MayaToAlias export plug-in

User Guide > Translators and Exporters > Translators > Export plug-ins >

MayaToAlias is a Maya plug-in for Windows^® that uses OpenMaya API to get the scene information from Maya, and then exports it using OpenModel to one of the following, depending on which export file format is chosen:

a wire file (version 9.7.3)
IGES file
DXF file

MayaToAlias exports the following from Maya to wire files:

transform nodes
hierarchy
instanced objects
NURBS curves
NURBS surfaces
trimmed surfaces
meshes
cameras

MayaToAlias exports the following from Maya to IGES format:

transform nodes
instanced objects (become copied objects in IGES)
NURBS curves
NURBS surfaces
trimmed surfaces
meshes

MayaToAlias exports the following from Maya to DXF format:

transform nodes
instanced objects (become copied objects in DXF)
NURBS curves
NURBS surfaces
trimmed surfaces (become surfaces and curves in DXF)
meshes

To load the MayaToAlias plug-in

Open Maya and select Window > Settings/Preferences > Plug-in Manager.
Click the loaded check box for the MayaToAlias plug-in.
Now you can export Maya content to wire, IGES, or DXF format through the usual export mechanism.

To export a Maya file to FBX, IGES, or DXF

Select File > Export All or File > Export Selection.
Select a file name and file type, and then click Export All or Export Selection.
FBX, IGESexport, and DXF_FBX are three of the options in the File Type pull-down menu.

Troubleshooting

If you get an error message when using MayatoAlias of the form “Creating surface fails - node [nodename], it is because Studio Tools and Maya have different requirements for a valid NURBS surface. Valid NURBS surfaces in Maya may not be valid in Studio Tools, hence they are not created. Usually the problem can be fixed by changing Open to Periodic in either U or V direction (this can be done by using the Edit NURBS > Open/Close Surfaces tool. Ensure that the Surface direction is set correctly by opening the option box).
If you want to export a Maya mesh to a wire file and this mesh contains a face which has hole(s) in it, you need to triangulate this face first.