Your first prompt, end to end

This page assumes you have already finished the install and pasted in an API key. If not, swing back to Installation first.

Step 1. Choose the right mode

The mode selector sits right above the chat box. Picking the right mode tells Sidekick what shape of output you want and which action button to surface on the response.

You will spend roughly 90% of your time in Expression and Scriptlet mode.

Step 2. Select your target in the timeline

Click a layer, a property like Position or Scale, or several properties at once. Sidekick reads the selection automatically and shows a summary right under the mode selector – for example, In "Main" – 1 layer, 1 prop.

Step 3. Send your prompt

Type what you want in natural language and hit Enter. Sidekick streams back clean, color-coded code with any controls it needs flagged at the top of the response.

Step 4. Apply, run, or save

• Expression – click Apply. The expression writes to every targeted property.
• Scriptlet – click Run for a one-off, or Save scriptlet to pin it to the Toolbar.
• Script – click Save script, then run from File > Scripts > Run Script File… inside AE.

Try these example prompts

Quick animation expressions

Switch to Expression mode and select a property like Position or Rotation, then try:

• wiggle the position 3 times per second with 40 pixel amplitude
• ease the opacity from 0 to 100 over the first 2 seconds, then hold
• make the rotation continuously spin at 90 degrees per second

Custom controls

Sidekick will offer + Add Slider (or color, angle, checkbox) buttons. Click those first, then Apply.

• scale based on a slider control called "Pulse Amount"
• tint the layer with a color control, blending 50/50 with the original
• rotate by an angle control, with a checkbox to invert direction

Linking and rigging

• follow the layer above this one with a 5-frame delay
• point at the layer named "Target" using lookAt
• copy the position from layer "Hero" but offset by [100, 0]

Multi-target apply

Cmd or Ctrl-click multiple properties in the timeline, then ask:

• wiggle all selected properties subtly

The Apply button shows a checklist of every targeted property, so you can toggle individual ones off before applying in one shot.

Scriptlets, your new best friend

Switch to Scriptlet mode and try:

• rename all selected layers to "Shot_01", "Shot_02", "Shot_03" in order
• distribute selected layers evenly across the timeline between 0s and 4s
• parent every selected layer to the topmost selected layer

Click Run to execute once. If you will want it again, click Save scriptlet and it shows up in your Toolbar within a couple of seconds.

Heavy-duty scripts

• batch-render every comp in the project to a folder I'll pick at runtime, with a unique numbered prefix
• audit the project: list every layer with a missing source file

Question mode, your personal AE tutor

• what does loopOut() do and what are its arguments?
• explain the difference between thisLayer.position and transform.position

Get to know the Toolbar

Anything you save with Save scriptlet syncs to the Toolbar panel (Window > Extensions > Sidekick Toolbar) within about two seconds. Think of it as a KBAR-style launcher for your favorite scriptlets.

• + New scriptlet opens the editor without going through the chat
• { } Quick run lets you paste and execute any raw .jsx snippet
• ⚡ Open Helper jumps you back to the chat
• If a Toolbar scriptlet errors, the row flashes red and the Open Helper button turns red – click it to read the full error in the chat banner

A few friendly gotchas

• Apply does nothing? Make sure you have a property selected (Position, Scale, etc.), not just the layer name.
• Apply failed? AE is picky about syntax. Read the AI's instructions below the code box. Most often you just need to add a Slider or other control first.
• First prompt feels slow? AI models cold-start. The first call of the day might take a few extra seconds. Follow-ups are snappy.
• Want to try a different model on one prompt? Use the dropdown next to the Send button. Your default in Settings is untouched.
• Multi-target undo. Each property currently lands in its own undo group, so undoing requires one Cmd/Ctrl-Z per property. Batched undo is on the roadmap.

Stuck? Troubleshooting covers the usual suspects, and Error codes has every code Sidekick can surface.