# Channel Menu

Right-click on a channel name to display the context menu with additional options. These can be applied on a single channel or for multiple selected channels.

<figure><img src="https://2067910529-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FC3dOuetlQfYgK5FPUKgn%2Fuploads%2FKYkxzP0IWnLGOBIo5KhH%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=d94eb207-cdcf-4e19-8c8d-519575f8e59c" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="info" %}
Please note that assigning channel colors has changed as of version 1.5.6. Please see [track-colors](../timeflow-menu/track-colors "mention")
{% endhint %}

## Always Update

This option is off by default though may be enabled to force a channel to update every frame regardless of track or parent states. This can be helpful when linking channels to ensure that the source channel provides data at all times. Or it may be used to simply keep an animation running.

<figure><img src="https://2067910529-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FC3dOuetlQfYgK5FPUKgn%2Fuploads%2FKgJ3cAksC1k4PTKuzJch%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=15591697-f80a-4a9c-9cfe-5cae2da67960" alt=""><figcaption><p>A channel with Always Update enabled processes animation even outside of track areas, shown above with an emphasized <a href="../../preferences#track-shadow-color">Track Shadow Color</a> to show that the channel in question is not affected by the track and updates at all times.</p></figcaption></figure>

## Always Show Values

Enable this option for channels whose keyframes you wish to always see values for. This can be helpful when animating strings, objects, or other values that you wish to view. When enabled, keyframe value labels are shown with or without 'Show Keyframe Values' enabled in the view.'

<figure><img src="https://2067910529-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FC3dOuetlQfYgK5FPUKgn%2Fuploads%2FiCbZlfuw4RaOW1rp1Wn4%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=ded7eb49-f0b0-4243-aa8b-bfde6afdb8ed" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

## Remove Channel (_Name_)

This menu option always pertains to the channel named, which is the one clicked when invoking the menu. Selecting this menu command deletes the channel and also removes the behavior if it is the only channel for that behavior.

## Remove Selected Channels

Deletes all of the selected channels and removes any behaviors no longer in use.

{% hint style="success" %}
When the object panel has focus, use the keyboard shortcut **Delete** (or **Backspace**) to delete the selected channels. This deletes the game object only if the object was the last item selected. See the preferences to customize the [delete action](../../preferences/objects#delete-action).
{% endhint %}

## Clear Keys in Selected Channels

Deletes all keyframes in the selected channels. This can be helpful to clear an animation and start over while otherwise keeping the channels.&#x20;

## Separate Into Multiple Channels

This option is available only for multi-numeric keyframe channels, such as vector or color types using Combined mode. Selecting this command creates new separate channels for each attribute (X, Y, Z, or color R, G, B, A). Keyframes from the original combined channel are copied over, however some interpolations may need adjustment.

{% hint style="info" %}
Separating channels is useful in cases where you've started animating a combined value but need finer control over the timing of each attribute. This replaces the existing animation with new separate channels.&#x20;
{% endhint %}

## Reset Channel Names

Use this to reset the selected channels to their original generated names, based on property assignments or according to the type of behavior that manages them. This can also be helpful when old names entered no longer match the assigned properties.&#x20;

## Set Channel Height

Select this submenu for additional options for working with channel heights. This presents a list of presets defined in the [preferences](../../preferences/channels#channel-height-presets).

<figure><img src="https://2067910529-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FC3dOuetlQfYgK5FPUKgn%2Fuploads%2FH6OmLyqKeIP3drPFWD9q%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=f9047bab-458e-4422-9855-15af929029eb" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### Channel Height Reset

Restores the selected channel(s) height to the [Default Channel Height](../../preferences/channels#default-channel-height) set in the preferences.

### Channel Height Lock

Use this setting to lock channels so that their heights cannot be changed, until unlocked. This helps to prevent unwanted changes. When a channel's height is locked

<figure><img src="https://2067910529-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FC3dOuetlQfYgK5FPUKgn%2Fuploads%2FQsBlszxW8q8vj6tExuWX%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=7129afc7-12bd-421a-8ef4-15a02700c6e3" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="success" %}
Use the keyboard shortcut **Control + ] Right Bracket** to toggle the selected channel(s) height lock.
{% endhint %}

### Channel Height Increase / Decrease

These menu commands increment (or decrement) the selected channel(s) heights. This steps through the list of[[#channel-height-presets](../../preferences/channels#channel-height-presets "mention")](../../preferences/channels#channel-height-presets) defined in the preferences.

{% hint style="success" %}
Use the keyboard shortcuts **\[ Left Bracket** and **] Right Bracket** to increase or decrease the selected channel(s) height.
{% endhint %}

Channel height and lock can also be set in the Inspector by twirling open the details for the channel.

