Creating Four Mutually Exclusive Expression Checkbox Controls

Adobe After Effects Expressions

Creating Four Mutually Exclusive Expression Checkbox Controls

Posted by Roland R. kahlenberg on October 10, 2013 at 6:27 pm

I’ve got 4 Expression Checkbox Controls; A, B, C and D. I need at least one to be selected at any point in time. I have the following script for A –

if (effect("B")("Checkbox") == 1 | effect("C")("Checkbox") == 1 | effect("D")("Checkbox") == 1) 0 else 1

The other three Checkboxes share analogous scripts to create a case of mutual exclusivity for their respective selections.

All works well EXCEPT that the checkboxes inexplicably change on their own. On certain frames (at random), while Checkbox A was initially selected, one of the other Checkboxes gets selected/checked.

I thought this may be due to cache issues but I doubt that this is the case as I’ve purged everything and the problem persists.

Any ideas what the issue is and what a solution might be?

TIA
RoRK

Intensive mocha & AE Training in Singapore and Other Dangerous Locations

Imagineer Systems (mocha) Certified Instructor
& Adobe After Effects CS6 ACE/ACI

Roland R. kahlenberg replied 12 years, 7 months ago 2 Members · 4 Replies
4 Replies

Dan Ebberts
October 10, 2013 at 7:16 pm

Roland, I don’t think you can build a DIY set of radio buttons like that. I think it would be a race on each frame to see which expression solves first. You might get away with it, but it seems dicey to me.

Dan
Roland R. kahlenberg
October 10, 2013 at 8:20 pm

Thanks for the reply Dan. There shouldn’t be a race to see which Expression goes first since collectively, there is only one checkbox that will be switched on at a time.

Collectively, the Expressions are to check which checkbox has been switched on. Singularly, each Expression checks on which other checkbox has been switched On and if none of the other has been switched On then the current checkbox will be switched On.

Is this not possible? Time for an FR?

Cheers
RoRK

Intensive mocha & AE Training in Singapore and Other Dangerous Locations

Imagineer Systems (mocha) Certified Instructor
& Adobe After Effects CS6 ACE/ACI
Dan Ebberts
October 10, 2013 at 8:37 pm

Suppose you start out (before you apply the expressions) with A on and the rest off. After applying the expressions say you want B to be on. You would manually have to turn A off and turn B on to create an unambiguous situation. If you operate it that way, you don’t need the expressions. I don’t see any way around that.

Dan
Roland R. kahlenberg
October 11, 2013 at 3:18 am

Thanks Dan! I’ve got a decent solution that works.

Bestest
RoRK

Intensive mocha & AE Training in Singapore and Other Dangerous Locations

Imagineer Systems (mocha) Certified Instructor
& Adobe After Effects CS6 ACE/ACI

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