Scripting Question

[Dan Fredley]

I don’t think it’s possible via ExtendScript or Applescript GUI scripting. You have to set it through the preferences in AE. But if you’re on a Mac you can go to System Preferences and add a custom keyboard shortcut under Adobe After Effects and just type “Video Preview…” for the menu item and then assign it the keyboard shortcut you want and it will open the “Video Preview Preferences” for you–saves you from having to go to the menu>submenu at least.

[Jon Merrifield]

Thanks Dan,

One step less helps of course. I have just been using the [command] : shortcut to get to the preferences and thinking about how to write a script for the whole thing every time I do.

thanks again. Now I can put both pant legs on at the same time even if I still have to zip and button them.

Jon Merrifield
VFX Artist / Supervisor
PELi Studios, Austin TX

[Dan Fredley]

This script “tricks” AE into setting the video preview device to “Computer Monitor Only”, but there seems to be no way to set the preference to a specific device, so you’ll have to use the above solution to switch back to your external video output:

{
app.preferences.savePrefAsString("MacOS Video Preview Pref Section", "Device", "Computer Monitor Only");
app.preferences.saveToDisk();
app.preferences.reload();
}

Including “Computer Monitor Only” in the first line of code really doesn’t matter–it basically sets the preference to an unknown device, forcing AE to default to “Computer Monitor Only” behind the scenes. I only wrote it out literally to show what the script is trying to do even though it doesn’t mean anything. If that makes sense. It gets you one step closer.

[Jon Merrifield]

Thanks so much for your time.
I learned something and got more than I asked for.
My hat, (and my hair).. are off.
cheers

Jon Merrifield
VFX Artist / Supervisor
PELi Studios, Austin TX