I take a box and add say 10 segments to each face. I convert it to an editable mesh. I then go to the top view and want to select all the polygons ONLY on the top of the box. I take the selection tool and drag a marquee over the top of the box in top view. Heres the problem -it not only selects the faces on top but also faces on the sides of the box. I just want to be able to drag and only select the top wall of the box in top view. I'm pretty sure there is a way but I haven't used it in a while and I forget. I tried the "ignore backfacing" checkbox but it doesn't seem to change anything -thanks for the help

Yea I tried that and it keeps selecting the whole box- I've tried it on and off and everything else. Any other ideas why it's not working? Thanks for the help I really appreciatte it.

Yea I tried it on my other computer in case it was a glitche and it does the same thing -I can't understand it.

you could drag select the top then do a drag select and remove all the faces you don't need.  So I guess it would be top view, drag select then go to front or side and do another drag select and remove from selection to just leave the top faces selected.

Cool -thank you

Did you set your selection tool to ignore backfacing?

I never use Editable Mesh. However....

Editable Poly:
If you were to use Editable Poly you could select 4 polys in the center while holding the CTRL key in the top viewport and then press GROW in the right edit panel until it highlights all the polys of the top of the box only.

That's just one more way to achieve the same thing.

Awesome! -that works great. So what is the difference between editable poly and editable mesh?

Editable mesh is a carry over from older versions of MAX I think.  It's not as versatile as editable poly

Ok -thanks!

Quote - Awesome! -that works great. So what is the difference between editable poly and editable mesh?

Probably the easiest way is to observe what editing capabilities you have by simply looking at what you have available in Edit Poly mode. Much more powerful features.

There's the added Paint Deformation, think of it as a lower version of what you might do with Zbrush or Mudbox. Slicing poly faces. Loop selections. Adding more edges to polys. Bridging polys. Cutting poly faces. You can also do things like select an entire edge (One edge and hit Loop) and remove it and subsequently remove the vertices.

Sincerely it's a hundred times better modeling mode than the rather ancient editable mesh. You really should discover this. If you find yourself gasping outloud and saying OMG that's awesome you've discovered why it's actually FUN in poly mode.