How to simplify JavaScript in After Effects for this conditional statement?

Question

This is the code that works, but it isn't scalable to varying array lengths.

How can I simplify this?

if(section_time_cumulative[0]<= time && 
    section_time_cumulative[1]>=time) 
{ 
    linears[0] 
} 
else if(section_time_cumulative[1]<= time && 
    section_time_cumulative[2]>=time) 
{ 
    linears[1] 
} 
else if(section_time_cumulative[2]<= time && 
    section_time_cumulative[3]>=time) 
{ 
    linears[2] 
} 
else if(section_time_cumulative[3]<= time && 
    section_time_cumulative[4]>=time) 
{ 
    linears[3] 
} 
else if(section_time_cumulative[4]<= time && 
    section_time_cumulative[5]>=time) 
{ 
    linears[4] 
} 
else if(section_time_cumulative[5]<= time && 
    section_time_cumulative[6]>=time) 
{ 
    linears[5] 
} 
else if(section_time_cumulative[6]<= time && 
    section_time_cumulative[7]>=time) 
{ 
    linears[6] 
} 
else if(section_time_cumulative[7]<= time && 
    section_time_cumulative[8]>=time) 
{ 
    linears[7] 
} 
else 
{ 
    0 
}

Expected result:

I've tried this way, but it doesn't produce the desired result; it's resulting in only the 'last' iteration of values being defined as I expect.

for(arrIndex = 0 ; arrIndex< section_bars.length-1; arrIndex++) 
{
    if(section_time_cumulative[arrIndex]<= time && 
        section_time_cumulative[arrIndex+1]>=time) 
    { 
        linears[arrIndex] 
    } 
    else
    {
        0
    }

}

Note only the last values output (far right end of graph):

arrIndex< section_bars.length-1 should be arrIndex < section_bars.length-2 or arrIndex <= section_bars.length-1 since you want arrIndex to be from 0 to 7, not to to 8. — VLAZ
– VLAZ, Commented 3 hours ago

mplungjan · Accepted Answer · 2025-12-01 12:34:48Z

0

You need to not overrun and as important: You need to return the value you found when you find the value.

var result = 0;

for (var i = 0, n = section_time_cumulative.length - 1; i < n; i++) {
  if (section_time_cumulative[i] <= time &&
      section_time_cumulative[i + 1] >= time) {
    result = linears[i];
    break;   // stops scanning after the correct match
  }
}

result;

edited 2 hours ago

answered 3 hours ago

mplungjan

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2 Comments

DoYouLikeHam 2 hours ago

not sure I follow... when I add "return" I get an error ("Error: Syntax Error: Illegal return statement")

mplungjan 2 hours ago

See update.....

Nina Scholz · Accepted Answer · 2025-12-01 12:44:34Z

0

You could use a function end return early by assuming

section_time_cumulative array has incrementing values.

function getValue() {
    for (let index = 0; index < section_bars.length - 1; index++) {
        if (
            section_time_cumulative[index] <= time &&
            section_time_cumulative[index + 1] >= time
       ) return linears[index];
    }
    return 0; 
}

edited 2 hours ago

answered 3 hours ago

Nina Scholz

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1 Comment

DoYouLikeHam 2 hours ago

This works.. though, I'm not sure I understand why?

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