HELP! Duplicate composition text reverting to default text

[elizabethp4600294]

I received an After Effects template from my boss in which there are compositions created for onscreen text, subtitles, etc.  After I duplicate the original composition I am able to edit the text, but then whatever I typed either reverts to the default template text, or it changes to something I typed in a different duplicate composition.

My boss was able to make duplicates and edit them fine herself, and she can send them to me just fine.  But when I try to continue duplicating and editing on my end, I face the same problem.

I contacted Adobe support and they were no help at all. 

Please help if you can, I'm on a deadline! Thank you!!!!

[Rick Gerard]

You have to also duplicate all nested comps because text layers in templates are usually in a nested comp (pre-comp).

The easiest thing to do is just open the template again and edit the text in the new comp. You can import multiple projects into the same project file if you want to. It's easier than digging through a flowchart or through all nested comps, then making copies in the Project panel, replacing layers in the duplicated comps, and then making sure everything stays organized.

The other option is to purchase one of the several scripts that automatically search through the compositions and make unique copies. If you have a bunch of these to do then it's probably worth the money. The one I use is here: True Comp Duplicator - aescripts

[elizabethp4600294]

Thank you for your quick response!  I don't completely understand, because I'm relatively inexperienced in After Effects.  But I just tried bringing some of the duplicated compositions into Premiere, even though the text was all jumbled up, and now I found another problem-the timing of the text is much faster than the template, as if the keyframes had been changed.  Is it possible that there's more going on here, like a problem with my computer?  I tried uninstalling and reinstalling After Effects, and that didn't work..and I shared my screen with an Adobe representative and they didn't help either...so frustrating!

[Rick Gerard]

99.997% chance this is user error.

You need to become familiar with AE's flow charts, the process of duplicating items in the Project Panel, and how nested compositions work. This will require some study.

If you are on the latest version of After Effects and Premiere Pro then you can convert almost any template into an Extended Graphics Template and do your text changes and even timing changes directly in Premiere. If you take a couple of hours and study how to create and use Essential Graphics you can convert almost any template into an incredibly small file that can be used directly inside Premiere Pro. There is no real reason anymore to import AEP files and load up comps in Premiere Pro for Motion Graphics. Here are the basics: Creating Motion Graphics templates | Adobe After Effects CC tutorials.

If you are under a deadline by far the easiest thing to do would be to open up the AET (Template) file, save a copy, then save another copy with a different name, then repeat that until you have as many copies as you need for your project. Then open up each copy of the template and edit the text.

The second best option is to use a script like the True Comp Duplicator that I recommended to you.

[elizabethp4600294]

Okay, I will give that a try.  Thank you so much for your help, I really needed it!

[OussK]

You can also try this script True Comp Duplicator - aescripts + aeplugins - aescripts.com 

it a "Name Your Own Price" script so you can test it first if you want, this script allow you to duplicate the composition you want and all the related elements and is this case they will automatically create a new comp for the text placeholder of your template.