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How do you target a LOWER property within the same shape layer?
I have a series of lines that I want to offset horizontally. Each line is in a group. When I tried to put all the line groups in to a new group called lines, I could not figure out how to target the previous line position. Here is the expression I have that works before I tried to put all the line groups into the new group “lines”. I haven’t used this expression in a while and I have to admit I don’t understand ” thisProperty.propertyGroup(2)(2)(1) “.
Any help is appreciated. I’ve found no coherent explanation targeting lower levels within a layer.
theNextIndex = thisProperty.propertyGroup(2).propertyIndex + 1;
theNextGroupIndex = thisProperty.propertyGroup(3).propertyIndex + 1;
xPos = thisComp.layer(index).content(theNextIndex).transform.position[0] + thisProperty.propertyGroup(2)(2)(1).size[0] + effect("buffer")("Slider");
yPos = value[1];
[xPos, yPos]; -
7 Replies
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In thisProperty.propertyGroup(2)(2)(1), the numbers are to replace the name of the properties. Things like the group name, “Transform”, “Position”. If you download the gimmePropPath script from redefinery.com/ae/rd_scripts/ and play a little bit with it, you may understand exactly how this works. The script has option for both number and name path.
Andrei
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Thank you for this. I will check it out later. I can’t imagine why Adobe doesn’t look at this and incorporate some of these great scripts. I might have to write to Dear Adobe again.
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This many years later. I search for help with the same issue, get my own question and remain as far from an answer as I ever was. Sadly, this plugin’s website is gone. Does anyone have this plugin? It was free and there’s no way to get shape layer targeting help. No one seems to even cover the topic in detail.
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Here is a link with redefinery scripts. You can access them from redefinery.com once the website is online again. I hope this is ok with moderators since I don’t want to achieve any advantage from them and the main free source is offline.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ini40qoimbs7aaf/AAAcuR4mwFU15JIVKwXJFjBra?dl=0
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Thanks so much. I think the Gimme Prop Path and Gimme Prop Info may help me get some relative references. I was already able to refer to a parameter two levels up and two levels down which I’ve never been able to do before.
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What I noticed with shapes – they have some “hidden” parameters which are not seen through a UI GUI and are hard to logically understand.
With Gimme Props try to selecting different depth params and you will see what I mean – this especially relates to “Contents”.
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I believe it.
In my dreams I can pick whip to a shape layer property while holding down alt and get a relative target path.
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