Plug-in Manager

A plug-in is a module that extends Maya’s capabilities. File translators are plug-ins you use to import and export various file formats. You can create or purchase specialty plug-ins to customize Maya for a specific job.

Some features that can be added through plug-ins are:

file translators
tools
objects (nodes)
MEL commands
device drivers

Related topics

The Plug-in Manager identifies which plug-ins are loaded into Maya. If you have a plug-in that you use frequently, you can make sure it is always there. The Plug-in Manager automatically scans all the directories in the plug-in path and lists available plug-in features.

loaded: Turn on loaded to load the plug-in for the current Maya session.
auto load: Turn on auto load to load the plug-in so that the next time you start Maya the plug-in loads automatically.

Information window

To view information about a particular plug-in, you must first load it, then click the i button beside the plug-in.

Maya caches the list of current plug-ins. If you have added a new plug-in, click Refresh to update any changes.

Maya displays the following information for a selected plug-in:

Name: The name of the plug-in. On Linux, plug-ins have the extension .so. On Windows, they have the extension .mll. On Mac OS X, the extension is .lib.
Path: The location of the file. On Linux, the default plug-in location is:

/usr/autodesk/maya2012/bin/plug-ins

On Windows, the default plug-in location is:

drive:\Program Files\Autodesk\Maya2012\bin\plug-ins

On Mac OS X, the default locations are:

/Applications/Autodesk/maya2012/Maya.app/Contents/MacOS/plug-ins

and

/Users/Shared/Autodesk/maya/2012

Maya will check both of these locations for valid plug-ins.
Vendor: The manufacturer of the plug-in.
Plug-in Version: The version number of the plug-in.
For API Version: The version of the Maya API (Application Programmer Interface) the plug-in was compiled for.

Note
You cannot load a plug-in for any version of Maya that predates or post-dates the version it was compiled for. That is, if a plug-in was created for Maya 2011, it will not work with Maya 2012. Service packs are compatible with their major version and vice versa; for example, a plug-in compiled for Maya 2012 works with Maya 2012 Service Pack.
Auto Load: Indicates whether the plug-in has been marked for auto load.
Is Loaded: Indicates whether the plug-in is loaded.
Plug-in Features: Displays a list of the features added by the plug-in (for example, commands, dependency nodes, file translators).

To display additional plug-ins, click the triangle to open the Other Registered Plug-ins section.

List of plug-ins included with Maya

The following is a list of default plug-ins that are included with Maya.

animImportExport.mll

Lets you import or export anim curves to the API clipboard. For more information, see Animation curves in the Maya documentation archive. See Maya documentation archive for more information.

AutodeskPacketFile.mll

Allows Maya to recognize the Autodesk Packet File (.apf) file extension.

cgfxShader.mll

Lets you create hardware shaders. See CgFX shaders.

cleanPerFaceAssignment.mll

Does the following:

Traces material connections.
If multiple connections to one material are found, it combines them.
Changes the assignment order.
Returns a string array that can be executed as a MEL command.

clearcoat.mll

Lets you apply fresnel reflections to shaders. See Clear Coat.

DCExport.mll

Lets you use the Direct Connect exporter. Use this plug-in for the exporting of files.

ddsFloatReader.mll

Reads either half (16-bit) or IEEE 32-bit floating point .dds images. See Display a high dynamic range image.

decomposeMatrix.mll

Converts MMatrix into individual transformation matrix components. By default, solves assuming pivots and pivot translates are 0.

DirectConnect.mll

Enables file compatibility with Autodesk CAD products. Use this plug-in for the importing of files. For more information, see Maya Translators in the Maya documentation archive. See Maya documentation archive for more information.

fbxmaya.mll

Allows Maya to recognize the FBX (.fbx) file extension. For more information, see FBX file translator.

fltTranslator.mll

Enables file compatibility with OpenFlight. For more information, see Maya Open Flight Importer/Exporter in the Maya documentation archive. See Maya documentation archive for more information.

Fur.mll

Enables the Fur menu in the Rendering menu set.

ge2Export.mll

Lets you export scenes in the GE2 file format. For more information, see Game Exchange 2 Translator in the Maya documentation archive. See Maya documentation archive for more information.

hlslShader.mll

Lets you use the HLSL Shader material. For more information, see Work with HLSL shaders.

Iges.mll

Enables file compatibility with IGES. For more information, see IGES Translator plug-in in the Maya documentation archive. See Maya documentation archive for more information.

ik2Bsolver.mll

Enables the 2 bone IK solver. For more information, see IK solvers.

ikSpringSolver.mll

Enables the IK spring solver. For more information, see IK Spring Solver Attributes.

MayaMuscle.mll

Enables the Maya Muscle plug-in and loads the Muscle menu in all menu sets.

MayaToAlias.mll

Uses OpenMaya API to retrieve scene data, then exports using OpenModel. For more information, see MayaToAlias export plug-in in the Maya documentation archive. See Maya documentation archive for more information.

Mayatomr.mll

Lets you access mental ray for maya functionality, including .mi export, batch rendering, preview rendering, network rendering, and shader management.

nearestPointOnMesh.mll

Lets you access the closestPointOnMesh node.

objExport.mll

Allows Maya to export scenes to the Object (.obj) file extension.

OpenEXRLoader.mll

Enables file compatibility with OpenEXR. For more information, see Display a high dynamic range image.

openInventor.mll

Enables file compatibility with Inventor and ivray.

ribExport.mll

Allows Maya to export scenes to the RIBexport (.RIB) format. For more information, see RenderMan (RIB) export plug-in in the Maya documentation archive. See Maya documentation archive for more information.

rotateHelper.mll

Lets you access the rotateHelper node.

rtgExport.mll

Lets you output Maya scene information generically. For more information, see RTG Utility and File Format in the Maya documentation archive. See Maya documentation archive for more information.

stereoCamera.mll

Lets you use the stereoscopic camera type. For more information, see Using a stereoscopic camera.

stlImport.mll

Lets you import STL files.

studioImport.mll

Lets you import Alias^® Studio^® wire files. For more information, see StudioImport Plug-in and Translator in the Maya documentation archive. See Maya documentation archive for more information.

tiffFloatReader.mll

Reads IEEE 32-bit floating point .tif images. For more information, see Display a high dynamic range image.

VectorRender.mll

Enables Maya’s Vector renderer. For more information, see Maya Vector renderer.

vrml2Export.mll

Lets you export scenes to the VRML2 format. For more information, see VRML2 Translator in the Maya documentation archive. See Maya documentation archive for more information.