Rename Expression Controllers

[Matthias Stoll]

I just came across a stupid Mac – PC bug. I am setting up quite a big Essential Graphics Toolbox for a TV-Station. They use the German AE so I decided to set up all Expressions up in German. Bad decision because the Dropdown Menus property is named “Menü”. If you open this on a PC this transforms into “MenŸ” an all related expressions disconnect.

My hope was that I could rename the Effect property using a script, and that the Expression would auto-update. But that doesn’t seemed to be allowed – also it actually doesn’t seem to auto-update if you rename stuff via script. So I could replace all Dropdown Controllers pasted from an english projectfile – but that leaves me with manually repairing hundreds of Expressions and also Replacing the Controller in the Essential Graphics Panel.

Before I slowly start to do this, I wanted to ask around for another solution. Surely this is related to other Mac/PC problems. Any of you know of fixes for that?

[Dan Ebberts]

Did you try using app.project.autoFixExpressions(oldText, newText) after changing names with your script?

[Matthias Stoll]

<div>Hey that’s great! I will try it! So cool. I was using a script that can replace strings in selected properties. But for this case, that works because “Menü” ist never used in other Expressions.
</div><div>

Sadly I can’t rename the property with a script, that gives me an error. But fixing the Expressions like this already eases the pain!

</div>

[Matthias Stoll]

Edit: This could be used to fix everything super easy with literally 1 Klick on Windows:

app.project.autoFixExpressions(“Menü”, “1”)

In my opinion pigwip + alt (gives you the property index instead of the name) should be the standard! In most cases the name of the property irrelevant. And in my case even dangerous😆