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Quickly run scripts, apply expressions, or load
animation presets from a customizable, dockable UI panel. Create buttons, organize them in folders, and import/export your library.

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Installation Instructions

Code Runner User Guide

Transform your After Effects scripting workflow into something beautiful and organized! Code Runner is your new best friend for managing custom scripts and expressions in a sleek, dockable panel that makes automation feel effortless.

What is Code Runner?

Code Runner is a powerful After Effects panel that lets you organize, run, and manage all your custom scripts and expressions from one beautiful interface. Think of it as your personal script library that travels with you across projects and keeps everything perfectly organized.

Whether you're a motion designer who loves automation or a studio looking to standardize your workflow, Code Runner transforms the chaos of scattered script files into an elegant, accessible toolkit.

Getting Started

Installation

  1. Download the Code Runner script file from your Jake In Motion account
  2. Place the Code Runner.jsx file in your After Effects Scripts folder:
    • Windows: \Program Files\Adobe/Adobe After Effects #version#\Support Files\Scripts\ScriptUI Panels\
    • Mac: /Applications/After Effects #version#/Scripts/ScriptUI Panels/
  3. Restart After Effects
  4. Find Code Runner in Window > Scripts > Code Runner

Pro Tip: For easy access, dock Code Runner as a panel in your workspace. It's designed to live alongside your other panels and makes your workflow smoother than ever. I like keeping mine docked in the same group as the Properties panel.

First Launch

When you first open Code Runner, you'll see two sample folders to get you started:

  • Scripts: Contains a friendly "Hello World" script to test things out
  • Expressions: Includes a handy loopOut() expression ready to use

These samples show you exactly how Code Runner works and give you a foundation to build upon.

Importing My Starter Pack 

To jump right in and take advantage of the scripts, expressions, and presets I use regularly, I've included a folder with a .JSON file and a presets folder that contains my Code Runner collection.

You can easily import it by clicking the Import Collection (↧) button in the footer of the Code Runner panel. Navigate to the .JSON file, add the presets to the User Presets folder (or a custom folder) and choose to overwrite or append the existing button collection.

Organization

Creating Your Library Structure

Code Runner uses a simple folder system that keeps everything tidy:

  1. Click the Edit Mode footer button (✎) to start organizing
  2. Add folders for different categories like "Animation," "Effects," or "Utilities"
  3. Add scripts, expressions, and presets to each folder with button names and notes

You get to choose how you want to organize the buttons. Some people organize by button type, others by functionality. Use whatever system works best for you.

Button Types

Code Runner provides three button types:

  1. ▶ Scripts: Click a script button to instantly run a script
  2. ⚡︎ Expressions: Select properties, then click the expression button to apply it
  3. ★ Presets: Select layers, then click the preset button to apply it

Each button type is easily identified by its icon.

Edit Mode

Edit Mode is where you can add, rearrange, and edit buttons and folders. Toggle it on with the pencil button (✎) in the footer of the panel.

 For Buttons:

▲▼: Reorder
⧉: Duplicate
✕: Delete
✎: Edit

For Folders:

⚙: Customize Colors
✎: Rename
▲▼: Reorder
✕: Delete

Adding Your First Button

Let's walk through adding something useful to your library:

  1. Enter Edit Mode Pencil button (✎)
  2. Click "Add Button" in any folder
  3. Choose Script, Expression, or Preset as the button type
  4. Name it something descriptive like "Select All Text Layers"
  5. Add a description. This acts as the tooltip in the main panel.
  6. Add your code in the large text area
  7. Click Add, and the button appears in your library

For longer scripts: If you paste in code that exceeds the input length, Code Runner will prompt you to use the "Import .jsx" button to load external script files. This bypasses the text field character limit, allowing you to use the script.

Navigating Your Library

Expand and Collapse Folders

Keep your workspace clean and focused by expanding only the folders you need:

  • Click the folder icon (📁︎ or 📂︎) to expand or collapse any folder
  • Expanded folders show all their contents and display with an open folder icon
  • Collapsed folders hide their contents and show a closed folder icon

This is great for managing large button libraries. Code Runner will remember your expand/collapse preferences and save them with your library.

Button Colors

Within each button group, you can customize the colors of entire button groups or individual button types.

Enter edit mode, click the settings button (⚙) for the group you'd like to customize, and make any changes you'd like.

Import and Export

Exporting Your Collection

Share your button collection with anyone you'd like, or back it up:

  1. Click the Export button (↥)
  2. Choose where to save your collection file
  3. Share the .JSON file with anyone who wants your collection

Any presets will be copied to the same location as the .JSON file in a Presets directory.

Importing Collections

Bring in outside collections or add to your existing library:

  1. Click the Import button (↧)
  2. Navigate to the Code Runner .JSON collection you'd like to import
  3. If presets are included, choose how you'd like them to be imported:
    • User Presets Folder
    • Custom Folder
    • Skip Import (relink manually)
  4. Choose your import method:
    • Overwrite: Replaces everything (be careful, this can't be undone!)
    • Append: Add to your existing collection 

When using Append, Code Runner automatically handles naming conflicts by adding numbers to duplicates so you don't lose anything. 

Your Data and Privacy

Everything you create in Code Runner stays completely private on your machine:

  • Local storage: All scripts and settings live in your user data folder
  • No cloud sync: Nothing leaves your computer unless you explicitly export it
  • Full control: You own your data completely
Storage locations:
Windows: ~\users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\JakeInMotion\CodeRunner
Mac: ~/Library/Application Support/JakeInMotion/CodeRunner

Changelog

Download Latest Version

1.0.0

Released: 2025-11-13

  • Initial Release

License (tl;dr)

✅ Free to use in personal or commercial projects.
✅ You can modify it for your own use.
❌ You can’t redistribute, resell, or upload it anywhere.
❌ Always download from jakeinmotion.com.

View Full License