Tips on Using Timelines and Slides

I have only been working with DigitalChalk for a couple of days, and based on what I have done so far, adjusting the time that slides start and stop displaying on a time line is difficult. When I try to alter the start and stop time of a slide, I usually get a message that there is another slide that has a time that overlaps and it won't let me make the adjustment. Also, the system does not seem to allow an adjustment where one slide stops and another starts at the same time., even though it does allow that when I first enter the start and stop times on the timeline.

What I have done so far when trying to adjust the start and stop times on a timeline is delete slides and start over again. I've tried searching forums, and have not found anything that addresses this.

If I am missing something in making time adjustments, please point that out to me.

My other question is: what tips do you have to make sure that I know what time to start and stop the slide on the media timeline before I start building the timeline.

ehansen917
about 2 years ago

DC Dave
about 2 years ago

We most generally suggest that users leave the end time field blank when adding slides to the timeline. Doing so will cause your slides to begin display at the entered begin time and continue being displayed until the next slide is displayed. This will allow for very easy adjustment of the begin time for any slide on the timeline. The only reason you would want to enter end times for your slides is to create a blank space between slide transitions.

Here are some examples for each use:

Using on the begin time on slides

slide one begins at 00:00, slide 2 begins at 00:05, slide 3 begins at 00:10. In this example slide 1 would be displayed for 5 seconds, 00:00-00:05. The slide area would immediately advance to slide 2 and be displayed for 5 seconds, 00:05-00:10. The slide area would then immediately advance to slide 3 and be displayed for until the next silde transition or until the timeline playes through to the end.

Using both begin and end times on slides

slide one begins at 00:00 and ends at 00:05, slide 2 begins at 00:10 and ends at 00:15. In this example slide 1 would be displayed for 5 seconds, 00:00-00:05. The slide area would then go blank for 5 seconds, 00:05-00:10. Slide 2 would then be displayed for 5 seconds, 00:10-00:15.

If you are wanting to storyboard your content knowing the beginning and ending times for all of your slides prior to entering these values into DigitalChalk you could play your media file in your local media player, playing an pausing to make note of the appropriate times. You could also accomplish the same thing within the DigitalChalk system without having to write down these times. Please click the link below for information from the DigitalChalk Knowledge Base that addresses this topic;

http://bit.ly/bC90tU

To find immediate answers to frequently asked questions, technical issues or specific process related questions, give the DigitalChalk Knowledge Base a try. To access the Knowledge Base click the Help link located in the upper right-hand corner of your DigitalChalk web page.