Setting up a JSON-formatted Text File

Follow these steps to set up a JSON-formatted text file for use as a Templater data source:

Using your preferred plain text editor, create a text file.
NOTE TSV and JSON plain text files must be UTF-8 character-encoded to ensure that Templater can read all international language characters.

Within this file, create an array of JSON objects. Property keys included in the JSON objects must match dynamic layer names in your After Effects project file. See below for an example of formatted JSON text.


[
  {
    "ID": "json_dyn",
    "title": "Create Dynamic Renders",
    "caption-1": "Prepare AE projects!",
    "caption-2": "parameterized rendering",
    "album-cover": "vangelis-spiral.jpg",
    "disc-face": "discs/vangelis-spiral.png",
    "tint": "89B85C",
    "render-status":"ready"
  },
  {
    "ID": "json_fit",
    "title": "Automatic Fitting",
    "caption-1": "Auto scales your data",
    "caption-2": "to fit your layout",
    "album-cover": "gatsby.jpg",
    "disc-face": "discs/gatsby.png",
    "tint": "684489",
    "render-status":"ready"
  },
  {
    "ID": "json_easy",
    "title": "Easy Alignment",
    "caption-1": "Align dynamic elements",
    "caption-2": "for perfect renders",
    "album-cover": "achtung-baby.jpg",
    "disc-face": "discs/achtung.png",
    "tint": "D369B3",
    "render-status":"ready"
  },
]

TIP JSON formatted files and feeds have the advantage of allowing different sets of key/value pairs for each object array. This makes it easy to set up values that are only relevant to each output, individually, which is useful if you are using your data to change targets within your project or switching between After Effects projects files.