Draw a straight line with pen tool in After Effects

Question

I'm trying to draw a straight line with the pen tool in after effects.
 
I've made a shape layer, selected the pen tool, dragged a straight line that I want to draw. By default, both fill and stroke colours are enabled, with a stroke width of 6px. However, as soon as I finish dragging the line, it disappears. I can see that it has colour properties in the shape property of the layer, but it will not display on the viewer. 
If I add a vertex and make it a shape, then it displays. I want to draw a straight line. How can I do that in After Effects? 
 
thank you
 
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Towerguy · Accepted Answer

Hi. With no layer(s) selected, select the pen tool and click on where you want the line to start - don't drag - then click on where you want the line to end. That should do it.

Jose Panadero · Answer

You can not create lines "dragging" your cursor. Lines are created adding 2 vertex points, simply clicking twice your mouse button in 2 different positions, not dragging. Also, it is not necessary to have the Fill option enabled. Lines only requiere the stroke to be active.

Other ways to create lines:

- Create a solid layer (Layer > New > Solid) and add the Beam effect

- Create a solid layer (Layer > New > Solid) create a mask with the pen tool and use the Stroke Effects.

- Create a solid layer (Layer > New > Solid), add the Write On effect and animate the Brush position parameter.

There are even more ways to do it. Try to learn the basics of AE.

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