Rapid Export for Maya
"The Autodesk Maya plugin for exporting with a single click"
v1.3

www.RenderHeads.com

1. Introduction
   
   1.1 Overview
   1.2 Features
   1.3 Workflow Features
   
2. Getting Started
   
   2.1 Requirements
   2.2 Installation
   

   2.2.1 Window Installation
   2.2.2 Windows Uninstalling
   2.2.3 Mac Installation
   2.2.4 Mac Uninstalling
   2.2.5 Linux Installation
   2.2.6 Linux Uninstalling
   2.2.7 Network Installation

   2.3 Launching the Plugin
   2.4 Licensing
   

   2.4.1 Licensing Options
   2.4.2 Licensing Notes
   2.4.3 Licensing
   
3. Using REM
   
   3.1 Basics
   

   3.1.1 Setting up the Export
   3.1.2 Exporting
   

   3.2 Other
   3.3 How it Works
   
4. Notes
   
   4.1 Release Notes
   4.2 Thanks
   
5. Support
   

• Export with one click
• Better workflow
• Increased productivity
• Faster turn-around times
• Many UI enhancements to streamline setting up exports
  
• Free for non-commercial use

• Compatible with all Maya export translator plugins
• Automatic installer and uninstaller for Windows
• Supports all major 32 and 64-bit versions of Maya on Windows, Mac and Linux

• Comprehensive documentation
• Comprehensive support

1. Export Settings Stored In Each Scene
   REM saves each scenes export settings within the .MB/.MA file so the settings are never lost and other artists on the team can also export the scenes with a single click.
   
   
2. Smart File Browser
   The file browser doesn't just open up in a random folder/directory.  Instead it uses the information from the last export or the file path that is currently entered into the REM dialog window.
   
   
3. Automatic Path, Filename and Extension
   By default the path of the export is set to the path of the previous export and the name of the Maya scene is used as the export filename.  As you switch through the list of exporters it automatically changes the extension of your filename.
   
   
4. Recent Exports History
   REM has a list of recent exports which you can click on to call up previous export settings.  It also maintains a list of favourite export paths and filenames.
   
   
5. Smart Scene Change Handling
   Whenever the current scene changes (through creating a new scene or loading an existing scene), the REM dialog detects this and updates itself.  For a new scene or a loaded scene without REM information it will popular the dialog with a probable export path based on the last export and the current scene filename.  For a scene with REM information this is loaded and the dialog is updated.
   
   
6. Wrapped Path Display
   REM displays the file path in a wrapping text box so you can more easily see long file paths.
   
   
7. Progress Window
   Unlike Maya, REM creates a progress window when exporting so you can more easily see when an export has completed.
   
   
8. Export Stats
   Just for fun we've included statistics on your exports, such as how many exports you've done and how long they've taken in total so far.

• 32-bit: 6.0, 6.5, 7.0, 8.0, 8.5, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011
  
• 64-bit: 8.0, 8.5, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011
  

• 32-bit Intel: 8.5, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011
• 32-bit PPC: 8.5, 2008
• 64-bit Intel: 2011
  

• 32-bit: 8.0, 8.5, 2008
  
• 64-bit: 8.0, 8.5, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011
  

1. Once the file has downloaded, double-click the installer to launch it.
2. The first screen asks you to select the folder that you would like the plugin to be installed to on your system.
3. Now you can click 'Install', and after a few seconds the plugin will be installed.
4. Launch Maya.
   

1. Decompress the archive to the directory where you want the plugin to live.  This should be somewhere like "~/RapidExportForMaya".
2. Open the file RapidExportForMayaModule.txt, and edit the path at the bottom to be the folder where you've put this plugin in step 1.
   
3. Copy RapidExportForMayaModule.txt into the "modules" folder of Maya, which is usually found in:
   
         /usr/autodesk/maya2008
   
   (The folder may need to be created if it doesn't already exist)
   
   
4. Launch Maya

1. On the server copy over all the Rapid Export for Maya files and make the folder publicly available.
   
   
2. For each client you'll need to create an entry for the plugin in their /modules folder pointing to the plugin location on the server.
   

You may want to then add the shortcuts to your shelf.  The user interface has a button in the settings tab labelled "Add to Shelf" which will add the 3 shortcuts to the current shelf.

The following three button icons are added to the shelf:

This will export the whole scene, but if the scene has not been exported with REM before, the scene options UI is launched.

Export Selection

This will export the selected objects, but if the scene has not been exported with REM before, the scene options UI is launched.

 This will launch the main UI for setting up the scene exports.

• Any company/business using REM.
• Any individual using REM for commercial purposes.

• Licenses are "floating" which means they are not locked to a specific machine.
• Licenses are valid for all versions of Maya on all platforms.
• Single-user and multi-user licenses can be purchased.
• Site licenses can be purchased for entire companies. Please contact us directly to talk about this option.
• Licenses are valid for all future updates to the software up until version 2.
• Licensed users receive maximum priority support.

1. Go to the "License" tab and click "Open License Manager":
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Choose either a Non-Commercial or Commercial license type.  If you choose non-commercial the plugin will be licensed and ready to use:
   
   
   

   
   
3. If you've chosen a commercial license this dialog box will appear:
   
   
   
   
   
4. If you don't already have a license key, you can either click "Get 15-Day Free Trial Key" which will take you to our website where you can claim your free trial key or "Purchase Key" to launch our license store website.  Our online store will automatically generate your license key and send it to your email address.
   
   

   The license key will look something like this:
   
   

   bill@initech.com-(1 user license)-Bill Lumbergh-Initech-Vertex Chameleon 1.x-3ABC-5Q2T-6A0N-2C13-0I0K-5Q2T-6A0N-9Z13-634M-0A4S-5Z1Y-3I3W
   

   
   This whole key must be entered
   

   
   
5. Once you have a key, paste it into the box below.
   
   
6. Click 'OK'.

1. Setting up the Export
2. Exporting

First you must set up your export.  This is generally only done once for each scene, however you can always go back and edit the export settings at any time.

This shelf icon launches the main REM user interface from which you can configure the export settings for the current scene:

- Show REM UI

Now when you save your scene (.MB/.MA) this information will be saved in the scene so you can just export it directly using the step below.


3.1.2 Exporting

You can use the shelf icons to export your scene.

  - Export All

 

  - Export Selection

Alternatively you can just launch the REM UI (Mel command RH_REM) and press either Export All or Export Selection:

4. Notes

• Send us your suggestions.

• Initial Release
  

RenderHeads Details

For further support please contact the developers directly:

Web: www.renderheads.com

Email: contact@renderheads.com

Phone: +447970692070