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sebastianm3862066
New Participant
December 1, 2018
Answered

After Effects automatically creating new comps?

  • December 1, 2018
  • 8 replies
  • 9428 views

Recently my after effects has been automatically creating new compositions every time I import footage into a project. This becomes very annoying as I'm always importing lots of footage and always manually deleting the new comps after effects is making for each piece of footage. I've looked through the preferences, but there doesn't seem to be an option that controls this. This wasn't happening when I first starting using this version so I think I must've changed some setting but dont know how to change it back. Any idea how I can stop after effects from automatically creating new comp when I import footage?

[Moved from After Effects Resources to the much more active After Effects support forum - moderator]

Correct answer lockhartgary

This issue cropped up again for my after a while using After Effects CC 2020.

Resetting the preferences file is a real pain for me, as I lost connectivity to a number of plugins.

Here is how to fix the problem without having to reset preferences:

Import an asset and in the dialog box that opens make sure that  "CREATE COMPOSITION" under "IMPORT OPTIONS is UNCHECKED.

 

8 replies

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IvanStur
New Participant
November 12, 2021

I just found out that the problem is this little checking box at the browser. It has to be unselected, otherwise it becomes redundant with the next dialog box (footage or composition) and creates two precomps, very annoying indeed.

 

 

Jose Panadero
Jose Panadero
Community Expert
July 19, 2021

On the import dialog box you have active the option to create automatically the composition when importing files. Deactivate it.

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RaoulVega
New Participant
July 19, 2021

Unfortunately such dialog box shows up only at first time, then there is no way to step back. In my case I had the option enabled accidentally, and now I can't find a way to get the dialog box back.

Jose Panadero
Jose Panadero
Community Expert
July 19, 2021

Every time you use the Import command, you will have the option to create the. composition. Check attached image.

 

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RaoulVega
New Participant
July 19, 2021

Resetting preferences is not an option for me, can someone please share the solution to this annoying situation?

tatyannak36138180
tatyannak36138180
New Participant
March 9, 2021

Can someone help? I don't want to reset my preferences. Is there any other way to fix this other than resetting? Also, I tried someone mentioned in the comments that a pop up window would open as I import something, but nothing opened for me.

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lockhartgaryCorrect answer
Inspiring
November 28, 2019

This issue cropped up again for my after a while using After Effects CC 2020.

Resetting the preferences file is a real pain for me, as I lost connectivity to a number of plugins.

Here is how to fix the problem without having to reset preferences:

Import an asset and in the dialog box that opens make sure that  "CREATE COMPOSITION" under "IMPORT OPTIONS is UNCHECKED.

 

    E
    Eugene1987
    New Participant
    December 8, 2022

    This should be the correct answer. The suggested answers works. But it resets everything. If you do what @lockhartgary

    it will fix the issues without having to reset preferences. Top man thank you! 

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      Lucas Lago
      Inspiring
      December 3, 2018

      Try reset the preferences:

      1. Press Ctrl+Alt+Shift (Windows) or Command+Option+Shift (Mac OS) while the application is starting.
      2. A dialog box launches asking you if you want to delete your preferences file. Click OK.
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        sebastianm3862066Author
        New Participant
        December 3, 2018

        Resetting the preferences worked!

        Thank you so much

        The command wasn't working for me so I ended up renaming the after effects folder in appdata>roaming>adobe and opened up after effects to create a new folder.

          W
          Warren Heaton10841144
          Community Expert
          December 2, 2018

          Are you getting the new Comps when importing a layered Photoshop document as a Composition?  If so, that's normal and should be left as is.

          -Warren

          Szalam
          Szalam
          Community Expert
          December 2, 2018

          What version of AE? What is the exact process you're taking to import files? What format/codec is the footage you're importing?

          S
          sebastianm3862066Author
          New Participant
          December 2, 2018

          After Effects CC 2018. Im simply right-clicking in the project tab and importing through there. Mainly importing mp4 and mp3 but this happens with all the types of format, jpeg as well.

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