How to succesfully import XML file with subtitle images

[Kasper5FC0]

Hello everyone!
I'm trying to make a video with this style: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xGjcIYnxwY
The problem is that when I try to import XML file (with subtitle timings) to After Effects, I get error ''After Effects: AEGP Plugin Pro Import: One (or more) VIDEO footage files missing. ( 5027 :: 12 )''

This timelapse video doesn't actually show what happens between exporting and importing the XML file so there might be something I'm doing wrong or not doing at all.
This stuff is very new to me and I'd be really grateful if there's someone who can help me with this.
Thanks already! 🙂

[Mylenium]

The text apparently gets converted to images, so I'm not specifically sure what use the XML would even be. AE itself can only use JSON and plain text files as data sources for such animation. There may be a specific script at AEScripts.com that can import XML subs as well, but I haven't checked this in a while. Otherwise you can always convert your XML to AE compatible data as shown in the video using text editors and Excel (or any other calc program). I would suggest you start by reading the online help to get a feel for what data-driven animation AE actually supports and then also research on how to get subtitles in AE. This used to be al lthe rage two or three years ago and I'm sure you can find enough discussions and tutorials on it.

Mylenium

[Kasper5FC0]

I think that XML is for subtitle's timecodes so I don't need to time every image again in AE.

[Kasper5FC0]

''All of the subtitles are then typed out in notepad manually and then imported into Subtitle Edit where the titles are tied to specific times across the edit. These timings are then exported out of Subtitle Edit in an XML (readable by After Effects) and transparent image files are also created with the subtitle images. Both the XML file and the images are then imported into after effects ready for tracking and positioning over the final edit.''

[ShiveringCactus]

I see what you mean - it feels like a step has been deliberately missed out.

Could you post the XML file here?  The XML itself will be text-based, with paths referencing images.  It might be simple enough to use Excel or Google Sheets to convert the file into a CSV and then you can import that into AE.

[Kasper5FC0]

Yes sure!
So when I export this from Subtitle Edit I get this XML file and image files for every subtitles.
XML is totally new thing for me so I'm a little bit lost here 😄

[ShiveringCactus]

Using a service like: https://www.convertcsv.com/xml-to-csv.htm

You can convert the XML file to a CSV and this does import into AE. And the contents of each column are all named.  As for following the rest of the tutorial there's a lot left to do, but at least this will get the values into After Effects.

[Kasper5FC0]

I feel like a really noobish right now but how do I do this right?
Is there something I need to do after I import CSV file? Right now those timecodes are not importing.

[Mylenium]

At one point the video clearly shows the data being reformatted in excel and a text editor. The only part that isn't realyl clear to me personally is whether they are using AE keyframe data as I explained a few days ago (https://community.adobe.com/t5/after-effects/applying-red-camera-movement-metadata-to-xyz-positions-...), are creating a MGJSON file or some standard subtitle file format like SRT required by a script they are using. I guess the point is realyl to convert the XML/ strip the tags. Everything else should realyl not be that much of a problam as subtitle scripts or other solutions that create text based on spreadsheet data have exiisted since forever for AE. I'm sure on AEScripts.com you would even be able to find a 15 year old script to that effect...

Mylenium

[Kasper5FC0]

Okay I'm so lost now. I really know nothing about any scripts or how excel works with AE. I just wanted those timings from Subtitle Edit to AE but now it just seems too complicated so I think it's better for me to just make those timings again in AE.
Thank anyway!

[david31872367xnzt · Accepted solution]

If any one is still looking for this to work. Xml + Png Subtitle importer For AE  click this for the script.