I want to create a furnished sky box with animated furniture that I can Rez and Derez all set up.

[EventHorizon Darkthorn]

I've tried linking, but when I do this with animated objects, the scripts get all linked and shagged up.  How do I overcome this problem?

[Alwin Alcott]

never link those things but you found that out already

 

when you use the build tool, you can select all items by clicking ( hold it) and moving the cursor over your parcel ( also in the sky)

when all is lighted up (= selected) you can take it into your inventory.

BEFORE re rezzing it, open your building tool

now rez your items back... because you enabled your building tool the items keep selected and you can move all together.

 

If you need to finetune some objects placement, simply close the build tool, and than right click the item itself to move.

 

I am not completely sure, but think this also works with the "area search", right clicking the items there and select

 

[Rolig Loon]

You should either do the job manually by treating the skybox and its contents as a coalesced object, or you should use a scripted tool like Rez Faux that does the same thing.  As Alwin says, you should never link things that contain scripts together unless you are 100% sure that the scripts are compatible.  The only way to be even close to 100% sure it to write all of the scripts yourself.