topic Re: HELP! "File contains unknown nodes or data" can't save in Maya Forum

HELP! "File contains unknown nodes or data" can't save

jchen210149 — Fri, 15 Mar 2019 07:29:18 GMT

I opened a fbx. file in Maya

I import the textures from Substance Painter

then I assign them to the materials

*I click save and it show "The requested file type does not have write support"

*I click save as, and it show "File contains unknown nodes or data. To preserve this information, the current file type can not be changed."

tried this --->https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/maya/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Unable-to-Save-Scene-as-MA-file-or-Maya-crashes-when-saving-as-MB-file.html

but does not work

need help, thanks alot

Re: HELP! "File contains unknown nodes or data" can't save

sean.heasley — Fri, 15 Mar 2019 14:38:17 GMT

Hi @jchen210149

Is there history on the model you can delete?

Also, are you saving to your harddrive or a remote location because this sounds like a permissions issue.

Another quick workaround is you can go to Save As and choose Maya.ASCII instead of Maya.Binary for the save format.

Please let me know if anything changes!

Re: HELP! "File contains unknown nodes or data" can't save

jchen210149 — Mon, 18 Mar 2019 15:46:19 GMT

Thank you for answering !

I deleted the history and save as Maya.ASCII (Document/Maya/Project/XXX/scene) , but did'nt change

And I tried other fbx. files, when I try to save it(not even working with the textures) problem occur again...

thanks for helping

Re: HELP! "File contains unknown nodes or data" can't save

sean.heasley — Mon, 18 Mar 2019 17:34:01 GMT

Hi @jchen210149

When you get a chance, can you please zip and attach the scene file here or via dropbox/google drive or another file sharing program so I can take a look at it? If the file is confidential or under NDA please send it to me in a private message instead of posting it here.

Re: HELP! "File contains unknown nodes or data" can't save

sean.heasley — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 15:21:46 GMT

Hi @jchen210149

Thanks for sending me the file!

I was able to open both the fbx and .MA file and save them without any issues or warnings.

I believe this may be an issue with your permissions or Maya. Are you the admin on your machine? Do you have administrator privileges?

Also, can you try deleting your settings/preferences and then try loading the model in and saving it again?

Re: HELP! "File contains unknown nodes or data" can't save

sean.heasley — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 20:48:59 GMT

Hi @jchen210149

I'm just checking in again to see if you need more help with this. Did the suggestion I provided yesterday work for you?

If so, please click Accept as Solution on the posts that helped you so others in the community can find them easily.

Re: HELP! "File contains unknown nodes or data" can't save

jchen210149 — Fri, 22 Mar 2019 16:17:44 GMT

After resetting the pref

my save button still have the same issue

but "save as" is working now

Thank you very much！

Re: HELP! "File contains unknown nodes or data" can't save

Anonymous — Tue, 11 Aug 2020 17:56:08 GMT

Hi I have the same problem too, the deleting nodes doesn't work for me either..

Re: HELP! "File contains unknown nodes or data" can't save

Anonymous — Wed, 26 Aug 2020 13:03:21 GMT

Hi there,

So I've run into this a few times, you want to save you .ma file as a .mb file. I generally stick to /mb's because they are smaller files sizes among other reasons. Here is the most simple and effective way to work around this problem.

Step 1: Save you latest .ma file

Step 2: close it and open a new seen

Step 3: Save your new empty scene with the same name as your past file just select (save as mb)

Step 4: Import your .ma file into your open .mb file

Step 5: Save your scene , you know have a working .mb file you can save

Hope this helped!

Re: HELP! "File contains unknown nodes or data" can't save

l_korineza — Wed, 07 May 2025 15:37:04 GMT

"I opened the scene and then I just saved it in another format, 'Maya Binary'. It worked."