CSV driven graphics

[Alex Hayward]

As far as I’m aware, the only way you are able to update an image via .csv data would be using a script. Try something like this:

function runWeatherScript(){
    app.beginUndoGroup("Run Weather Script");
    var masterComp = findItem("CHANGE TO MASTER COMP NAME",0);
    // Error check, makes sure script has a comp to target
    if(masterComp == null){
        alert("Master comp not found");
        return
    };
    // Import the CSV file 
    var csvFile = File.openDialog("Please select the CSV file containing the weather info", "CSV Files:*.csv");
    // Open the file and push all data into an array
    var csvData = [];
    csvFile.open("r");
    do {
        csvData.push(csvFile.readln());
    } while(!csvFile.eof);
    csvFile.close();
    //Loop through each line of the CSV file - start on 1st line of actual data
    for (var i = 1; i < csvData.length; i++) {
        // Seperate current row into each cell
        var curRow = csvData[i].split(",");
        // Variables for each column, easier to follow
        var city = curRow[0];
        var temp = curRow[1];
        var iconName = curRow[2];
        // Create copy of master comp for us to work in and rename to the city
        var newComp = masterComp.duplicate();
        newComp.name = city;
        // Change city text
        newComp.layer("CHANGE TO CITY TEXT LAYER NAME").property("Source Text").setValue(city);
        // Change temperature text
        newComp.layer("CHANGE TO TEMPERATURE TEXT LAYER NAME").property("Source Text").setValue(temp);
        // Get right icon
        var icon = findItem(iconName,csvData.length)
        // Change Icon
        newComp.layer("CHANGE TO ICON IMAGE LAYER NAME").replaceSource(icon,false);
    }
    app.endUndoGroup();
}
function findItem(x,length){
    for (var i = 1; i < app.project.numItems+length; i++) {
        if (app.project.item(i).name === x) {
            return app.project.item(i);
            break;
        }
    }
}
var csvData = [];
runWeatherScript();

It assumes all the layers you are changing are within the same comp and not pre-composed. Name the layers that will be changing in your project file and update the code to match those names. Let me know if any issues and I’ll try and help 🙂

[Walter Soyka]

You could sequence all your icons, one frame each, in a precomp. Enable time-remapping for the precomp. Either use the CSV file to directly reference the frame number, or write an expression that translates the text inputs to the precomp’s time.

[Allan Barnwell]

While Dataclay Templater doesn’t support CSV (due to the inability to write data back to the CSV without scrambling the file structure), it does support TSV as well as JSON files. And it supports Google Sheets as well. Plus you get all the additional power – like full batch rendering as well as support for automating other 3rd-party solutions or your own custom scripts.