Inspiring

Answered

Set Layer Control ("Layer") in extendscript

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After Effects/ExtendScript Geniuses,

Heres my dilemma, I've just started coding and I'm struggling to learn all the language/syntax. I need to figure out how to set the ("Layer") of ("Layer Control") that I've renamed to "A-Target" currently in Null4.property upon script launch.

-----------------------------------

var mainComp = app.project.activeItem;

var tarA = mainComp.layers.addSolid([0.5, 0.5, 0.5],"B-Target", 480, 270, 1.0);

var Null4 = mainComp.layers.addNull();

Null4.name = "Camera Rig Controller";

var tar1 = Null4("Effects").addProperty("Layer Control");

tar1.name = "A-Target";

-----------------------------------

All of the code above seems to work just fine. I just need to set that Layer Control layer to tarA

I've pretty sure it has to be something close to this:

tar1.property("Layer").setLayer(tarA) -------> What is the right way to say this?

Many Thanks,

Sam

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samuelm25671648Correct answer

Inspiring

Just incase anyone else wanted to know this, I was able to get the function to work but I had to slightly modify Horshack's solution.

His Solution:

tar1.property("Effects").property("Layer Control").property("Layer").setValue(tarA.index);

Solution according to my code structure listed above:

Null4.property("Effects").property("Layer Control").property("Layer").setValue(tarA.index);

Thanks again for the help Horshack, couldn't have gotten here without your helpful insight into Adobe's ExtendScript.

David Wigforss

Participating Frequently

Hi. I'm having trouble with setting the value of the layer for the Layer Control; things appeared to have changed in CC 2019(&2018 I think). There's now a second dropdown option, Source / Masks / Effects & Masks. How can I set values for each of those dropdowns?

Thanks!

-Dave

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DDScotick

Known Participant

Hi
I am suffering from the same problem.
Did you solve this problem?

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Horshack

Legend

Congrats on learning to script! You're almost there with your solution. Here's a sample of how to set the layer assigned to a Layer Control effect for your logic:

tar1.property("Effects").property("Layer Control").property("Layer").setValue(tarA.index);

The names of all the nested layer properties and effects isn't very obvious. To help with that I wrote a script a while ago that will dump out the entire property chain for a layer. I'm including it here for your future script work whenever you need to find the path/name of a given property. To use this script, simply select one or more layers and run the script - it will dump all the properties of the layers to the Javascript console (which you can view with Adobe's ExtendScript toolkit debugger):

(function() { // wrap entire script in an anonymous function to create a private scope within AE's global namespace   
// script entry point
main();    
    
function dumpPropTree(rootObj, nestingLevel) {  
    var countProps = rootObj.numProperties;
    for (var propIndex=1; propIndex <= countProps; propIndex++) {
        var prop = rootObj.property(propIndex);
        $.writeln(Array(nestingLevel*4).join(" ") + "[" + nestingLevel + "-" + propIndex + "] " + "matchName: \"" + prop.matchName + "\", name: \"" + prop.name + "\"");
        if (prop.numProperties > 0)
            dumpPropTree(prop, nestingLevel+1);
    }
}
function main() {
    var activeComp = app.project.activeItem;
    if (activeComp == null) {
        alert("Error: No active composition");
        return;
    }   
    var countSelectedLayers = activeComp.selectedLayers.length;
    if (countSelectedLayers == 0) {
        alert("Error: No selected layer(s)");
        return;
    }   
    for (selectedLayerIndex=0; selectedLayerIndex < countSelectedLayers; selectedLayerIndex++) {
        var layer = activeComp.selectedLayers[selectedLayerIndex];
        $.writeln("***************** [ Layer: \"" + layer.name + "\" ] *****************");
        dumpPropTree(layer, 0);
    }    
}
})();   // end of anonymous function that encapsulates entire script

Here's a sample output:

