I often want to instance an entire group of objects, and treat them as a single unit. The first method I have tried is to create an instance of a collection. But, unfortunately, when I move the original collection in the global coordinate system it moves the objects in the instanced collection a proportional amount. Even when I select everything in the scene and move it, I get issues.
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The generally accepted approach is to use your original collection as a non-rendered "master" copy of the object group. Don't use it in the scene, and don't move it from its initial position at the origin. It can be placed into a collection of master copies this is not rendered. Here, I've placed a "Tree" collection and a "Bush" collection under a non-rendered "Masters" collection:
I can then uncheck the Masters collection to keep it hidden, checking the individual "Tree" and "Bush" collections only when I want to edit them.
Of course with my main rendered "Collection" selected, I can drag instances of the "Tree" and "Bush" into the scene, either from the Masters or just from other instanced copied in the Collection:
to quickly build a little forest. Only the instanced trees appear here, not the original Masters that are still located at the origin.
If you really want to be able to move your masters away from the origin, for example, if you'd like to space them out so you can see them better, you can do this. The secret is to account for the location adjustment by modifying the Properties > Collection > Instancing > Instance Offset.
For example, I can move my master Tree and Bush collections -1 and +1 units along the X axis respectively:
As long as I adjust the instance offset of the Tree master to match:
while making similar adjustment of X=1m for the Bush master, my original scene of instanced collections will remain unchanged, even though the master collections have moved:
