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Robert_S1
Participating Frequently
November 15, 2022

AE Scripts Error: Folder.userData = null

  • November 15, 2022
  • 27 replies
  • 4397 views

Since a couple of weeky some scripts suddenly stopped working. I was able to tackle down the problem. I created a script with just one line: 

 

alert(Folder.userData) // null

 

I am on a Macbook Pro M1 / OSX Ventura 13.2. Problem appeared in AE 22 & 23. I deleted everything and only installed 23.2.0. 

 

Same Script works within AI and PS and outputs:

~/Library/Application%20Support

 

 

 

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    27 replies

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    J
    JG_Work_Account
    Participating Frequently
    May 20, 2023

    FYI for me this issue persists with the latest AE 23.4.0 (Build 53) @JohnColombo17100380.

      J
      JG_Work_Account
      Participating Frequently
      May 17, 2023

      Hi, i'm glad I found someone else with this error and its not just me. Well, me and my colleague are dealing with this issue.

       

      I'm also having a very similar issue. I noticed this after a recent OS update. Now some scripts are broken and some work fine. So far I get some variation on "Unable to execute script at lin 188. Null is not an object." I've noticed this with GifGun, EaseCopy and Wayfinder so far. These don't work at all. Overlord plugin gives me as similar error, but it still works. 

       

      I've done some searching online and see similar errors and others comment abut dropbox which I don't have installed. I've tried to reset prefs, uninstall/reinstall AE, trying out on the LTS version as well, and still same issue. Any updates or advice would be much appreciated.
       
      Running AE 23.3.0, on MacOS Ventura 13.3.1 (a), on an M1 MacBook Pro. Cheers. 
        JohnColombo17100380
        Community Manager
        JohnColombo17100380Community Manager
        Community Manager
        March 1, 2023

        Thanks @Robert_S1, I appreciate your patience and my apologies for the delay in my response.

         

        I've tested accessing Folder.userData on macOS 13.2.1 and it successfully returned "~/Library/Application%20Support" as expected, so it appears there is another factor at work on your system. To that end, I've asked our engineering team what environmental factors could cause the Folder.userData to return null. It could be a bug on our side, or perhaps could simply be handled better to avoid breaking scripts.

         

        Thanks again for your patience,

        - John, After Effects Engineering Team 

         

         

        R
        Robert_S1Author
        Participating Frequently
        February 17, 2023

        @JohnColombo17100380 

        R
        Robert_S1Author
        Participating Frequently
        February 28, 2023

        Hey,

        suddenly Ouroboros, Rift and TextEvo stopped working. I always get the error "unable to execute script at line XY, null is not an object". Different lines for each skript. I tried different AE Versions, deinstalled, reinstalled it completely. Downloaded the skripts again, installed it again.  I couldn't get them running. All skripts worked fine without any problem until one day. I am not sure, maybe it is connected to OSX Ventura update.

         

        I checked the line of the TextEvo Code, it contains the following code: 

        textEvoData.settingsPath = Folder.userData.absoluteURI + "/" +
         
        So i created a Script with just one line:
        alert(Folder.userData)
         
        AE outputs "null". Same script works in AI and PS and outputs: 

        ~/Library/Application%20Support

         

        So it seems like AE has no access to the Library Application Folder? Can this be the problem? Any ideas how to fix this? It really drives me crazy. Looking forward to any help!

         

        Thanks in advance

        R
        Robert_S1Author
        Participating Frequently
        February 28, 2023

        Addition: Scripts worked fine in AE 22 for a long time, suddenly the problem appeared. So I updated to AE 23. I just reinstalled AE22 again, to double check. Error also appears in AE22. So I think it's a Ventura problem. 

         

        I am on OSX Ventura 13.2.1

        R
        Robert_S1Author
        Participating Frequently
        February 14, 2023

        Hi John, 

        thanks for your answer. I forgot to mention, that i already read about the Dropbox channel at the AEScripts Forum. No, I am not using dropbox or google drive. But I'm working on Sharepoint, which was never a Problem so far. The problem appeared from one day to another. I cannot remember any major change i made in these days. 

        I appreciate your help! 

        JohnColombo17100380
        Community Manager
        JohnColombo17100380Community Manager
        Community Manager
        February 13, 2023

        Hi @Robert_S1,

        Thank you for reporting this issue. Do you, by chance, have Dropbox installed? Dropbox has a feature called Backup that moves the userData folder for backup and therefore can cause scripts to fail as you've described.

         

        Thanks for reporting this issue and for any further information you can provide,

        - John, After Effects Engineering Team 

        FabianFriedrich
        FabianFriedrich
        Participant
        November 15, 2022

        since i updated on mac studio, m1 max and OS ventura, latest AE, none of the scripts work.

        Always displaying "Unable to execute spricpt at line XX. null is not an object"

        Tried reinstall, using older versions of AE, redownload all the scripts, changing the general preferences and project settings... no solution found yet!

         

         

        JohnColombo17100380
        Community Manager
        JohnColombo17100380Community Manager
        Community Manager
        November 30, 2022

        Hi @FabianFriedrich,

        Thank you for reporting this issue. What scripts specifically are showing these errors? Are they scripts that ship with After Effects or are they scripts you've purchased from third-parties?

         

        Thanks for reporting this issue and for any further information you can provide, 

        - John, After Effects Engineering Team 

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