> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.tackstudio.co/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Troubleshooting

> Common issues and how to fix them.

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="An alert tells me to open or activate the Tack Studio app">
    Pre-compose Pro checks your license against the Tack Studio app:

    * **"Open the Tack Studio app."**: Pre-compose Pro can’t reach the Tack Studio app on your computer. Make sure it’s installed and running, then run Pre-compose Pro again.
    * **"Activate using the Tack Studio app."**: the app is running, but no license is active. Activate Pre-compose Pro in the app, then run it again.

    See [Installing tools](/the-app/installing-tools) for the full activation flow.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="The menu item is disabled">
    **Layer > Pre-compose Pro...** is only enabled when a composition is active and at least one layer is selected in it, the same conditions as the native Pre-compose.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Pre-compose Pro doesn’t appear in the Layer menu">
    Pre-compose Pro requires **After Effects 24.4 or later**. It’s a native plugin, so it loads when After Effects starts. Check your version (**Help > About After Effects**), reinstall via the Tack Studio app if needed, then restart After Effects.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="‘Leave all attributes’ is disabled">
    Leaving attributes behind only works for a **single layer with source footage**, the same rule as the native Pre-compose. With multiple layers selected (or a layer with no source, like a text or shape layer), attributes must move into the new composition.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="‘Adjust composition duration’ is disabled">
    Duration adjustment needs the layers inside the new comp to keep their own timing, so it’s only available with **Move all attributes into the new composition** selected.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="I get an error about the index placeholder">
    The `[#]` placeholder must be at the **end** of the default name: `shot_[#]` works, `shot_[#]_element` doesn’t. See [Naming](/pre-compose-pro/naming).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="An alert says the preferences file can’t be found">
    Pre-compose Pro reads your label names and colors, and your keyboard shortcuts, from After Effects’ preferences files on disk. If it can’t find them (an unusual install location, or a brand-new AE install that hasn’t written preferences yet), the label dropdown or shortcut buttons can’t work. Quit and reopen After Effects so it writes its preferences, and try again.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="The crop ignored a layer’s mask">
    Masks that can’t define a sensible crop area are skipped: an **inverted** mask, a first mask set to **Subtract**, or masks all set to **None**. The layer falls back to its full source bounds. See [Cropping](/pre-compose-pro/cropping).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="The crop came out larger than expected">
    A few things can inflate the measured bounds:

    * **Null layers**: check **Ignore Nulls** is on in [Settings](/pre-compose-pro/settings-and-shortcuts).
    * **Box text**: the full text box counts by default; turn on **Ignore Paragraph Text** to measure only the rendered text.
    * **Off-screen content**: turn on **Constrain to Parent Composition** to clamp the crop to the frame.
    * **Over time**: when measuring over time, the crop covers content wherever it moves during the whole animation, not just where it sits now.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+C still opens the native Pre-compose">
    The shortcut takeover is optional. Click **Add** under Keyboard Shortcuts in [Settings](/pre-compose-pro/settings-and-shortcuts#keyboard-shortcut), then close the Keyboard Shortcuts window when it appears to confirm. **Reset** puts the native binding back.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>