Maya 2011 is not backwards compatible with older versions. When you create a scene in the program, you are not able to open it in older versions of Maya using the default Maya file format. However, several other methods exist that you can use to port your scenes from one version to another.
Maya Default File Format
- Maya has two default file formats: Maya ASCII and Maya Binary. The first has the extension ".ma," while the second has the extension ".mb." While each version of Maya uses these native formats, they do not offer backwards compatibility. If you create a scene in Maya 2011 and save it in either of these formats, Maya 2010 cannot open it. While each format is the same, each version of the program contains features and other elements that are not supported in previous versions.
Ignore Version
- While the program offers no direct backwards compatibility, you can nevertheless attempt to open a file made in a new version of Maya with an older version. To do this, open the file as you normally would, but instead of clicking "OK," click "Options." In the Options dialog box, look for the check box for the "Ignore Version" option. When you check this box, Maya attempts to open the file regardless of the version in which it was created. This is not a perfect solution; in some cases, your scene may be missing elements, such as cameras and lights, and in others, you may receive an error message.
Export Options
- You can get around the backwards compatibility problem by exporting your scene instead of using Maya's native file formats. All versions of Maya feature support for the .obj extension format in their Export menus. When you export your scene as an OBJ file, Maya saves all the geometry info such as vertices and UV coordinates along with the texture data. However, the OBJ format does not have full support for camera and light placement, and you will likely have to place those objects again in the older version of Maya.
FBX Format
- All versions of Maya support the FBX format. This format was developed by AutoDesk to provide support among its products, including Maya and 3D Studio Max. You can use it to port scenes from version to version in Maya. This file format is a better choice than OBJ if you have complex lighting and camera placement in your scene. Obtain FBX support by downloading and installing the FBX plugin to all your versions of Maya.
