After Effects
Code
Software & Tutorials
Scripting
Here you will find javascript snippets that performs one certain small task for learning and application
Recommended Readings
Repositories
Functions
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//String
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indexOf() // gets index of character
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split("delimiter") // Split a string into an array of substrings:
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length //Return the number of characters in a string
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match // Search a string for "ain":
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slice() // remove characters from front
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​
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// Arrays
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splice() // add elementsto array
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toString() // convert to string
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​
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//REGEX
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\t // tab
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\n // line
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\r // carriage return
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\s // whitespace
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​
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​
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Ref: https://www.w3schools.com/jsref/jsref_replace.asp
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Useful Extendscript references
Item
Code
Alert
alert("This is an alert")
Select
openDialog("Please select files")
Open file
var spreadsheet = File("/Users/ddu/Desktop/spreadsheet.csv");
Open (Prompt)
var spreadsheet = File.openDialog("Please select .csv file");
Read
var readOK = spreadsheet.open("r");
Prompt (with default value)
var value = prompt("What is the value", 10," This is the title");
​
​
Basics
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// Selection
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var proj = app.project;
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var myComp = app.project.activeItem; // or use "comp"
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var myLayers = myComp.selectedLayers;
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​
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​
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// Setting values
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~.property("Position").setValue([120,120]);
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​
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// making guide layers
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.guideLayer = true;
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​
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// adding expressions
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var exp = "string of expression";
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~.transform.position.expression =exp;
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How to use Menu Commands
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// Using ID number
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var inMenuID = 2000;
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app.executeCommand(inMenuID);
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​
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​
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// Using name
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app.executeCommand(app.findMenuCommandId("New Project"));
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1
//solid
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app.project.item(index).layers.addSolid(color, name, width, height, pixelAspect[, duration])
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​
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//null
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myNull = app.project.activeItem.layers.addNull();
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​
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​
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Solid Layer
black
comp color
ramp
check error
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// Black Solid at Comp size
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​
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myComp = app.project.activeItem;
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mySolid = myComp.layers.addSolid([0,0,0], "Solid", myComp.width, myComp.height,1);
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// Create solid named background with composition background color
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​
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comp_bg = app.project.activeItem.bgColor;
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myComp = app.project.activeItem;
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mySolid = myComp.layers.addSolid(comp_bg, "BG", myComp.width, myComp.height,1);
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​
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//Create solid named background with a ramp effect
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​
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myComp = app.project.activeItem;
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app.beginUndoGroup("Add Ramp")
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mySolid = myComp.layers.addSolid([0,.8,.4], "BG", myComp.width, myComp.height,1);
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mySolid.startTime = 0
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myEffect = mySolid.property("Effects").addProperty("Ramp");app.endUndoGroup();
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{
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var activeItem = app.project.activeItem;
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​
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if (activeItem == null || !(activeItem instanceof CompItem)) {
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alert("Select a comp before running this script");
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} else {
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// create a red, comp-sized solid layer.
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theSolid = activeItem.layers.addSolid([1,0,0],"Solid Layer", activeItem.width, activeItem.height, 1);
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​
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// find the solid's color array values.
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c = theSolid.source.mainSource.color;
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​
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alert("Created a new solid with color values [" + c[0] + "," + c[1] + "," + c[2] + "]");
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}
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}
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Adjustment Layer
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// Add Adjustment Layer with Effect.jsx
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try{
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var adjLayer = app.project.activeItem.layers.addSolid([0,0,0], "Adjustment Layer", app.project.activeItem.width, app.project.activeItem.height, app.project.activeItem.pixelAspect, app.project.activeItem.duration);
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adjLayer.adjustmentLayer = true;
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adjLayer.effect.addProperty("Curves");
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}
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catch (e) {
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alert (e);
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}
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Text layer
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app.project.activeItem.layers.addText('sourceText')
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myText.property("Source Text").expression = " thisComp.name + \" (\" + (1 + (time/thisComp.frameDuration)) + \")\" "; //add expression
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myText.property("Position").setValue([172, 644]); //set position to lower right corner
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​
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//using an array
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var content = ['text','text','text'] // read content
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for(var i=0; i < content.length; i++){
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app.project.activeItem.layers.addText(content[i]);
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}
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​
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Shape layer
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myComp = app.project.activeItem;
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myColor = [0,128,255]; // How to set hex code though? Attached to a global fill?
