Add Trim Paths to any selected shape layers with a Script

[Andrei Popa]

I think this is what you need

var comp = app.project.activeItem;
var layers = comp.selectedLayers;
if (layers.length == 0) {
    alert("You must select a layer");
} else {
    for (var i = 0; i < layers.length; i++) {
        if (layers[i] instanceof ShapeLayer) {
            var myTrim = layers[i].property("ADBE Root Vectors Group").addProperty("ADBE Vector Filter - Trim");
            //and then://
            myTrim("ADBE Vector Trim Start").expression = "value";
        }
    }
}

[Vincenzo Imbimbo]

Thank you Andrei!! This is what i need it, but there’s a little problem, if i execute the script again it will add another Trim Paths to each selected layer, i just want to have 1 Trim Path, no matter how many times i execute the script, any way to fix this? Something like “if this shape layer already has a trim path then don’t add a trim paths”, thank you!

[Andrei Popa]

I think this will be the fastest way

var comp = app.project.activeItem;
var layers = comp.selectedLayers;
if (layers.length == 0) {
    alert("You must select a layer");
} else {
    for (var i = 0; i < layers.length; i++) {
        if (layers[i] instanceof ShapeLayer) {
            var myTrim = layers[i].property("ADBE Root Vectors Group")("ADBE Vector Filter - Trim")
                ? layers[i].property("ADBE Root Vectors Group")("ADBE Vector Filter - Trim")
                : layers[i].property("ADBE Root Vectors Group").addProperty("ADBE Vector Filter - Trim");
            //and then://
            myTrim("ADBE Vector Trim Start").expression = "value";
        }
    }
}

[Vincenzo Imbimbo]

Hi again Andrei, thank you for your reply, i tried the code but i’m getting a syntax error saying that “?” doesn’t have an assigned value. What i am missing?

[Vincenzo Imbimbo]

Oh nevermind, it was the “;” that i was keeping at the end of “var myTrim…” so the ternary operator was missing the condition, but now is working perfectly, thank you so much!!

[Vincenzo Imbimbo]

Is there any way to apply the same Ternary Operator to this line of code?

var durationIn = myLayers[i].Effects.addProperty(“ADBE Slider Control”);

durationIn.name = “IN”;

I want to add to each selected layer a slider control named “IN” but if i run the script again i don’t want to add another slider control named “IN”, i just want to overwrite the value of that slider with a new input. Can you help me? Thanks again!

[Vincenzo Imbimbo]

I figured it out with this:

var durationIn = myLayers[i].Effects("ADBE Slider Control")
                ? myLayers[i].Effects("ADBE Slider Control")
                : myLayers[i].Effects.addProperty("ADBE Slider Control");
                durationIn.name = "IN";
var durationOut = myLayers[i].Effects("ADBE Slider Control")
                ? myLayers[i].Effects("ADBE Slider Control")
                : myLayers[i].Effects.addProperty("ADBE Slider Control");
                durationOut.name = "OUT";

But the problem is that the ternary operator just read if the layer has a “Slider Control” and i need it to be specific with “IN” and “OUT” sliders. Sorry for asking so much questions, i’m really newbie with JS.

[Andrei Popa]

You can use the name of the effect instead of its matchname if you want to. Like this:

var durationIn = myLayers[i].Effects("IN")
    ? myLayers[i].Effects("IN")
    : myLayers[i].Effects.addProperty("ADBE Slider Control");
durationIn.name = "IN";
var durationOut = myLayers[i].Effects("OUT")
    ? myLayers[i].Effects("OUT")
    : myLayers[i].Effects.addProperty("ADBE Slider Control");
durationOut.name = "OUT";