Animation > Show > Toggle Time Slider
Provides a group of controls to let you easily play back an animation or view a specific frame within an animation.
The slider area represents the current animation range. You can specify a start and end frame for the current animation range using the Start/End options, or you can view the current range of all animation on all objects using the Min/Max options.
The individual controls are described below. Note that all frame times must lie in the range -160,000.00 to +160,000.00, inclusive.
Current time bar
The thick vertical bar represents the current time.
You can change the current time by clicking and dragging on this bar. Notice how the views of the model are updated dynamically as you move the bar.
Current time field
The first number to the right of the time bar indicates the current time. You can change the current frame by clicking on the number and typing a new frame time. The current time bar will be moved automatically to that time.
Current time is also displayed in the current application window, as well as the Action window.
Start/End, Min/Max
You can specify the range of animation the time slider should display by choosing the Start/End or Min/Max popup menu items to the left of the time slider.
If you choose Start/End, the Start and End values are editable. You can change these values to alter the range of animation that will be viewed in a playback. This is useful if you have a long animation, and only want to view a segment of it.
If you choose Min/Max, the Min and Max values are the minimum and maximum values over which all current animation is defined.
You cannot edit the Min and Max fields. They are automatically changed if you create or delete an animation.
Tips
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If any channels are animated by one or more timewarp curves, or if there are particles present, it may be difficult to determine the range of the animation in that channel. The Min/Max range for all animation may be smaller than expected. You can choose the Start/End menu item and define your own range of animation to play back.
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The settings for Start/End (as well as the sync rate and by value) can be saved using Preferences > User Preferences > Export Preference Set
, and restored using Preferences > User Preferences > Import Preference Set 
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The settings for Start/End (as well as the sync rate and by value) can be saved using Preferences > User Preferences > Export Preference Set
, and restored using Preferences > User Preferences > Import Preference Set . -
Using the
to move the current time bar will set the current frame, but it does not update the animation for that frame. This lets you modify an object, then set the frame, and then keyframe at the current time.
by
This field defines the time between frames. When you invoke a playback, or use the next frame or previous frame button, the by value determines how much to increment or decrement the current frame to reach the next or previous frame.
fps (Sync Rate)
This value specifies how many frames per second (fps or frame rate) should be displayed when playing back an animation. Frames are evenly spaced between the Max and Min values and by the current By value.
For example, if the range is 1 to 200, and the by value is 5, a sync rate of 24 fps attempts to display frames 1, 6, 11 to frame 116 in one second. If it cannot display all 24 of those frames in one second, it may skip some to reach frame 116 by the time one second has elapsed (for instance, if it can only manage to display three views in one second, it may show frames 36 and 71 and 116).
If set to 0, the animation plays back all frames as fast as it can.
With a complicated model, it may not be possible to display the frames fast enough to play back the requested sync rate. The actual sync rate is displayed in this field during playback. Use Play Blast to see all the frames at the correct sync rate.
Preview buttons
first frame
Changes the current time to the Min (minimum) time.
frame backward
Goes to the previous frame. The previous frame is the current frame less the by value.
keyframe backward
Goes to the previous keyframe. The previous keyframe is the first keyframe found for all active objects prior to the current frame.
play backward
Plays the animation in reverse.
stop
Stops the playback. If the playback is using the Play Blast window, the first click pauses the animation so you can use the other play buttons. The second click stops the playback.
For best performance during playback, close all unnecessary windows.
play forward
Plays back the animation starting from the current frame.
keyframe forward
Goes to the next keyframe. The next keyframe is the first keyframe found for all active objects following the current frame.
frame forward
Goes to the next frame. The next frame is the current frame plus the by value.
last frame
Changes the current time to the Max time or End time, depending on current time slider settings.