Split String Errors when using [1]

[Dan Ebberts]

split() creates an array and if the text doesn’t have a “%” character, the array will only have one element (which will contain all the text of the line). When you try to access the 2nd element (which doesn’t exist), you’ll get that error. Your expression should check the length of TextArray before accessing the 2nd element.

Dan

[Adam Haas]

The code is throwing an error for instances where the % is not present, true. However, how will checking the length allow me to determine if there is a character in it?

I found this code:


myChar = "•";
if (text.sourceText[textIndex-1] == myChar) 100 else 0


that I tried to nest an IF statement within, but it’s not working:


lessonTextSource = thisComp.layer("LessonTextSource").text.sourceText.replace(/\r?\n|\r/g,'');
percent = "%";

if (lessonTextSource[textIndex-1] == percent)
CornerText = lessonTextSource.split(" % ")[1];

if (ExperiencedOrInexperienced == "Experienced")
"Experienced"
else if (ExperiencedOrInexperienced == "Inexperienced")
"Inexperienced"
else
"ASDF"


I get this error:


After Effects warning: Expression disabled. Error at line 4 in property 'Source Text'
of layer 2 ('CornerText') in comp 'TestComposition'.
property or method named 'textIndex' in Class 'global' is missing or does
not exist. It may have been renamed, moved, deleted, or the name may have been mistyped.


[Dan Ebberts]

If the character isn’t present, the length of the array will be 1 (and all of the text will be in array element [0]). If it is there, the length will be greater than one and the text will be split among multiple array elements.

Dan

[Adam Haas]

I was able to get this to work by adding the special characters, even if there is no text there, and then just displaying the innermost text :


TextArray = thisComp.layer("LessonTextSource").text.sourceText.split('\r');
ArrayIndex = timeToFrames()%TextArray.length;

TextArray[ArrayIndex].split("% ")[1].split(" -")[0];


I didn’t think I could use split more than once, but it makes my body of text gross.

I came across someone using length, but didn’t understand how it worked. Now I can’t find where I saw it. Can you give me an example of how that works?

[Dan Ebberts]

Something like this maybe:


txt = "xxx%yyy";
txtArray = txt.split("%");
if (txtArray.length > 1)
txtArray[1]
else
txtArray[0]


Then try it without the % in the text.

Dan

[Adam Haas]

Oh that is so much better. Thank you so much for your patience.

Using my original text:

Interviewing Verbal Communication
Interviewing Verbal Communication – Action Plan
Inexperienced % Describe a Conflict & Its Resolution
Inexperienced % Describe a Conflict & Its Resolution – Action Plan
Inexperienced % Describe a Conflict & Its Resolution # Español
Inexperienced % Describe a Conflict & Its Resolution # Español – Action Plan

My code works as so:


HyphenText = thisComp.layer("LessonTextSource").text.sourceText.split(" - ");

if (HyphenText.length > 1)
HyphenText[1];
else
"";



PoundText = thisComp.layer("LessonTextSource").text.sourceText.split(" # ");

if (PoundText.length > 1)
PoundText[1];
else
"";



PercentText = thisComp.layer("LessonTextSource").text.sourceText.split(" % ");

if (PercentText.length > 1)
PercentText[0];
else
"";