Default controls and columns in the Timeline window
By default, the Timeline window contains a number of columns and controls. Optional columns are also available. (See Optional columns.)
A. Composition tab
Use to close or move the window. Click a tab to display its composition in the current window. Drag a tab to move its composition to another existing window or to put it in a new window.
B. Current time
Displays the current time in the project. Click to open the Go to Time dialog box. (See Viewing and setting the current time.)
C. Source Name/Layer Name column
Includes a label, a number (assigned by After Effects), and a source name or layer name for each layer. Click on the column heading to alternate between viewing the source name or layer name. Clicking the triangle to the left of a layer lets you examine and set properties for the masks, effects, and transform functions. (See "About layer properties" on page 143.)
D. Timeline window buttons
Contains the Disable Dynamic Preview, Draft 3D, Shy Layers, Frame Blending, and Motion Blur buttons. The Disable Dynamic Preview and Draft 3D buttons affect all layers in the Timeline window. The Shy Layers, Frame Blending, and Motion Blur buttons enable or disable these features for layers in the Timeline window for which the corresponding switch has been set. (See "Previewing 3D" on page 625, "Showing and hiding layers in the Timeline window" on page 122, and "Altering appearances on the layer level" on page 129.)
E. Audio/Video Features column
Contains switches for enabling and disabling audio and video. This column also includes a lock switch for locking layers and a solo switch for displaying only one layer. (See "About After Effects Audio/Video switches" on page 128.)
F. Switches column button
Displays or hides the Switches/Modes column.
G. Switches/Modes column
Contains options for controlling a number of display and performance features for a layer. (See Optional columns.)
H. Time graph
Visually represents the values of the In/Out column and displays the positions of the keyframes and timeline for each layer. (See Understanding the time graph.)
I. Comp button
Brings forward the corresponding composition window.