Before you can save your work, you need to set a project in Maya.

A project is a file directory that stores and organizes all of the files (scenes, images, materials, textures, etc.) related to a particular scene. In Maya, you create and work with a variety of file types and formats. The project directory allows you to keep these different file types in their unique subdirectory locations within the project directory.

You can create a new project directory by choosing File > Project > New. Alternatively, you can choose an existing folder to act as the project directory if you have prepared a folder in advance.

For these lessons, the project directory will be the GettingStarted folder that we have created for you. Here, you will find all the template files that you need for the lessons, and you will save your work as you learn. You need to copy the GettingStarted folder to your Maya projects folder, and then you need to set the GettingStarted folder as the project directory in Maya.

To copy and set the GettingStarted folder as your Maya project

1. Navigate to the GettingStarted folder that was installed with your Maya software. The location of this folder depends on the operating system that you are using.

   (Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7, 32 or 64-bit)

   <drive>:\Program Files\Autodesk\Maya2011\GettingStarted

   (Mac OS X)

   /Applications/Autodesk/maya2011/GettingStarted

   (Linux 64-bit)

   /usr/autodesk/maya2011-x64/GettingStarted

2. Copy the GettingStarted folder.
3. Paste the GettingStarted folder in one of the following locations, depending on the operating system that you are using:

   (Windows XP, 32 or 64-bit)

   <drive>:\Documents and Settings\<username>\My Documents\maya\projects

   (Windows Vista or Windows 7, 32 or 64-bit)

   <drive>:\Users\<username>\My Documents\maya\projects

   (Mac OS X)

   /Users/<username>/Documents/maya/projects

   (Linux 64-bit)

   <home directory>/maya/projects

4. In Maya, choose File > Project > Set.
5. Browse for the GettingStarted folder that you pasted in your Maya projects directory in step 3.
6. Select the folder and click OK.