Plug-in Manager

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.

To open the Plug-in Manager, select Window > Settings/Preferences > Plug-in Manager from the main menu bar.

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

Loaded: When on, the plug-in loads for the current Maya session.
Auto load: When on, the plug-in automatically loads the next time you start Maya.
Information icons: To view information about a particular plug-in, load it, then click the i icon beside the plug-in to open the Plug-in Information window.

Plug-in Information window

This window opens when you click the icon next to a plug-in name in the Plug-In Manager.

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

The following information displays 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/maya2014/bin/plug-ins

On Windows, the default plug-in location is:

drive:\Program Files\Autodesk\Maya<version>\bin\plug-ins

On Mac OS X, the default locations are:

/Applications/Autodesk/maya<version>/Maya.app/Contents/MacOS/plug-ins

and

/Users/Shared/Autodesk/maya/<version>

Maya checks 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 2014. 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.

Plug-in Manager

Plug-in Information window

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