Targets

Targets tell Compdown where to run actions.

Why targets exist

Before Compdown can add, update, or remove anything, it needs a destination. That destination is called a target.

_timeline target

_timeline points to the currently active composition timeline in After Effects.

_timeline:
  layers:
    - name: Title
      type: text
      text: Hello World

_selected target

_selected points to the currently selected layers in the active composition timeline.

_selected:
  set:
    transform:
      opacity: 50

Default behavior

Inside a target, if you provide items directly, Compdown creates/adds them.

Example:

_timeline:
  layers:
    - name: Background
      type: solid
      color: 1a1a2e

No special verb is required for create/add.

When verbs are needed

Use explicit action verbs only for modifications:

_timeline:
  set:
    layers:
      - name: Title
        transform:
          opacity: 85
  remove:
    layers:
      - name: Temp Layer

Or update/remove selected layers:

_selected:
  set:
    transform:
      opacity: 50
  remove: true

Error behavior

• If no composition timeline is active, _timeline actions fail.
• set/remove match by exact layer name and fail on no match or multiple matches.
• _selected actions fail when no layers are selected.