Can't change timeline on Storyline 2 files
Jul 03, 2015
By
Sue Hammond
I work on a MAC, VM Fusion. Not sure that makes a difference but I have been struggling with a lot of slides in this file. I can't move the timelines. I end up having to change each item's time first, then I can grab the 'timeline' and move it. I've attached a sample. I'm trying to move it back to the end of the audio.
I watched the screenr's on this and one didn't have any audio so not sure what I missed. If I select all the items and try to move them, they deselect immediately.
It's been very frustrating and time consuming and I'm sure I'm missing something.
Thanks for any help.
19 Replies
Ok Sue,
The issue with the timeline since to be related to the "Title" Text Box which is not set to "Show Until End". If you right-click it and set it to show until end, you are then able to move the timeline.
I don't know if this is intended but, it makes sense if you think that it prevents your title from disappearing before the end of the timeline.
The deselection of the items is also affected when you select the title box. It's tricky because you have to wait for the white horizontal arrows (item) rather than the vertical black arrows (timeline). If you click then, that's when the deselection happens.
I added a quick video, sorry the audio is not good ; )
Alex thanks for the quick response. I did as you suggested (show until end) and still was not able to move the timeline to adjust it left.
However I really appreciate the selection hint. I wasn't 'seeing' that. I was able to select all and move them left. THEN I could move the timeline left. So the timeline is sticking for some reason. I'm sure there is a very good explanation for that. Just don't know it.
Hi Sue,
I'm glad Alex was able to assist here - and in terms of the timeline "sticking" I'd also want to make sure you're working with local project files as described here and then following these guidelines for best practices when working on a Mac. If the behavior persists in all of your .story files, I think it may be a good idea to also conduct a repair of Storyline.
Thanks Ashley. I am working on local files. I suspect a repair is in order. Thanks for the reminder.
No worries Sue - and feel free to keep us posted after the repair how it's behaving!
I have done a full repair. I did what Alex suggested on the text box (show until end)
The same problem is happening. i can't move the end of the slide to match to the audio. Any suggestions? Very;, very time consuming....
Hi Sue,
I didn't have any problems with your file once I set all the objects to be "show until end" as there was one that wasn't set as such and the timeline couldn't move past that element. An updated copy of your file is attached.
This seems like it's adding a step or 2 or 3 to a slide. Is there a default setting I can use to handle this? Why doesn't it happen on all slides? I can move some, not others?
Typically when you add an audio or media file, the timeline extends out to that length to accommodate all of it - and if you change the media file or edit it to be shorter, the timeline doesn't update to reflect those changes. When I first looked at your timeline, it seemed that one of the text boxes wasn't visible right away - and so I moved it around slightly to ensure I had the right ones. Possibly you're running into the same thing, in terms of thinking you've made the adjustment to all the objects but a few got missed?
Actually, I'm editing the audio after setting up the text. (Some of the text is serving as a placeholder until I put images in). So the time has to be adjusted in most cases. That's why I'm running into this problem repeatedly. The audio is always longer until I edit it.
Hi Sue,
What about editing the audio outside Storyline, or even in a second instance of Storyline? You could than import in that edited audio to have it match your timeline length. You'll want to follow the steps here to export the audio from the second instance of Storyline.
Hi Ashley,
Please watch the attached video. I can actually duplicate this across two machines and the latest update. Let me know your thoughts.
Thanks again Alex. I swear this hasn't been a problem before so maybe it's a bug. I've actually had 2 different titles on some slides where one faded out and the other came in. So obviously I didn't have both play until end.
I don't want to set up 2 programs just to edit video. I've done this before and again did not have a problem.
That's not to say I don't appreciate your prompt help Ashley.
Thanks Alex for the video. I watched what you went through - but I see the same behavior on Storyline 1 and Storyline 2, with any objects that aren't set to be "show until end" (not just the title block). So I think this is all working as expected in that if you have an object set for a particular length of time and you're moving the timeline end point around, Storyline is assuming you set that object for a time length and therefore the end of the timeline shouldn't go past that. You can still change the timeline to be longer than that object - but not any shorter than that objects timeline. If you set them as "show until end" then it's assuming - no matter when the end is, all the objects should be visible until that point.
Sue, in your scenario - if one title fades out, and the other fades in...I'm guessing the timeline could move up until the last title? You wouldn't want it to move past that title to the first one that is not set as show until end, as then the other title would never show?
I know the behavior of the timeline expanding to accommodate the length of the media element inserted, and then not being able to adjust it based on changes or removing those files has been something others discussed before - but at this time, it would have to be a feature request.
thank you. I guess I'm still confused why this is a problem all of a sudden for me. Something seems to have changed. But I'll just keep going. It's a real time issue so maybe it needs to be upgraded from feature request.
Alex, you saved me the other day. I very much appreciate your help. And Ashely the staff is always so helpful to jump in and explain things.
Thank you Ashley,
The behavior made sense to me but, I didn't realize is not limited to the title box. You explanation cleared things up on that matter.
Hi Sue,
Always glad to help ; )
Hi Sue,
Thanks for the kind words and I'm glad we're able to assist and answer (even if it's not the answer you're looking for sometimes). I don't remember the behavior being different in Update 4, but I'll do a bit more digging to see if it was, and maybe Update 5 brought it back to the existing way on purpose?
Well something is happening b/c despite the full repair, Storyline has crashed on me several times in the last week. The file isn't that big...so in addition to these 'extra steps' I have to save after just about every action.
Hi Sue,
If Storyline is crashing regularly and you've already done the repair and are using the latest update - you'll want to connect with our Support engineers and pull the crash logs as described here.
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