Access Path Length of Path Text using Expression?

Question

In the Effect Controls of my path text, there's an "Information" category with the following data:

Font:	Arial
Text Length:	3520.69
Path Length:	640.08

The "Path Length" value is exactly what i want to use in an expression, but i don't know how to access it. I've tried a dozen different ways to approximately re-calculate it without satisfactory results. Is there any way to access this value within an expression?

For context: i have individual image layers in my composition that i have visually "connected" using another path text layer, pickwhipping the vertices of the path text to each of those graphics' positions. The tangent points are also calculated based on the same positions. The "string" connecting them is a bunch of ellipsis typed along that path. Both of the graphics move around the screen. i want to be able to adjust them both without having to manually adjust the path text too. The problem i have is trimming the path text dynamically depending on how short the distance between the two is, because the Path Length changes constantly. in all my attempts to calculate, the path text either gets too short or long when the graphics move around. if i could use the Path Length value, i could put it in a linear formula for Visible Characters to trim off the excess. and i have a bunch of these happening at once, so i could really use a formulaic solution.

I'm hoping this is simple, it seems like it would be since the value is right there?

Rick Gerard · Accepted Answer

Expressions, with only a couple of exceptions, can only access things you can animate. If you choose Line path length is determined by the vector distance between Vertex 1 and Vertex 2 so some simple vector math would give you the length. If you choose Bezier then the formula becomes much more difficult because the Path Length depends on the relative position of all four points. It's probably doable but extremely complex.

Path text is a very old plug-in. It's in the obsolete category.

If I understand the project a better, easier option, would be to simply draw your paths on a text layer, align the text to the path, then use the new Create Nulls from Path script to tie nulls to the paths. You have the option of Nulls Follow Points, Points Follow Nulls or Trace. If all you want is dots between the images you could create a stroked path, set the stroke to rounded ends, add dashes and spaces, tie nulls to 2 bezier points on a shape layer path, then just drag the nulls around to move the images and set up the dotted lines between them. It would be way more efficient and take far less time than fiddling with expressions.

In this example I used points follow nulls the replaced the nulls with two Images (nested comps) adjusted the anchor points and animated the move. Took about 2 minutes to setup:

You can see every modified property on the layers in the comp.

John36568838uflr · Answer

The solution lies in downloading Long Path Tool.

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