Batch change parent layer name to a different one

[George Goodman]

Interesting idea. Sorry to say I haven’t heard of one, maybe someone else has though.

This goes along the lines of something I’ve requested a couple of times, that, if you feel so inclined, could also 🙂

I really want an expression null that each layer evaluates independently. You could just parent layers to it and they would all read it as if it were on their own layer. This way, if it was wiggle, they wouldn’t all move the same way, or if it was referenced a layers index, they would act appropriately. I don’t know the full extent of your situation, but hypothetically you could update one expression and it would all be fixed (or maybe 3 expressions since you said it was for multiple properties – assuming they don’t all have different variables).

“|_ (°_0) _|”

Sincerely,

George

http://www.vimeo.com/georgegoodman
http://www.linkedin.com/in/georgefranklingoodman

[Kevin Camp]

this may work for you…

add a layer control effect to the Element layer, then link your expressions to the layer control rather than the actual layer that you want them to use.

then you can select which layer to use ans the expression ‘parent’ from the layer control. if you duplicate that Element layer, you can use the layer control to select a new ‘parent’

ex: add a layer control effect to a layer, then add this expression to the position property of that layer:
target = effect("Layer Control")("Layer");
target.position

if you set the layer control ‘layer’ property to another layer in you comp the layer swill take that selected layer’s position property…. select a different layer from the list box and it will take that layer’s position.

Kevin Camp
Art Director
KCPQ, KZJO & KRCW

[Marcin Staszewski]

Thanks a lot!
It worked exactly as you described! 🙂