***************** [ Layer: "Shape Layer 1" ] *****************
[0-1] matchName: "ADBE Marker", name: "Marker"
[0-2] matchName: "ADBE Root Vectors Group", name: "Contents"
   [1-1] matchName: "ADBE Vector Group", name: "Polystar 1"
       [2-1] matchName: "ADBE Vector Blend Mode", name: "Blend Mode"
       [2-2] matchName: "ADBE Vectors Group", name: "Contents"
           [3-1] matchName: "ADBE Vector Shape - Group", name: "Path 1"
               [4-1] matchName: "ADBE Vector Shape Direction", name: "Shape Direction"
               [4-2] matchName: "ADBE Vector Shape", name: "Path"
           [3-2] matchName: "ADBE Vector Graphic - Stroke", name: "Stroke 1"
               [4-1] matchName: "ADBE Vector Blend Mode", name: "Blend Mode"
               [4-2] matchName: "ADBE Vector Composite Order", name: "Composite"
               [4-3] matchName: "ADBE Vector Stroke Color", name: "Color"
               [4-4] matchName: "ADBE Vector Stroke Opacity", name: "Opacity"
               [4-5] matchName: "ADBE Vector Stroke Width", name: "Stroke Width"
               [4-6] matchName: "ADBE Vector Stroke Line Cap", name: "Line Cap"
               [4-7] matchName: "ADBE Vector Stroke Line Join", name: "Line Join"
               [4-8] matchName: "ADBE Vector Stroke Miter Limit", name: "Miter Limit"
               [4-9] matchName: "ADBE Vector Stroke Dashes", name: "Dashes"
                   [5-1] matchName: "ADBE Vector Stroke Dash 1", name: "Dash"
                   [5-2] matchName: "ADBE Vector Stroke Gap 1", name: "Gap"
                   [5-3] matchName: "ADBE Vector Stroke Dash 2", name: "Dash 2"
                   [5-4] matchName: "ADBE Vector Stroke Gap 2", name: "Gap 2"
                   [5-5] matchName: "ADBE Vector Stroke Dash 3", name: "Dash 3"
                   [5-6] matchName: "ADBE Vector Stroke Gap 3", name: "Gap 3"
                   [5-7] matchName: "ADBE Vector Stroke Offset", name: "Offset"
           [3-3] matchName: "ADBE Vector Graphic - Fill", name: "Fill 1"
               [4-1] matchName: "ADBE Vector Blend Mode", name: "Blend Mode"
               [4-2] matchName: "ADBE Vector Composite Order", name: "Composite"
               [4-3] matchName: "ADBE Vector Fill Rule", name: "Fill Rule"
               [4-4] matchName: "ADBE Vector Fill Color", name: "Color"
               [4-5] matchName: "ADBE Vector Fill Opacity", name: "Opacity"
       [2-3] matchName: "ADBE Vector Transform Group", name: "Transform"
           [3-1] matchName: "ADBE Vector Anchor", name: "Anchor Point"
           [3-2] matchName: "ADBE Vector Position", name: "Position"
           [3-3] matchName: "ADBE Vector Scale", name: "Scale"
           [3-4] matchName: "ADBE Vector Skew", name: "Skew"
           [3-5] matchName: "ADBE Vector Skew Axis", name: "Skew Axis"
           [3-6] matchName: "ADBE Vector Rotation", name: "Rotation"
           [3-7] matchName: "ADBE Vector Group Opacity", name: "Opacity"
       [2-4] matchName: "ADBE Vector Materials Group", name: "Material Options"
           [3-1] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Front RGB", name: "Front Color"
           [3-2] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Front Ambient", name: "Front Ambient"
           [3-3] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Front Diffuse", name: "Front Diffuse"
           [3-4] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Front Specular", name: "Front Specular Intensity"
           [3-5] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Front Shininess", name: "Front Specular Shininess"
           [3-6] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Front Metal", name: "Front Metal"
           [3-7] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Front Reflection", name: "Front Reflection Intensity"
           [3-8] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Front Gloss", name: "Front Reflection Sharpness"
