobic like me and dont quite understand all the numerical calculations and so forth. In my experience - i have had a set of 4 prims all 10x10 for walls and the foundation 10x10x10 - it seems when i get to the roof of the building its too far apart - this poses a problem. Will this ever change? Or better explained to the math dummies such as myself.

It's unlikely to go away, since, as I undersrtand it, it's a deliberate handicap designed to prevent abuse, not a technical limitation. The idea is you can't create giant objects that could be used to disrupt neighboring land. It's a pain for many applications, but it does make certain forms of grief impossible. I don't know if I personally agree with the governing philosophy or not, but it doesn't really matter since I don't make the rules. All we can do is work with what we have.

As for your roof, does it really matter if it's linked to the building? It's not like buildings have to move. If it can't be linked, it's really no big deal.

If you're concerned about packageablility, you can bring the entire build, linked or not, into inventory as a single object any time you want. Just open the editor, move to a position where you can see the whole build, and then click-drag a selection box around the build to select everything (It helps, by the way to make sure "Select Only My Objects" is turned on in the Tools menu). Shift-click any stray objects the selection box may have missed to add them to the selection. When you're sure you've got all the pieces selected, right click and select either "Take" or "Take Copy". All the selected objects will then appear in your inventory as one single item. You can then rename that item as you see fit, you can put it in the contents of another object like a vendor for sale, or you can simply keep in inventory until you want to bring it out again. When you rez it, all the pieces will be there, whether they were linked or not.

Linking limits are of the same kind as prim size limits - physics, collision detection and region crossings. So they are unlikely to go away. As for better explanation - I too wish the linking process would be more predictable. Sometimes linking fails without any obvious reason.

To expand on what Chosen Few said... You can also link into groups then create a new object in the center of all the groups. then link each group to the center object. Then you just need to take/position that center object.

As a simple example: Select and link the whole left side of a house. Then select and link the whole right side of the house. Then create a new object at the center of the house. Link the left hand group to the center object. Now link the right hand group to the center object. Now you can take/copy/position just the center object. When done just unlink and delete that center object.

[left side group]----[center object]----[right side group]

This technique is used when you start building with more and more prims and you need to move it around easily.

I so wish I'd known that earlier!