Disable automatic switching of the Pen tool in After Effects

[capricaqua]

I'm looking for the option to temporarily or permanently disable the automatic switching behavior that happens within the pen tool in Aftereffects while creating a mask.

In Photoshop there is a function to do this and here is the exert from the manual that explains how to do it.

There has to be a way to accomplish the same inside AE.

"Disable or temporarily override automatic Pen tool switching
You can override automatic switching of the Pen tool to the Add Anchor Point tool or the Delete Anchor Point tool. This is useful when you want to start a new path on top of an existing path. In Photoshop, deselect Auto Add/Delete in the options bar.
You can override automatic switching of the Pen tool to the Add Anchor Point tool or the Delete Anchor Point tool. This is useful when you want to start a new path on top of an existing path. In Photoshop, deselect Auto Add/Delete in the options bar."

Any help would be appreciated.

[Dave_LaRonde]

This isn't exactly handy, but it works:  double-click on the footage layer to open it in the footage window.  You now have access to all the mask-creation tools on the tool bar at the top.

[Roei Tzoref · Accepted solution]

I'm looking for the option to temporarily or permanently disable the automatic switching behavior that happens within the pen tool in Aftereffects while creating a mask. In Photoshop there is a function to do this.

you don't get that feature in Ae but please describe/show the specific scenario in which you are facing a workflow issue with the pen tool, we may offer ways to get around it. for example if you want to create a new path that is too close to another path and you get the Add Vertex tool instead of the pen tool, you can create it a bit further and then move it to place and start drawing.

if you want a feature you can ask it here: Feature Request/Bug Report Form