How to execute `aerender` command line tool via NSTask/Process?

Question

I'm trying to build a proof of concept macOS application to render an Adobe After Effects project file by executing aerender command line tool via NSTask/Process but not having much success.

var task: Process = Process()

func render()

    let compPath = "/Users/Admin/Documents/test-proj.aep"

    task.launchPath = "/Applications/Adobe After Effects CC 2019/aerender"
    task.arguments = ["-project", compPath,
                      "-comp", "output"]

    do {
        try task.run()
    } catch let error {
        print(error)
    }
}

The above code successfully launches After Effects in the background but logs produce the following output:

aerender version 16.1.1x4
PROGRESS: Launching After Effects...
aerender ERROR -1701: AEGetParamPt failed at line 780

I've also attempted putting the commands into a separate Shell script and execute that from the application instead but that also produces the same results.

I can successfully run the same commands directly in Terminal using bash and zsh and get videos rendering perfectly. So I'm thinking this is an error with NSTask/Process rather than aerender.

The application has:

Application sandbox turned off
Full disk access permissions to read and write.

I'm open to all ideas and answers in Obj-C or Swift at this point!

Perhaps your shell has environment variable settings that your `Process` lacks. — rob mayoff, May 14 '19 at 18:23

score 0 · Answer 1 · edited Mar 12 '20 at 19:13

0

You need to install the ESTK (ExtendScript Tool Kit) in your mac. In my case, I fixed it when I installed it.

Refer to Adobe Extendscript Toolkit CC download for macOS 10.13.2

edited Mar 12 '20 at 19:13

Bhargav Rao

50,140
28
121
140

answered Mar 12 '20 at 15:17

DevSR

1
1

How to execute `aerender` command line tool via NSTask/Process?

1 Answers1