@Devil: You've misunderstood the question.
You can but it will most likely upset the simulation if you move the position of objects manually like that. The correct way would be to add force to the object to move it, or depending on the set up, use a static joint like the heads in the JV-ODE RagDoll demo. When the crane moves, you can break the static joint, move its position and re-connect it to the chain.
I've seen other ODE simulations using a crane which is moved manually and it does work to an extent, but ODE should be left to control objects by itself or by adding forces.
You can but it will most likely upset the simulation if you move the position of objects manually like that. The correct way would be to add force to the object to move it, or depending on the set up, use a static joint like the heads in the JV-ODE RagDoll demo. When the crane moves, you can break the static joint, move its position and re-connect it to the chain.
I've seen other ODE simulations using a crane which is moved manually and it does work to an extent, but ODE should be left to control objects by itself or by adding forces.