Set Layer Control ("Layer") in extendscript

Report · May 04, 2017

After Effects/ExtendScript Geniuses,

Heres my dilemma, I've just started coding and I'm struggling to learn all the language/syntax. I need to figure out how to set the ("Layer") of ("Layer Control") that I've renamed to "A-Target" currently in Null4.property upon script launch.

-----------------------------------

var mainComp = app.project.activeItem;

var tarA = mainComp.layers.addSolid([0.5, 0.5, 0.5],"B-Target", 480, 270, 1.0);

var Null4 = mainComp.layers.addNull();

Null4.name = "Camera Rig Controller";

var tar1 = Null4("Effects").addProperty("Layer Control");

tar1.name = "A-Target";

-----------------------------------

All of the code above seems to work just fine. I just need to set that Layer Control layer to tarA

I've pretty sure it has to be something close to this:

tar1.property("Layer").setLayer(tarA) -------> What is the right way to say this?

Many Thanks,

Sam

Report · May 04, 2017

Congrats on learning to script! You're almost there with your solution. Here's a sample of how to set the layer assigned to a Layer Control effect for your logic:

tar1.property("Effects").property("Layer Control").property("Layer").setValue(tarA.index);

The names of all the nested layer properties and effects isn't very obvious. To help with that I wrote a script a while ago that will dump out the entire property chain for a layer. I'm including it here for your future script work whenever you need to find the path/name of a given property. To use this script, simply select one or more layers and run the script - it will dump all the properties of the layers to the Javascript console (which you can view with Adobe's ExtendScript toolkit debugger):

(function() { // wrap entire script in an anonymous function to create a private scope within AE's global namespace   
// script entry point
main();    
    
function dumpPropTree(rootObj, nestingLevel) {  
    var countProps = rootObj.numProperties;
    for (var propIndex=1; propIndex <= countProps; propIndex++) {
        var prop = rootObj.property(propIndex);
        $.writeln(Array(nestingLevel*4).join(" ") + "[" + nestingLevel + "-" + propIndex + "] " + "matchName: \"" + prop.matchName + "\", name: \"" + prop.name + "\"");
        if (prop.numProperties > 0)
            dumpPropTree(prop, nestingLevel+1);
    }
}
function main() {
    var activeComp = app.project.activeItem;
    if (activeComp == null) {
        alert("Error: No active composition");
        return;
    }   
    var countSelectedLayers = activeComp.selectedLayers.length;
    if (countSelectedLayers == 0) {
        alert("Error: No selected layer(s)");
        return;
    }   
    for (selectedLayerIndex=0; selectedLayerIndex < countSelectedLayers; selectedLayerIndex++) {
        var layer = activeComp.selectedLayers[selectedLayerIndex];
        $.writeln("***************** [ Layer: \"" + layer.name + "\" ] *****************");
        dumpPropTree(layer, 0);
    }    
}
})();   // end of anonymous function that encapsulates entire script

Here's a sample output:

