> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://stage-precision.gitbook.io/grid/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://stage-precision.gitbook.io/grid/timeline/timeline-basics/timeline-view.md).

# Timeline View

Learn how to navigate the Timeline View, control playback, position the Playhead, adjust the visible View Range, and work with the Timeline workspace.

The **Timeline View** is the main workspace for viewing, navigating, and controlling a Timeline.

It contains the current time display, playback controls, Timeline ruler, Playhead, View Range controls, and the list of Timeline Layers.

***

## Current Time

The time display in the upper-left corner shows the current position of the **Playhead**.

<figure><img src="https://1761958297-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FDcGqBEYUYkl2mQzGbOue%2Fuploads%2FJabv2d0g9s4irTllIPHX%2Fimage.png?alt=media&amp;token=539cacea-87ba-429c-806d-b13f453d4a8e" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="info" %}
The displayed time format follows the global project setting under:\
\
**File → Project Settings → Processes → Display Time**\
\
Available display formats include:

* Timecode with Milliseconds
* Timecode with Frames
* Timecode with Seconds
* Seconds
* Frames

Changing the display format only affects how time is shown in Grid Studio. It does not change the Timeline itself.
{% endhint %}

***

## Selecting the Timeline

The small Timeline button next to the current time display selects the Timeline object itself.

<figure><img src="https://1761958297-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FDcGqBEYUYkl2mQzGbOue%2Fuploads%2Fr9NdO1gVX84VJ77HAls3%2Fimage.png?alt=media&amp;token=a9c8f556-7ba3-4b3d-9919-6f8780b4e5c0" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

This shows the Timeline in the **Inspector**, just as if the Timeline object had been selected directly in the Project Tree.

***

## Transport Controls

The Timeline View provides the main playback and navigation controls.

<figure><img src="https://1761958297-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FDcGqBEYUYkl2mQzGbOue%2Fuploads%2F2dHSboXmckAIG9UHOcEk%2Fimage.png?alt=media&amp;token=e58cc9c0-3fb1-480c-80eb-2dc70a235001" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### **Jump to Previous Cue**

<figure><img src="https://1761958297-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FDcGqBEYUYkl2mQzGbOue%2Fuploads%2F4vG2ZG4WUzBQubtg5Gun%2Fimage.png?alt=media&amp;token=c939c8ac-6aa6-45aa-a7b0-b21122b0e024" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### **Stop**

<figure><img src="https://1761958297-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FDcGqBEYUYkl2mQzGbOue%2Fuploads%2F9vogP6xLLjKFxl8yTQoW%2Fimage.png?alt=media&amp;token=8da52721-7222-4bd3-a4f8-7b920e470330" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

**Stop** resets the Timeline to its configured **Start Time**.

### **Play / Pause**

<figure><img src="https://1761958297-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FDcGqBEYUYkl2mQzGbOue%2Fuploads%2FXEZtJXwwCYUBu3Mt6Bvu%2Fimage.png?alt=media&amp;token=7ad4d8ca-0af0-42e5-8ec7-5aaded623339" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

While the Timeline is playing, the Play button changes to **Pause**.

**Pause** keeps the Playhead at its current position. Starting playback again continues from that position.

### **Jump to Next Cue**

<figure><img src="https://1761958297-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FDcGqBEYUYkl2mQzGbOue%2Fuploads%2FxCFvarGBi5N15XZk765p%2Fimage.png?alt=media&amp;token=47c1cbd5-3a91-4c2c-9280-ddcc83b67c9f" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### **Start / Stop Recording**

<figure><img src="https://1761958297-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FDcGqBEYUYkl2mQzGbOue%2Fuploads%2Fyepeoo0Kq3HhijtFrjG4%2Fimage.png?alt=media&amp;token=521aa100-e1bc-4540-8853-b60a01b1e318" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

While recording, the Record button changes to **Stop Recording**.

### **View Range**

<figure><img src="https://1761958297-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FDcGqBEYUYkl2mQzGbOue%2Fuploads%2FhIhcM5iaI2wv9faMhbaW%2Fimage.png?alt=media&amp;token=41e66349-bd1a-4ea6-8dc7-a709e2537753" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### **Add Timeline Cues**

<figure><img src="https://1761958297-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FDcGqBEYUYkl2mQzGbOue%2Fuploads%2FKpTqMstz9PYhMcGXermQ%2Fimage.png?alt=media&amp;token=8445ab59-1aac-4c93-9ef0-194f5aa8ade0" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

## Playhead

The vertical white line in the Timeline is the **Playhead**.

<figure><img src="https://1761958297-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FDcGqBEYUYkl2mQzGbOue%2Fuploads%2FYeVb1TOZZPfnJHAChDlw%2Fimage.png?alt=media&amp;token=1b2c50ef-533b-426a-8d0c-d23abab31d20" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

It represents the current Timeline position.

Click anywhere on the Timeline ruler to move the Playhead to that time.

<figure><img src="https://1761958297-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FDcGqBEYUYkl2mQzGbOue%2Fuploads%2FNqrF8txriEvlxPhFCIFg%2FPowerToys_jIDWyYJ1DQ.gif?alt=media&amp;token=947ceb5f-f303-4d3d-ae5c-40a7a4e3177b" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

You can also double-click the displayed time and enter an exact time manually.

<figure><img src="https://1761958297-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FDcGqBEYUYkl2mQzGbOue%2Fuploads%2FCCbWEqIyIShSnnEfRrN6%2FPowerToys_slEWvW5whx.gif?alt=media&amp;token=4c339544-f3a4-4810-9d96-ab4651aa0614" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

If the Timeline is currently playing, moving the Playhead causes playback to continue from the newly selected position.

