Using file names as source text with a twist

[Matt4822]

I am creating a slideshow that contains photos of 207 people, each photo is named like this [last name, first name]

I know how to get a text layer to read the source/layer name so that I don't need to write each individual name, however, I am wondering if there's a way to re-write the expression to take the [first name] and put it first, ignore the "," and then put the [last name].

[OussK]

sure it's possible, use this expression

A = thisComp.layer("Your Name").source.name.split(" ")[0];

B = thisComp.layer("Your Name").source.name.split(" ")[1];

S = ' ';

[B + S + A]

change the number inside the [] to get the word you want example 0 for the first word and 1 for the second word

the S variable used to add space between words 

[Martin_Ritter]

The naming is lastName, firstName, therefore, you better use:

... source.name.split(",")[...];

This way, you are splitting the name string at the comma.

*Martin

[Tomas Sinkunas · Accepted solution]

Here's a clean way to do that. Change targetLayer by pickwipping a layer you want to read the name from:

var targetLayer = thisLayer;
var namesArray = targetLayer.name.split(',');
var firstName = namesArray[1];
var lastName = namesArray[0];

firstName + ' ' + lastName;