***************** [ Layer: "Shape Layer 1" ] *****************
[0-1] matchName: "ADBE Marker", name: "Marker"
[0-2] matchName: "ADBE Root Vectors Group", name: "Contents"
   [1-1] matchName: "ADBE Vector Group", name: "Polystar 1"
       [2-1] matchName: "ADBE Vector Blend Mode", name: "Blend Mode"
       [2-2] matchName: "ADBE Vectors Group", name: "Contents"
           [3-1] matchName: "ADBE Vector Shape - Group", name: "Path 1"
               [4-1] matchName: "ADBE Vector Shape Direction", name: "Shape Direction"
               [4-2] matchName: "ADBE Vector Shape", name: "Path"
           [3-2] matchName: "ADBE Vector Graphic - Stroke", name: "Stroke 1"
               [4-1] matchName: "ADBE Vector Blend Mode", name: "Blend Mode"
               [4-2] matchName: "ADBE Vector Composite Order", name: "Composite"
               [4-3] matchName: "ADBE Vector Stroke Color", name: "Color"
               [4-4] matchName: "ADBE Vector Stroke Opacity", name: "Opacity"
               [4-5] matchName: "ADBE Vector Stroke Width", name: "Stroke Width"
               [4-6] matchName: "ADBE Vector Stroke Line Cap", name: "Line Cap"
               [4-7] matchName: "ADBE Vector Stroke Line Join", name: "Line Join"
               [4-8] matchName: "ADBE Vector Stroke Miter Limit", name: "Miter Limit"
               [4-9] matchName: "ADBE Vector Stroke Dashes", name: "Dashes"
                   [5-1] matchName: "ADBE Vector Stroke Dash 1", name: "Dash"
                   [5-2] matchName: "ADBE Vector Stroke Gap 1", name: "Gap"
                   [5-3] matchName: "ADBE Vector Stroke Dash 2", name: "Dash 2"
                   [5-4] matchName: "ADBE Vector Stroke Gap 2", name: "Gap 2"
                   [5-5] matchName: "ADBE Vector Stroke Dash 3", name: "Dash 3"
                   [5-6] matchName: "ADBE Vector Stroke Gap 3", name: "Gap 3"
                   [5-7] matchName: "ADBE Vector Stroke Offset", name: "Offset"
           [3-3] matchName: "ADBE Vector Graphic - Fill", name: "Fill 1"
               [4-1] matchName: "ADBE Vector Blend Mode", name: "Blend Mode"
               [4-2] matchName: "ADBE Vector Composite Order", name: "Composite"
               [4-3] matchName: "ADBE Vector Fill Rule", name: "Fill Rule"
               [4-4] matchName: "ADBE Vector Fill Color", name: "Color"
               [4-5] matchName: "ADBE Vector Fill Opacity", name: "Opacity"
       [2-3] matchName: "ADBE Vector Transform Group", name: "Transform"
           [3-1] matchName: "ADBE Vector Anchor", name: "Anchor Point"
           [3-2] matchName: "ADBE Vector Position", name: "Position"
           [3-3] matchName: "ADBE Vector Scale", name: "Scale"
           [3-4] matchName: "ADBE Vector Skew", name: "Skew"
           [3-5] matchName: "ADBE Vector Skew Axis", name: "Skew Axis"
           [3-6] matchName: "ADBE Vector Rotation", name: "Rotation"
           [3-7] matchName: "ADBE Vector Group Opacity", name: "Opacity"
       [2-4] matchName: "ADBE Vector Materials Group", name: "Material Options"
           [3-1] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Front RGB", name: "Front Color"
           [3-2] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Front Ambient", name: "Front Ambient"
           [3-3] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Front Diffuse", name: "Front Diffuse"
           [3-4] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Front Specular", name: "Front Specular Intensity"
           [3-5] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Front Shininess", name: "Front Specular Shininess"
           [3-6] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Front Metal", name: "Front Metal"
           [3-7] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Front Reflection", name: "Front Reflection Intensity"
           [3-8] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Front Gloss", name: "Front Reflection Sharpness"
           [3-9] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Front Fresnel", name: "Front Reflection Rolloff"
