<p>Expressions aren't parented. They use the same kind of widget but it's not the one in the parent column.</p>

<p>You need to enable expressions on the property by <kbd>alt</kbd>-clicking the stopwatch. Now you'll see the expressions pickwhip, as well as the dropdown with the expressions menu and so on. You'll know that expressions are applied because the value will turn red.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/SvF1w.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/SvF1w.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-27T02:26:47.863Z
2017-03-27T02:26:47.863Z
stib
<p>If you arrived at this question because you have a whole layer and not just an expression but still can't find the pick whip option, try right-clicking the tool bar, going to "Columns" and enabling "Parent". <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEeucj7jq80" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Video demonstration</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-04-08T06:25:19.863Z
2020-04-08T06:25:19.863Z
David Lord
<p>I wanted to parent the effect transform expression to the tracking motion (null object)</p>

<p>When I saw the tutorials.. it showed me to click and drag the pick whip, but on my after effects there are no pick whip on the side of transform value</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/g38xB.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/g38xB.jpg" alt="Not Showed"></a></p>

<after-effects><after-effects-expressions><motion><tracking>
Parent Pick Whip Not Showed On Effect Transform Keyframing
Ferdi Ramadhan
# Parent Pick Whip Not Showed On Effect Transform Keyframing

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-02-17)

I wanted to parent the effect transform expression to the tracking motion (null object)

When I saw the tutorials.. it showed me to click and drag the pick whip, but on my after effects there are no pick whip on the side of transform value

[![Not Showed](https://i.sstatic.net/g38xB.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/g38xB.jpg)

**Tags:** after-effects, after-effects-expressions, motion, tracking


---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2017-03-27. Score: 1

Expressions aren't parented. They use the same kind of widget but it's not the one in the parent column.

You need to enable expressions on the property by `alt`-clicking the stopwatch. Now you'll see the expressions pickwhip, as well as the dropdown with the expressions menu and so on. You'll know that expressions are applied because the value will turn red.

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/SvF1w.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/SvF1w.png)


---

### Answer by username_2 on 2020-04-08. Score: 0

If you arrived at this question because you have a whole layer and not just an expression but still can't find the pick whip option, try right-clicking the tool bar, going to "Columns" and enabling "Parent". [Video demonstration](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEeucj7jq80).


---

