Add Named Composition from Project Panel

After Effects
September 26, 2025
/*
Adds a specified composition to the current playhead time at the top of the layer stack 
in the active composition.
Please replace 'COMP_NAME_HERE' with your composition's name.
If you have trouble making this work, paste the code into an LLM and explain what's happening.
Script by Jack Vaughan (jackvaughan.com/tools)
*/
(function() {
  var proj = app.project;
  var compName = "COMP_NAME_HERE";
  var targetComp = null;

  // Search for the specified composition
  for (var i = 1; i <= proj.numItems; i++) {
    if (proj.item(i) instanceof CompItem && proj.item(i).name === compName) {
      targetComp = proj.item(i);
      break;
    }
  }

  if (targetComp) {
    var activeComp = proj.activeItem;
    if (activeComp && activeComp instanceof CompItem) {
      app.beginUndoGroup("Add Specified Composition");
      var newLayer = activeComp.layers.add(targetComp);
      newLayer.startTime = activeComp.time;
      app.endUndoGroup();
    } else {
      alert("No active composition selected.");
    }
  } else {
    alert("Composition '" + compName + "' not found.");
  }
})();

How to use the script

Always check code before running it on your computer. Even basic scripts like this one. If you’re not a developer, ask an LLM like ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini to verify it for you.

Option 1: Install to your AE Folder

Download and install the below .jsx file in your After Effects Script folder. You can then run it using the scripts menu, or by using a launcher like Quick Menu 3.

Option 2: Adapt the script yourself

Alternatively copy the code below and develop your own version. If you’re not a developer you can do this easily with an LLM like ChatGPT.

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