Is there a way to make the timeline size automatically?
Nov 06, 2014
Hello all,
What I mean by the subject is if I click on insert video, select a video that is 120 seconds long, the timeline will automatically push out to 120 seconds. If I remove that video - the timeline stays at 120. If I then add another video that is 130 seconds, the timeline will push out to 130. If I remove that video - the timeline stays at 130. If I then add a video that is 60 seconds, the timeline stays at 130. Is there any options to make the timeline shrink to that video size. Or is there a way if the timeline is at 130, and I remove a video, to get the end of the timeline back to say 5 secs instead of having to scroll all the way to 130, grab the end of the timeline and hold it left until it scrolls to the beginning?
Thanks
21 Replies
Grab the timeline and hit the left arrow key.
Ashley - THANK YOU!!!!!! That was driving me nuts!
Glad that trick worked for you Rob!
Ashley, what do you mean by "grab the timeline"?
Brett,
Go to the end of the timeline and drag it.
Ashley,
I know how to do that; I want to know how the left arrow thing works. It's a long way to drag if you had a 5 minute video that you replaced with a 30 second one. I saw Tom K do it in a seminar and have seen it mentioned before but I always forget how it works. By using the left arrow key somehow you can make the timeline snap to the end of its longest item; that's what I'm trying to figure out how to do.
Thanks
Yes, you have to start to drag the end of the timeline and then hit the left arrow key as you're dragging your timeline.
Brett,
Go to the end of the time line. Grab the vertical line w/ your mouse, while holding it - press the left arrow key, and move the mouse...it will snap the timeline to the shortest part.
It took a few times before I figured out you have to move the mouse.
Hmmm, I can't get this to work. Must be a Friday...
Hello Brett,
You will want to grab the timeline when this box pops up. The start to move the mouse and click the left arrow key:
Hope this helps!
This does not seem to work for me using SL1. Any help?
Hello David!
I just tested this in Storyline 1, and it did work as well. Once you select the end of the timeline, you must start to drag it with your mouse, then hit the left arrow key and it will jump to the shortest section of the timeline, usually about 15-16 seconds or so, then you can continue to drag it to the point you need.
I'm seeing how this works. However, for me in SL2 the movement is slow..not snapping back. I don't know why, but my timeline is extended to the 600s (sec). For testing purpose, I created a new scene in a new project. Inserted a character and it happened again. The timeline is extended in the mid 600s...crazy. I have to drag the timeline all the way back to say 10sec, MANUALLY!!!!
I must not be doing something correctly, perhaps in the initial stage.
Is there a default way to set the initial timelines to say 50s and adjust as I go?
Thank you in advance for any helps!
Ok, having "played" with the timeline issue, I have found that if I select an asset on the timeline and drag and hold the mouse from the end of the timeline. Then, drag the mouse to the left column "over the name of the asset" the timeline will speed up.
While that helps alot, its still time consuming if I have several items whose timeline extends to the mid-600s(sec).
Is there an easier way initially?
To shorten the entire timeline, start dragging left and hit the left arrow key.
To shorten only one asset, right click it and choose timing. You will get a dialog box that allows you to enter the time directly, which is a lot faster than dragging from 600. In fact, you can select multiple items and give them all the same start time or the same length length. You can change one or the other independently, which means that items with different start times can be given the same length without changing their current start times.
Walt,
For whatever the reason, following your directions [drag left/hit left arrow key] worked fantastically.
In addition, thank you for the right-click function to change individual timings.
Glad Walt was able to assist here Monica - and you'll see the timeline length be extended sometimes when adding in audio/media files that are longer than the initial length. If you delete/remove those it won't adjust the timeline length back to where it was before the media.
Yes, Ashley...that appears to be the case, thank you for responding.
This community, apart from my own, is the best online community thus far.
Glad to help Monica - and curious what the other community is?
Hi Ashley,
Thank you for your curiosity. My community is not in commerce. It's an ancient history learning community called, "LeMyPeopleKnow".
Well glad we're not in competition - but sounds cool!
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