radnom timeline marker

[Xinlai Ni]

Expression can’t achieve what you have described, a script can do it fairly well. In the script:
1. Create a new empty comp that will contain all 64 clips.
2. Create an integer array of 64 elements, randomly permute their indices, e.g., array[0] = 24, array[1] = 3, …, array[63]=5.
3. Loop to create layer and set their in-points, pseudo code:
var lastInPoint = 0;
for (i = 0; i < 64; ++i) { // create layer using clip[array[i]] // set this layer's inPoint to lastInpoint // lastInpoint += this clip's duration // place this layer to the comp in the desired 'grid' position } The above script has the limitation that the comp will show only one clip at a time with all other clips invisible, as opposed to be showing the first/last frame. Xinlai Ni Software Engineer, Google Inc.

[Dan Ebberts]

OK – this is a fun one. Once you have all your layers sequenced, precompose them. Enable time remapping for the new pre-comp layer (don’t change its name), and apply this time remapping expression:

myComp = comp(name);
n = myComp.numLayers;
seedRandom(index+101,true);
theLayers = [];
for (i = 1; i <= n; i++) theLayers[theLayers.length] = i; for (i = 0; i < theLayers.length; i++){ idx = i + Math.floor(random(theLayers.length - i)); temp = theLayers[i]; theLayers[i] = theLayers[idx]; theLayers[idx] = temp; } accumDur = 0; for (i = 0; i < n; i++){ myLayer = myComp.layer(theLayers[i]); nextDur = myLayer.outPoint - myLayer.inPoint; if ((time >= accumDur) && (time < (accumDur + nextDur))){ break; } accumDur += nextDur } i = Math.min(1,n-1); myComp.layer(theLayers[i]).inPoint + time - accumDur Dan

[Dave Baum]

Guys,

thanks a lot for your help! I’m gonna build up a dummy using solids and see if I can get the result I need, will let you know.

Dan, thanks, am looking forward to trying this out, I think you managed to decipher what I meant from a poorly written description!

Cheers

Dave

[Dave Baum]

OK, Dan – apologies for the stupid questions here, please bare with me!

I’ve created a dummy project of 10 seconds duration, using 10 numbered solids of different colours sequentially. with no expressions, they play through at 1 second each and serve as a guide to see what’s going on.

With the expression added, only number 9 plays, for all of the 10 seconds of the comp.

I’m struggling to understand what the expression is doing exactly, and I’m happy to spend time on that, but is there a detail I am missing out? Are there parameters I must specify?

Thanks again!

Dave

[Dan Ebberts]

Did you precomp the ten solids, enable time remapping on the precomp layer and apply the expression?

Dan

[Dave Baum]

Hi Dan,

Thanks for your responses. re the test, I did do as you suggested. Process as follows:

created a 10 second comp, added 10 sequential solids @ 1 sec each, numbered them 1-10 with corresponding text layers for reference on playback (comp contains 20 layers).

I Pre comped this, all media transferred to the pre comp (no option for otherwise), pre comp name not changed.

I added the expression to the precomp.

If I duplicate the precomp, each duplication displays a different colour and number, but is holding that combination of number & solid throughout the sequence.

If you don’t mind offering further assistance I’d be extremely grateful!

Many thanks for your help

Dave

ps can upload screengrabs / project if its easier

[Dan Ebberts]

It would be helpful to see the project.

Dan

[Dave Baum]

Hi again Dan. below is link to the dummy project…

https://myaccount.dropsend.com/storage?folder_id=575787

thanks in advance for any thoughts.

best

Dave

[Dan Ebberts]

Hi Dave,

That link takes me to a place where I need to log in – I’m not sure it’s correct.

Dan

[Dave Baum]

Sorry, please try this one:

https://uploading.com/files/ec7m667e/SequenceTesting.aep.zip/

After no joy having precomped the 20 layer test comp via layer menu (all layers move to the precomp), I dragged the test comp to the new one and added expression to that, but same issue.

Thanks again for your help, very much appreciated!

Dave