           [3-10] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Front Xparency", name: "Front Transparency"
           [3-11] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Front XparRoll", name: "Front Transparency Rolloff"
           [3-12] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Front IOR", name: "Front Index of Refraction"
           [3-13] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Bevel RGB", name: "Bevel Color"
           [3-14] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Bevel Ambient", name: "Bevel Ambient"
           [3-15] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Bevel Diffuse", name: "Bevel Diffuse"
           [3-16] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Bevel Specular", name: "Bevel Specular Intensity"
           [3-17] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Bevel Shininess", name: "Bevel Specular Shininess"
           [3-18] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Bevel Metal", name: "Bevel Metal"
           [3-19] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Bevel Reflection", name: "Bevel Reflection Intensity"
           [3-20] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Bevel Gloss", name: "Bevel Reflection Sharpness"
           [3-21] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Bevel Fresnel", name: "Bevel Reflection Rolloff"
           [3-22] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Bevel Xparency", name: "Bevel Transparency"
           [3-23] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Bevel XparRoll", name: "Bevel Transparency Rolloff"
           [3-24] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Bevel IOR", name: "Bevel Index of Refraction"
           [3-25] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Side RGB", name: "Side Color"
           [3-26] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Side Ambient", name: "Side Ambient"
           [3-27] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Side Diffuse", name: "Side Diffuse"
           [3-28] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Side Specular", name: "Side Specular Intensity"
           [3-29] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Side Shininess", name: "Side Specular Shininess"
           [3-30] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Side Metal", name: "Side Metal"
           [3-31] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Side Reflection", name: "Side Reflection Intensity"
           [3-32] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Side Gloss", name: "Side Reflection Sharpness"
           [3-33] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Side Fresnel", name: "Side Reflection Rolloff"
           [3-34] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Side Xparency", name: "Side Transparency"
           [3-35] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Side XparRoll", name: "Side Transparency Rolloff"
           [3-36] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Side IOR", name: "Side Index of Refraction"
           [3-37] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Back RGB", name: "Back Color"
           [3-38] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Back Ambient", name: "Back Ambient"
           [3-39] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Back Diffuse", name: "Back Diffuse"
           [3-40] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Back Specular", name: "Back Specular Intensity"
           [3-41] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Back Shininess", name: "Back Specular Shininess"
           [3-42] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Back Metal", name: "Back Metal"
           [3-43] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Back Reflection", name: "Back Reflection Intensity"
           [3-44] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Back Gloss", name: "Back Reflection Sharpness"
