Dropdown Menu Control effect - After Effects 17.0

[Rameez_Khan]

Earlier versions of After Effects allowed you to create sliders and checkboxes for Motion Graphics Templates. This allowed Premiere Pro editors to use Motion Graphics Templates and change the properties of the MoGRTs with sliders and checkboxes. With After Effects (17.0), you can create drop-down menus in addition to sliders and checkboxes. For example, you can hook up seven days of the week to different colors. You can create a dropdown menu with the list of the days, and another menu with the list of colors to make it easier to adjust multiple settings at once and design templates that are easier for editors in Premiere Pro.

Check out the feature in more detail here. 

UPDATE: 

Check out this tutorial to see how to use the Drop-Down Menu effect:

How can a Premiere Pro editor benefit from Motion Graphics Templates created with drop-down menus?

Sergei from Ukramedia shows how easy it is to use MOGRTs created with drop-down menus.

Check out this detailed video by Ukramedia to see how you can use the new feature to create a weekly weather forecast animation.

Feel free to comment with any questions!

Back to After Effects 17.0 New Features post.

[Aaron Cobb]

Is there a way to access the labels for the menu items in expressions, or are we limited to getting the index?

[Rameez_Khan]

Hi A__Cobb, 

As of right now, this is limited to getting the index but it would be nice to access the labels for the menu items in expressions 🙂 

I'd recommend that you create a feature request on UserVoice so that others can vote on it. That way, it will get the After Effects team's attention. 

Thanks,

Rameez

[Aaron Cobb]

Thanks for the confirmation. Someone has posted this feature suggestion already, and anyone who would like this capability should please upvote it:

https://adobe-video.uservoice.com/forums/911311-after-effects/suggestions/36916207-ability-to-read-t...

[rudelr85642176]

Hi Rameez!

I am trying to universalize an expression that include a Dropdown Menu. 

x = comp("Main_2").layer(1).effect("Dropdown Menu Control")("Menu");

I can't find any info about what "ADBE Control-0001" should be.

Thanks in advance

Rudel

[oliverS]

Hello Sergei and Vladimir,

great tips from your videos. I preciate that.

I love to work with Dropdown-Menues and everey project

is a new experience.

I wonder if there is a way to use the same Dropdown-Menu

(wich is allreada setuped) in different compositions.

I preciate any answer.

THX in advance

Oliver from germany

[Roland Kahlenberg]

You should be able to copy a Dropdown Menu to another composition - just ensure that all selections via the menu is relevant.

[oliverS]

Hello Roland,

I just tryed that, but if I copy the layer to another subcomp the dropdown 

does not execute the comand. 

If I use de DDM in the first-Main-comp to trigger specific subcomp layer it works fine.

If I copy the layer (only for DDM) to another comp, which also includes the 

subcomb from the first Main-Comp, the DDM triggers nothing. 

If I go back to the first Main-comp and use the DDM the subcombs in the 

second Main-comps react as well. 

It seems that if you copy a DDM_Layer the original Layer exclude the 

comands from the copyed one?!

I just want to have the DDM in place and dont have to go to the other Main-comp.

Hope it makes sense.

Any idea 

[Roland Kahlenberg]

A Dropdown Menu (DDM) is simply a container for options. What these options do are triggered by code/Expressions you have in one or more layers. You just have to ensure that when you copy-paste the DDM, the new composition includes the layers that are triggered by the DDM.

From your description, it sounds like you've not updated the Expression to reference the NEW sub-comp, after copying-pasting the DDM.

[oliverS]

Thanks for your answer Roland.

Thats right, I do have to relink the comands to my DDM in the NEW comp,

but then the DDM in the first Main-comp want work anymore,

but the comands triggers the same subcomps, but it seems that this

seems not to work.

In my understanding that you habe a layer with a DDM and you could

place it wherever you want, it still trigger specific comands.

I think the fault is that I reference to a specific layer to an DDM in a specific comp,

and if i copy the layer with the DDM to ancomother comp it cant work cause the 

reference is wrong.

So a DDM can only work singular, not in two places at once (with the same comand)?!

To understand:

Main comp_1 includes a subcomp with layer red and blue

DDM-layer triggers subcomp red or blue

Main comp_2 includes a subcomp with layer red and blue

copy DDM_Layer from MC_1 = not working in MC_2

If I go ro MC_1 and adjust the DDM to red it shows in MC_2 red.

But as I said it would be ideal if I could use the same DDM for both.

sorry to bother you, but If its not working I can live with it,

but If you have a great workaround it would be great. 

Am I write?

[Roland Kahlenberg]

MC2 isn't working because the Expression in SubComp1 is triggered by the DDM in MC1. You will need to duplicate SC1, so that you have SC2. Then, change the Expression in SC2 so that it points to MC2.

Take note that if you want to do all of this in AE, the Essential Properties (previously known as Master Properties) feature may be the easier route.

[oliverS]

Thanks for your help!

Best regards,

Oliver

[oliverS]

I am doing a kind of a workaround.

Put the DDM in an extra comp so that it 

can react from there via DDM to all 

subcomps.

Not ideal but works-)

[Roland Kahlenberg]

For another Workflow; using Essential Properties, follow along.

If you have the DM in your SubComp, AND you drop the DM into the Essential Graphics Panel of the SubComp, it will be available as an Essential Property when you nest the SubComp. Twirl down the nested SubComp while in the Main/Render Comp and you will see an Essential Properties group/section. Twirl this down and you will see your DM. This instance of the DM will be independent of the SubComp UNLESS you click on the Push Button - more often than not, you will not do a Push.

With Essential Properties, you can use multiple nested copies of the DM independent of the setting you applied for the DM, in the SubComp.

HTH

[Ivan_Shv]

Are there any ways to retrieve dropdown menu options? For example, as a default,  AE adds ["Item 1", "Item 2", "Item 3"] as default options for the dropdown. How could they be retrieved?