Create a custom Control effect

lloydalvarez · **Posted:** Mon Feb 25, 2008 3:34 pm

explorer wrote:

If there is what would be a path returned by that dialog look like if one would navigate to the AE instal dir?

This code will give you the path to the enclosing folder of the AE application

Windows:
var appFolderPath = String(Folder.appPackage);

Mac:
var appFolderPath = Folder.appPackage.parent.toString();

-Lloyd

explorer · **Posted:** Mon Feb 25, 2008 4:44 pm

ok. nevermind.

[EDIT]

Oh... hey... I didn't see your response

I figured it out a bit differently, but it works like a charm.
I'll be publishing this new great app soon.
I'll make sure to let you guys know.

Cheers

lunelson · **Joined:** Sun Mar 26, 2006 1:58 am **Posts:** 18

Hey did anyone ever figure out how to use the "Popup" controller? It is defined at the beginning of the XML file but there is no example of the syntax anywhere.

BTW, this is my version of a JSX to invoke the custom effect once you've created it:

Code:

// Create Undo Group for Applying the Effect
app.beginUndoGroup("My Custom Effect");{
   //Check for selected comp with alert if one isn't selected
   var activeItem = app.project.activeItem; 
   if (activeItem == null || !(activeItem instanceof CompItem)){ 
      alert("Please select a Comp first");} 
   else { 
      //Define comp
      var mainComp = app.project.activeItem;
      //Make a Null Layer to apply The Custom Effect
      newNull = mainComp.layers.addNull();
      newNull.name = "My Custom Effect Null";
      //Add the effect
      newNull.Effects.addProperty("My Custom Effect");
      // close the undo group 
      app.endUndoGroup();}}

toddkopriva · **Posted:** Mon Feb 09, 2009 1:08 pm

I just talked with a couple of the After Effects software engineers about the Popup control.

For now, this control is just used internally by layer styles. It doesn't work for custom effects / animation presets.

If you want this functionality, please enter a feature request using the feature-request form.

lunelson · **Joined:** Sun Mar 26, 2006 1:58 am **Posts:** 18

Thanks Todd,

I figured it was probably internal-use only; but really nice to have the definitive answer.

Much appreciated.

LMN

taravasya · **Joined:** Tue Feb 15, 2011 6:19 pm **Posts:** 6

Is there any way to create my own effects, with several of the controller with a script, but without changing the xml file?
I have this script:

Its create standart Slider Control:

But how can I rename the Slider, and add more sliders(or other controls) to my effect?

MYX_2000 · **Joined:** Mon Feb 06, 2012 2:01 pm **Posts:** 12

Hey all,
I thought I would place an FYI for future folks here. I was trying like mad to build a custom UI the past couple of days. I have not had it fail like this in the past. Usually you miss a quote or something stupid. I spent so long looking at quotes and tag beginnings and ends and nothing was working / i.e. the thing was constantly failing. After breaking it down into smaller pieces to troubleshoot it, it turns out that there is a maximum of 30 characters allowed in the naming of the thing. I had "Use Velocity Drift for Master Rotation" (38 characters). Works great under 30 though.

sahara · **Joined:** Thu Aug 12, 2010 1:50 am **Posts:** 3

nab wrote:

Here is my script : http://www.nabscripts.com/Forum/Scripts/myScripts/createCustomEffect.jsx

hi,
has anybody got this script from Nab to create Custom effects?

Does anybody know how to make a group inside such a Custom Effect?
cheers

MYX_2000 · **Joined:** Mon Feb 06, 2012 2:01 pm **Posts:** 12

I was never able to find it. But it is not hard to add them as described. Just be mindful of the formatting, and name length (see above).

<Group name="$$$/AE/Preset/Group_Name_Here=Group Name Here">

place your doodads in here

</Group>

sahara · **Joined:** Thu Aug 12, 2010 1:50 am **Posts:** 3

MYX_2000 wrote:

I was never able to find it. But it is not hard to add them as described. Just be mindful of the formatting, and name length (see above).

<Group name="$$$/AE/Preset/Group_Name_Here=Group Name Here">

place your doodads in here

</Group>

Hi,thank you it works

It would be great to have a script that writes the code directly into the XML file :!:

Red_Fox · **Joined:** Tue Apr 22, 2008 4:22 am **Posts:** 3

sahara wrote:

It would be great to have a script that writes the code directly into the XML file :!:

http://aescripts.com/slim-expression-controls/

AE ENHANCERS

Create a custom Control effect

Who is online