Running counter, starting higher than 30,000

[Colin Braley]

I am not in front of my AE right now but you could try this:
– Create a new text layer
-add the following expression to sourcetext:

//–Begin expression

beginNum = 50000000;//Beginning number of counter
endNum = 10;//Ending number of counter
duration = 3;//duration of count down in seconds
linear(time, 0, duration, beginNum, endNum)

//–End expression

~Colin

[Mike Weber]

Hi, and thanks for your help. I’m still stumped, mostly because I don’t have much experience manipulating text layers, other than position, scale, etc. When I make a new text layer, do I have to first select something from the Animate menu (in the layer) before I can add an expression? Under the animate menu, there’s a choice for character value – is that what I want?

Then, I assume I select Selector>>Expression from the Add menu. (Again, in the layer). But then what exactly do I do? I tried opening up Expression Selector 1, and then pasted in your expression, over where it says selectorValue * textIndex/textTotal. I tried that, but nothing happens.

Again, thanks for your guidance. This is a whole new level of AE for me. I’ve gotten this far by reading the manual, but I’m not sure if I’m on the right track.

Mike

[Colin Braley]

Try this:
-Twirl down the properties for your text layer. (you should see the text and transform properties)
-Twirl down the “text” property
-You should see an animatable value called sourcetext.
-Alt + click on the stopwatch and paste in my expression
-(instead of alt + clicking you can hightlight the property and go to animate > add expression if you want)
-That should be all you need to do

~Colin

[Mike Weber]

Wow, that worked! Thanks a lot. If you’re still in a giving mood, I have a couple of follow up questions. Is there a way to keep it in whole numbers, in other words, get rid of the decimal places? Also, would like to line up the “10” in the proper place at the end. Thanks a million –

Mike

[Colin Braley]

I forgot to include the part that would round off the decimals when I originally posted. Try this:

beginNum = 50000000;//Beginning number of counter
endNum = 10;//Ending number of counter
duration = 3;//duration of count down in seconds
Math.round( linear(time, 0, duration, beginNum, endNum) )

all I did to round the number was used the statement Math.round(). To round a number to the nearest whole number use this, to make a number go up to the next whole number use Math.ceiling() and to simply drop the decimals (make it go down to the lower number) use Math.floor(). These prove invaluable when working with numbers. As for making the 10 line up in the proper place you need to set the anchor point of the text to a different spot. Refer to the manual or online help within AE to learn more about this if you don’t know what it is. Well that’s it, glad I could help.

~Colin

[Mike Weber]

Thanks for all your help – you’ve saved me a lot of time & frustration! Our senior artist position is currently vacant, and so I’m stepping in to help out the best I can. Normally I (an editor) use AE to do relatively normal things like moves on stills, color keys, masking, etc. Usually I can figure things out (or at least fake it), but this one had me stumped. I don’t know the expressions features at all, so maybe I should get more acquainted. Thanks again –

Mike