Crash Intro to Maya

To start
to create a new project: File -> Project - > New... In New Project window, name the project and select Use Defaults
to save a scene into a file: File -> Save Scene (ctrl s) or Save Scene As... (Don't forget to save frequently!)

Views
to switch between four layout and single layout:: space bar (or Panels -> Layouts -> One / Four)
to switch between Attribute Editor and Channel Box / Layer Editor: Ctrl + A

In a view panel
to tumble: Alt + LMB
to track: Alt + MMB
to dolly: Alt + RMB
to change the content of a view panel: Panels -> Perspective or Orthographic
to save a new layout: Panes -> Save Layouts -> Edit Layouts...Views (when something is selected!)
to look at the selected object(s): View -> Look at selection
to frame the selected object(s): View -> Frame selection or type f

Display options
1 for rough NURBS smoothness
2 for medium NURBS smoothness
3 for fine NURBS smoothness
4 for wireframe
5 for smooth shade
6 for hardware texturing
7 for realistic lighting

Showing/hiding UI Elements
Display -> UI Elements -> Hide all UI Elements reduce the user interface to only view panels and menus. You may want to reduce the UI elements because all the elements can be accessed through "HotBox" (hit space).

Menu sets
F1 for help
F2 for animation
F3 for modeling
F4 for dynamics
F5 for rendering

Selecting models
You have options of:
selecting hierarchy and combinations
selecting object type
selecting component type
See "Select objects or components" in on-line Maya Help for more details
F8 toggles between selection by object type and selection by component type

Select, Move, Rotate, Scale, and Show manipulator Tools
hot keys for them are QWERTY

Move Tool
dragging the center -> moved in any directions
dragging one axis -> restricted to the movements along the selected axis
dragging one axis with crtl -> restricted to the movement along the plane perpendicular to the selected axis

Rotate Tool

Scale Tool
dragging the center -> scaled in all directions
dragging one handle -> scaled along the selected axis

Pivot
Insert lets you move the pivot of the selected object.
Press Insert again when you are done.

Numeric input (Absolute)
Look for "sel" in the Status Line. Click on "sel" and select "Numeric Input: Absolute" "sel: should change to "abs"

to enter a single value: Click on one desired handle of the active manipulator or highlight the name of the parameter -> type in one value in the box next to "abs".

to enter a set of three values: Click on the center of the active manipulator or highlight the name of the parameter -> type in three values in the box next to "abs". A period keeps the value unchanged. E.g., "2 . 3" will keep the current y-parameter value.

Changing a parameter value in a Channel box using MMB
Select a parameter name -> Click drag MMB -> the parameter value is changed.

Creating primitives
Create ->NURBS Primitives->...
Create ->Polygon Primitives->...

Creating NURBS curves
to create NURBS curves: Create -> CV Curve Tool or EP Curve Tool. RMB to enter EPs and Enter to finish
to open/close the curve, Edit Curves -> Open/Close curves

Creating polygons
Polygons -> Create Polygon Tool. RMB to enter vertices and Enter to finish

Repeating
* g to repeat the last tool