Add a duration limit to the "Cache Frames When Idle" option

[Duduf | RxLaboratory]

Hi,

First, let me explain the issue I'm facing:

I often create very long compositions (like 10k frames) to make sure they can easily be reused anywhere without having to change their duration if they're too short.

Problem is:
If I don't set the work area to a shorter duration OR forget to deactivate "Cache frames when idle", Ae fills up all the system RAM. That's not a big issue if it's the active comp, because each change in the comp will empty the cache, but when switching to another comp, all this cache will be kept, and the system just becomes unusable. And then I'm angry because I have to go back to the longer comp to disable "Cache frames when idle", then empty the cache, then get back to work. And I don't like being angry 😉

A simple change would make be very happy: in the preferences, add an option to limit the duration of the cache when idle; for example, it would be nice to be able to set it to "cache around current time" AND no more than 1s before and 5s after, for example. That would prevent this kind of issue, while still being quite useful.

[Duduf | RxLaboratory]

It's actually worse than I thought, the "Cache frames when idle" option, although in the "composition" menu is not per comp.
So I just can't use it at all if I'm using very long comps, because each time I switch to one of these comps I'll have to purge the memory...

[JohnColombo]

Hi @Duduf | RxLaboratory,

Thanks for making this request! I've moved it to the Ideas section since it is a request for new functionality rather than a bug.

Cheers,

- John, After Effects Engineering Team 

[M Yudha]

please add a function to disable it! this is so frustrating!

[JohnColombo]

Hi @M Yudha,

You can disable "Cache Frames When Idle" via the Composition menu, under the Preview submenu.

Cheers,

- John, After Effects Engineering Team