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Render Queue - File Name and Location Template bug in 2021 (18.4.1 (Build 4))

so I have a project:
F:\filmmaking\Client Name (587)\Film Name\CODE.2.6.2021.aep

When I use the File Name and Location Template (in AE 2021 only, all other versions work fine)
[projectFolder]\renders\FINALS[compName]_Proof.[fileExtension]

It seemingly randomly saves the file(s) in either:
F:\renders\FINALS* or
F:\filmmaking\renders\FINALS* or
F:\filmmaking\Client Name (587)\renders\FINALS*
never F:\filmmaking\Client Name (587)\Film Name\renders\FINALS* like it is supposed to.

If after I apply the template, I click on the link, it takes me to the dialogue showing exactly where it is supposed to go. Click render and it renders to the correct path.

If I don't click the filename first, it renders to a random parent folder like the above.

I have rebuilt the template, have tried changing the slashes and removing the first slash.

If I choose Custom... rebuild the template and name it the same as the original, overwrite the old then render it works fine. Choose that template again on the next render and it fails.

It's making organizing and finding files a nightmare, especially if the render imports the file after rendering.

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Chris Orchard shared this idea  ·   ·  Flag idea as inappropriate…  ·  Admin →

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  • Jess McMillan (AE Dev @ Adobe) commented  ·   ·  Flag as inappropriate

    @Chris

    This should now be fixed in the version of after effects that was released today. Please let me know if you run into any issues with those tokens such as projectFolder.

    All the best,
    Jessica

  • Jess McMillan (AE Dev @ Adobe) commented  ·   ·  Flag as inappropriate

    @Chris,

    Our next release will bump the version number out of the 18.x.x range and there isn't really a way to fix it without it being a new version (whether that is a bug release or a major release). It has been fixed for a few months in Beta, and will be in the next official release.

    As for the importing of a previous version of modules or templates, it is because the beta app gets its own preferences folder. This isn't the exact directions you need: https://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/using/preferences.html

    But it will get you to the folder where the preferences are stored for each version. You can copy the contents of C:\Users\[username here]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\After Effects\18.4 to C:\Users\[username here]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\After Effects (Beta)\18.4
    Delete the beta 22.1 folder, and then when you launch it should prompt you to copy the beta settings.

    Hope that helps/works for you.

    All the best,
    Jessica

  • Chris Orchard commented  ·   ·  Flag as inappropriate

    Beta found, downloaded and installed. Did not prompt to import previous versions Modules nor templates nor did it do it automatically so it looks like I have to do a lot of manual setup to test.

    Is there no plan to repair the Bugs related to projectFolder in version 18?

  • Jess McMillan (AE Dev @ Adobe) commented  ·   ·  Flag as inappropriate

    Hello Chris,

    Bugs related to projectFolder have been addressed in the Beta and will be in the next release. Could you verify if you still experience this issue in the beta version of the application?

    Thanks for writing this up in such detail and reaching out to us.

    All the best,
    Jessica

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