<figure><img src="https://2067910529-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FC3dOuetlQfYgK5FPUKgn%2Fuploads%2FGlbGFMHeco8btaQd5YJk%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=892cfabd-7c2f-4264-ac9f-660d2582aa90" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

## Bake Keyframes

_This feature was previously named "Convert to Keyframes". Updated in v1.0.2_

Use this command to bake the current channel values to keyframes on a new channel. This generates data for every frame based on the current [FPS](../../../timeflow-editor/time#fps) and can be useful to capture animation data from procedural behaviors and linked channels or to resample animations.

<figure><img src="https://2067910529-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FC3dOuetlQfYgK5FPUKgn%2Fuploads%2FbQnJhYGMhrWAApSEPF51%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=c6ba49c7-f932-42c3-b057-7e8b9ad16a81" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="info" %}
If the [Work Area](../../timeflow-view/toolbar/work-area) is enabled, keyframes are only generated in that time range. Otherwise, keyframes are generated over the entire timeline.
{% endhint %}

## Freeze Time Offset

This option is available for channels that have a Time Offset to apply the offset to all keyframes in the channel, then resetting the Time Offset to 0. This effectively applies the offset permanently. _**(Added v1.0.2)**_

{% hint style="warning" %}
This feature is only available for channels and applies to keyframes. Object tracks and their time offsets are not affected.
{% endhint %}

## Expand Looped Keyframes

This option is only available for standard keyframe channels which have looping enabled. When this command is selected, the keyframes in the looped region are replicated, essentially converting the entire loop to editable keyframes. _**(Added in Timeflow v1.0.2)**_

{% hint style="info" %}
This operation is confined to the [Work Area](../../timeflow-view/toolbar/work-area) if enabled.
{% endhint %}

<figure><img src="https://2067910529-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FC3dOuetlQfYgK5FPUKgn%2Fuploads%2FYd3iUegSymoRxpHhfGwQ%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=e01f1c79-e6fe-4383-a689-2836a12f768e" alt=""><figcaption><p>A channel with looped keyframes selected.</p></figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="https://2067910529-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FC3dOuetlQfYgK5FPUKgn%2Fuploads%2FaI0BQf1hHpMlUCb4vUEA%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=56b1b3c7-39df-4f15-8646-3560a22127c9" alt=""><figcaption><p>The keyframes replicated after applying Expand Looped Keyframes.</p></figcaption></figure>

Once the operation has been applied, looping on the channel is turned off since it is now represented by the new keyframes. The original keyframes inside the loop remain unmodified, however any keyframes outside of the original loop region are removed. You may undo if needed.

{% hint style="info" %}
When keyframes are expanded, an additional 1 second padding is added before and after the loop region to help preserve the shape of the curve.&#x20;
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="warning" %}
To avoid coincidental keyframe times, which can often occur with the starting and ending of the loop, keyframe times are shifted plus or minus 1 frame so that keyframes are not overwritten and the overall curve shape is preserved.&#x20;
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="danger" %}
Use caution when expanding looped keyframes. If a large number of keyframes are generated, it may affect editor performance or crash in extreme cases. Use the Work Area to constrain the loop to a specific section of time and avoid repeating densly packed keyframes.
{% endhint %}

## Linked To

Display current assignment and options for [Channel Links](../../timeflow-view/channel-link). If no links are in use, then these menus are greyed out.&#x20;

<figure><img src="https://2067910529-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FC3dOuetlQfYgK5FPUKgn%2Fuploads%2F6ZcsOV0XjbAumR7utmiQ%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=25202bed-4dbb-44c8-8713-605eeed4b812" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### Enabled

This acts as a toggle to enable/disable the channel link. This only affects the link and not the channel itself.

### Remove

Fully removes the channel link.

### Show And Select Channels

This is a useful command to reveal linked channels. It add objects to the current display list if needed so that all linked channels can be viewed together.

Please see [Channel Link](../../timeflow-view/channel-link) for further documentation on link settings.

### Insert Data Channel

This command, only available in the Linked To submenu, inserts a new data channel between the currently linked channels to facilitate adding more computation to a channel link. The new data channel is set to the same type as the destination channel and then may be further customized.&#x20;

## Linked From

Displays how many channels are referencing this one.&#x20;

<figure><img src="https://2067910529-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FC3dOuetlQfYgK5FPUKgn%2Fuploads%2F7U6uhhksFoANgS02mmK9%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=e8803170-f26f-478a-beeb-b310109d99eb" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

#### Remove All

This command unlinks all channels that have been linked to the selected channel.
