Best way to add a text input parameter to an effect plugin?

[mauerswald]

I'm trying to write a plugin that will generate formatted text (among other things) according to certain rules. The thing is, how do I get the text input in there... do I have to use PF_Param_ARBITRARY_DATA for this or is there an easier way? Also, if I were to create it using arbitrary data, could I support Unicode characters in that input field?

Thanks!

[Guest · Accepted solution]

Unfortunately, After Effects (and therefore also the SDK) do not offer native controls for inputting text strings.

There are several ways to work around that.

- One - like you already mentioned - is coding and drawing your own parameter interface using custom ARB. This is however very time-consuming

- Another option is having a button parameter that when clicked open a native OS dialog box with the text controls. This however requires knowledge of operating system specific APIs and is not cross-platform, unless you use a middleware like JUCE or GTK or wxWidgets.

- Third and probably easiest option: again a button parameter, but this time (using AEGP_ExecuteScript) it launches a native Adobe JS scripting UI dialog (which is cross-platform and way easier to implement). The result of the text input can be sent back to the plugin via the last return command in the script.

[mauerswald]

Thanks Toby,

looks like the scripted way seems to be the most straight forward (although maybe not the nicest looking) way forward. Thanks.

[mauerswald]

So, it looks like I will have to go the tough route after all... has anyone done this yet? Implementing a text field parameter? Any further help would be much appreciated...

[VertigoJC]

Did you ever end up figuring out how to make a custom text field for input?

[shachar carmi]

tobi suggested pretty much all the possible solutions. of which, #3 is

pretty simple to pull off.