Text box with 2 separate text layers adapting to each other

[Filip Vandueren]

I get how the shape can adapt, but how do the two texts adapt to each other? Just position wise ?

[Filip Vandueren]

If all you need is the smaller text to move to the right if the name gets longer, then parent it to the first text, and give the position this expression:

margin=60;
sr=parent.sourceRectAtTime();
[sr.left+sr.width+margin,0];

As for the shape layer:

add a shape layer, give it a path, give the path this expression:

margin = 60;
t1=thisComp.layer("John");
s1=t1.sourceRectAtTime();
t2=thisComp.layer("• This text layer adapts");
s2=t2.sourceRectAtTime();
l = t1.toComp([s1.left, s1.top])[0] - margin;
r = t2.toComp([s2.left+s2.width, s1.top])[0] + margin;
t = Math.min(t1.toComp([s1.left, s1.top])[1], t2.toComp([s2.left+s2.width, s2.top])[1]) - margin;
b = Math.max(t1.toComp([s1.left, s1.top+s1.height])[1], t2.toComp([s2.left+s2.width, s2.top+s2.height])[1]) + margin;
createPath( [fromComp([l,t]), fromComp([r,t]), fromComp([r,b]), fromComp([l,b])], [],[], true);

add a Fill and a Round Corners modifier.

[Sandro Maia]

Hi Filip, this worked perfectly. Is there also a way to keep everything centred to the composition when you type on the second text? Typing on the first text everything is aligned to the centre, but when i type on the second text the shape only expands to the right and doesn’t centre.

Thank you so much for your help! Appreciated.

[Sandro Maia]

After trying around i’ve managed to do it with this simple expression applied to the “x” position of “John” layer.

Now everything is centred all the time.

transform.xPosition - (thisComp.layer("• This text layer adapts").sourceRectAtTime().width/2)

[Filip Vandueren]

Sorry, forgot to get back to you.

Note that if you’ve added a margin between the layers as I did in my example, you’ll also want to add half of that margin

[Sandro Maia]

Yeah you’re right!

Thanks Filip!

[John Collucci]

Hi Sandro & Filip, I’m in awe of these posts.

I’ve been using AE for nearly 20 years, and I use pre-saved scripts for certain common tasks, but have no real depth to how to code them myself. I feel that so much untapped capability exists for most of us.

Do you recommend any resources to actually learn the language & syntax to solve one’s own problems without relying on internet searches (& hoping someone else can help)?

[Filip Vandueren]

this is a really good course:

https://www.animoplex.com/learn/expressions.html#101