Linking extra large builds is possible, with a caveat

I have found, probably not new to some of you, that you *can* indeed link large builds with prims further apart than the 30-32m distances. It requires some work, but can be done.

Here's what I've done and what I've found:

Build to scale you want it at (i.e. if it's going to be 100x100x100, build it that way). Make sure your pieces are all scalable (so you can shrink them proportionally to fit inside the 30-32m area currently the limit)

Select the whole build and shrink to within the linking limit.

Link them.

Stretch back to original size (or larger even) and they maintain the link.

Caveat:

This only works with builds that will *not* be taken into inventory (re-rezzing breaks the links) so it needs to be done on a build you just need to be able to move around easily but if you shrink it again before taking into inventory, the links hold. Just stretch again when put back out.

Shrinking, linking, and expanding could probably be achieved with a script, however I don't have that knowledge. I *do* have someone working on it though so it would almost be a seamless project.



This is proably not as good a system as the rez-foo/faux styles, but might be easier for those of us who are technotards with those types of items. (hey I'm a builder not a scripter!)

A

Some other warnings:

Scale slowly. I've made builds before that were intended to scale from 1/5 scale to full-size and back. If you move too fast when scaling either direction, the build will scale unevenly, and there is NO way to reverse that uneven scaling, short of prim-by-prim reworking and repositioning.

The method you cite only allows exceeding the link distance restriction, and does not allow exceeding the prim count limits (255 prims in one linkset?).

You will probably find that any attempt to rotate the overly-large linkset, once it is scaled up, will unlink it. I've built homes that were very marginal on being within linking limits, and have had then 'fall apart' and become unlinkable when I rotated them to fit better on the parcel.

Builds that must scale are limited as to what size the shortest and longest parts can be. For example, if you build something that is 1/5 scale, and has some parts that are 2M long in any one dimension, that can only be scaled UP by a factor of 5X, at which point that part becomes 10M long in that dimension. If building full-sized and any part is 0.050 M in any dimension, you could only scale it down to 1/5 size, at which point that min dimension part hits 0.010 M, and can shrink no further.

Scaling can be used on a multiple-linkset object, if all parts are selected at once. I have a tavern that is built at 1/5 scale, and consists of three large linksets. I can scale the whole thing between the 1/5 size and the full size, furniture and all, if I scale slowly and carefully.

An interesting discovery but seems like a bit of a mission. Easier to package in rez faux/foo me thinks.

Ceera:

Thanks, I didn't know some of that. I was just excited as a kid at (gift giving holiday of your choice) and wanted to share.

Gorky:

As stated, I'm a techtard and rez-foo/rez-faux foos the faux outta me.

A

A few other things to know. Builds linked in this fashion are prone to the following:

1. They will unlink (sometimes violently) upon crossing sim borders.
   
   
   
2. They will unlink once taken into inventory, and then re-rezzed.
   
   
   
3. They are vulnerable to spontaneous unlinking at any time. Sometimes, this causes them to explode or to implode.

Building this way is not really a good habit to get into, in my opinion.

I would also guess:

Any scripted moving parts, just won't any more.
Rotating the build to 45 degrees will explode the links.

lol nicely said.