           [3-45] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Back Fresnel", name: "Back Reflection Rolloff"
           [3-46] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Back Xparency", name: "Back Transparency"
           [3-47] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Back XparRoll", name: "Back Transparency Rolloff"
           [3-48] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Back IOR", name: "Back Index of Refraction"
[0-3] matchName: "ADBE Mask Parade", name: "Masks"
[0-4] matchName: "ADBE Effect Parade", name: "Effects"
   [1-1] matchName: "ADBE Layer Control", name: "Layer Control"
       [2-1] matchName: "ADBE Layer Control-0001", name: "Layer"
       [2-2] matchName: "ADBE Effect Built In Params", name: "Compositing Options"
           [3-1] matchName: "ADBE Effect Mask Parade", name: "Masks"
           [3-2] matchName: "ADBE Effect Mask Opacity", name: "Effect Opacity"
[0-5] matchName: "ADBE Transform Group", name: "Transform"
   [1-1] matchName: "ADBE Anchor Point", name: "Anchor Point"
   [1-2] matchName: "ADBE Position", name: "Position"
   [1-3] matchName: "ADBE Position_0", name: "X Position"
   [1-4] matchName: "ADBE Position_1", name: "Y Position"
   [1-5] matchName: "ADBE Position_2", name: "Z Position"
   [1-6] matchName: "ADBE Scale", name: "Scale"
   [1-7] matchName: "ADBE Orientation", name: "Orientation"
   [1-8] matchName: "ADBE Rotate X", name: "X Rotation"
   [1-9] matchName: "ADBE Rotate Y", name: "Y Rotation"
   [1-10] matchName: "ADBE Rotate Z", name: "Rotation"
   [1-11] matchName: "ADBE Opacity", name: "Opacity"
   [1-12] matchName: "ADBE Envir Appear in Reflect", name: "Appears in Reflections"
[0-6] matchName: "ADBE Layer Styles", name: "Layer Styles"
   [1-1] matchName: "ADBE Blend Options Group", name: "Blending Options"
       [2-1] matchName: "ADBE Global Angle2", name: "Global Light Angle"
       [2-2] matchName: "ADBE Global Altitude2", name: "Global Light Altitude"
       [2-3] matchName: "ADBE Adv Blend Group", name: "Advanced Blending"
           [3-1] matchName: "ADBE Layer Fill Opacity2", name: "Fill Opacity"
           [3-2] matchName: "ADBE R Channel Blend", name: "Red"
           [3-3] matchName: "ADBE G Channel Blend", name: "Green"
           [3-4] matchName: "ADBE B Channel Blend", name: "Blue"
           [3-5] matchName: "ADBE Blend Interior", name: "Blend Interior Styles as Group"
           [3-6] matchName: "ADBE Blend Ranges", name: "Use Blend Ranges from Source"
   [1-2] matchName: "dropShadow/enabled", name: "Drop Shadow"
       [2-1] matchName: "dropShadow/mode2", name: "Blend Mode"
       [2-2] matchName: "dropShadow/color", name: "Color"
       [2-3] matchName: "dropShadow/opacity", name: "Opacity"
       [2-4] matchName: "dropShadow/useGlobalAngle", name: "Use Global Light"
       [2-5] matchName: "dropShadow/localLightingAngle", name: "Angle"
       [2-6] matchName: "dropShadow/distance", name: "Distance"
       [2-7] matchName: "dropShadow/chokeMatte", name: "Spread"
       [2-8] matchName: "dropShadow/blur", name: "Size"
       [2-9] matchName: "dropShadow/noise", name: "Noise"
       [2-10] matchName: "dropShadow/layerConceals", name: "Layer Knocks Out Drop Shadow"
   [1-3] matchName: "innerShadow/enabled", name: "Inner Shadow"
       [2-1] matchName: "innerShadow/mode2", name: "Blend Mode"
       [2-2] matchName: "innerShadow/color", name: "Color"
       [2-3] matchName: "innerShadow/opacity", name: "Opacity"
       [2-4] matchName: "innerShadow/useGlobalAngle", name: "Use Global Light"
       [2-5] matchName: "innerShadow/localLightingAngle", name: "Angle"
       [2-6] matchName: "innerShadow/distance", name: "Distance"
       [2-7] matchName: "innerShadow/chokeMatte", name: "Choke"
       [2-8] matchName: "innerShadow/blur", name: "Size"
       [2-9] matchName: "innerShadow/noise", name: "Noise"
   [1-4] matchName: "outerGlow/enabled", name: "Outer Glow"
       [2-1] matchName: "outerGlow/mode2", name: "Blend Mode"
