File menu

New Scene

Clears the current scene and starts a new one. Prompts you to save the current scene before clearing it.

Select File > New Scene > to set the New Scene Options.

Open Scene

Opens a saved scene from disk.

Select File > Open Scene > to set the Open Options.

To open a file that was created in an earlier version of Maya, ensure the Ignore Version preference is turned on in the Files/Projects preferences.

Note: When you open a file with File > Open, the working units (mm, degrees, and so on) are changed to those specified in that file. If you want to avoid having the working units changed, use File > Import to load the file.

Save Scene

Saves the scene under its current name.

Select File > Save Scene > to set the Save Scene Options.

Save Scene As

Lets you specify a new name and location for the current scene file.

Select File > Save Scene As > to set the Save Scene As Options.

Increment & Save

Lets you save a version of the current file with a new, incremented name.

By default, the incremented name uses the following format: <root>.0001.mb. For example, if the current file is named MyFile.mb, the first incremented file is named MyFile.0001.mb. See also Save versions of a file.

Archive Scene

Places the current file into a .zip file along with its related dependencies. For a full list of these dependencies, see Archive a scene.

Select File > Archive Scene > to set the Archive Scene Options.

Save Preferences

Saves your preferences to their default location.

Optimize Scene Size

Lets you remove empty, invalid, or unused parts from the scene to reduce its size and complexity, based on the settings in the Optimize Scene Size Options.

A progress bar displays as Maya optimizes the scene. You can interrupt the operation by pressing Esc. You can view a report of all the results of the optimization in the Script Editor.

Select File > Optimize Scene Size > to open these options and specify the types of information to remove when you run File > Optimize Scene Size. You can also perform individual optimizations using the Optimize Now buttons.

Import/Export

Import

Loads data from a scene file into the existing scene.

Select File > Import > to set the Import Options.

Export All

Saves all objects to a new scene file.

Select File > Export All > to set Export All/Export Selection Options.

Export Selection

Saves selected objects to a new scene file.

Select File > Export Selection > to set Export All/Export Selection Options.

Send to Flame

Only available if you have matching versions of Maya and Flame. Sends the contents of the current scene to Flame.

Select File > Send to Flame> to set the Send to Flame Options.

Send to 3ds Max

Only available if you have matching versions of Maya and 3ds Max. Sends the contents of the current scene to 3ds Max.

Select File > Send to 3ds Max> to set the Send to 3ds Max Options.

Send to MotionBuilder

Only available if you have matching versions of Maya and MotionBuilder. Sends the contents of the current scene to MotionBuilder.

Select File > Send to MotionBuilder> to set the Send to MotionBuilder Options.

Send to Mudbox

Only available if you have matching versions of Maya and Mudbox. Sends the contents of the current scene to Mudbox.

Send as New Scene

Opens a new scene in Mudbox, and sends the selected objects. If you have selected objects in the scene, only those objects are sent; otherwise, the entire scene is sent.

This option launches Mudbox if it is not already running. If running, Mudbox prompts you to save to the current scene or cancel.

Update Current Scene

Available only if Mudbox is running. Updates the Mudbox scene by sending the current selection. If no objects are selected, this option sends the same selection that was previously sent.

Add to Current Scene

Available only if Mudbox is running. Sends the current selection to Mudbox. Any selected objects that have already been sent are duplicated in the Mudbox scene.

Select Previously Sent Objects

Selects objects that were previously sent to Mudbox. If you have previously sent multiple objects at the same time, this option selects all of those objects. However, if you have sent multiple objects separately, this option selects only the most recently sent object.

This option is a convenient way to see which objects are already being shared, and to choose which objects to add to the selection.

Send to Unity

Lets you export a scene directly to your Unity project using the FBX file format. See Export a scene to Unity.

All

Saves all objects to a new scene file in the designated Unity project.

Selection

Saves selected objects to a new scene file in the designated Unity project.

Set Unity Project

Lets you browse to select a valid Unity project where you want to send all scenes exported with the other File > Send To Unity options.

Send to Unreal

Lets you export a scene directly to your Unreal project using the FBX file format. See also Export a scene to Unreal.

All

Saves all objects to a new scene file in the designated Unreal project.

Selection

Saves selected objects to a new scene file in the designated Unreal project.

Set Unreal Project

Lets you browse to select a valid Unreal project where you want to send all scenes exported with the other File > Send To Unreal options.

Game Exporter

Opens the Game Exporter, which lets you export game assets efficiently, using the FBX format. See also Export animation clips with Game Exporter, Export a model with Game Exporter.

Adobe(R) After Effects(R) Live Link

Creates a live link.

Export to Offline File

Exports edits made to objects in a scene, such as connected nodes, to a file you specify. You can then apply these edits to other scenes using File > Assign Offline File.

Select File > Export to Offline File > to set the Export to Offline File Options.

Assign Online File

References the edits from the file you select and applies them to the reference node selected in the Outliner or Reference Editor. Maya applies edits by matching each nodename.attribute in the edit file to the file it's being applied to.

For example, you can export a reference edit for pSphere1.translateX in the scene sphere.ma. This edit is saved in the reference file as <main>:sphere_pSphere1.translateX. You can then apply this edit to the scene ball.ma so that ball:pSphere1.translateX is edited.

Select File > Assign Offline File > to set the Assign Offline File Options. See also Assign an offline file.

ATOM

This menu includes the Export Animation, Import Animation, Create ATOM Template options. For more information about these options, see ATOM menu.

References

Create Reference: Imports the contents of a scene, including objects, animation, and shaders, into your currently open scene without importing the files into the scene. The contents that appear in your scene are read or referenced from pre-existing files that remain separate and unopened. You can create a file reference from a Maya (.ma, mb) scene file or an Alembic cache.
Select File > Create Reference > to set Reference Options.

Note: To reference a file that was created in a earlier version of Maya, ensure the Ignore Version preference is turned on in the Files/Projects preferences.
Reference Editor: Opens the Reference Editor.

View

View Image: By default, uses FCheck to view the image you select.

Important: As of Maya 2020, FCheck is no longer supported on macOS. You can select a different default image viewer in the Applications preferences (Windows > Settings/Preferences > Preferences).
View Sequence: By default, uses FCheck to view the sequence of images you select. (See also Specify default media players.)

Important: As of Maya 2020, FCheck is no longer supported on macOS. You can select a different default image viewer in the Applications preferences (Windows > Settings/Preferences > Preferences).

Project

Project Window

Opens the Project window. In the Project Window you can create new Maya projects and edit the file locations and names of existing projects.

Recent

Recent Files

Lists recently saved scene files. Clicking a scene file in this list will load that file, closing the current scene. See also Open recently saved files.

Tip: The list of recently opened files is also available by right-clicking the Open Scene icon on the Status line (toolbar).

Recent Projects

Lists recently opened projects. Selecting a project folder name in this list sets that folder as the current project. See also Organize files into projects.

Tip: You can set how many projects appear in this list in the Files/Projects preferences (Windows > Settings/Preferences > Preferences).

Exit

Exits Maya.

If you have saved your scene immediately before selecting, Maya exits. If you have not recently saved your scene, a message prompts you to save before exiting.