extendscript to pre-compose selected layers, moving all attributes and adjust composition to the time span of the selected layers

[Tomas Bumbulevičius]

Hey Chris, I just checked that script, and my questions are, assuming that pre-comp is built, and is auto-added in the main comp, and with these sample conditions:

Main comp length: – 60s long;
1st layer in point – starts at 10s;
xth layer out point – ends and 40s;

Now when script executed:

1. Would you prefer that ‘pre-comp’ actually would have its start point at the area where current in point belongs? Because now, pre-comp turns out to be the same length as main comp, but in/out points are trimmed to 1st and xth layers times.
2. Accordingly, in this sample above, pre-comp shall turn out to be 30s long instead, or not necessarily this way?

From what I see, and how I like things to be pre-composed, is that every pre-comps starting layer, would begin at 0s, instead of matching main-comp length. Is this is the same behaviour you are after?

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[Chris Orcfilm]

Thanks Tomas, yes, I wanted the generated precomp to be trimmed to the length of the layer(s) chosen, much like the behaviour if you Ctrl/cmd+Shift+C, selecting to “move all attributes…” AND select to “adjust the composition to the time span of the selected layers”.

That said, in lieu of any feedback I managed to figure it out. There are still a couple of bugs, but I will post the solution here once it’s cleaned up.

Cheers,

Chris

BC Canada

[Alexey Boyarin]

I’m trying to write a script and have the same issue. Have you found way to make it? Will appreciate any feedback.

[Filip Vandueren]

Something like this:

thisComp = app.project.activeItem;
selLayers = thisComp.selectedLayers;
min_inPoint = Math.min.apply(0, selLayers.map(function (l) {return l.inPoint} ));
max_outPoint = Math.max.apply(0, selLayers.map(function (l) {return l.outPoint} ));
layers_duration = max_outPoint - min_inPoint;
newComp = thisComp.layers.precompose(selLayers.map(function (l) {return l.index}), "precomp", true);
for (l=1; l<=newComp.numLayers; l++) newComp.layer(l).startTime-=min_inPoint;
newComp.duration = layers_duration;
thisComp.selectedLayers[0].startTime = min_inPoint; // the precomp will now be the selected layer in our main comp

[Baqer Asad]

I edited the code just a little :

{

app.beginUndoGroup("Pre-Compose to Layer Duration");

var myComp = app.project.activeItem;

var copySelected = myComp.selectedLayers.slice();

if(myComp instanceof CompItem) {

var myLayers = myComp.selectedLayers;

if(myLayers.length > 0){

var newIndex = copySelected[copySelected.length-1].index;

var myNewInPoint = copySelected[0].inPoint;

var newInPoint = myLayers[0].inPoint;

var newOutPoint = myLayers[0].outPoint;

var newCompName = "comp ";

var layerName = myLayers[0].name;

if(layerName.length > 26) {

layerName = layerName.substring(0, 26);

}

newCompName += layerName;

var layerIndices = new Array();

for (var i = 0; i < myLayers.length; i++) {

layerIndices[layerIndices.length] = myLayers[i].index;

if (myLayers[i].inPoint < newInPoint) newInPoint = myLayers[i].inPoint;

if (myLayers[i].outPoint > newOutPoint) newOutPoint = myLayers[i].outPoint;

}

var newComp = myComp.layers.precompose(layerIndices, newCompName, true );

var preCompLayer = myComp.selectedLayers[0];

preCompLayer.outPoint = newOutPoint;

newComp.workAreaStart = newInPoint;

newComp.duration = newOutPoint;

newComp.openInViewer().setActive();

app.executeCommand(app.findMenuCommandId("Trim Comp to Work Area"));

myComp.openInViewer().setActive();

myComp.layer(newIndex).startTime = myNewInPoint;

}else{

alert("select at least one layer to precompose.");

}

}else{

alert("please select a composition.");

}

app.endUndoGroup();

}

but the problem with this code is that you have to select the layers from bottom to top or
you will get an error
maybe someone could enhance it ?