Display special characters in pseudo effects through XML PresetEffects file

To display French characters like "é", "É", and "à" in After Effects pseudo effects by editing the XML `PresetEffects` file, you need to ensure that the XML file is properly encoded in UTF-8, which supports these special characters.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you solve this issue:

### 1. **Check Encoding**
- **Ensure UTF-8 Encoding:** The `PresetEffects` XML file must be saved with UTF-8 encoding. This is crucial for correctly displaying special characters.
- **How to Save with UTF-8 Encoding:**
- If you're using a text editor like Notepad++ or Sublime Text, make sure to select "UTF-8" as the encoding format when saving the file.
- In Notepad++, go to `Encoding > Convert to UTF-8` if it's not already set.

### 2. **Direct Character Entry**
- Instead of using HTML entities like `é` for "é", directly enter the characters into the XML file. If the file is correctly encoded in UTF-8, the characters should display properly without needing to use HTML codes.
- Example:
```xml
<Effect matchname="PseudoEffect" name="Durée">
<!-- Other settings -->
</Effect>
```

### 3. **Verify and Test**
- **After Editing:** After making these changes, save the XML file and re-import the preset into After Effects.
- **Test in After Effects:** Create a new composition, apply the pseudo effect, and check if the characters display correctly.

### 4. **Troubleshooting**
- **If Still Not Working:** If the characters still don’t display correctly, double-check that the file was indeed saved as UTF-8.
- **Check for Errors:** Ensure there are no syntax errors or unsupported characters elsewhere in the XML that might cause After Effects to misinterpret the encoding.

By following these steps, you should be able to display French characters like "é", "É", and "à" in your After Effects pseudo effects without them being replaced by question marks. If you continue to face issues, it might be worth checking if there’s a specific problem with how After Effects is handling the XML file.