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​
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// Create shape layer
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var myShapeLayer = myComp.layers.addShape();
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myShapeLayer.name = ("minRect");
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​
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// Create shape layer & shape (Ellipse, Rect,)
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var shapeGroup = myShapeLayer.property("Contents").addProperty("ADBE Vector Group");
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var myRect = shapeGroup.property("Contents").addProperty("ADBE Vector Shape - Rect"); //
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myRect.property("Size").setValue([300,100]);
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​
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// Create stroke properties
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var myStroke = shapeGroup.property("Contents").addProperty("ADBE Vector Graphic - Stroke");
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myStroke.property("Color").setValue(myColor);
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myStroke.property("Opacity").setValue([100]);
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myStroke.property("Stroke Width").setValue([2]);
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​
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​
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// Create fill
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var myFill = shapeGroup.property("Contents").addProperty("ADBE Vector Graphic - Fill");
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myFill.property("Color").setValue(myColor);
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myFill.property("Opacity").setValue([100]);
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var myRepeater = shapeGroup.property("Contents").addProperty("ADBE Vector Filter - Repeater");
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​
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// Source: https://forums.creativecow.net/docs/forums/post.php?forumid=227&postid=28156&univpostid=28156&pview=t
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Creating a hyperlink
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// Source: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/17665920/open-web-page-in-after-effects-with-extendscript
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​
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// checking that the script can access the network:
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​
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if (app.preferences.getPrefAsLong("Main Pref Section", "Pref_SCRIPTING_FILE_NETWORK_SECURITY") != 1) {
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alert("Please tick the \"Allow Scripts to Write Files and Access Network\" checkbox if Preferences > General");
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​
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// Then open Preferences > General to let people tick the checkbox
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app.executeCommand(2359);
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​
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// Here you should check again if they ticked it, and choose to continue or stop ...
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}
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// checking of the OS:
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​
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var os = system.osName;
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if (!os.length) {
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// I never remember which one is available, but I think $.os always is, you'll have to check
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os = $.os;
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}
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app_os = (os.indexOf("Win") != -1) ? "Win" : "Mac"
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​
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//os-dependent system calls:
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​
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var url = "http://aescripts.com";
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​
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if (app_os == "Win") {
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system.callSystem("explorer " + url);
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} else {
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system.callSystem("open " + url);
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}
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Folder creation
basics
parentFolders
createChildFolder
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//create a single folder
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app.project.items.addFolder("foldername);
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// create a folder set
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var topFolder = app.project.items.addFolder("Top Level");
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topFolder.parentFolder = app.project.rootFolder;
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var subFolder = app.project.items.addFolder("Sub Level");
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subFolder.parentFolder = topFolder;
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​
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​
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// number of items in project panel
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app.project.items.length
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// Put comma between folder names & NO space between
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var str = "output,main_comps,precomps,assets,reference";
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var arr = str.split(",");
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​
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//Create parent folders
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for (i = 0; i < arr.length; i++) {
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app.project.items.addFolder("0" + i + "_" + arr[i].toString().toUpperCase());
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}
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// Put comma between folder names & NO space between
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var str = "output,main_comps,precomps,assets,reference";
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var arr = str.split(",");
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​
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//Create parent folders
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for (i = 0; i < arr.length; i++) {
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app.project.items.addFolder("0" + i + "_" + arr[i].toString().toUpperCase());
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}
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app.project.items.addFolder("Ω MESSY");
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​
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// Create subfolders using loop
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var subfoldersStr = "a_LOGO,b_PHOTOGRAPHY,c_FOOTAGE,d_MOVS,e_TEXTURES,f_AUDIO"
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var subfoldersArr = subfoldersStr.split(",");
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for (i = 0; i < subfoldersArr.length; i++) {
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var assetSub = app.project.items.addFolder(subfoldersArr[i].toString());
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assetSub.parentFolder = app.project.item(4);
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}
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​
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Instance of
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for (var i=0; i<proj.selection.length; i++)
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{
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if (proj.selection[i] instanceof CompItem)
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comps[comps.length] = proj.selection[i];
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}
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Check if
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var myLayer = app.project.activeItem.layer(1);
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var hasEffect = false;
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​
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for (var i = 1; i <= myLayer.property("Effects").numProperties; i++) {
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if (myLayer.property("Effects").property(i).matchName == "ADBE Tile") {
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alert("It does!");
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hasEffect = true;
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break;
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}
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}
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​
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if (!hasEffect) {
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myLayer.property("Effects").addProperty("ADBE Tile");
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}
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Limitations
indexOf()
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IndexOf is a string function and doesn't work with arrays anywhere.
