The following topics describe some procedures and notes specific to using Maya with macOS X. These topics describe the variations to features and to common procedures when using Maya for macOS X.
Features for macOS X not available for Windows or Linux
The following features are available in macOS X but not Windows or Linux versions of Maya.
- QuickTime integration
- Threaded sound playback in time line during scrubbing
- AppleScript executes Maya MEL commands with results returned. (See also Calling MEL from AppleScript and vice-versaof the MEL and Expressions guide.)
- Full screen mode (See also Enter full screen mode.)
3rd party programs not available for macOS X
- Motion capture drivers
Transferring files between platforms
macOS X files use different line endings than UNIX or Windows files. macOS X programs accommodate this by accepting any line ending, but Windows and UNIX programs require only their own form of line ending—including the UNIX-like programs run from the macOS X Terminal window.
Two UNIX utilities, which you run from the Terminal window, are included in the Maya bin folder to help you easily transfer files from one platform to another: tounix and tomac.
The following table describes what you need to do to transfer files between specific platforms.
| From | To | Requires |
|---|---|---|
|
mayaBinary on OS X |
Any platform |
Put as a binary file using ftp from the Terminal window, the Fetch application in binary mode, or any other macOS binary mechanism; or Use AppleShare IP on the non-Macintosh platform to transfer as a binary file from the macOS. (Using ftp from the non-Macintosh platform corrupts the file.) |
|
mayaBinary on UNIX or Windows |
Maya |
Get as a binary file using ftp from the Terminal window, the Fetch application in binary mode, or any other binary mechanism; or Use AppleShare IP on the nonMacintosh platform to transfer as a binary file from the macOS. (Using ftp from the nonMacintosh platform corrupts the file.) |
|
mayaAscii or mel files on UNIX or Windows |
Maya |
No special handling |
|
Maya mayaAscii or mel files |
Maya 5.0+ on UNIX or Windows |
No special handling |
|
Maya mayaAscii or mel files |
macOS X applications that read text files |
No special handling |
|
Maya mayaAscii or mel files |
macOS X UNIX applications (for example, vi or grep) |
Use the tounix utility. From the Terminal window, enter: tounix scene_file.ma |
|
Maya mayaAscii or mel files |
Maya 3.0 on UNIX or Windows |
a) From the Terminal window, use the tounix utility: tounix scene_file.mathen ftp as an ascii file. or b) Use the interactive Macintosh application Fetch, in ascii transfer mode. |
|
mayaAscii or mel files that have been run through tounix utility |
macOS X applications that read text files |
Use the tomac utility. From the Terminal window, enter: tomac scene_file.ma |
|
mayaAscii or mel files that have been run through tomac utility |
Maya |
No special handling |
|
mayaAscii or mel files that have been run through tounix utility |
Maya |
No special handling |