       [2-2] matchName: "outerGlow/opacity", name: "Opacity"
       [2-3] matchName: "outerGlow/noise", name: "Noise"
       [2-4] matchName: "outerGlow/AEColorChoice", name: "Color Type"
       [2-5] matchName: "outerGlow/color", name: "Color"
       [2-6] matchName: "outerGlow/gradient", name: "Colors"
       [2-7] matchName: "outerGlow/gradientSmoothness", name: "Gradient Smoothness"
       [2-8] matchName: "outerGlow/glowTechnique", name: "Technique"
       [2-9] matchName: "outerGlow/chokeMatte", name: "Spread"
       [2-10] matchName: "outerGlow/blur", name: "Size"
       [2-11] matchName: "outerGlow/inputRange", name: "Range"
       [2-12] matchName: "outerGlow/shadingNoise", name: "Jitter"
   [1-5] matchName: "innerGlow/enabled", name: "Inner Glow"
       [2-1] matchName: "innerGlow/mode2", name: "Blend Mode"
       [2-2] matchName: "innerGlow/opacity", name: "Opacity"
       [2-3] matchName: "innerGlow/noise", name: "Noise"
       [2-4] matchName: "innerGlow/AEColorChoice", name: "Color Type"
       [2-5] matchName: "innerGlow/color", name: "Color"
       [2-6] matchName: "innerGlow/gradient", name: "Colors"
       [2-7] matchName: "innerGlow/gradientSmoothness", name: "Gradient Smoothness"
       [2-8] matchName: "innerGlow/glowTechnique", name: "Technique"
       [2-9] matchName: "innerGlow/innerGlowSource", name: "Source"
       [2-10] matchName: "innerGlow/chokeMatte", name: "Choke"
       [2-11] matchName: "innerGlow/blur", name: "Size"
       [2-12] matchName: "innerGlow/inputRange", name: "Range"
       [2-13] matchName: "innerGlow/shadingNoise", name: "Jitter"
   [1-6] matchName: "bevelEmboss/enabled", name: "Bevel and Emboss"
       [2-1] matchName: "bevelEmboss/bevelStyle", name: "Style"
       [2-2] matchName: "bevelEmboss/bevelTechnique", name: "Technique"
       [2-3] matchName: "bevelEmboss/strengthRatio", name: "Depth"
       [2-4] matchName: "bevelEmboss/bevelDirection", name: "Direction"
       [2-5] matchName: "bevelEmboss/blur", name: "Size"
       [2-6] matchName: "bevelEmboss/softness", name: "Soften"
       [2-7] matchName: "bevelEmboss/useGlobalAngle", name: "Use Global Light"
       [2-8] matchName: "bevelEmboss/localLightingAngle", name: "Angle"
       [2-9] matchName: "bevelEmboss/localLightingAltitude", name: "Altitude"
       [2-10] matchName: "bevelEmboss/highlightMode", name: "Highlight Mode"
       [2-11] matchName: "bevelEmboss/highlightColor", name: "Highlight Color"
       [2-12] matchName: "bevelEmboss/highlightOpacity", name: "Highlight Opacity"
       [2-13] matchName: "bevelEmboss/shadowMode", name: "Shadow Mode"
       [2-14] matchName: "bevelEmboss/shadowColor", name: "Shadow Color"
       [2-15] matchName: "bevelEmboss/shadowOpacity", name: "Shadow Opacity"
   [1-7] matchName: "chromeFX/enabled", name: "Satin"
       [2-1] matchName: "chromeFX/mode2", name: "Blend Mode"
       [2-2] matchName: "chromeFX/color", name: "Color"
       [2-3] matchName: "chromeFX/opacity", name: "Opacity"
       [2-4] matchName: "chromeFX/localLightingAngle", name: "Angle"
       [2-5] matchName: "chromeFX/distance", name: "Distance"
       [2-6] matchName: "chromeFX/blur", name: "Size"
       [2-7] matchName: "chromeFX/invert", name: "Invert"
   [1-8] matchName: "solidFill/enabled", name: "Color Overlay"
       [2-1] matchName: "solidFill/mode2", name: "Blend Mode"
       [2-2] matchName: "solidFill/color", name: "Color"
       [2-3] matchName: "solidFill/opacity", name: "Opacity"
   [1-9] matchName: "gradientFill/enabled", name: "Gradient Overlay"
       [2-1] matchName: "gradientFill/mode2", name: "Blend Mode"
       [2-2] matchName: "gradientFill/opacity", name: "Opacity"
       [2-3] matchName: "gradientFill/gradient", name: "Colors"
       [2-4] matchName: "gradientFill/gradientSmoothness", name: "Gradient Smoothness"
       [2-5] matchName: "gradientFill/angle", name: "Angle"
       [2-6] matchName: "gradientFill/type", name: "Style"
       [2-7] matchName: "gradientFill/reverse", name: "Reverse"
