Expression Editing Window

Forum|Forum|3 years ago
September 28, 2022
9 replies
688 views

I just really want a separate Expression panel, like the effects panel, where I can write expressions, and see what I'm writing without having to resize the text box on the timeline every time.

Don't really care about coloured text or any of that other functionality. Just a simple text box.

UI and UX

X

xDavidW

Participant

This is a much needed feature. Coding in the timeline or underneath the Graph Editor has always felt awkward and needlessly cumbersome.

Plug-ins like Expressionist and MoCode (now discontinued) comes close, but they have issues with auto-updating expressions leading to a lot of manual clicking, selecting, and applying of expressions and properties.

But this is a simple feature. A plug-in shouldn't be necessary. The undockable Expression Editor underneath the Graph Editor already works, and it's already possible to undock windows like Effect Controls and Properties. It should just be a matter of combining the two so please add this feature.

kitcgi

Participant

Would be great! a popup box would do the trick

ThiagoSteka

Participant

This would have a huge impact on my daily workflow (and after consulting friends, many others') and seems easy to implement since we already have some version of that within the curve editor. Just take that and put it into a standard panel like all the others (effect controls, project, etc etc).

No need for fancy new features, just being able to tweak your code in a decent sized and fixed window is an insane improvement.

A

analytical_Eagle50B9

Participant

Great suggestion. This would have a huge impact not only on my workflow but to many peers I have talked with.

D

dskeithbuck

Participant

My personal preference would be the ability to reference external `*.js` files as expressions so that we can do our editing in a full-featured editor with Source Control like VS Code.

Barring that, a pop-out expression editor that I can bring up full-screen on my second monitor would be wonderful.

The elements I most miss from VS Code are:

- A window in a predictable size/location that's always available.
- Intellisense (auto-complete w/ knowledge of the properties/methods contained in objects)
- Prettier Autoformat so that when I save my code auto-conforms to a good looking code-style.

F

FeedbackCommunityMember

Inspiring

The Expression editor hidden in the graph window is much better than the Timeline version. Making this it's own dockable window would allow much easier workspace to be saved. At the moment Graph Editor / Show Expression editor for every comp / layer etc. is a waste of time. Resizing layers in the time line is even worse. This is exactly what you did with the graph editor, i.e. make it behave like all other apps!

tmefford

Participating Frequently

Now that some of the expression improvements have been added. I'd still like this to be implemented as well. It could be similar to Premiere where Essential Graphics can be edited both in the dedicated panel or in effects controls. Give users the ability to choose.

F

FeedbackCommunityMember

Inspiring

Duplicate of:
https://adobe-video.uservoice.com/forums/911311-after-effects/suggestions/33837631-improve-the-expressions-panel-with-basic-scripting

F

FeedbackCommunityMember

Inspiring

Yeah, a new comfortable window could be fine.