Converting Max into Maya
 

Well I was wondering if there is a simplistic way to convert Max Files into a format maya can read without using plugins for maya since the learning edition does not allow plugins :(
Thanks

See if this works.
Export from max as a obj file and import it in maya.
The meshes may need reclaing inn maya and there may also be some minor issues u may need to fix.

Best!

I do not have Max though but i'll look into a stripped down version if there is one,
I just noticed turbo squid mostly has Max files and i'd like to play with some models.

There's a piece of software called 3D explorer that does a good job of converting file formats. I dont think its in production anymore (encompassed within another product) but you can still find a trial version that gives you 30 days to play about with it. I found it useful as it can convert various formats including lightwave files to .3ds which I could then import into Maya (I needed lots of car models and most of the free ones out there were lightwave format).
I found that the best format conversion with that piece of software for models was to convert them and save them off as 3ds format before importing into maya.

Simon

Okay I'll look into it :D

best format for transfer between max and maya is FBX , wich is a plugin, but integrated within maya, and max also of course. it´s not only for geometry like OBJ format but also exports keyframes, skinned characters, shader networks (not everything is supported) - in both directions.

good luck!

Yay! I found a downlaod for a stand alone fbx converter :D I am on my linux rightnow so I can't download it but i'll see if t wokrs should be awsome/perfect

Well ti worked great :D I thought maya learning edition has no plugin support so I downlaoded the standalone version converted the opened with maya BUT then the plugin was installed without me knowing and worked so I imported the FBX and it wokred great :)

Polytrans is what you need export BDF file format from Max and import BDF into Maya. BDF is polytrans naitive file format

Maya 2008 bonus tools has a plugin which will let you import .3ds files, doesn't work for .max though.