plugin creating text objects

[_Hayden_Young_]

hi all,

i currently have to write a plug in for apple motion and have to read in a text file and create text objects based on that
so far it doesn't seem possible... the fxplug sdk doesn't have anything specific to Motion (or even Final Cut Pro for that matter)

so i was wondering if anyone knows if you can create text objects using a plug in for AE and if you can apply effects to characters at a certain time and animate them

i haven't been able to play with AE plug ins yet (we dont have it on these Macs) so before i go and use precious time (only a few weeks to do this, this is a corporate setting not educational so it does matter :() if someone can say if it's possible then that would be really helpful

[shachar carmi]

to achieve what you're describing, you can create either a plug-in or simply a java script.

both plug-ins and java scripts can do the following:
access a text file, create a new text layer, put the text in the text layer, apply effects and set key frames. (even to launch the render if need be)

both plug-ins and java scripts can NOT do the following:
set different font for specific characters or apply an effect to specific characters.
effects apply to whole layers. you can split the text layer and apply effects to the desired parts.
as for fonts, you can set a font only for the whole text layer. as far as i know, setting a type attributes (font, size, weight) to specific characters is only possible through manual input and not through plug-ins or scripts.

[_Hayden_Young_]

ok, so i have a script now, and i know how to add layers (addSolid() and addText() etc)

how do i add effects to these layers (like ramp or shatter)?
i tried going var solid = addSolid(...); and then solid.effect("Ramp");, but i think this only works if the property existed to begin with.

how do i add the property using scripts?

[shachar carmi]

given you know the item number of the comp (x), and the layer number (y),
this is how you add a "Bulge" effect:
app.project.item(x).layer(y).effect.addProperty("Bulge");

as you said, after it's added, you can access it.
:-)