Preparing for the lessons

Do these steps to ensure the lessons in this chapter work as described:

1. If you have not already done so, download the lesson files from http://www.autodesk.com/maya-tutorials. Copy the Getting Started with Maya 2014 Lesson Files zip file to your local drive and unzip the folder.
2. Create a new project as follows:
   • Select File > Project Window and click the New button.
   • Click the folder icon in the Location field to navigate to the GettingStarted2014LessonData folder so that the project you create will be saved within this folder.
   • Enter Dynamics under Current Project.
   • Click Accept.

   The Dynamics project has now been created.

3. Select File > New Scene to create a new scene before you start each lesson.
4. Select Window > Settings/Preferences > Preferences. Click Time Slider under Categories and make sure the Playback Speed is set to Play every frame. Dynamic animation plays more accurately with this setting.
5. Select the Dynamics menu set. Unless otherwise noted, the directions in this tutorial for making menu selections assume you’ve already selected the Dynamics menu set.
   Note

   Before you perform the lessons in this tutorial, ensure that the Interactive Creation option for primitives is turned off by selecting Create > NURBS Primitives > Interactive Creation and Create > Polygon Primitives > Interactive Creation. That is, ensure a check mark does not appear beside the menu items.

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