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lehestro
lehestro
Inspiring
September 7, 2023
Answered

Trouble converting negative integers to positive values <360

  • September 7, 2023
  • 2 replies
  • 549 views

Hello, I'm looking to create an expression that, when/if a value becomes a negative integer, 360 is added to it so that it becomes a positive integer <360. For example, if a certain value is -17 then the displayed value is 343. I'm beginning with this expression. It works fine, except when the slider goes into negative numbers, which, the way things are designed, it has to do sometimes. 

 

val1 = thisComp.layer("Controls").effect("Heading Slider")("Slider")/388.89 val2= val1*100 Math.round(val2)

 

The slider is set to values 1-1400, hence the /388.89. Much appreciate the help! I'm still an expression newbie.

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Dan Ebberts

Try this:

val1 = thisComp.layer("Controls").effect("Heading Slider")("Slider")/388.89;
val2= Math.round(val1*100);
val2 < 0 ? val2 + 360 : val2

2 replies

R
Community Expert
Rick GerardCommunity Expert
Community Expert
September 8, 2023

This is how I would approach the problem. I'm assuming you are trying to display heading information, so you need an expression that turns the rotation value into numbers between zero and 359 to give you a compass heading.

 

You can use an Angle Control instead of a Slider and this expression. 

 

v = effect("Angle Control")("Angle").value.toFixed();
rNum = Math.floor(v)/360;
n = Math.floor(rNum);
aFix = 360 * n;
a = v - aFix;
Math.abs(a)

 

 You could also use a slider, but if you used an angle control, you could visualize the compass heading. 

 

The rNum sets up a counter that counts the number of 360º rotations, and then n makes the number of rotations a whole number. If you multiply the number of rotations times 360 and subtract that number from the angle value (v), you get a number that varies between plus and minus 360. The Math.abs(a) function always keeps the value positive. 

 

When you get a handle on the basic Math operators in Javascript, sketching the problem out with a pencil and paper will give you the formula always to display a number between zero and 360. No if/else statements are required.

    lehestro
    lehestroAuthor
    Inspiring
    September 16, 2023

    Oh man, thanks so much, both of you! I inherited the project, and the previous person had it set up with a slider. I didn't even realize angle control was a possibility. This is so very helpful. Thank you guys!

     

    I really know very little about code or expressions, and it's fun to reverse engineer what you wrote to see how it all works. Much appreciated!

    Dan Ebberts
    Community Expert
    Dan EbbertsCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    September 8, 2023

    Try this:

    val1 = thisComp.layer("Controls").effect("Heading Slider")("Slider")/388.89;
val2= Math.round(val1*100);
val2 < 0 ? val2 + 360 : val2
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