           [3-9] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Front Fresnel", name: "Front Reflection Rolloff"
           [3-10] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Front Xparency", name: "Front Transparency"
           [3-11] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Front XparRoll", name: "Front Transparency Rolloff"
           [3-12] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Front IOR", name: "Front Index of Refraction"
           [3-13] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Bevel RGB", name: "Bevel Color"
           [3-14] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Bevel Ambient", name: "Bevel Ambient"
           [3-15] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Bevel Diffuse", name: "Bevel Diffuse"
           [3-16] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Bevel Specular", name: "Bevel Specular Intensity"
           [3-17] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Bevel Shininess", name: "Bevel Specular Shininess"
           [3-18] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Bevel Metal", name: "Bevel Metal"
           [3-19] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Bevel Reflection", name: "Bevel Reflection Intensity"
           [3-20] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Bevel Gloss", name: "Bevel Reflection Sharpness"
           [3-21] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Bevel Fresnel", name: "Bevel Reflection Rolloff"
           [3-22] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Bevel Xparency", name: "Bevel Transparency"
           [3-23] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Bevel XparRoll", name: "Bevel Transparency Rolloff"
           [3-24] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Bevel IOR", name: "Bevel Index of Refraction"
           [3-25] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Side RGB", name: "Side Color"
           [3-26] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Side Ambient", name: "Side Ambient"
           [3-27] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Side Diffuse", name: "Side Diffuse"
           [3-28] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Side Specular", name: "Side Specular Intensity"
           [3-29] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Side Shininess", name: "Side Specular Shininess"
           [3-30] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Side Metal", name: "Side Metal"
           [3-31] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Side Reflection", name: "Side Reflection Intensity"
           [3-32] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Side Gloss", name: "Side Reflection Sharpness"
           [3-33] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Side Fresnel", name: "Side Reflection Rolloff"
           [3-34] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Side Xparency", name: "Side Transparency"
           [3-35] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Side XparRoll", name: "Side Transparency Rolloff"
           [3-36] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Side IOR", name: "Side Index of Refraction"
           [3-37] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Back RGB", name: "Back Color"
           [3-38] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Back Ambient", name: "Back Ambient"
           [3-39] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Back Diffuse", name: "Back Diffuse"
           [3-40] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Back Specular", name: "Back Specular Intensity"
           [3-41] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Back Shininess", name: "Back Specular Shininess"
           [3-42] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Back Metal", name: "Back Metal"
