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O
octaviosa
Inspiring
October 18, 2018
Answered

Getting After Effects version name

  • October 18, 2018
  • 1 reply
  • 8235 views

I need to identify the version of AE my plugin is running on. I can get the version number using major and minor versions from the PluginMain function.

However, I need the version String, like "After Effects CC 2017", "After Effects CC 2018", etc. I need this because I have to create a list of user presets, and for that reason I have to know the full path to the user presets so I can look for ffx files in there.

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

i don't know of a direct way to get the app version as a string. however,

if your plug-in is installed in each AE version's plug-ins folder then use:

A_UTF16Char wPath[AEFX_MAX_PATH];

PF_GET_PLATFORM_DATA (PF_PlatData_EXE_FILE_PATH_W, wPath);

which gives you the path to your plug-in files. from there you can decipher

AE's version from the file path. (if you'll need it at all after having the

path to your plug-in)

1 reply

S
Community Expert
shachar carmiCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
October 18, 2018

i don't know of a direct way to get the app version as a string. however,

if your plug-in is installed in each AE version's plug-ins folder then use:

A_UTF16Char wPath[AEFX_MAX_PATH];

PF_GET_PLATFORM_DATA (PF_PlatData_EXE_FILE_PATH_W, wPath);

which gives you the path to your plug-in files. from there you can decipher

AE's version from the file path. (if you'll need it at all after having the

path to your plug-in)

O
octaviosaAuthor
Inspiring
October 19, 2018

That's almost the same thing I'm doing right now. But I use some other way to get the plugin path.

My only concern with this approach is, if AE is not installed in the default location. Is it possible to install AE in any other directory that does not include the default "After Effects CC 2019"?

Edit: Turns out that at least in the latest CC versions of AE, The main folder for the program always is "After Effects CC [version]", So this is probably a safe way to get the name.

Thanks!!

S
Community Expert
shachar carmiCommunity Expert
Community Expert
October 19, 2018

i don't think it's possible, but i'm not 100% sure. however, you can count

to the "Presets" folder being in the same folder as AfterFX.exe.

you can look far that file along your plug-in's path instead of looking for

"After Effects CC 20XX". another way to go about this issue is to look in

the machines registry on windows and library on mac to see where AE is

installed.

mac: /Library/Preferences/com.Adobe.After Effects.paths.plist

win: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Adobe\After Effects\

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