24.2.1 Bug: Text essential prop not returning override value

[Tom Balev]

In the latest 24.2.1, essential property is returning the original text value instead of the esential property override.

AE 2023 seem to return the correct (override) value.

[JohnColombo]

Hi @Tom Balev,

Thank you for reporting this issue. Does the bug occur only when reading the .value attribute of the Essential Property via scripting, or does it also occur when overriding the value in the UI of After Effects?

Thank you for any further information you can provide,

- John, After Effects Engineering Team 

[Tom Balev]

Hey John,

It only happens on the .value attribute when scripting - UI in After Effects seems to be getting the correct value in the Essential Properties dropdown, as well as in the Properties panel.

I have tested 23 versions (all return correct value), but it seems the bug only started happening on 24.2.X - and only on text layers.

[Tom Balev]

Hey @JohnColombo - any updates on this? It seems to be issue in the latest beta as well.

[JohnColombo]

Hi @Tom Balev,

Thanks for the follow-up. Edit: my apologies, and thanks very much for your patience.  We had a similar issue reported and are investigating that issue, but this one has not been moved into our bug-tracking system. I will get it in today and start the investigation. 

- John, After Effects Engineering Team  

[JohnColombo]

Hello again, @Tom Balev,

I was able to reproduce the issue and it appears related to a similar bug reported against 24.2.x. We now have a ticket open and associated with that existing bug, which is already under investigation.

Thanks again for the report and for your patience,

- John, After Effects Engineering Team  

[Paul Tuersley]

Steps to reproduce:
1. Create a new comp and text layer 'some text'
2. Press UU to reveal SourceText, right-click and Add Property To Essential Graphics
3. Press T then drag Opacity into Essential Graphics panel
4. Click Edit Properties in Essential Graphics and check all options
5. Drag Comp 1 onto new comp icon to create Comp 2
6. Use Essential Properties panel to change the text, font size and set Opacity to 30% in Comp 2 only
7. With Comp 2 active, run attached essential test script
 
Result:

"localValue is not: some text source value: some text
I just can't read it. local value is not: some text
local fontSize is not: 135 source fontSize: 135
local opacity is correct: 30 source value: 100"

You can write local text but can't read it. No other text attributes work, even if enabled. Opacity local read/write works as expected, as do other non-text properties.

Expected: You could read and write at least the text properties enabled by Edit Properties.

A scripting ability to set those Edit Properties checkboxes would be good too. I guess we'd also need more stuff like Push/Pull state queries and methods to properly manage existing Essential Graphics projects through scripting.
 
System info
    Application: After Effects (Beta) v24.5.0.21
    OS: macOS v12.6.8, RAM: 64.00 GB GB, CPUs (logical): 12

[JohnColombo]

Thank you for this report, @Paul Tuersley. We've made it reported previously and have a ticket open to investigate. I've merged this post with the existing report so we can notify all affected parties when there is an update on the issue.

Cheers,

- John, After Effects Engineering Team