Create versions with CSV files

In this video we're going to look at how to use CSV or comma separated values to actually populate a graphic.

So, if we look at our project here, you can see I've actually got a graphic with text and subtitle basically in episode number and in episode name.

Now, we're going to drive the episode numbers and names with CSV files.

So, I'm going to jump over into Excel here and you'll see I've got two columns, Ep Numbers and Ep Name.

It's always important to name your columns whenever you're working with comma separated values.

Once you've named those columns, go ahead and put whatever properties you want into the subsequent areas of the column.

So, for Episode #46 the Ep Name is the arctic circle and so on and so forth.

Now, in Excel I just went here under File, Save As… and under Save As… I chose File Format CSV.

Now, inside of After Effects all you have to do is just import the CSV just like any other piece of footage.

Then you can go ahead and create a Master Graphic.

So, that's what we did here.

If I go to Version 1 you can see here's my Master Graphic and in here, I've already added the Master Properties for Ep Number and Ep Name.

Now, I've already added the CSV into the Timeline, so if I open up its options under Data there's column 1 Ep Numbers column 2 Ep Name.

So, here I'm going to make the Timeline a little bit larger here and I want this Ep Number to be driven by the first Ep Numbers 0 here.

So, I'll click on its pick whip and I'll just point it at Ep Numbers 0.

Okay?

So, there we go.

TRAVEL EPISODE #46.

I want the name to be driven by Ep Name 0.

There we go. the arctic circle Let's go to Version 2 and repeat the same thing.

I'll open up the options for my CSV.

I'll open up the Numbers and the Name and I'll just point the pick whip to the second option down.

Like so.

Okay?

I'll do the same thing for Version 3.

Open up the CSV, open up the Numbers and the Name and I'll just point the pick whip to the last name, point the number to the last number and there we go.

So, I know this may seem like a fair amount of work, but what's great about this is this.

Let's say, next week I have three new episodes with three new names and I already have this project linked up with each different version.

Well, now what I can do is right click on my CSV and say Replace Footage.

Navigate to your CSV and here I've got new episodes CSV and when I click Open it's automatically going to propagate the new information.

So, I have EPISODE #49, #50, and #51.

And I didn't have to do any re-linking because I already have this new CSV.

Now of course I had the same amount of information in the new CSV but I hope you can see once you've actually linked up a CSV with multiple graphics, swapping out for a new season is just a matter of right click and replacing that CSV.