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​
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​
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//Source: https://forums.creativecow.net/docs/forums/post.php?forumid=227&postid=37977&univpostid=37977&pview=t
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Removing
comp
selected layers
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// removes ALL effects from ALL the layers in active composition
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​
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var myComp = app.project.activeItem;
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var myEffects;
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​
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function removeCompFx(){
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for (var i = 1; i <= myComp.numLayers; i++){
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try{
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myEffects = myComp.layer(i).Effects;
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for (j = myEffects.numProperties; j > 0; j--){
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myEffects.property(j).remove();
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}
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}catch(err){
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}
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}
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}
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​
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app.beginUndoGroup("removeFx");
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removeCompFx();
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1
// removes ALL effects from SELECTED layers in active composition
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​
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var myComp = app.project.activeItem;
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var mySelectedLayers = myComp.selectedLayers;
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var myEffects;
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​
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function removeSelectedLayersFx(){
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for (var i = 0; i < mySelectedLayers.length; i++){
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try{
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myEffects = mySelectedLayers[i].Effects;
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for (j = myEffects.numProperties; j > 0; j--){
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myEffects.property(j).remove();
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}
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}catch(err){
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}
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}
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}
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​
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app.beginUndoGroup("removeFx");
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removeSelectedLayersFx();
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Expressions
1
​
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Position
1
​
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//Distributes layers in 2D space within comp size
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var thisComp = app.project.activeItem;
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var myLayers = thisComp.selectedLayers;
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var x = thisComp.width;
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var y = thisComp.height;
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var randX,randY;
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​
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function getRndNum(min, max) {
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return Math.random() * (max - min) + min;
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}
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for(i=0; i<myLayers.length; i++){
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randX = getRndNum(0,x);
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randY = getRndNum(0,y);
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myLayers[i].property("Position").setValue([randX,randY,0]);
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// myLayers[i].property("Position").setValue([x,y])
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​
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}
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​
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Misc
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/* Changes the background color for the active comp to white.
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Can be customized to any color you'd like by simply changing the [1,1,1] value to reflect the appropriate RGB values...
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​
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Example colors:
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[0,0,0] = Black
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[0.5,0.5,0.5] = Grey
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*/
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​
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app.project.activeItem.bgColor=[1,1,1];
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Duplicate selected n times
prompt
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app.beginUndoGroup("Duplicate Selected Layers");
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var comp = app.project.activeItem;
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if(comp){
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var numCopies = prompt("How many copies?",5);
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if (numCopies){
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for (var i=0; i < comp.selectedLayers.length; i++) {
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for (var j=1; j <= numCopies; j++) {
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comp.selectedLayers[i].duplicate();
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}
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}
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}
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}
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app.endUndoGroup;
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app.beginUndoGroup("Duplicate Selected Layers");
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var comp = app.project.activeItem;
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if(comp){
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var numCopies = 15
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if (numCopies){
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for (var i=0; i < comp.selectedLayers.length; i++) {
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for (var j=1; j <= numCopies; j++) {
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comp.selectedLayers[i].duplicate();
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}
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}
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}
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}
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app.endUndoGroup;
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Kbar Scriptlets
Changes selected Solid source's color to white
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{
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var activeItem = app.project.activeItem;
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​
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if (activeItem == null || !(activeItem instanceof CompItem)) {
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alert("Select a comp before running this script");
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} else {
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if (activeItem.selectedLayers.length < 1) {
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alert("Select a solid layer before running this script");
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} else {
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solidLayer = activeItem.selectedLayers[0];
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solidLayer.source.mainSource.color = [1,1,1];
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alert("Changed solid's color to white.");
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}
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}
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}
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Change comp bg color to black > white > grey
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myComp = app.project.activeItem
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var bg = myComp.bgColor;
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var n =0 ;
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​
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var baseColor = [0,0,0];
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var col_1 = [1,1,1];
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var col_2 = [.5,.5,.5];
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​
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​
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if(bg[0]==0&&bg[1]==0&&bg[2]==0) {n=1} // black to white
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if(bg[0]==1&&bg[1]==1&&bg[2]==1) {n=2} // white to grey
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if(bg[0]==.5&&bg[1]==.5&&bg[2]==.5) {n=3} // grey to black
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​
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​
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switch(n){
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case 0:
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app.project.activeItem.bgColor = baseColor;
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break;
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​
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case 1:
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app.project.activeItem.bgColor = col_1;
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break;
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​
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case 2:
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app.project.activeItem.bgColor = col_2;
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break;
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​
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case 3:
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app.project.activeItem.bgColor = baseColor;
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break;
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}
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​
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Arrays
Shuffle
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function shuffleArray(array) {
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var currentIndex = array.length, temporaryValue, randomIndex;
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​
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// While there remain elements to shuffle...
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while (0 !== currentIndex) {
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​
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// Pick a remaining element...
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randomIndex = Math.floor(Math.random() * currentIndex);
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currentIndex -= 1;
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​
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// And swap it with the current element.
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temporaryValue = array[currentIndex];
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array[currentIndex] = array[randomIndex];
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array[randomIndex] = temporaryValue;
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}
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​
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return array;
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}
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Last modified 8mo ago
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Contents
Recommended Readings
Functions
Useful Extendscript references
Basics
How to use Menu Commands
Adding
Solid Layer
Adjustment Layer
Text layer
Shape layer
Creating a hyperlink
Folder creation
Instance of
Check if
Check if Layer Has Specific Effect Applied To It
Limitations
indexOf()
Removing
Effects property group [1]
Expressions
Randomize [1]
Position
Misc
Change the background color for the active comp
Duplicate selected n times
Kbar Scriptlets
Changes selected Solid source's color to white
Change comp bg color to black > white > grey
Arrays
Shuffle