How to edit this script and make it link layers?

[Tomas Bumbulevičius]

Hello Don, heres what needed here:

1. Please properly specify behaviour, by naming ‘layers’ and ‘comps’ where its applicable. Now there is a clash of definitions, where you say ‘layers in the project’ even though layers can be in compositions only, etc.
2. I tested the code and what it actually does – based on initial selection, add those comps into selected project items.
3. Your ‘new requirements’ are not clear – here is what you are saying. You want to select layers in the composition, and then, by selecting ‘other layers’ inside the same composition, link them with previously selected layers. What it would do is make copies of selected layers in the first place. Reason for that is ?

Cheers!

Find out more:
After Effects Tutorials: motion design, expressions, scripting.
Boxer – Dynamic Text Boxes Template with a Live Preview

[Don Jobs]

Hi Tomas,

thank you very much for your reply! ☺

I’m sorry if I wasn’t clear enough. So by “layers” I mean: solids, nulls, compositions in the active composition.

I don’t understand what you said:
“What it would do is make copies of selected layers in the first place” – Why? It could link “selection 1” with “selection 2”

If there are 10 solids in my composition. First I select the first 5 solids, then I select another 5 and link the first 5 to second 5. By “link” I mean make parent-child connection.

I found this script here on the forum, and it’s doing the same thing but in a different way.

Thanks for the help 🙂

//Parent
var myComp = app.project.activeItem;
var SecondGrp = myComp.selectedLayers[myComp.selectedLayers.length-1].index+1;

for (var i = 0; i < myComp.selectedLayers.length; i++) {
myComp.selectedLayers[i].parent = myComp.layers [SecondGrp+i];
}
// Invert
var comp = app.project.activeItem;

for (var w = 1; w <= comp.numLayers; w++) {
comp.layers[w].selected = !comp.layers[w].selected;
}

[Tomas Bumbulevičius]

Don,

thanks for a clarification – indeed, I haven’t understood ‘linking’ aspect in first place!

Now with that clarified – lets say there are 10 layers, starting from top to bottom, 1 to 10. You select first 5, hit the button, then select another 5 (indexed 6 to 10) and hit the second button.

As a result:
1. Index 1 layer should be linked with 6th in such case, or vice versa?
2. What should happen if layers to be ‘linked’ with other layers, already has different parent?
3. What if selections doesn’t have the same amount of layers selected?

This should help to get this down the line. Cheers.

Find out more:
After Effects Tutorials: motion design, expressions, scripting.
Boxer – Dynamic Text Boxes Template with a Live Preview

[Don Jobs]

Dear Tomas,

thank you very much for your time. ☺

1. Yes, index 1 layer should be linked with 6th.

2. The script should be used with non linked layers.

(If some layers are linked then the script should override the parenting – this feature is not necessary)

3. If first selection has 10 layers and second selection has 12 layers it should connect the first 10.

If it’s easier, would it be possible just to edit the original script? So, first and second selection should be placed in the active composition and the result should be linking the two selections.

Thanks a lot!
Don

[Tomas Bumbulevičius]

Don, check this out, it should be it.

The only think to keep in mind is that is you make selection not in an incremental order (lets say pick 1,3,2,5 layers for selection A), it will be applied in the same order for your parenting. Other than that, it should be it.

Cheers!

var w = new Window ("palette", "Link");
w.add("button", undefined,"Selection 1",{name:"ok"}).onClick = function(){ selectLayersA(); }
w.add("button", undefined,"Link To Selection 2",{name:"ok"}).onClick = function(){ selectLayersBLink(); }
w.show();
var selectionArray = new Array();

function selectLayersA(){
var activeComp = app.project.activeItem;
var selectedLayersA = new Array();
selectedLayersA = activeComp.selectedLayers;
for (var b = 0; b < selectedLayersA.length; b++){
selectionArray[selectionArray.length] = selectedLayersA[b];
}
}
function selectLayersBLink(){
app.beginUndoGroup("Link to comps");
var activeComp = app.project.activeItem;
var selectedLayersB = new Array();
selectedLayersB = activeComp.selectedLayers;
for (var i = 0; i < selectionArray.length; i++){
if (selectedLayersB[i] != null){
layerA = selectionArray[i];
layerB = selectedLayersB[i];
layerB.parent = layerA;
}
}
selectionArray = []
app.endUndoGroup();
}


Find out more:
After Effects Tutorials: motion design, expressions, scripting.
Boxer – Dynamic Text Boxes Template with a Live Preview

[Don Jobs]

I love you man! Thanks a million! ????????????

It’s working and you just saved me hours and hours of “linking”…

I had to replace “&I” with “<=” …I guess it’s went wrong in copy-paste ????

God bless you!
Don

var w = new Window ("palette", "Link");
w.add("button", undefined,"Selection 1",{name:"ok"}).onClick = function(){ selectLayersA(); }
w.add("button", undefined,"Link To Selection 2",{name:"ok"}).onClick = function(){ selectLayersBLink(); }
w.show();
var selectionArray = new Array();

function selectLayersA()
{
var activeComp = app.project.activeItem;
var selectedLayersA = new Array();
selectedLayersA = activeComp.selectedLayers;
for (var b = 0; b <= selectedLayersA.length; b++)
{
selectionArray[selectionArray.length] = selectedLayersA[b];
}
}
function selectLayersBLink(){
app.beginUndoGroup("Link to comps");
var activeComp = app.project.activeItem;
var selectedLayersB = new Array();
selectedLayersB = activeComp.selectedLayers;
for (var i = 0; i <= selectionArray.length; i++)
{
if (selectedLayersB[i] != null){
layerA = selectionArray[i];
layerB = selectedLayersB[i];
layerB.parent = layerA;
}
}
selectionArray = []
app.endUndoGroup();
}

[Tomas Bumbulevičius]

Hey Don, you are welcome! Yes, those ‘<‘ are being escaped into special characters – glad you managed to make this to work.

On the other hand – just curious! Where you will use it?? ☺ Good luck!

Find out more:
After Effects Tutorials: motion design, expressions, scripting.
Boxer – Dynamic Text Boxes Template with a Live Preview

[Don Jobs]

I’m working with particles in 3ds Max and need to link all the particles with the after effects layers… So that’s why I need it ☺ It’s a personal project I’m working on.

Thank you very much! 🙂