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Home > Supported File Formats > ArchiCAD to Maya


How to convert ArchiCAD (.pln,.pla) to Maya (.ma,.mb)?


PolyTrans|CAD+DCC performs mathematically precise CAD, DCC/Animation, GIS and BIM 3D file conversions into all key downstream 3D packages and file formats. Okino software is used and trusted throughout the world by many tens of thousands of 3D professionals in mission & production critical environments, backed by respectable personal support directly from our core development team.

     

ArchiCAD

ArchiCAD is a popular architectural package developed by Graphisoft Corp.

The recommended way to export 3D data from ArchiCAD and into Okino software is with the special CINEMA 4D Add-On module for the ArchiCAD software. This data can then be imported into Okino software with our dedicated and native CINEMA 4D importer.

Exportable file formats from ArchiCAD are C4D, DXF/DWG, .3ds, Electric Image FACT, U3D, VRML and Wavefront OBJ. Out of these, the U3D and VRML file formats would be acceptable.

     

Maya

Maya is a well known and respected DCC/Animation system which had originally been developed by Alias Research in Canada then purchased by Autodesk in 2006 after Alias went bankrupt.

As is very little understood, no program on this planet can read or write Maya ".ma" (ASCII) or ".mb" (binary) files because the full geometry modifier stack of the Maya software, and its various plugin modules, are needed in order to properly evaluate the file before it can be rendered. This is what forced Okino to write its well known PolyTrans-for-Maya system, which allows for all Okino 3D converters to run within Maya itself. For example, if you want to convert to/from CINEMA 4D (.c4d files) then you would do so entirely inside of Maya.

Due to multi-decades history, Maya users are notorious for using the OBJ file format to convert files to/from other software packages just as 3ds Max users wrongly use the 1985-era .3ds file format. OBJ is an "okay" file format but there are much better or more preferred methods to convert the data.