           [3-43] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Back Reflection", name: "Back Reflection Intensity"
           [3-44] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Back Gloss", name: "Back Reflection Sharpness"
           [3-45] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Back Fresnel", name: "Back Reflection Rolloff"
           [3-46] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Back Xparency", name: "Back Transparency"
           [3-47] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Back XparRoll", name: "Back Transparency Rolloff"
           [3-48] matchName: "ADBE Vec3D Back IOR", name: "Back Index of Refraction"
[0-3] matchName: "ADBE Mask Parade", name: "Masks"
[0-4] matchName: "ADBE Effect Parade", name: "Effects"
   [1-1] matchName: "ADBE Layer Control", name: "Layer Control"
       [2-1] matchName: "ADBE Layer Control-0001", name: "Layer"
       [2-2] matchName: "ADBE Effect Built In Params", name: "Compositing Options"
           [3-1] matchName: "ADBE Effect Mask Parade", name: "Masks"
           [3-2] matchName: "ADBE Effect Mask Opacity", name: "Effect Opacity"
[0-5] matchName: "ADBE Transform Group", name: "Transform"
   [1-1] matchName: "ADBE Anchor Point", name: "Anchor Point"
   [1-2] matchName: "ADBE Position", name: "Position"
   [1-3] matchName: "ADBE Position_0", name: "X Position"
   [1-4] matchName: "ADBE Position_1", name: "Y Position"
   [1-5] matchName: "ADBE Position_2", name: "Z Position"
   [1-6] matchName: "ADBE Scale", name: "Scale"
   [1-7] matchName: "ADBE Orientation", name: "Orientation"
   [1-8] matchName: "ADBE Rotate X", name: "X Rotation"
   [1-9] matchName: "ADBE Rotate Y", name: "Y Rotation"
   [1-10] matchName: "ADBE Rotate Z", name: "Rotation"
   [1-11] matchName: "ADBE Opacity", name: "Opacity"
   [1-12] matchName: "ADBE Envir Appear in Reflect", name: "Appears in Reflections"
[0-6] matchName: "ADBE Layer Styles", name: "Layer Styles"
   [1-1] matchName: "ADBE Blend Options Group", name: "Blending Options"
       [2-1] matchName: "ADBE Global Angle2", name: "Global Light Angle"
       [2-2] matchName: "ADBE Global Altitude2", name: "Global Light Altitude"
       [2-3] matchName: "ADBE Adv Blend Group", name: "Advanced Blending"
           [3-1] matchName: "ADBE Layer Fill Opacity2", name: "Fill Opacity"
           [3-2] matchName: "ADBE R Channel Blend", name: "Red"
           [3-3] matchName: "ADBE G Channel Blend", name: "Green"
           [3-4] matchName: "ADBE B Channel Blend", name: "Blue"
           [3-5] matchName: "ADBE Blend Interior", name: "Blend Interior Styles as Group"
           [3-6] matchName: "ADBE Blend Ranges", name: "Use Blend Ranges from Source"
   [1-2] matchName: "dropShadow/enabled", name: "Drop Shadow"
       [2-1] matchName: "dropShadow/mode2", name: "Blend Mode"
       [2-2] matchName: "dropShadow/color", name: "Color"
       [2-3] matchName: "dropShadow/opacity", name: "Opacity"
       [2-4] matchName: "dropShadow/useGlobalAngle", name: "Use Global Light"
       [2-5] matchName: "dropShadow/localLightingAngle", name: "Angle"
       [2-6] matchName: "dropShadow/distance", name: "Distance"
       [2-7] matchName: "dropShadow/chokeMatte", name: "Spread"
       [2-8] matchName: "dropShadow/blur", name: "Size"
       [2-9] matchName: "dropShadow/noise", name: "Noise"
       [2-10] matchName: "dropShadow/layerConceals", name: "Layer Knocks Out Drop Shadow"
   [1-3] matchName: "innerShadow/enabled", name: "Inner Shadow"
       [2-1] matchName: "innerShadow/mode2", name: "Blend Mode"
       [2-2] matchName: "innerShadow/color", name: "Color"
       [2-3] matchName: "innerShadow/opacity", name: "Opacity"
       [2-4] matchName: "innerShadow/useGlobalAngle", name: "Use Global Light"
       [2-5] matchName: "innerShadow/localLightingAngle", name: "Angle"
       [2-6] matchName: "innerShadow/distance", name: "Distance"
