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Veena2411
Known Participant
March 6, 2023
Answered

Force rendering on an event in a separate thread/Coming back to the main UI thread on an event

  • March 6, 2023
  • 1 reply
  • 3221 views

Hi,
    I'm new to the After Effects sdk. I've set the out_data->out_flags to include PF_OutFlag_REFRESH_UI and PF_OutFlag_FORCE_RERENDER in the PF_Cmd_USER_CHANGED_PARAM handler. This works correctly when the parameter value is changed within the user interface.

I recently integrated WebSocket using easywsclient to receive messages from an external application, and I'm handling the messages in a separate thread using tinythread, which is from easywsclient.

Whenever I want to force render on a button tap or anywhere, I set the out_data->out_flags with PF_OutFlag_REFRESH_UI andPF_OutFlag_FORCE_RERENDER. 
But if I set these out_flags in the separate thread in which I'm handling the messages received from the websocket, the UI isn't force rendered.
Is there a way to come back to the main UI thread or call a function in the main thraed when receiving message in the other thread?
Or another way to force render when I receive a message in the separate thread.
Thank you!

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer shachar carmi

If I try to force render in an Idle hook, how will I get out_data, to call the

out_data->out_flags |= PF_OutFlag_REFRESH_UI | PF_OutFlag_FORCE_RERENDER
Storing the out_data as global however doesn't work


I had another workaround in mind. Can I add a command in Edit menu to force a rerender? And when in the other thread I want to re-render, I can call the command with the DO_Command. But the problem is again that I don't have the out_data for which to call force render and refreshUI

 


add some hidden param, and change it's value when you can to force a re-render in idle_hook.

1 reply

S
Community Expert
shachar carmiCommunity Expert
Community Expert
March 6, 2023

it's possible only via idle hook. wait for an idle event (happens 30-50 times per second), check your other thread for messages and act. idle calls happen on the UI thread, so it's a valid time to make changes to the project.

you can either:
1. change some invisible param value that would force a re-render.

2. call the command number to purge the cache.

3. call AEGP_EffectCallGeneric and have the effect instance act on itself.

V
Veena2411Author
Known Participant
April 5, 2023

1. I tried changing an invisible param value, which does force a re-render, but not in a separate thread. Is there a right way to change the param value in the main UI thread?
2. If I call the commands 2372 or 2373, it usually doesn't cause the re-render (although sometimes it does). If I call the command 10200, it does force a render but it gives me a popup "Are you sure you want to delete caches". And I don't want a popup to be there everytime.

3. I tried to find about the AEGP_EffectCallGeneric but not sure how it can help me

S
Community Expert
shachar carmiCommunity Expert
Community Expert
April 5, 2023

anything happening on a separate thread can be synced back to the main thread only during main thread events. for rapid updating, idle_hook is the best way to go.

AEGP_EffectCallGeneric won't help in that regard, as it can't change the project from render threads, and can only operate during main thread events. it only helps if you want the effect to operate on itself in ways not accessible via external effect. for example, accessing the sequence data.

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