After Effects Error: Can't Import File "xxx.ffx": Unsupported Filetype or extension

[MarcBosscher]

I get the following error message when I try and apply an effect to a layer in my composition:

After Effects Error: Can't Import File "xxx.ffx": Unsupported Filetype or extension

I am using AE CS4, my bridge is CS5.

And yes i have a layer selected. And no i can't right click on an effect in bridge and "Put" it anywhere. That option doesn't exist.  It happens on every one of my ffx files in Bridge.    Within Bridge if i go Preference>Startup Scripts, Adobe After Effects is not listed.  does it need to be listed (and then checked?)? If so, how do i do this?

I'm sure this issue exists elsewhere in these forms but the search function wasn't working just now.  Got some .asp error or something. So my apologies.

[Andrew Yoole]

It sounds like you're trying to import the file, rather than apply it. 

Make sure you launch Adobe Bridge from within After Effects, rather than independently.

http://help.adobe.com/en_US/aftereffects/cs/using/WSA677A9D5-8225-4890-B782-BC642B4DF37Fa.html

[MarcBosscher]

It sounds like you're trying to import the file, rather than apply it. 

Make sure you launch Adobe Bridge from within After Effects, rather than independently.

http://help.adobe.com/en_US/aftereffects/cs/using/WSA677A9D5-8225-4890 -B782-BC642B4DF37Fa.html

I'm launching bridge from Animation>Browse Presets

[samanthab85570344]

Thank you! Thank YOU so very much. That worked for me! I may not have figured this out (or would have taken me hours) had you not commented. 

[Todd_Kopriva]

First, an important piece of terminology:

An .ffx file is an animation preset, not an effect. Effect plug-ins have file-name extensions .aex (and others). See these pages for overview of effect and animation presets:

animation presets

effects

There are a lot of ways to apply animation presets. Using Bridge is only one of them. I never use Bridge to apply animation presets. If it's not working through Bridge, then try one of the other methods. I always use the Effects & Presets panel.

[MarcBosscher]

You're right, had a brain typo there.  Animation Preset.  I can see them in bridge, but I can't see them in AE.  Under Effect>Text the folder is empty.  Within Bridge i have a whole bunch of ffx files.

[Todd_Kopriva]

> Under Effect>Text the folder is empty.

These are not effects. They won't be in the Text effects category. In the Effects & Presets panel, look in the Animation Presets category.

[MarcBosscher]

These are not effects. They won't be in the Text effects category. In the Effects & Presets panel, look in the Animation Presets category.

Nothing there......

[MarcBosscher · Accepted solution]

Uninstalled. Reinstalled.   All better now.

[Gahl the Editor]

Ur a genius

[richems]

I had the same issue - and managed to work around this by selecting the text layer, and clicking Animation > Apply Animation Preset.. > then selecting one of the .ffx files.

You can see the presets before hand in bridge to check which preset you want to apply.

[ximenal60370774]

[Vivekanandhan28471029xvea]

This should be marked as the correct answer. This issue persists even in 2023 in the latest version of Bridge and After Effects. None of the above-mentioned solutions worked. But this solution worked. Thanks. 

[SeroC]

Such a shame. You would expect these simple things to be working in the 2023 version, but nope. 

[lealme]

I had the same problem then realized that I was using Bridge CS6 with AE CC ... So I installed CC Bridge, without uninstalling Brigde CS6 because it is inseparable from PS CS6, it can not be separated separately. This worked to add text animation presets by Bridge to me.

[Judge_Nutmeg]

In bridge I right clicked the preset and selected Place In Adobe After Effects CC2018 as I was getting the same error when double clicking the preset.

[CascadingIdiot]

as of 2023, i can successful apply preset with your method.

[Airis5E90]

HEllo i have the same problem only that i want to upload an video for my audio and intro .Help?