Precompose shape layer with linked expressions

[Kyle28819348zc99]

Hello!

I am learning about expressions and have created an offsetted chain of shape layers that is linked to a sinwave expression.  I am curious what the best method to update the shape layers with new sources would be? I have tried precomposing the shape layer and copying the expressions back after they've moved into the precomp but that doesn't seem to work. Any thoughts on this?

Thanks!

[Airweb_AE]

You can replace thisComp with comp('Example 4 Position + Rotation')

and then you'll be able to move your layers anywhere.

[Kyle28819348zc99]

Thanks for getting back AirWeb_AE

Can you explain what that function is doing? -- Essentially I just want to swap each shape layer (with expressions) with a new layer (precomp) - which I suppose I can do by hand matching each new source's PositionScaleRotation to each shape and parenting it to the shape layers with expressions. But I was hoping there's a more parametric method.

[Airweb_AE]

In After Effects, thisComp refers to the composition in which the expression is located. In your case:

thisComp = comp("Example 4 Position + Rotation")

If you pre-compose your shape layer, thisComp will refer to the name of your new pre-composition.

Therefore:

thisComp.layer("Controls")

will generate an error because "Controls" layer isn't in your new pre-composition, it's in the "Example 4 Position + Rotation" composition.

That’s why you need to use comp("Example 4 Position + Rotation").

If you don't want to replace thisComp, you simply need to move or duplicate your "Controls" layer into your new composition.