This IS the Avid L2: Re: [Avid-L2] Re: OT: Duplicating AE Composition involving Precomputes to a new un

To clarify the commands:

To replace a layer in a comp with something from the project panel, select the layer in the comp you want to replace, then Command+Drag [Alt+Drag on a PC] the layer from the project panel into the comp. This will swap out the layer in the comp with the layer you dragged over, keeping all keyframes, effects, expressions, etc... in place.

If you prefer keyboard shortcuts, select the layer in your comp, then select the layer in your project panel and hit Cmd+Option+/ [Ctrl+Alt+/ on a PC] and it will do the same thing.

NOTE: You cannot use this on a text layer that was created in After Effects because the text layer does not exist in the project panel (whereas a Solid will exist in the project panel in the Solids folder). The Adobe error is "Layer does not have a source." I'm hoping they address this in a future release.

TrueCompDuplicator is ideal for your situation - I consider it a staple for After Effects.

Otherwise, you must manually duplicate every precomp inside the main comp, as well as all precomps inside the precomps inside the precomps inside the precomps ad infinitum. On a complex project that may be 30 - 50 precomps, which means mistakes will happen. Plus, it gets very difficult to keep organized.

Michael

On Wed, Jan 7, 2015 at 3:41 PM, bigfish@pacbell.net [Avid-L2] <Avid-L2@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

So some form of special drag into the duplicated main comp will replace and maintain all the effects. I was trying to do this by dragging in the precomps to a new layer but than I had to manually enter the transform data and if I'd gone far enough I'd have to remake keyframes. I like this key combo better. It sounds like it allows replacing a layer instead of adding a new one. I think that's the function I was looking for. I will give it a try when I get time.

---In avid-l2@yahoogroups.com, <adam@...> wrote :

True Comp Duplicator works great and will do exactly what you need. You
can append the comp name and the name of any nested pre-comps before
duping, and you can specify a new folder for all the parts to land in.
This is a very 'safe' way to do the new versions as nothing is connected
between the comps (other than source footage), the downside would be if
you need to adjust the look or style of your lower thirds, you'd be
opening up and revising every one of them.

If your project isn't too complicated, you could instead do something
like...

* Duplicate main composition and rename it
* In the project window duplicate and rename only the pre-comps that
need to be directly updated.
* Open those new pre-comps and change the content as needed.
* Open the new main comp, highlight each pre-comp that's being updated -
you may have to dig down a ways - and option-drag (alt-drag? control?
damn you muscle memory... it's one of those modifier keys) the revised
comp onto the old one. This will replace the source comp while keeping
all parameters, effects, etc. intact.

That could you $15 or so... but depending on the complexity of your
project it could be a lot of digging, duplicating and replacing. More
chances to screw up!

-Adam

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N. Adam Smith
Video Photographer & Editor
Maximus Media Inc.
(559) 255-1688
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