Create custom Effect Control

Thanks to www.aenhancers.com

http://aenhancers.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=515

1. Locate the XML file "PresetEffects.xml" in your AE files, and make a copy (say "PresetEffects_backup.xml").



2. Open it ("PresetEffects.xml") with your favorite text editor. You'll see many "<Effect...>" tags, each one defines an effect as a combination of slider, checkbox,.., point, angle control. In my example, I was looking for an effect with 6 sliders so I've copied/pasted the (3) lines of the effect named "Separate XYZ Position" (on top of the list), renamed strings (parameter names in the interface) and adjusted default values and range.
[DO NOT modify the first line <Effect matchname=... !!, controls description only]
Then save the file and open After Effects 7.0.



3. Create a new comp, add a solid and apply the preset you chose (in my case "Separate XYZ Position"). This preset uses expressions but AE can't find the expected parameters so it sends an alert; click OK.



4. Your custom effect appears in the effect panel, rename it to whatever you want



5. Save it as a new animation preset.



6. You're done !

This custom effect can now be applied for example to a null layer in your expression-based animations.

note: this operation is far from perfect...these two effects (original and fake) has the same matchName; if you apply the original preset ("Separate XYZ Position"), the effect will now appear with 6 sliders (as defined in the XML file); via scripting, we'll use its name rather than the matchName.

There is no guarantee ("sunday's experiments") .

Other example with different types of controls.