       [2-8] matchName: "gradientFill/align", name: "Align with Layer"
       [2-9] matchName: "gradientFill/scale", name: "Scale"
       [2-10] matchName: "gradientFill/offset", name: "Offset"
   [1-10] matchName: "patternFill/enabled", name: "Pattern Overlay"
       [2-1] matchName: "patternFill/mode2", name: "Blend Mode"
       [2-2] matchName: "patternFill/opacity", name: "Opacity"
       [2-3] matchName: "patternFill/align", name: "Link with Layer"
       [2-4] matchName: "patternFill/scale", name: "Scale"
       [2-5] matchName: "patternFill/phase", name: "Offset"
   [1-11] matchName: "frameFX/enabled", name: "Stroke"
       [2-1] matchName: "frameFX/mode2", name: "Blend Mode"
       [2-2] matchName: "frameFX/color", name: "Color"
       [2-3] matchName: "frameFX/size", name: "Size"
       [2-4] matchName: "frameFX/opacity", name: "Opacity"
       [2-5] matchName: "frameFX/style", name: "Position"
[0-7] matchName: "ADBE Extrsn Options Group", name: "Geometry Options"
   [1-1] matchName: "ADBE Bevel Styles", name: "Bevel Style"
   [1-2] matchName: "ADBE Bevel Direction", name: "Bevel Direction"
   [1-3] matchName: "ADBE Bevel Depth", name: "Bevel Depth"
   [1-4] matchName: "ADBE Hole Bevel Depth", name: "Hole Bevel Depth"
   [1-5] matchName: "ADBE Extrsn Depth", name: "Extrusion Depth"
[0-8] matchName: "ADBE Material Options Group", name: "Material Options"
   [1-1] matchName: "ADBE Casts Shadows", name: "Casts Shadows"
   [1-2] matchName: "ADBE Light Transmission", name: "Light Transmission"
   [1-3] matchName: "ADBE Accepts Shadows", name: "Accepts Shadows"
   [1-4] matchName: "ADBE Accepts Lights", name: "Accepts Lights"
   [1-5] matchName: "ADBE Appears in Reflections", name: "Appears in Reflections"
   [1-6] matchName: "ADBE Ambient Coefficient", name: "Ambient"
   [1-7] matchName: "ADBE Diffuse Coefficient", name: "Diffuse"
   [1-8] matchName: "ADBE Specular Coefficient", name: "Specular Intensity"
   [1-9] matchName: "ADBE Shininess Coefficient", name: "Specular Shininess"
   [1-10] matchName: "ADBE Metal Coefficient", name: "Metal"
   [1-11] matchName: "ADBE Reflection Coefficient", name: "Reflection Intensity"
   [1-12] matchName: "ADBE Glossiness Coefficient", name: "Reflection Sharpness"
   [1-13] matchName: "ADBE Fresnel Coefficient", name: "Reflection Rolloff"
   [1-14] matchName: "ADBE Transparency Coefficient", name: "Transparency"
   [1-15] matchName: "ADBE Transp Rolloff", name: "Transparency Rolloff"
   [1-16] matchName: "ADBE Index of Refraction", name: "Index of Refraction"
[0-9] matchName: "ADBE Audio Group", name: "Audio"
   [1-1] matchName: "ADBE Audio Levels", name: "Audio Levels"

Report · May 05, 2017

Very cool, looks like this will solve many questions down the line!

Report · May 05, 2017

Just incase anyone else wanted to know this, I was able to get the function to work but I had to slightly modify Horshack's solution.

His Solution:

tar1.property("Effects").property("Layer Control").property("Layer").setValue(tarA.index);

Solution according to my code structure listed above:

Null4.property("Effects").property("Layer Control").property("Layer").setValue(tarA.index);

Thanks again for the help Horshack, couldn't have gotten here without your helpful insight into Adobe's ExtendScript.

Report · Nov 24, 2021

Thanks for posting your properties script. I can't figure out where to view te output on Mac; it seems like ExtendScript is nto available for Mac in recent versions. Do you know how I can view the console?

Report · Nov 02, 2018

Hi. I'm having trouble with setting the value of the layer for the Layer Control; things appeared to have changed in CC 2019(&2018 I think). There's now a second dropdown option, Source / Masks / Effects & Masks. How can I set values for each of those dropdowns?

Thanks!

-Dave

Report · Aug 12, 2019

Hi
I am suffering from the same problem.
Did you solve this problem?

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Set Layer Control ("Layer") in extendscript

1 Correct answer