       [2-7] matchName: "innerShadow/chokeMatte", name: "Choke"
       [2-8] matchName: "innerShadow/blur", name: "Size"
       [2-9] matchName: "innerShadow/noise", name: "Noise"
   [1-4] matchName: "outerGlow/enabled", name: "Outer Glow"
       [2-1] matchName: "outerGlow/mode2", name: "Blend Mode"
       [2-2] matchName: "outerGlow/opacity", name: "Opacity"
       [2-3] matchName: "outerGlow/noise", name: "Noise"
       [2-4] matchName: "outerGlow/AEColorChoice", name: "Color Type"
       [2-5] matchName: "outerGlow/color", name: "Color"
       [2-6] matchName: "outerGlow/gradient", name: "Colors"
       [2-7] matchName: "outerGlow/gradientSmoothness", name: "Gradient Smoothness"
       [2-8] matchName: "outerGlow/glowTechnique", name: "Technique"
       [2-9] matchName: "outerGlow/chokeMatte", name: "Spread"
       [2-10] matchName: "outerGlow/blur", name: "Size"
       [2-11] matchName: "outerGlow/inputRange", name: "Range"
       [2-12] matchName: "outerGlow/shadingNoise", name: "Jitter"
   [1-5] matchName: "innerGlow/enabled", name: "Inner Glow"
       [2-1] matchName: "innerGlow/mode2", name: "Blend Mode"
       [2-2] matchName: "innerGlow/opacity", name: "Opacity"
       [2-3] matchName: "innerGlow/noise", name: "Noise"
       [2-4] matchName: "innerGlow/AEColorChoice", name: "Color Type"
       [2-5] matchName: "innerGlow/color", name: "Color"
       [2-6] matchName: "innerGlow/gradient", name: "Colors"
       [2-7] matchName: "innerGlow/gradientSmoothness", name: "Gradient Smoothness"
       [2-8] matchName: "innerGlow/glowTechnique", name: "Technique"
       [2-9] matchName: "innerGlow/innerGlowSource", name: "Source"
       [2-10] matchName: "innerGlow/chokeMatte", name: "Choke"
       [2-11] matchName: "innerGlow/blur", name: "Size"
       [2-12] matchName: "innerGlow/inputRange", name: "Range"
       [2-13] matchName: "innerGlow/shadingNoise", name: "Jitter"
   [1-6] matchName: "bevelEmboss/enabled", name: "Bevel and Emboss"
       [2-1] matchName: "bevelEmboss/bevelStyle", name: "Style"
       [2-2] matchName: "bevelEmboss/bevelTechnique", name: "Technique"
       [2-3] matchName: "bevelEmboss/strengthRatio", name: "Depth"
       [2-4] matchName: "bevelEmboss/bevelDirection", name: "Direction"
       [2-5] matchName: "bevelEmboss/blur", name: "Size"
       [2-6] matchName: "bevelEmboss/softness", name: "Soften"
       [2-7] matchName: "bevelEmboss/useGlobalAngle", name: "Use Global Light"
       [2-8] matchName: "bevelEmboss/localLightingAngle", name: "Angle"
       [2-9] matchName: "bevelEmboss/localLightingAltitude", name: "Altitude"
       [2-10] matchName: "bevelEmboss/highlightMode", name: "Highlight Mode"
       [2-11] matchName: "bevelEmboss/highlightColor", name: "Highlight Color"
       [2-12] matchName: "bevelEmboss/highlightOpacity", name: "Highlight Opacity"
       [2-13] matchName: "bevelEmboss/shadowMode", name: "Shadow Mode"
       [2-14] matchName: "bevelEmboss/shadowColor", name: "Shadow Color"
       [2-15] matchName: "bevelEmboss/shadowOpacity", name: "Shadow Opacity"
   [1-7] matchName: "chromeFX/enabled", name: "Satin"
       [2-1] matchName: "chromeFX/mode2", name: "Blend Mode"
       [2-2] matchName: "chromeFX/color", name: "Color"
       [2-3] matchName: "chromeFX/opacity", name: "Opacity"
       [2-4] matchName: "chromeFX/localLightingAngle", name: "Angle"
       [2-5] matchName: "chromeFX/distance", name: "Distance"
       [2-6] matchName: "chromeFX/blur", name: "Size"
       [2-7] matchName: "chromeFX/invert", name: "Invert"
   [1-8] matchName: "solidFill/enabled", name: "Color Overlay"
       [2-1] matchName: "solidFill/mode2", name: "Blend Mode"
       [2-2] matchName: "solidFill/color", name: "Color"
       [2-3] matchName: "solidFill/opacity", name: "Opacity"
   [1-9] matchName: "gradientFill/enabled", name: "Gradient Overlay"
       [2-1] matchName: "gradientFill/mode2", name: "Blend Mode"
