Dynamic Layer + Shape creation via scripting

[jacksonr46040547]

I'm a flash developer new to after effects. I have been trying to create a dynamic scene with expressions but there are some obvious limitations. How can I do the following with a mix of ae + scripting

Pre-composition "Block"

Create a rectangle that has text on it with a fade-in effect followed by an eventual fade-out.

Main composition

Put 5 "Block" precomps on the stage and have each show different text.

My original idea was to tell each Block precomp what it's text will be. Something like layer("Block 1").layer("Text").text = "Text for Block 1" and do the same for block 2, 3, etc. via loop. I quickly realized that compositions are what you might call "dumb" instances.

What's the best way to do this? I don't want to do it manually because then the fade-in length has to be changed in 5 places, I'll do this as a last resort.

[Dan Ebberts · Accepted solution]

If you're talking about using a single precomp and 5 precomp layer instances of the same precomp, the only way I can think of to do that would be to have all 5 text animations in the precomp (sequentially) and then use time remapping for each layer instance to control which animation plays.

Dan

[jacksonr46040547]

I think I get what you're saying. Consider this scene layout

Main Comp:

layer "Block1"

- timestretch frozen in place for text group 1

layer "Block2"

- timestretch frozen in place for text group 2

Is this correct?

[jacksonr46040547]

Nvm I figured it out. This totally works thanks!

[Dan Ebberts]

I was thinking you would use Time Remapping, not timestretch.  So for example, your precomp might have a one-second fade in of Text 1 followed by a one-second fade out of Text 1, then a one-second fade in of Text 2, etc. If you then had a layer instance where you wanted to show Text 3, you would start by animating Time Remapping from 4.0 to 5.0 to fade in Text 3, hold for however long you want, then animate Time Remapping from 5.0 to 6.0 to fade out.

Dan

[jacksonr46040547]

Yes, `time remapping` you are correct. I typed `time stretch` by mistake.