---
description: Selecting items in the object panel and track view
---

# Selection

{% embed url="https://youtu.be/ASRqvp2gp5o" %}

## Objects & Channels

Objects and channels can be selected by clicking on them in the object panel. Note that when selecting any channel, the object it belongs to is also highlighted.&#x20;

<figure><img src="https://2067910529-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FC3dOuetlQfYgK5FPUKgn%2Fuploads%2FGhRsjHoSbbIBLvpiZx0i%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=434d5150-d443-4b89-ab55-09783818286f" alt=""><figcaption><p>Selected items are highlighted in their assigned display color.</p></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="success" %}
Hold the **Shift** key to select multiple objects in a row, or hold the **Control** key to select multiple objects or channels one at a time.
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="success" %}
Double-click a channel to select all of its keyframes.
{% endhint %}

### Inspector Selection Highlighting

Each channel corresponds to a component on the game object. The inspector window highlights any behaviors with the selected channel color. This is a visual aid to more easily spot the selected channel and/or behavior among the list of components on the game object.

<figure><img src="https://2067910529-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FC3dOuetlQfYgK5FPUKgn%2Fuploads%2FuMsxjwHvkSHV9XYiwH90%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=164c93f9-65ff-4652-a67f-8815f89d3f7f" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="info" %}
Selection is always based on and limited to the current display of objects and channels in the active Timeflow. Once an object or channel is removed from the view or deactivated, all selections related to it are released. This provides assurance that there are no hidden tracks, keyframes, or channels selected.
{% endhint %}

### Deselecting

Click any empty area below the object list to clear the current selection.&#x20;

{% hint style="success" %}
Use the keyboard shortcut **Escape** to deselect all. This deselects all game objects and items in the Timeflow view.
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="warning" %}
The global Deselect All command (keyboard shortcut **\`** ) also works to deselect all but additionally clears the display list in the Timeflow view. Use **Esc** instead to only deselect and keep the current object display.
{% endhint %}

### Marquee Selection

Click and drag from any empty area in the object panel to draw a selection box. This selects all objects and channels within or overlapping the dragged region.

<figure><img src="https://2067910529-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FC3dOuetlQfYgK5FPUKgn%2Fuploads%2FpWvUILm9kCwStwKK1DRF%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=8ea58361-0580-4047-8b67-2db34fdbfac7" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="success" %}
The selection modifiers **Shift** and **Control** (as described above) can also be used with marquee selection.
{% endhint %}

## Tracks & Keyframes

Tracks, keyframes, and events can be selected directly by clicking on them in the track or graph view.

{% hint style="success" %}
Hold the **Shift** key to select multiple items.
{% endhint %}

### Marquee Selection

Begin dragging in any empty area of the timeline to drag a selection box. This selects anything within or touching the box.&#x20;

<figure><img src="https://2067910529-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FC3dOuetlQfYgK5FPUKgn%2Fuploads%2Fk3WUcZCIU6zUl3THpUpt%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=cc18e1d9-1791-4d9f-b36a-47b2a1bd2976" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="success" %}
Left click once in any empty part of the timeline or press **Esc** to deselect all.
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="info" %}
The marquee selection tool can be used in either the Object Panel to select objects and channels, or the timeline view to select tracks, keyframes, events and other items on the timeline. Note that selecting in one panel often deselects items in the other. This is by design to maintain a concise selection context and avoid confusing states that can arise otherwise.&#x20;
{% endhint %}

### Selection Mode ![](https://2067910529-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FC3dOuetlQfYgK5FPUKgn%2Fuploads%2FIBz8cEKuV8GrMsvtk9Yz%2Fimage.png?alt=media\&token=88e7d848-ac5b-48e0-addb-a321642d18b6)

Click the arrow icon at the bottom of the window to switch the selection mode. This only affects selection operations in the Track View.

{% hint style="warning" %}
The selection mode is not applicable in the [graph-view](graph-view "mention") since the graph only shows keyframes, not tracks. Tracks can only be viewed, selected, and edited in the Track View. Regardless of which mode is selected, keyframes remain selected when switching between the track and graph view.&#x20;
{% endhint %}

#### ![](https://2067910529-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FC3dOuetlQfYgK5FPUKgn%2Fuploads%2FqRkPiZXEPC4lHYOa8nFy%2Fimage.png?alt=media\&token=21a42009-0771-4ee9-99f2-94637d2d49ae) Keyframes Only

When this mode is enabled, tracks cannot be selected and ignore all select operations. This prevents tracks from being modified, which can be helpful when editing keyframes.

#### <img src="https://2067910529-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FC3dOuetlQfYgK5FPUKgn%2Fuploads%2FOMI5CLTKESeFBq6mGEhf%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=68e6b975-adfa-46b5-83a5-64c273b574d3" alt="" data-size="original"> Tracks Only &#x20;

In this mode, only tracks can be selected and keyframes are not selectable.&#x20;

{% hint style="info" %}
By default, tracks and keyframes are separate from one another. However, in some cases it may be desirable that keyframes remain with tracks when moved. Timeflow offers two options to solve this problem, depending on your needs. \
\
To make a track act as a master handle that shifts the time of the entire object, including all keyframes and animations, enable [Drag Time Offset](../../timeflow-editor/update-settings#drag-time-offset) in the TimeflowObject inspector. This can also be set in the context menu by right-clicking on a track section and selecting **Tracks > Drag Time Offset**, which appears with a checkmark when enabled.\
\
Alternatively, for an ad hoc approach to connecting keyframes to track sections while editing, see the section on [Related Keyframes](../tracks#track-sections).&#x20;
{% endhint %}

Additional options and commands for selection can be found in the [Select Menu](../menus-and-shortcuts/context-menus/select-menu).
