Model and animation - Import in MA to Maya 6.0 / Export model MB and animation GR2

Prerequisites

• Text editor such as WordPad or Notepad++

• Alias Maya 6.0 - professional program for working with 3D graphics. Official download or get it from Esto100nec1 repository (many thanks to Esto100nec1 for long years of keeping repository with useful software).

Note: At some point Maya 2009 and Maya 6.0 will be installed on the same computer, make sure check this guide to prevent any compatibility issues.

• Gr2 file export plugin for Alias Maya 6.0. It is required for animation export in Granny format.
  • Download from Yandex.ru or Es100nec apps archive, in the second case the plugin files can be found in "3ds Max and Maya Plugins.rar\Export Granny\Maya6\granny_maya6_0.mll" and "3ds Max and Maya Plugins.rar\Export Granny\granny2.dll"
  • Install the plugin by placing the files:
    • "granny2.dll" in "C:\Program Files x86\Alias\Maya 6.0\bin"
    • "granny_maya6_0.mll" in "C:\Program Files x86\Alias\Maya 6.0\bin\plug-ins".
  • Activate the plugin by opening Maya 6.0:
    • Go to "Window" -> "Settings / Preferences" -> "Plug-in Manager..."
    • In the new window, mark the checkboxes opposite to "granny_maya6_0.mll".
    • Restart Maya 6 for the changes to take effect

Make MA files compatible with Maya 6.0

• Open the MA file with a WordPad text editor

• Find line that says "Requires Maya" and change the version from "2009" to "6.0"
• Save the file

Repeat for model and animation files

Creature model - Convert from MA to MB format with Maya 6.0

Import MA model in ​​Maya 6.0

Open Maya 6.0 and import the file with the model in the .MA format, which was previously edited in WordPad.

• go to "File" -> "Import ..."
• In the new window, browse the MA creature model
• select "Import".

Warning will prompt as Maya 6.0 suspects that the file is not really the file version that is being advertised. This should not affect anything important.

• press "OK" on the following "MAYA" error message window.

If all went well, you will see the imported model, as in the image marked with a green checkmark. To check that the model was actually imported, it can be zoomed in by rotating the mouse wheel.

Export ​​Maya 6.0 model to MB format

• go to "File" -> "Export all ..."
• in the new window, set "Files of type" format as "mayaBinary (* .mb)"
• fill "File name" with a convenient file name, that is easily understood
• select "Export"

MB model file is created.

Creature animation - Convert from MA to GR2 format with Maya 6.0

Import MA animation in ​​Maya 6.0

• Open Maya 6.0
• In the blank view, fill the time duration interval, noted in the previous step, in the animation duration box in the bottom of the screen.

Import the file with the animation in the MA format, which was previously edited in WordPad.

• go to "File" -> "Import ..."
• In the new window, browse the MA creature animation
• select "Import".

Warning will prompt as Maya 6.0 suspects that the file is not really the file version that is being advertised. This should not affect anything important.

• select "OK" on the error message window.

Animation is now imported in Maya 6.0.

Export Maya 6.0 animation ​to GR2 format

• go to "File" -> "Export all ..."
• in the new window, set "Files of type" format as "Granny (*. *)"
• fill "File name" with a file name, that is easily understood
• select "Export"

The .gr2 settings menu will appear. Turn off the export of everything that is not related to animation as follows:

• On the left menu, select "Material" and uncheck "Include reference in export" on the right menu.
• On the left menu, select "Meshes" and uncheck "Include reference in export" on the right menu.
• On the left menu, select "Textures" and uncheck "Include reference in export" on the right menu.
• Double click on "Models" to unveil sub-items for the setting.
  • On the left menu, "front" and uncheck "Include reference in export" on the right menu.
  • On the left menu, "persp" and uncheck "Include reference in export" on the right menu.
  • On the left menu, "side" and uncheck "Include reference in export" on the right menu.
  • On the left menu, "top" and uncheck "Include reference in export" on the right menu.
• Select "Export"

GR2 animation file is created.

Final result

At the end of the article two files should be present, one for model in MB format and one for animation in GR2 format, named as follow:

• H7DarkGuard_Model.mb
• H7DarkGuard_Anim_Idle.gr2

Next step: Create creature Geometry and Skeleton files from the MB model file with Heroes V Map editor.