• Adobe After Effects Expressions

  Scripting – Add to Essential Graphics Panel

  Posted by Kevin Snyder on March 28, 2020 at 9:07 pm

  I’m trying to use this code to write a script so that I can add properties to the Essential Graphics Panel. Here’s the reference code.

  app.project.item(index).layer(index).propertySpec.addToMotionGraphicsTemplate(comp)

  I came up with this, but I’m totally new at this, so I might be completely off.

  app.beginUndoGroup("Add to EGP");

  function add(){
  var compName = app.project.activeItem.name;
  var myLayer = app.project.activeItem.selectedLayers[0];
  var propertySpec = myLayer.opacity;
  propertySpec.addToMotionGraphicsTemplate(compName);

  }

  add()

  app.endUndoGroup();

  I received this error message when I run it.

  “Unable to execute script at line 7. After Effects error: Unable to call “addToMotionGraphicsTemplate” because of parameter 1. Comp 1 is not of the correct type.”

  Kevin Snyder replied 6 years, 3 months ago 2 Members · 4 Replies
• 4 Replies

• 

  Dan Ebberts

  March 28, 2020 at 10:03 pm

  I haven’t tried addToMotionGraphicsTemplate(), but my guess is that you need to provide it a comp object, not a comp name. Try that.

  Dan
• 

  Kevin Snyder

  March 30, 2020 at 7:54 pm

  Thanks, Dan. I appreciate it. After some trial and error, I finally have a working script. The current version will add the selected layer’s position to the Essential Graphics Panel. How do I make it run on all selected layers and not just the first one?

  app.beginUndoGroup("Add to EGP");

  function add(){

  var myComp = app.project.activeItem; //Active comp
  var selectProp = myComp.selectedLayers[0].position; //Position on selected layer;
  var myLayer = myComp.selectedLayers[0].name; //Get layer name;
  var myProp = "Position"; //Property name;
  var myControl = myProp + " " + "-" + " " + myLayer;//Combine property name and layer name
  selectProp.addToMotionGraphicsTemplateAs(myComp, myControl); //Add property to EGP and rename;
  app.project.activeItem.motionGraphicsTemplateName = "Master Properties"; //Set template name;
  myComp.openInEssentialGraphics(); //Opens comp in essential graphics panel;

  }

  add()

  app.endUndoGroup();
• 

  Dan Ebberts

  March 30, 2020 at 8:50 pm

  I haven’t tested this, but something like this:

  
app.beginUndoGroup("Add to EGP");

  function add(theLayer){

  var myComp = app.project.activeItem; //Active comp
  var selectProp = theLayer.position; //Position on selected layer;
  var myLayer = theLayer.name; //Get layer name;
  var myProp = "Position"; //Property name;
  var myControl = myProp + " " + "-" + " " + myLayer;//Combine property name and layer name
  selectProp.addToMotionGraphicsTemplateAs(myComp, myControl); //Add property to EGP and rename;
  app.project.activeItem.motionGraphicsTemplateName = "Master Properties"; //Set template name;
  myComp.openInEssentialGraphics(); //Opens comp in essential graphics panel;

  }
  var myLayers = app.project.activeItem.selectedLayers;
  for (var i = 0; i < myLayers.length; i++){
  add(myLayers[i]);
  }

  app.endUndoGroup();


  Dan
• 

  Kevin Snyder

  April 1, 2020 at 3:42 am

  Dan, that works great. Thank you. I appreciate it. I’m trying to wrap my head around what you did to apply it to a version that works on any selected property. It will work with one property selected, but falls apart when I have more than one property selected.

  function addSelected(){

  var myComp = app.project.activeItem; //Active comp
  var selectProps = myComp.selectedLayers[0].selectedProperties; //Selected properties in comp;
  var selectProp;
  var n;
  for (var i = 0; i < selectProps.length; i++){
  selectProp = selectProps[i];
  if (selectProp.propertyType == PropertyType.PROPERTY){
  switch(selectProp.propertyValueType){
  case PropertyValueType.OneD:
  n = 1;
  break;
  case PropertyValueType.TwoD:
  case PropertyValueType.TwoD_SPATIAL :
  n = 2;
  break;
  case PropertyValueType.ThreeD:
  case PropertyValueType.ThreeD_SPATIAL:
  n = 3;
  break;
  case PropertyValueType.COLOR:
  n = 4;
  break;
  default:
  n = 0; // just in case
  break;
  }

  }
  }
  var myLayer = myComp.selectedLayers[0].name; //Get layer name;
  var myProp = myComp.selectedLayers[0].selectedProperties[0].name; //Get property name;
  var myControl = myProp + " " + "-" + " " + myLayer;//Combine property name and layer name
  selectProp.addToMotionGraphicsTemplateAs(myComp, myControl); //Add property to EGP and rename;
  app.project.activeItem.motionGraphicsTemplateName = "Master Properties"; //Set template name;
  myComp.openInEssentialGraphics(); //Opens comp in essential graphics panel;
  }

  var selectProp = app.project.activeItem.selectedProperties;
  for (var i = 0; i < selectProp.length; i++){
  addSelected(selectProp[i]);
  }

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