After Effects Shortcuts are collapsing my layers

[anthonyh18057246]

So a few weeks ago, I was automatically upgraded my version of After Effects to 2019 (previously 2018). Since this update, I'm having a weird issue when I use shortcut keys such as P for position, or U for showing the keyframes, all my layers collapses and I kinda lose my place where I'm at because of this. I read that the U shortcut key can be used to collapse layers and such by double-tapping the key; but that's not what I've been doing, since using the basic commands to expand the position or scale properties, all the layers start to collapse. Any feedback will be helpful.

[Rick Gerard]

No layers selected, U will show all keyframes in all layers. UU will reveal all modified properties, ee will show all expressions, e will show all effects.

With one or multiple layers selected those same shortcuts will reveal only the selected layers properties.

The p, s, r, and t keys will reveal the layer transform properties of selected layers, or if no layers are selected, they will reveal the transform properties of all layers. The m (mask) and f (feather mask) key will reveal the mask path or mask feather properties. MM reveals all mask properties, but only if the layer contains a mask.

Holding down the Alt/Option key when pressing p, s, r, t, m or f will set a keyframe for that property at the current time.

Pressing any shortcut a second time will hide any visible property that has a shortcut.

If you are using the p key and you don't have any layers selected and one layer has the position property revealed, all of the layers in the comp should now show the position property. If the position property is revealed and you push p again the position property will hide.

The only time you can keep the position property revealed when you use a position shortcut is to hold down the Alt/Option key when you push p. If there is a keyframe under the CTI, it will be deleted. If there is no keyframe, one will be added.

If your system does not respond like this then I would quit, reboot, relaunch AE while holding down the Shift + Allt/Optio + Ctrl/Cmnd keys and delete your preferences. I'm assuming you are running the latest build of your version of AE. If that is true and you still have a problem then let us know. It would probably be a good idea to file a bug report.

[Warren Heaton]

If you've revealed one parameter with a keyboard shortcut and would like that parameter to remain showing when you use another keyboard shortcut that reveals a parameter, add the SHIFT key when you use the next keyboard shortcut.

So, if already showing Position, press SHIFT S to add Scale to the parameters being displayed and then SHIFT R to add Rotation.  If after revealing Position, Scale and Rotation you want to remove Scale from the list, press SHIFT S again.  If you want to replace everything being shown with Opacity, press T.

This works with most of the keys that After Effects does not allow you to reassign (A, E, F, L, M, P, R, S, T) and works with U or UU after either of those two have been initially used.

-Warren

[anthonyh18057246]

Thank you all for your answers, and I understand a bit more about shortcuts thanks to you both. However, my issue is that when using the shortcuts, for some strange reason After Effects decides to collapse all my layers.

For example, I have a bunch of layers opened while working, and it's helping me know placing and timing of certain things. I'll select another layer, and hit S for scale - all my layers collapses and only the layer that I had selected when hitting S remains open.  That's the weird part, and it's random too, so it's not something I can replicate. I tried re-installing After Effects last night so I'll see if that fixed the problem, because before, the layers didn't behave this way.

[anthonyh18057246 · Accepted solution]

OOOOKAY I figured it out.

So I sometimes use the search bar at the top of the layers to dial down a complicated layer (like shape layers). What happens is that if I select a different layer, and use a shortcut, the search bar erases/cancels the query and then collapses everything.

Got it, problem solved, it's not a bug - at least more like a logical one I guess.

Thanks everyone for your time.