After Effects Menu Bug

[Greg von Neulich]

Hi,

I have noticed that the Expression control drop down menus reset when you copy a comp. Not only on the new comp but also in the original.

In the attached video you can see the problem. I would expect the new comp to have the same menu settings. And I would absolutly expect the original comp not to change.

Are there any workarounds other than putting the values in string arrays instead of the menu (which is more practical).

[Roland Kahlenberg]

This is "as designed" – the first item in a drop down menu is deemed the default option. Hence, when you design your options for a drop down menu, you will want the default option to be item #1.  HTH

[Mathias Moehl]

Why is that "as designed"? When I change the position of a layer it also does not reset to the default position when I duplicate the comp, right?

Looks like a bug to me. I recommend the file a bug report here

https://www.adobe.com/products/wishform.html

[Roland Kahlenberg]

This is how Dropdown Menus work in AE and it has nothing specific to do with the Expression Dropdown Menu. When you apply an effect which includes a Dropdown Menu, the first item is also the default option - always and for all Dropdown Menus.

PS - just found a Dropdown Menu from a 3rd party effect where the default option isn't the first item in the Dropdown Menu/List. I would still like the first option to be the default. Additionally, it's not a bug if there is no option to select a default. Hence, it's 'as designed' that the first item is also the default option/selection.

[Mathias Moehl]

The point is not that the first entry is the default. The point is that it should not reset to the default when you duplicate the comp.

Example:

1) Create a comp with a layer and apply the "Warp" effect to it (or any other effect with drop downs).

2) Change the drop down to something else than then the default (say set the "Warp Style" to "Arc Lower" instead of the default "Arc").

3) duplicate your comp

After step 3 you expect in both the original and the duplicate como the "Warp Style" to still be "Arc Lower". And in deed this is how Ae behaves.  But as you can see in @Greg von Neulich 's video that is not how Ae behaves for the Expressions Control Dropdown. So it seems to be specific to this effect.

[Roland Kahlenberg]

Good point Mathias but I'm not certain if it's a bug. IMO, it's no different to how Effects with Input Layer Options always reset to the the container layer when the effect is pasted onto another layer. I believe this is 'as designed' since the target layer may not exist after being pasted, possibly into a new comp. So, what we're witnessing with DDMs may be analogous to these effects. It's still worth to write in and read the reply, if it's forthcoming.

[Greg von Neulich]

I posted the issue at the link you sugested and adobe seems to recognise this as a bug.

https://adobe-video.uservoice.com/forums/911311-after-effects/suggestions/43372155-expression-contro...

setting a keyframe seems like the best option at the moment but also duplicating a comp with commad D instead of copy paste also does not cause problems (but super dangrous).

[Mathias Moehl]

Thanks! I just voted for it 🙂

[Rick Gerard]

The way to make it stick is to set a keyframe.

[Greg von Neulich]

I thought i tried that but now that i did it again it works.

I understand that the first option is the default that makes sense but I cant really see a use case where having alle the menus in all your comps reseting could be usefull. Therefor i think that setting the keyframe should be optional.