How to install MGTools?

Question

Where can I download MGTools and install it? How to get things running?

Answer 1

If you haven't downloaded and installed MGtools Pro, please download the zip package here:
http://mgland.com/MGtools_en.html?url=Download
Make sure you download the right package that matches your operating system.

Installation: 
Ps. If you downloaded MGTools from Maya App Store, just follow its own installation steps and ignore the instruction below.

1. Unzip the package. Find a file called "InstallMGTools_WrittenByMiguel.mel", drag and drop it into a Maya 3d View.
2. An installation wizard dialog pops up, just follow it to install. 
   Ps. if the dialog didn't pop up in Linux, try drag and drop again.
3. Keep clicking the "NEXT" button until you reach a page that is full of options. 
   Ps. If you do not find the "NEXT" button, scale the dialog larger.
4. Read the options, check them on/off.
5. Make sure you check on "Register MGtools" option in the bottom right.
   
6. Hit the "INSTALL!" button to install.
7. For distributing MGTools in your studio pipeline, check out the "Distribute MGTools" session here.

For the floating license, you need to download the extra package called MG-LicenceConnector from http://mgland.com/MGtools_en.html?url=Download , it is portable software, just unzip the package and it is good to run.
Both MGTools and MG-Picker Studio share the exact same connector, you only need to download once from either webpage.

Here is how to register MGTools for node-locked license.
Here is how to connect MGTools to floating license

Comments

An install option that worths mentioning is the "Install Mode":

• Install As A Local Program:  It will copy all the MGTools program files to the current Maya user script folder, typically like "My Documents/maya/mayaVersion/scripts/MGTools". The program you will run has nothing to do with the original data your install from. It is the default option. After installation, the programs copied in your user script folder can be used as an installation source to other Maya versions in your operating system.
• Install As A Server Program: It will only copy the heavily used files to the user script folder, like the plugin files for current Maya only, MGTools still invoke the reset of scripts from the original installation source.
• Install As Full Server Program: It will copy nothing to your user script folder, all tools are invoked right from the installation source. If you delete the original downloaded data, the tools are gone.

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Some trouble-shoots:

• If when you dragged and dropped the install script into Maya viewport, you got a dialog like this:
  
  That means you need to download the right package that meets your operating system. There are Windows, MacOSX and Linux versions, and you can clearly tell that from the zip package name.
   
• If during the installation there were errors in the script-editor and the installation dialog froze, please check:
  Did you download the installation package successfully? It might be corrupted due to unstable internet conditions.
  Did you download the latest package? The old package is usually more error-prone.
  Did MGTool support the current version of Maya? If not yet, you might need to keep an eye on http://mgland.com or send a request here.
   
• If there was error or warning but the installation still completed and MGTools toolbar loaded and ran well, and it also ran well after you restarted Maya, then you are probably safe to ignore the error. Warnings are always safe to be ignored.