Note: Charcoal Editor 2 is available for Maya 2017 and newer.
Charcoal Editor is a plugin for Autodesk Maya designed to replace the aging script editor. Completely integrated into Maya using Qt and the Maya API, this new editor is cross-platform and offers many advanced features found in leading IDEs.
Created to meet the production needs of Maya TDs and tools developers, Charcoal Editor is powerful, flexible and familiar. It includes the major functionality of Maya's native script editor and adds the features professional developers depend on.
Charcoal Editor removes the need for a complex external editor setup. The plugin installs in seconds and seamlessly integrates into Maya's environment leaving you free to focus on creating great scripts.
Feature Comparison
| General | Charcoal Editor | Maya Script Editor |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-document (tab interface) | ||
| Script execution | ||
| Selected code execution | ||
| Single line execution | ||
| Auto-save on execute | ||
| Never delete code on execute | ||
| Syntax Highlighting | ||
| Output Window Syntax Highlighting | ||
| Split-screen editing | ||
| Movable tabs | ||
| Document editing | ||
| File renaming | ||
| Scripting | ||
| Smart indenting | ||
| Multi-level undo/redo | ||
| Command documentation | ||
| MEL Auto-complete | ||
| Python Auto-complete | Limited* | |
| Matching word highlighting | ||
| Matching brace highlighting | ||
| Advanced find and replace | ||
| Display hidden characters (tabs and spaces) | ||
| Convert tabs to spaces | ||
| Save script to shelf | ||
| Drag-and-drop script to shelf | ||
| Windows and Views | ||
| Tabbed code editor | ||
| Output (History) window | ||
| Quick help | ||
| Project view | ||
| Code outline | ||
| Open buffers | ||
| Open documents | ||
| Customization | ||
| User configurable layouts | ||
| Customizable colors | ||
| Customizable font settings | ||
| Customizable tabs and spaces | ||
| User configurable auto-complete settings |
* Script editor auto-complete only occurs on objects in the main namespace
Downloads
Charcoal Editor may be downloaded and evaluated for free (with some limitations). However, a license must be purchased for continued use.
For installation instructions see the Online Documentation.
Note: Charcoal Editor 2 is available for Maya 2017 and newer.
Windows
- Charcoal Editor for Maya 2018 (v1.76)
- Charcoal Editor for Maya 2017 (v1.74)
- Charcoal Editor for Maya 2016.5 (v1.71)
- Charcoal Editor for Maya 2016 (v1.71)
- Charcoal Editor for Maya 2015 (v1.71)
- Charcoal Editor for Maya 2014 (v1.52)
- Charcoal Editor for Maya 2013 (v1.41)
- Charcoal Editor for Maya 2012 (v1.41)
- Charcoal Editor for Maya 2011 (v1.41)
Linux
- Charcoal Editor for Maya 2018 (v1.76)
- Charcoal Editor for Maya 2017 (v1.74)
- Charcoal Editor for Maya 2016.5 (v1.71)
- Charcoal Editor for Maya 2016 (v1.71)
- Charcoal Editor for Maya 2015 (v1.71)
- Charcoal Editor for Maya 2014 (v1.52)
- Charcoal Editor for Maya 2013 (v1.41)
- Charcoal Editor for Maya 2012 (v1.41)
- Charcoal Editor for Maya 2011 (v1.41)
OS X
- Charcoal Editor for Maya 2018 (v1.76)
- Charcoal Editor for Maya 2017 (v1.74)
- Charcoal Editor for Maya 2016.5 (v1.71)
- Charcoal Editor for Maya 2016 (v1.71)
- Charcoal Editor for Maya 2015 (v1.71)
- Charcoal Editor for Maya 2014 (v1.52)
- Charcoal Editor for Maya 2013 (v1.41)
- Charcoal Editor for Maya 2012 (v1.41)
Purchase
A Charcoal Editor 2 license is compatible with both Charcoal Editor and Charcoal Editor 2.
Please refer to the Charcoal Editor 2 purchase section for more details.