       [2-2] matchName: "gradientFill/opacity", name: "Opacity"
       [2-3] matchName: "gradientFill/gradient", name: "Colors"
       [2-4] matchName: "gradientFill/gradientSmoothness", name: "Gradient Smoothness"
       [2-5] matchName: "gradientFill/angle", name: "Angle"
       [2-6] matchName: "gradientFill/type", name: "Style"
       [2-7] matchName: "gradientFill/reverse", name: "Reverse"
       [2-8] matchName: "gradientFill/align", name: "Align with Layer"
       [2-9] matchName: "gradientFill/scale", name: "Scale"
       [2-10] matchName: "gradientFill/offset", name: "Offset"
   [1-10] matchName: "patternFill/enabled", name: "Pattern Overlay"
       [2-1] matchName: "patternFill/mode2", name: "Blend Mode"
       [2-2] matchName: "patternFill/opacity", name: "Opacity"
       [2-3] matchName: "patternFill/align", name: "Link with Layer"
       [2-4] matchName: "patternFill/scale", name: "Scale"
       [2-5] matchName: "patternFill/phase", name: "Offset"
   [1-11] matchName: "frameFX/enabled", name: "Stroke"
       [2-1] matchName: "frameFX/mode2", name: "Blend Mode"
       [2-2] matchName: "frameFX/color", name: "Color"
       [2-3] matchName: "frameFX/size", name: "Size"
       [2-4] matchName: "frameFX/opacity", name: "Opacity"
       [2-5] matchName: "frameFX/style", name: "Position"
[0-7] matchName: "ADBE Extrsn Options Group", name: "Geometry Options"
   [1-1] matchName: "ADBE Bevel Styles", name: "Bevel Style"
   [1-2] matchName: "ADBE Bevel Direction", name: "Bevel Direction"
   [1-3] matchName: "ADBE Bevel Depth", name: "Bevel Depth"
   [1-4] matchName: "ADBE Hole Bevel Depth", name: "Hole Bevel Depth"
   [1-5] matchName: "ADBE Extrsn Depth", name: "Extrusion Depth"
[0-8] matchName: "ADBE Material Options Group", name: "Material Options"
   [1-1] matchName: "ADBE Casts Shadows", name: "Casts Shadows"
   [1-2] matchName: "ADBE Light Transmission", name: "Light Transmission"
   [1-3] matchName: "ADBE Accepts Shadows", name: "Accepts Shadows"
   [1-4] matchName: "ADBE Accepts Lights", name: "Accepts Lights"
   [1-5] matchName: "ADBE Appears in Reflections", name: "Appears in Reflections"
   [1-6] matchName: "ADBE Ambient Coefficient", name: "Ambient"
   [1-7] matchName: "ADBE Diffuse Coefficient", name: "Diffuse"
   [1-8] matchName: "ADBE Specular Coefficient", name: "Specular Intensity"
   [1-9] matchName: "ADBE Shininess Coefficient", name: "Specular Shininess"
   [1-10] matchName: "ADBE Metal Coefficient", name: "Metal"
   [1-11] matchName: "ADBE Reflection Coefficient", name: "Reflection Intensity"
   [1-12] matchName: "ADBE Glossiness Coefficient", name: "Reflection Sharpness"
   [1-13] matchName: "ADBE Fresnel Coefficient", name: "Reflection Rolloff"
   [1-14] matchName: "ADBE Transparency Coefficient", name: "Transparency"
   [1-15] matchName: "ADBE Transp Rolloff", name: "Transparency Rolloff"
   [1-16] matchName: "ADBE Index of Refraction", name: "Index of Refraction"
[0-9] matchName: "ADBE Audio Group", name: "Audio"
   [1-1] matchName: "ADBE Audio Levels", name: "Audio Levels"

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samuelm25671648Author

Inspiring

Very cool, looks like this will solve many questions down the line!

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samuelm25671648AuthorCorrect answer

Inspiring

Just incase anyone else wanted to know this, I was able to get the function to work but I had to slightly modify Horshack's solution.

His Solution:

tar1.property("Effects").property("Layer Control").property("Layer").setValue(tarA.index);

Solution according to my code structure listed above:

Null4.property("Effects").property("Layer Control").property("Layer").setValue(tarA.index);

Thanks again for the help Horshack, couldn't have gotten here without your helpful insight into Adobe's ExtendScript.

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