New AE 2025 feature just doesn't work...

[Piotr382425020q7e]

Hi, I am really excited about the new feature that introduces expressions in the text properties - that seems like a true gamechanger in my workflow. I'm talking about the things that are described right here:

Edit text styles and text properties using expression controls. (adobe.com)

Unfortunately it just doesn't work. AE displays an error when trying to apply the simplest feature like setting the new font trough the expression, like this:

text.sourceText.style.setFont("Arial-BoldMT");

When I finish editing the expression (unclick) the error says:

After Effects error: A dynamic_cast has failed.

I also would like to mention that it worked perfectly even in much more complex expressions in beta release. But using beta version of AE is not a solution for me.

[jenkmeister]

The type of quotes matter, so try this:

text.sourceText.style.setFont(`Arial-BoldMT`);

[jenkmeister]

Actually 

text.sourceText.style.setFont("Arial-BoldMT");

this worked fine for me in 25.0.  

[jenkmeister]

Can you share your project with me? 

[Piotr382425020q7e]

@jenkmeister 

Okay, so basically it indeed workes a on a blank project, however when I apply this into the project that was converted from 2024 it crashes as above. It doesn't matter what type of quotes I use " or '. It doesn't work either way.

For a reminder: it worked perfectly in the beta version.

Where can I upload the file?

[jenkmeister]

Upload the file wherever you'd like (onedrive, google drive, adobe cc storage, etc.) and share a link. There unfortunatley isn't a place in these forums to update into. 

[default53dysdjnmuj3]

I'm getting this same error. When I click the warning icon on the layer, it says 'internal error'. Sometimes the dynamic cast popup won't go away and I have to force quit the file.

[JohnColombo]

Hi @Piotr382425020q7e & @default53dysdjnmuj3,

Thank you for reporting this issue. We've been able to reproduce the error and now have a ticket open for investigation.

Thanks again,

- John, After Effects Engineering Team 

[Korey24707859272v]

I've been having a similar issue. Most of my Essential Graphics templates are broken after the update. The text controls are broken in Premiere, and I'm experiencing the "dynamic_cast has failed" popups constantly in After Effects. 

However, I'm noticing that all the errors I'm getting are from Text layers that link to a master text layer using the "getStyleAt()" function. I'm guessing the issue has something to do with the Text layers being from the older version before some of the newer expressions were added. 

A solution that seems to work for me is to create new Text layers and redo/copy the expressions. While I'd like to not have to go through all of my templates and replace all the layers, I'm at least able to use my templates again. 

[skvifi]

Same here, a bunch of my projects experience this issue.

[Multipasser]

Don't understand why adobe won't keep the old expression system in the background for old projects, so they won't break?

I hope they understand we are making a living here and servicing clients! They know some templates are being used for years and years. Such a shame 😞

[nilsvanernst]

I am facing the same issues: I can't work on one of my projects as the "After Effects error: A dynamic_cast has failed."-popup doesn't go away.

Are there any solutions yet or at least a work-around?

[jenkmeister]

A fix for the issue was checked in earlier today so that should be in a beta build in a few days from now. We don't yet have a workaround for the current 25.0.1 AE release. 

[Gary Reisman @NBC]

Hey there,  I just experienced this serious bug today when opening up an existing project that uses an expression that changes font style.      (  style.setFont  )

sure hope a fix is available soon

[Greg von Neulich]

Im having the same problem. For my file an old text layer (one created in a converted file) was the problem. When i made a new one with After Effects 25 it worked.

[jenkmeister]

There is a fix available now in the AE Beta builds. The fix will also be in the non-Beta release 25.1 when it ships. 

[cheni_770]

I have the same problem. would it be fixed? when? I tried to edit an old project

[jenkmeister]

25.1 has begun to rollout to customers around the world and should be available to all customers in the next 48 hours. Please look for the update in Creative Cloud Desktop.