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vidjuheffex
vidjuheffex
Participating Frequently
September 6, 2014
Question

Hybrid Extension in AE

  • September 6, 2014
  • 1 reply
  • 1629 views

Looking over the hybrid extensions information, it seems like the additional files needed require building the HTML5 panel with extension builder, however in Extension Builder AE doesn't show up as a host option yet...

Should I build a premiere Pro Project and Add  <Host Name="AEFT" Version="[13.0,14.9]" /> to the manifest? Will all the hybrid registering and additional files be built as necessary?

Would a hybrid extension allow the creation of menu items and access to AEGP? (I imagine this is where ScriptUI being called from " Window > " and Extensions coming from " Extension > " might be the limitation of a non-fully C++ route.

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1 reply

vidjuheffex
vidjuheffexAuthor
Participating Frequently
September 10, 2014

Ok, now I am a bit (more) confused.

Can Hybrid Extensions make AEGP calls? I read on here (a staff reply) that HTML5 panels are just for extendscript "though we have ways for those to communicate"..

It sounds like, if you have a plugin made, a hybrid extension is allowed to call that plugin (and change settings?) but that the plugin exists separate from the hybrid app....li

Is there anyplace where the capabilities of a hybrid app are clearly outlined? Going through the SDK it says: ways to build panels, scriptUI, html5, etc... but ScriptUI isn't for plugins at all correct? Why is this listed in the plugin SDK?  In the JavaScript tools guide there is component integration but I imagine I can't simply include these headers from the sdk and access AEGP calls that way.

Z
Zac Lam
Inspiring
September 12, 2014

Hi there,

For a "Hybrid Extension" built for AE you'd need to use both ZXPSignCmd to sign your panel and UCF.JAR to package everything together.

Plug-ins can use AEGP, but panels use ExtendScript and the AE scripting DOM.  The AE scripting DOM includes a huge amount of functionality that in most cases mirrors the AEGP API for plug-ins.

AE plug-in and panel SDK documentation doesn't include info on "Hybrid Extensions" at this time.  Are you looking to use a panel as UI for your plug-in?

vidjuheffex
vidjuheffexAuthor
Participating Frequently
September 12, 2014

Honestly I would love to not touch the Plugin C++ side of things but am trying to get around a bug that has me looking everywhere for workarounds. (I'll leave all that in the other thread and continue with my on-topic confusion here)

That said I'm struggling to make sense of what a hybrid extension even is....

Example:

"For a "Hybrid Extension" built for AE you'd need to use both ZXPSignCmd to sign your panel and UCF.JAR to package everything together."

What is "everything" in this case? If panels can't call AEGP what is there to bundle?

"Plug-ins can use AEGP, but panels use ExtendScript and the AE scripting DOM."

Again, what then is a hybrid?


From the documentation:

Host Adapters

Creative Cloud Host Adapter Libraries enable deeper integration with Creative Cloud applications is straight JavaScript. Use these to augment your C++ or ExtendScript code.

Adobe CSHA and Adobe CSHA Photoshop are the JavaScript host adapters for use with hybrid extensions. Adobe CSHA is for all host applications that have JavaScript APIs.

I seriously cant be the only person who finds whats said about hybrids/Host Adapters/deep integration to be clear as mud

Let me put it this way, I've developed an HTML5 extension which uses jquery and knockout, makes server-side python calls to Shotgun and interacts with AE to create comps, open shots, etc. And uses the built-in CEP calls for folder access/creation. Given all this, what would Hybrid extensions allow that I currently can't do. If this isn't AEGP calls then what exactly is an example use case of something like this?

Then finally, page 33 of the extension SDK seals the deal on my confusion:

The feature you are developing requires a capability supported by the native scripting or C/C++ API

layer, that is not accessible via your Adobe extension; for example, some applications allow you to

create custom menus using C++ extensibility.

Okay, so lets say I want to add a custom menu item called "[Studio Name] Tools" and have Three entries each a paneled window. I would what, write a C++ AEGP plugin that adds the menu items. And when I select one it opens a hybrid extension that is already listed under windows > extensions anyway? It says they will be bundled together but it seems all functionality need to be isolated to each component.


But most importantly and the birth of all this troubleshooting,
Can I use AEGP from a hybrid extension to set the comp start frame without the floating point time issues that ruin everything good in life. Or set in points and outpoints for workareas and comps accurately.

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