Tips and Tools : Open Maya files from a newer version with older versions

To open a Maya file created in a newer version (ex: Maya 2008 file need to open in 8.5) 1. Save the file as a .ma file from the newer version of maya

2. Open the file in a text editor

//Maya ASCII 2008 scene //Name: myFileName.ma //Last modified: Thu, Feb 26, 2009 11:06:07 AM //Codeset: UTF-8 requires maya "2008"; currentUnit -l centimeter -a degree -t film; fileInfo "application" "maya"; fileInfo "product" "Maya Complete 2008"; fileInfo "version" "2008"; fileInfo "cutIdentifier" "200708030025-704171"; fileInfo "osv" "Mac OS X 10.5.6";

3. Replace the version info highlighted above with the older version info (if you don't know what it should look like, save a file as .ma from your older version of maya and open it in a text editor)

//Maya ASCII 8.5 scene //Name: 2008-12-21_Ig2_run04-00-1315_xyzpts-setupscene.csv.ma //Last modified: Thu, Feb 26, 2009 11:06:07 AM //Codeset: UTF-8 requires maya "8.5"; currentUnit -l centimeter -a degree -t film; fileInfo "application" "maya"; fileInfo "product" "Maya Unlimited 8.5"; fileInfo "version" "8.5"; fileInfo "cutIdentifier" "200708030025-704171"; fileInfo "osv" "Mac OS X 10.5.6";

Note: If the file utilizes new features associated with the newer version, it will not work in the older version