match maker
Match Maker is an After Effects tool that syncs the folder structure of your After Effects project with your actual file structure on your drive, and vice versa—it syncs the folder structure of your linked assets with your After Effects project panel.
Whether your assets are scattered across multiple folders, or your Project Panel no longer reflects what’s happening on disk, Match Maker brings everything back into alignment. Clean up your folder structure, back up your assets, or rebuild your Project Panel to match your real file organization — all without breaking a single link.
Functions:
AE → Disk (Backup) Create a safe, timestamped snapshot of your project.
Full Archive: Copies all used assets to a new location while preserving your folder structure.
Rescue Mode: Automatically detects and archives unused/raw files from your disk that aren't in the project, ensuring zero data loss.
Clean Slate: Restores only the active assets to your main folder, leaving you with a bloated-free directory.
AE → Disk (Move) Make your hard drive look exactly like your AE Project Panel.
Physical Sync: Moves files on your drive into folders matching your AE bins.
Deep Clean: Automatically removes empty folders and unlinked files from your source directory, keeping your drive organized.
Consolidate: Merges duplicate items and deletes redundant source files to save space.
Disk → AE Instantly mirror your hard drive structure inside After Effects.
Folder Mirroring: Imports files and creates bin hierarchies that match your disk folders.
Smart Relink: Proactively detects "Missing Footage" items and relinks them to files found on disk instead of importing duplicates.
Structure Correction: Detects if existing AE items are in the "wrong" bin compared to the disk and moves them to the correct location.
Key Features:
✅ Global Renaming: Auto-handles duplicates with unique suffixes (-001, -002) across the entire project to prevent conflicts.
✅ Smart Safety Checks: Alerts you to missing footage before running critical operations.
✅ Cross-Drive Support: Works even if assets are scattered across multiple drives or network paths.
⚠ IMPORTANT:
Backup First: While Match Maker includes robust safety protocols, file management involves moving and deleting data. Please run the script with test/'dummy' projects before running it on actual projects to understand how it works and to ensure it is working properly.
Processing Time: The script performs a deep analysis of file metadata. The larger your project is, the longer it takes for the script to process.
Currently tested and working with After Effects 2025.
Disclaimer:
This tool was developed with the assistance of ChatGPT and Google Gemini. Use at your own discretion.
