Count all markers on a layer with JavaScript

[fabianmoronzirfas]

Hi.

I'm trying to (like the title says) count all markers on a layer with this code.

// CodeStart

function countMarkers(){

var layer = app.project.activeItem.selectedLayers[0];

var markers = layer.property("marker");

if(layer.property("marker").length==null){

alert("There are no Markers in this layer!");

}else{

alert("There are: "+ markers.length+" in this layer");

     }

}

countMarkers();

//Code End

But that doesn't work.

I did some Indesign Scripting but i am totally new to scripting AE - seems like another world. So maybe the ".length" on my "markers" object is wrong. But how do i get the propertys "length"?

Another question is: Where can i find a complete reference for AE and JavaScript? I only found the AE CS3 Scripting Guide but nothing else. Does somebody know something like an "JavaDoc" or can i load the commands somehow in the Object Model Viewer of the Extended Toolkit. or or or …

Thanx a lot

:fabiantheblind

[Paul Tuersley]

You need to use markers.numKeys instead of length. I believe you can't use .length because markers is a property object, not an array

Along with the AE CS3 scripting guide, you can see the changes in CS4 and 5 here:

http://blogs.adobe.com/toddkopriva/2008/12/after_effects_cs4_scripting_ch.html

http://blogs.adobe.com/toddkopriva/2010/04/scripting-changes-in-after-eff.html

And for generic Adobe scripting such as the UI and file system access:

http://www.adobe.com/devnet/scripting/

http://www.adobe.com/devnet/scripting/pdfs/javascript_tools_guide_cs4.pdf

[fabianmoronzirfas]

Jiiihhaaa it works, thanx a lot, also for the links.

here the working code:

// code start countMarkers.jsx

function countMarkers(){
    var layer = app.project.activeItem.selectedLayers[0];
    var markers = layer.property("marker");
    if(layer.property("marker").numKeys==null){
    alert("There are no Markers in this layer!");

}else{
    alert("There are: "+ markers.numKeys+" markers in this layer");
    }
}
countMarkers();

//code end countMarkers.jsx

If somebody wants to know why:

I've been using the following script to make some subtitles. So it is nice to count all the markers before running the subtitles.jsx if u have an even number you have the right number of markers. Is it odd…

see the original post here: http://www.ithowto.ro/2008/12/adobe-after-effects-subtitle-script/

//code start subtitles.jsx

{
    //    Subtitle generator by !Rocky
    //    modified by Colin Harman ( http://colinharman.com/ ) to work on a Mac
    //
    //    Save this code as
    //    "subtitles.jsx"
    //
    //    Create a text file with your subtitles.
    //    Each line of text is one on-screen line.
    //    To have several lines on-screen at the same time,
    //    simply separate them with a pipe ( | ) character.
    //    eg "Character 1 talks|Character 2 interrupts"
    //
    //    Create a new text layer in your comp, adjust its position,
    //    make sure the text's centered, so it looks nice
    //    Add markers (Numpad *) where each subtitle line must be shown/hidden.
    //    With the text layer selected, run the script, and select the subtitles file.
    //    Enjoy!

    function makeSubs() {
        var layer = app.project.activeItem.selectedLayers[0];

        if (layer.property("sourceText") != null) {
            var textFile = fileGetDialog("Select a text file to open.", "");
            if (textFile != null) {
                var textLines = new Array();
                textFile.open("r", "TEXT", "????");

                while (!textFile.eof) {
                    textLines[textLines.length] = textFile.readln();
                }
                textFile.close();

                var sourceText = layer.property("sourceText");
                var markers = layer.property("marker");

                for (var i = sourceText.numKeys; i >= 1; i--)
                    sourceText.removeKey(i);

                var line = 0;
                var subTime, subText;
                for (var i = 1; i <= markers.numKeys; i++) {
                    subTime = markers.keyTime(i);
                    sourceText.setValueAtTime(0, " ");

                    if ((i % 2) == 0) {
                        subText = " ";
                    }
                    else {
                        subText = textLines[line].replace("|", "\x0d\x0a");
                        line++;
                    }
                    sourceText.setValueAtTime(subTime, new TextDocument(subText));
                }
            }
        }
    }
    makeSubs();
}

//code end subtitles.jsx

[Paul Tuersley]

The code in your countMarkers.jsx example isn't quite right. Where you have:

if(layer.property("marker").numKeys==null){

it should be:

if(layer.property("marker").numKeys == 0){

[fabianmoronzirfas]

Ah, okay.

So the property is always there.

Thanx.

:F