Fixing $.stack Issues in VSCode for ExtendScript Debugging

Описание: Learn how to resolve issues when using `$.stack` to access parent folder paths in VSCode when debugging ExtendScript in After Effects.
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This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/68054581/ asked by the user 'Yahia Elboudi' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/16216202/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/68322242/ provided by the user 'Yahia Elboudi' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/16216202/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

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Fixing $.stack Issues in VSCode for ExtendScript Debugging

When working with ExtendScript in Adobe After Effects, you may encounter unexpected behavior when trying to access file paths, particularly using $.stack to retrieve the parent folder path of your script. A common issue arises when code that works perfectly within the After Effects application returns incorrect paths in the VSCode ExtendScript debugger. Let’s explore the problem and how you can effectively address it.

The Problem: Incorrect Path Retrieval in VSCode

When executing a script in the ExtendScript debugger through VSCode, you might come across a perplexing outcome.

For instance:

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This line should retrieve the full path of the parent folder of your script. However, the output may look like this:

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This is obviously not the actual parent folder of your script, and it can lead to confusion during development. When running the same script directly from After Effects (through File Scripts Run Script), you would get the expected correct path. So what's going wrong here?

What’s Causing This Issue?

The root cause of the issue is how VSCode conducts its debugging process for ExtendScript. It appears that instead of executing your actual script file, VSCode might be copying the script contents to a hidden file within the Adobe After Effects installation path, subsequently executing that hidden file. This can mislead you into thinking that your script is running as intended.

The Solution: Ensuring Correct Script Execution

Here are a few steps and considerations that may help you mitigate this issue and ensure you’re retrieving the correct file paths when debugging your scripts through VSCode:

1. Understanding the Command Line Execution

You can explicitly run your ExtendScript file directly from After Effects using the command line. For example:

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While this might not resolve the problem when debugging within VSCode, it does show that your script functions as desired when executed directly in After Effects.

2. Confirming VSCode Extension Behaviour

Investigate the specific behavior of the VSCode extension you are using for ExtendScript debugging. Vendors often specify typical limitations or bugs that might affect path resolution. Understanding these nuances can help in troubleshooting.

3. Debugging Outside of VSCode

If you consistently encounter issues when debugging within VSCode, it may be beneficial to devise a workflow that prioritizes running scripts directly in After Effects. This way, you can confirm their functionality without being hindered by the debugging environment's mechanics.

4. Utilizing Console Logs

Make use of $.write and other logging methods to track your script's execution flow. For instance, intermittently write out the paths being accessed—this can help you isolate when and where incorrect paths are being retrieved.

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Conclusion

While it can be frustrating to deal with discrepancies between how scripts operate in an IDE versus the actual application, understanding the functionality of VSCode and ExtendScript is key. With these insights and methods, you should be able to tackle path resolution issues more effectively and streamline your debugging processes.

If you continue to face challenges, don’t hesitate to reach out to community forums or Adobe documentation, as user experiences can provide invaluable guidance. Happy scripting!