Expression Query for Word Processor Cursor

[cameron mitchell]

hi there, I am trying to change the cursor in the word processor preset to a different shape, which i have as a png. Is there an expression or short cut I can use to do this? i want the shape to always be in front of what is being typed. Thanks in advance.

[Filip Vandueren]

There’s no easy way to just get the position of the final character.

Your best bet is to create a duplicate text-layer where all characters except the last one are scaled down to be 0,0%, and then use sourceRectAtTime() to find the pixel-coordinates of the layer, and thus the single characrer.

[cameron mitchell]

Thanks Filip. I’m new at this, so when you say use sourceRecAtTime() – is this an expression? And as i am trying to place in a png and not a character, does this matter?

[David Cabestany]

use this:

——

L = text.sourceText.length;

sp=thisComp.layer(“xp”).effect(“Speed”)(“Slider”);

st=thisComp.layer(“xp”).effect(“Start At”)(“Slider”);

PT = time – thisLayer.inPoint;

T = PT*sp-st*sp;

F = Math.round(PT % 1);

if(F == 1 | (T<L & T>0) )

{Fl = “|”}

else{Fl =””;}

substr(0,T) + Fl

———-

Whatever you want to use you just replace it in the variable Fl, but it will have to be a character value (a letter, symbol or number), you can’t use a png or other type of object.

sp and st determine the speed of your writing text and at what time it is supposed to begin.