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Duplicate a composition layer in the timeline, at same time make new comp

Explorer ,
Aug 24, 2010 Aug 24, 2010

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Hi,

I know that in the project panel I can do Control D and make a new comp. I know that in the layer panel I can do control D and make a new layer for a different comp, which keeps all the animations I have applied to that comp.

I also know that after I've duplicated that comp in the Project Panel I can Alt drag it to the other comp in the timeline and replace, or swap the comps.

What I want is to remove a step.

I have Comp A

In the timeline I want to duplicate this comp and at the same time create a new Comp B.

What I want is to be able to duplicate the layer in the timeline, and while doing so also create a new composition which would show up in my project panel. Basically I am trying to skip the extra steps of duplicating layer, going to project panel, duplicating comp, then Alt dragging to swap them.

Is there a shortcut for this?

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Community Expert ,
Aug 24, 2010 Aug 24, 2010

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Precompose??? I think that's what you're asking.

The keyboard shortcut is Ctrl/Cmnd + Shift + C

Here's the help file page on precomposing layers.

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LEGEND ,
Aug 25, 2010 Aug 25, 2010

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Is there a shortcut for this?

No. Nor should there. Doesn't really make any sense to have it that way...

Mylenium

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Explorer ,
Aug 25, 2010 Aug 25, 2010

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Rick,

No it's not precomposing. I don't want to move my layers into a new comp. I want to make a copy of one comp layer (in the timeline) and while copying, have it converted to a brand new comp that is identical. Then I could double click and make my modifications.

Mylenium, why would you think there should be no shortcut for this? It would be a small timesaver. I could dupicate a layer and while doing so, also duplicate all fo the contents and the comp itself. that would be soooo easy!

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LEGEND ,
Aug 25, 2010 Aug 25, 2010

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Mylenium, why would you think there should be no shortcut for this?

You are forgetting, that pre-comps in themselves can contain any number of pre-comps inside pre-comps inside pre-comps.... You would have to find a way of taking care of those scenarios which is a major logic challenge and effort. that being so and to avoid potentially risky user operations that might ruin entire projects, it is much safer to not allow this. I would agree with Rick that a simple script that mimics the manual steps and tied to a function key is probably as good as it gets, but still, even there the underlying deeper problem still exists, so you have to work very controlled.

Mylenium

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Explorer ,
Aug 25, 2010 Aug 25, 2010

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Yes, but I am not talking about pre-composing. I dont' want to 'move layers into a new composition'. I want to duplicate a layer that contains a composition and in doing so duplicate that composition in the project panel as well.

But it sounds like there still is no shortcut for this, so I'll look into scripting.

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New Here ,
Feb 26, 2011 Feb 26, 2011

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Apologize for resurrecting an old thread, but this was ranked highly on Google and I found a solid working solution at donationware site AEScripts:  http://aescripts.com/true-comp-duplicator/ in case anyone else finds this thread while searching.

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New Here ,
Oct 19, 2015 Oct 19, 2015

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Thanks James! You are a life saver .

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Community Expert ,
Aug 25, 2010 Aug 25, 2010

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As a process, it would be very easy to accomplish with Scripting.  If you ask nicely in the Scripting Forum I'm sure you'll find some assistance.

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Explorer ,
Aug 25, 2010 Aug 25, 2010

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Thanks, I will check that out. I can actually write JavaScript, just have never done it for AE. Maybe it's time to learn something new!

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