What I want to do is make two or more object move simultaneously in relation to each other. So that I do not need to move each object separately when re-formating my worksurface. Is there a way to connect two or more objects together so that they move in relation to each other?

Thank you

Short answer: No

Long answer: Kinda. You can use subpatches, and enable graph-on-parent if you have gui objects you need to access in those subpatches.

okay. how would I do that?

To create a subpatch named "container" create a new object [pd container]. You can replace "container" with whatever you want your subpatch to be called.

This will open up a new pd window displaying the contents (currently none) of your subpatch. To open the subpatch later on you can click on it in performance mode or right/control click in edit mode and select "open".

To send audio into or out of the subpatch, create [inlet~] or [outlet~] objects.

To send non-audio data into or out of the subpatch, create [inlet] or [outlet] objects.

To enable graph-on-parent control/right click on the subpatch, select properties, and check the box next to graph-on-parent. This will create a red rectangle (resizeable in the properties). Any gui objects within this rectangle will be visible and accessible from the parent patch, all patch cables and non-gui objects will not be displayed in the parent patch.

For more information, check out the subpatch and graph-on-parent sections of the FLOSS manual:

http://en.flossmanuals.net/PureData/

awesome! thank you.

alright, so I created the subpatch, and put all of the elements into it. then I checked graph on parent and resized the rectangle so that all of the elements fit. but nothing happens after that.
Maybe I'm misunderstanding. you said that all of the GUI elements would show up on the parent patch if they're inside the red rectangle in the subpatch? its not happening for me. what am I doing wrong?

Thank you.

It sounds like you are doing this correctly.

To clarify, GUI elements refers to the following:
-number boxes
-sliders
-radio selectors
-symbol boxes
-bangs
-toggles
-vu meters

Other objects and message boxes will not show up in the graph-on-parent window.

It seems that in this part of the forum you can't attach files... so, to view my example patch paste the following into a text document and save it with a .pd extension (instead of .txt)

#N canvas 165 30 450 300 10;
#N canvas 767 24 450 300 subpatch 0;
#X obj 109 286 outlet;
#X floatatom 109 134 5 0 0 0 - - -;
#X obj 147 135 bng 15 250 50 0 empty empty empty 17 7 0 10 -262144
-1 -1;
#X obj 147 159 counter;
#X obj 154 286 outlet;
#X msg 109 112 1000;
#X connect 1 0 0 0;
#X connect 2 0 3 0;
#X connect 3 0 4 0;
#X connect 5 0 1 0;
#X coords 0 -1 1 1 100 100 1 100 100;
#X restore 123 120 pd subpatch;
#X floatatom 123 250 5 0 0 0 - - -;
#X floatatom 216 250 5 0 0 0 - - -;
#X text 22 6 You can change the value in the number box and click on
the bang \, but the message box above the number box and the counter
object below the bang do not show up in the parent patch.;
#X text 22 69 Open the subpatch to see these objects;
#X connect 0 0 1 0;
#X connect 0 1 2 0;

In fact... if an admin is reading this, you could probably move this to a more appropriate section of the forum.

or maybe you mean:

-make a selection (left-click and drag)
-add to a selection (hold shift while you left-click and drag)
-remove an object from the selection (hold shift while you left-click on the object)
-move selection (left-click on of the selected objects and drag, or, use the arrow-keys (add shift for bigger steps)).

mvh

pd123: I tried to create that file with your patch, and pd would not open it.
p.s. I'm running MAC OS 10.5.6(Leopard)

Your text edit software probably saved a hidden text doc extension after the .pd

Just download it from here:

http://www.sendspace.com/file/cymoga

okay I figured it out. I didn't realize that the subpatch window had to be closed in order for it to show up on the main patch

Thank you all for your help!