# AE MCP Bridge CEP Extension
A CEP (Common Extensibility Platform) extension for Adobe After Effects that provides a dockable panel for the AE MCP Bridge system.
## Features
- **Dockable Panel**: Fully integrated into After Effects UI
- **Auto-Processing**: Automatically processes commands every 200ms
- **Command Log**: Visual log of all processed commands with timestamps
- **Statistics**: Track processed commands and errors
- **Manual Controls**: Process commands manually, clear log, open commands folder
- **Dark Theme**: Matches After Effects' interface
## Installation
### Development Mode
1. Enable debug mode in After Effects:
- **Mac**: In Terminal, run:
```bash
defaults write com.adobe.CSXS.11 PlayerDebugMode 1
```
- **Windows**: Create a registry entry:
```
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\CSXS.11
Create String Value: PlayerDebugMode = 1
```
2. Copy the extension folder to CEP extensions directory:
- **Mac**: `/Library/Application Support/Adobe/CEP/extensions/` or `~/Library/Application Support/Adobe/CEP/extensions/`
- **Windows**: `C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\CEP\extensions\` or `C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\CEP\extensions\`
3. Restart After Effects
4. Find the panel under Window > Extensions > AE MCP Bridge
### Production Installation
For production use, the extension should be packaged and signed using Adobe's ZXPSignCmd tool.
## Usage
1. Open the panel from Window > Extensions > AE MCP Bridge
2. The panel will automatically start processing commands from the `~/Documents/ae-mcp-commands/` folder
3. Place `.js` command files in the commands folder
4. Commands are automatically executed and archived
## Command File Format
Command files should be JavaScript files that can be executed in After Effects' ExtendScript environment:
```javascript
// example-command.js
app.beginUndoGroup("My Command");
// Create a new composition
var comp = app.project.items.addComp("Generated Comp", 1920, 1080, 1, 10, 30);
// Add a text layer
var textLayer = comp.layers.addText("Hello from MCP!");
app.endUndoGroup();
```
## File Structure
```
cep-extension/
├── CSXS/
│ └── manifest.xml # Extension configuration
├── jsx/
│ └── host.jsx # ExtendScript code
├── js/
│ ├── CSInterface.js # Adobe CEP interface
│ └── main.js # Panel JavaScript
├── css/
│ └── style.css # Panel styling
├── icons/
│ └── icon.png # Extension icon (23x23)
├── index.html # Panel UI
└── .debug # Debug configuration
```
## Development
- The panel communicates with After Effects through the CSInterface
- ExtendScript code runs in the After Effects context
- JavaScript code runs in the CEP Chromium context
- Use `csInterface.evalScript()` to execute ExtendScript from JavaScript
## Troubleshooting
1. **Panel doesn't appear**: Make sure debug mode is enabled and After Effects is restarted
2. **Commands not processing**: Check that the commands folder exists in your Documents folder
3. **Errors in execution**: Check the panel log for error messages
## Technical Details
- **CEP Version**: 11.0 (for After Effects 2025)
- **Minimum After Effects Version**: 22.0
- **Auto-process interval**: 200ms
- **Log retention**: Last 100 entries
