[Problem] Access multiple JSON files with RegEx and dynamically calculate y-Axis

[Andrei Popa]

Your graph is not here.

I also think it would help if you could post the content of a json file to see exactly how that data is.

[Leonie Wercker]

this is the project file, a picture of the issue and the data file (you have to rename it to .json as json files cannot be uploaded here)

thanks!!!

Season-Chart.aep 362 KB After Effects Project Files - Click to view

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[Filip Vandueren]

The JSON wasn’t added unfortunately

[Leonie Wercker]

i tried but json files are not possible to upload. so i renamed it to .txt file. but this wasnt uploaded either. can i contact you directly here?

[Andrei Popa]

Can you share a cloud folder in which you got these 2 files?

[Leonie Wercker]

There are both files in this dropbbox folder:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/a1lgjlxes868qwj/AAA5PxN8xCVS_8XT7O2sTJGha?dl=0

I am stuck with this:

The animation works for this JSON file. However, I have multiple other JSON files – and these vary with regards to the datapoints on the x axis.
Thus, I am looking for an expression that automatically checks, how many datapoints are in each JSON file when loaded and distributes them evenly/symmetrically along the x-axis.

Would any of you have an idea for that?

[Tomas Bumbulevičius]

Hey Leonie, here are some thoughts based on your files:

1. If I understood correctly, your initial ideal will won’t work with dynamic number of data points, UNLESS you make sure there are that much layers created in the “Graph” comp. Meaning, if you do it now with more than 12 values – it won’t work (I guess you are aware of this, but just to highlight an issue of this approach)

2. In “Graph” comp, assuming your comp structure isn’t going to change, define seriesrating[X] as seriesrating[index+1] (as first layer in a list starts with index of 1, but arrays has indexing from 0). You won’t need to manually update it.

3. Now with above in mind, you should add a check which evaluates maximum seriesrating index in a .json, to not overcome maximum. This could be done in a control layer at the bottom of the comp, on in other place. Since you are approaching this Seasons-based, I would suggest collecting objects in array, which has matching “Season” index. Then – getting length of that objects array.

4. When number of season-items will be clear, you can interpolate X’s distances based on that number, and your comp/design width. However, 1st point must be taken into account for this.

5. I would suggest to not have contants attached to variables like “-600” and “900” – link them through Sliders, to have dynamically adjustable design.

Hope any of these helps to figure it out!

[Leonie Wercker]

thanks for that helpful information. I was able to process this a little further…but still having a problem.

This is my code from the null object layer (and I put in the maximum null objects layers as needed.

1) var data = footage(“Homeland.json”).sourceData; // this gets the data from the JSON file

2) var numberOfEntries = data.length; // this checks how many data items are there in the JSON file

3) var myIndex = thisLayer.index-1; // this assigns the corresponding number to this null object layer (this is where the after effects / JSON logic needs to be addressed: e.g. layer 3 receives datapoint 2 (since data points are counted starting at 0)

4) if(myIndex >= numberOfEntries) myIndex = numberOfEntries-1; // this ensures that the null objects that are great than the count of datapoints within the JSON files act as the last correct datapoint

5) var myXPosition = linear(myIndex,0,numberOfEntries-1, 250, 1700); // this plots the counted fully layers across the length of the x-axis (first entry is at X=250, last one at X=1700)

I have a problem with line 4 as I don’t want the remaining datapoints not plotted as the last known value before, but to be NOT plotted at all.

so frankly speaking, this happens now:

– count JSON file how many datapoints there are
– plot all counted datapoints according to their values
– plot those datapoints that are above the count like the last one counted

e.g. counted 12 values, maximum is 20 values, so a surplus of 8 values,
these 8 values become plotted with the value of the 12th value

what I want to happen:

– count JSON file how many datapoints there are
– plot all counted datapoints according to their values
– only plot counted values
– delete/ignore surplus 8 values

thanks for any ideas on this 🙂

[Filip Vandueren]

Maybe you can simply set the opacity of the surplus layers to 0 ?

[Leonie Wercker]

but then they are still plotted:

12 regular values plotted + 8 values with less opacity plotted = 20 values plotted across the x-axis

but I just need to plot the 12 regular values plotted.