[Ernesto]

In case you manage to get rid of the exporting protection, it will export separated parts only.
No matter if your exported object is a group or not, the exporting option will separate it in individual parts, which is very unconvenient.

Ernesto

[tom]

AFAIK, you're exporting from Maya, so now we should move this to Maya section. Thanks.

[Mihnea Balta]

What's this about? :) Maya has a built-in OBJ exporter, what's the link to the Maya plug-in?