Automation Blocks - Play Down Timeline

[Citizen_Sam]

Hi @Mathias Moehl 

Is there a way in Automation Blocks to 'press play' on a timeline and play down the active sequence? Maybe some code in the extendscript block? 

[Mathias Moehl]

Yes, I haven't tested this, but you should be able to execute this:

app.sourceMonitor.play(1)

inside an execute code block.

See
https://ppro-scripting.docsforadobe.dev/general/sourcemonitor/?h=play#sourcemonitorplay

[Citizen_Sam]

Awesome. I never know what to put in the var field and the two parts that follow it in the top of that block. Can you lend a hand? That block is sort of the last frontier in my Automation Blocks upskilling journey.

[Mathias Moehl]

I have some bad news and some good news for you.

Bad:
app.sourceMonitior.play() only works for playing the source monitor, but not for playing the active sequence. And there is nothing like that for the sequence in the scripting API.

Good:
I recorded a tutorial for you explaining how to use the Execute Code block and how to ask ChatGPT to write some code and then combine it with Automation Blocks:

[Mathias Moehl]

I also added this to the docs now:

https://docs.mamoworld.com/automation-blocks/tutorials-pr/executeCodeAndChatGPT

[Citizen_Sam]

Awesome! I can't wait to watch this! Thank you for being generous with your time. This will open up another world for me.

Loading a clip into the source monitor and playing it would achieve the same thing I'm trying to do. Is it possible to automate loading a specific clip and then play it?

[Citizen_Sam]

Well. I just started watching the video and it looks like I'll have my answer. You're the best!

[Citizen_Sam]

Hey @Mathias Moehl . Hope you're well.

This play video script is awesome. One hitch is the video always plays from its last point. So once the video has been played all the way through, the next time you run the script, it just loads the video in the source monitor but the playhead is at the very end.

I'm trying to get chatGPT to help me write a code that sets the playhead at the first frame before playing the video, but I'm having no luck.

Can you be of assistance?
PS - we just bought three licenses for Automation Blocks - After Effects. Excited to dive in, especially the spreadsheet stuff!

[Mathias Moehl]

I haven' tested this, but I would try to set the inPoint of the clip to see if this changes the playhead time, too. If this doesn't do the trick, there is probably no way to do it.
From the API, it looks like you can get the current time with app.SourceMonitor.getPosition() , but not set it.

[MyerPj]

Thanks @Mathias Moehl , cool tutorial! 🙂