Participating Frequently

Answered

AE CC2017 Text Layer names do not update

Forum|Forum|9 years ago
February 19, 2017
11 replies
9633 views

hello,

how do I achieve, text layers updating automatically their name when changing text in the comp view ?

it only does on new layers but never on duplicated ones !

is that intended to be or is there a hidden preference or short cut

thanks in advane

yours näSh

after effects text layer name update

Correct answer Tuttleharry

Solution:

1. Highlight the text layer

2. type [ENTER], [Backspace], [ENTER]

3. It will auto update and keep auto updating.

adamt18510785

Inspiring

This use to update I wonder why they stopped doing this.

T

tristansummers

Inspiring

Listen. This absolutely works EVERY time. You are deleting any name, in the timeline layer. Left side of the timeline. Next to the capital T. The name of the layer. Delete that and it will always now update to the text you type. No bug. No shouting.

G

gfmarsh

Participant

Like I said it does not work in all instances. I have 347 named text layers in and most of them require to change the content and the label as most default to a 318 number when I do a Enter, Backspace, Enter. An Adobe tech is looking into the matter, and I will repost the findings. When someone tells you that this procedure does not work you should probably take that at face value as this isn't rocket science.

T

tristansummers

Inspiring

Apologies gf

Thanks, it will be great to see what the problem actually is so we can all avoid it, if anyone else ever gets it!

I have whined a lot on here over the years and it has nearly always been my own fault in the end.

But I know how frustrating it is when everyone treats you like an idiot so sorry about that.

Also worth checking cache isn't corrupt, which happens all the time, so what you are looking at isn't actually the current state of the comp. I think there are issues somewhere, maybe with RAM / proclivity handover or something not updating the cache.

If it After Effects text, then deleting the name will always mean the layer name is now linked to the text content, unless you have an expression or animator on the text source, (318 sounds like an index number to me).

So why would the Source Name be this weird number?

It could have something to do with the god awful incremental renaming that after effects does to numbers, and AE is adding a number to your name just to annoy the crap out of you.

Or maybe you have hidden text in the layer. Is it point or area text?

Is there any way you could have text off screen?

Double click the layer name to select all type and delete to check?

It does normally work, as I have been doing it since this thread showed me why naming the layer breaks the link, and how deleting the name relinks it. It is one of those things you won't know until someone tells you, (like select order equals paste or sequence layer order)

Once you have done that changing the text should change the Layer name.

Changing the layer name won't ever change the text content, without an expression.

Editing the text it is usually best to doubleclick the layer name to highlight then type in the comp window.

Does it work if you do this?

Can you link the type to a spreadsheet instead?

Can you link the type to Comp Name or Layer name with an expression?

I don't import Photoshop text , (or even knew you could) so do not know about that, and there are a lot of font issues for the last few versions. TTF vs OTF problems galore.

In the present version, I have to use OTF in after effects, but TTF in Illustrator for the same font.

They can't both use the same version.

So when they fixed last year's TTF problems, they reintroduced some other problems.

Just saying this in case you can get different versions of the font to check.

What are you trying to make update automatically?

T

tristansummers

Inspiring

I repeat. select layer name, hit return, hit delete, hit return. Name is now source text again! Great to know!

G

gfmarsh

Participant

Select layer name, hit return, hit delete, hit return does not work as it just defaults to the original text name. Does anyone from @Adobe actually monitor any of this?

G

gfmarsh

Participant

If you have manually renamed a text layer then those text layers won't automatically update no matter what you do. The [ENTER], [Backspace], [ENTER] is not a work flow that works. Will post any work around I get from Adobe.

T

tristansummers

Inspiring

Tuttle harry is the correct answer:

Solution:

1. Highlight the text layer

2. type [ENTER], [Backspace], [ENTER]

3. It will auto update and keep auto updating.

This is SO SO useful and I always forget how to re-link it. I think it should be a hover tooltip!

You will find people almost wilfully misubderstanding the question, but we get there in the end.

So much love to everyone who tries to help every time.

Thanks from me

T

tristansummers

Inspiring

P.S.

I just did this, then forgot you double click the Layer Name to start typing in the Comp window.

If you rename in the Time line it does not update text.

If you want that to happen, pick whip Source Text to the Layer Name so you can type the layer name to change the text.

Which SOMETIMES you do.

Depends on your exact workflow at the time, which system saves you valuable seconds or concentration error minimisation.

As you were...

T

TuttleharryCorrect answer

Inspiring

Solution:

1. Highlight the text layer

2. type [ENTER], [Backspace], [ENTER]

3. It will auto update and keep auto updating.

Roei Tzoref

Legend

I don't think this was a bug. any layer in the timeline has 2 ways of being presented:

1. a source name - the actual source name file as it is in the project panel.

2. A layer name - by defaulr it is the source name until you change it in the timeline.

if you change a layer name in Ps, it will update the source name in Ae, not the layer name. If you want the layer name to reset to the source name, you can simply delete its name In the timeline and press enter.