<figure><img src="https://1761958297-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FDcGqBEYUYkl2mQzGbOue%2Fuploads%2F5BFY8QCo2qufxkJREKCz%2FPLC4oaDYtK.gif?alt=media&amp;token=aa7ad37d-4b35-439f-aa57-7eef297556f2" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="warning" %}
When the Timeline is driven by external Timecode, its position is controlled by the external Timecode instead.
{% endhint %}

***

## Timeline Ruler

The ruler at the top of the Timeline shows the currently visible time range.

<figure><img src="https://1761958297-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FDcGqBEYUYkl2mQzGbOue%2Fuploads%2Fjxiyx9IjWLFX63npckJO%2Fimage.png?alt=media&amp;token=beceed03-8dd5-4919-94c6-f0f4cea236e4" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Timeline Cues are also displayed directly on this ruler.

<figure><img src="https://1761958297-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FDcGqBEYUYkl2mQzGbOue%2Fuploads%2FbNriSt9SCly4WSamXADB%2Fimage.png?alt=media&amp;token=b805ae2d-10a0-4059-ab3e-f1593ec8a7af" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

***

## View Range

The **View Range** defines which part of the Timeline is currently visible.

<figure><img src="https://1761958297-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FDcGqBEYUYkl2mQzGbOue%2Fuploads%2FsOAAQ9x0kqNBFZV34wzL%2Fimage.png?alt=media&amp;token=cb15b95d-34cf-428c-86f7-d8d797c43529" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

It only controls the visible section of the Timeline and does not change the actual Start Time, End Time, or duration of the Timeline.

The View Range control is located above the Timeline ruler.

### Resizing the View Range

Drag the handles at the beginning or end of the View Range to change the visible time span.

<figure><img src="https://1761958297-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FDcGqBEYUYkl2mQzGbOue%2Fuploads%2FF3J20NED0Q9LhQyiZgC1%2F4Mclu0Vcej.gif?alt=media&amp;token=9f5a80cc-a409-447c-befa-8ce012c9b119" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

This can be used to zoom into a smaller section or show a larger part of the Timeline.

### Moving the View Range

Drag the middle of the View Range to move the complete visible section forward or backward in time without changing its size.

<figure><img src="https://1761958297-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FDcGqBEYUYkl2mQzGbOue%2Fuploads%2FX1bnDHpUHt28Np3cMqrj%2F74NGYCwFHv.gif?alt=media&amp;token=bd6bd987-2259-4f15-9464-a62e1e8e89c3" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

This is also how horizontal navigation through the Timeline is performed.

### Setting the View Range

Right-clicking allows the complete View Range to be set at once.

<figure><img src="https://1761958297-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FDcGqBEYUYkl2mQzGbOue%2Fuploads%2FQayq6LKwtCc8Apch6udS%2Frc8TdYwe4r.gif?alt=media&amp;token=8235609c-da78-4fde-a05c-7531f24377f5" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

The View Range menu also provides several shortcuts:

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://1761958297-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FDcGqBEYUYkl2mQzGbOue%2Fuploads%2FFEYsv6XR2dznnaON1KTv%2Fimage.png?alt=media&amp;token=d8a88c30-30bf-40d3-999a-493c83b27178" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

***

## Follow Playhead

The View Range menu also controls how the visible Timeline area follows the Playhead during playback.

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://1761958297-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FDcGqBEYUYkl2mQzGbOue%2Fuploads%2FdeGgxo5Cj8lqgZAnd1Iy%2Fimage.png?alt=media&amp;token=09aacc73-489c-48a5-8dcc-4aff5d47c813" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

Available modes are:

#### **Off**

<figure><img src="https://1761958297-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FDcGqBEYUYkl2mQzGbOue%2Fuploads%2FzGp4q3cPF4oTQCONnuo7%2FHjrBMEctwe.gif?alt=media&amp;token=cc1f0686-af11-484c-8a9e-afd7b107eac4" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

#### **Page**

<figure><img src="https://1761958297-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FDcGqBEYUYkl2mQzGbOue%2Fuploads%2Fzx1JwO0CIcSzQq3EeKiT%2Fk269q2NBmc.gif?alt=media&amp;token=9b833f87-044b-4b3f-a3f8-c7f0e357e6fb" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

#### **Center**

<figure><img src="https://1761958297-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FDcGqBEYUYkl2mQzGbOue%2Fuploads%2F8lVE1thcGWjLipLhxp73%2F5B67nNSQAv.gif?alt=media&amp;token=c59de521-4973-4e01-8674-9894fda5d633" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

These options only affect how the Timeline View follows the Playhead. They do not change Timeline playback itself.

***

## Layers Area

Timeline Layers are displayed vertically on the left side of the Timeline View, with their time-based content shown to the right.

<figure><img src="https://1761958297-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FDcGqBEYUYkl2mQzGbOue%2Fuploads%2Fo61wqCWR2UzcJ7To3mHZ%2Fimage.png?alt=media&amp;token=1f873ed4-1f62-4635-8565-75e08b836f20" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

The width of the Layers area can be resized.

<figure><img src="https://1761958297-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FDcGqBEYUYkl2mQzGbOue%2Fuploads%2Ft6AcEDcT4ieq1prGYTRJ%2FddlzXpM344.gif?alt=media&amp;token=2a1f0f23-6e1f-4815-a6e2-a63fe90d1e47" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

The Timeline View itself remains limited to the size of the View in the current Grid Studio layout. It does not grow based on the number or length of Layers.

If more Layers are present than can be displayed at once, a vertical scrollbar appears on the right side of the Timeline View.

For information about adding, organizing, and editing Layers, see **Working with Layers**.