Time Field doesn't update while scrubbing?

[scratch]

Hello,

Just a question about Time field ( the field located next to the Timeline )
While I'm scrubbing in the timeline, the time field doesn't update. It updates only when I stop scrubbing ( when I release the mouse button ) I'd like the time field to display current time while scrubbing.
I found a way to get this. Pushing Alt and scrubbing in the time slider at the same time once modifies time field. It then displays time perfectly while scrubbing.
But ... is there a way to make time field display correctly by default ?

I hope it's possible to understand my question lol
sorry for my bad english

Thank you

[zza]

Hi,
Check two places inside Maya. I think it will be the second place thats helps you.

1)
Window>Settings/Preferences>Preferences>Display>Fast Interaction = Off.

2)
Window>Settings/Preferences>Performance Settings>Dependency Graph Evaluation>Refresh On = Drag.

Your setting was most probably on Refresh On 'Release'.

Once you have got this working, do this:
File>Save Preferences

[scratch]

Thank you Zza ... unfortunately I already have these settings.
I think this time field is created and managed by a mel script. Might there be a bug ?

[joojaa]

Only the api constructs will be able to update during playback so if your using anything thats meade toatly with amel and not suing any of the predefined elf timegraphing ui controlls wich include soundControl, timeControl, timePort and the ones that relate to graph editor and the dope sheet (dont come to mind directly now)

ALL otherevaluation will be defeered during playback to increase interactivity. Theres no way for you for example to run a scriptjob during plaback altough you can run a expression but it may or may not work in certain conditions. This is a INTENTIONAL design parameter to increase performance so theres not realy any way around this in mel.

[scratch]

Ya, I understand what you mean.
But I don't grasp why the time field updates correctly while scrubbing after I scrubbed a bit and pressed Alt key at the same time. Might this happen only with maya PLE ?
Just after maya is launched, scrub in the timeline. You'll notice that the time field updates only when releasing the mouse, as Joojaa explained.
Now, scrub in the timeline and maintain Alt key pressed. The marker stays at the same place.
Then, release the Alt key and scrub in the timeline, you'll notice the time field now updates while dragging. So the Alt key modified something ... ?

[joojaa]

Aaah yes thats actualy a feature, of somekind... there just isnt any function hooked up to the alt drag!

[scratch]

So, no way to have the time field update while scrubbing without playing with the alt key first ?
What to do, doctor ?

gonna get some aspirin ...

[joojaa]

come on its good for your eye hand cordination... It could be cosidered a bug if you se it thatway. Incedantaly like so many others i dont even notice this untill you seid it was wrong (and i have used maya for a LOOONG time, so it cat realy be a showstopper). Usualy whan i stop moving the viewport i automaticaly without thinking lift tha alt key

(i dont realy think im ever pressing any of the following keys shift control alt contr-z a s x c v q w e r t y g contorl- g and control-d they just magicaly happen when i think of doing soemthimng with them)

searching for the bindings now... but i cant realy find anything you coudl change them in. yet its hidden awaypretty neatly.

[joojaa]

well i supose one could inject a drag calback to that thing to se if it changes anything... the slider is defined in scripts/others/timeSlider.mel anyway its too timeconsuming and of too little paractcal use for me, but sure if its a annoying glitch do it yourself or complain to alias.

NIce to know thet the docs on timeControl isnt entirely accurate found one hidden option again. Something to test... in future.

[joojaa]

Actualy reread the entire theread. Appears that your alt key is working in reverse! because when i press alt then the ltimeline will NOT upfdate.

Make sure that your sytem does not have alt set as something thats sticky (maybe you have a alt-lock on because it behaves like shift with capslock on ilknow theres soem settings on this in windows but cant remeber where if i remeber correctly. Some sytems will put it on if you doubletapp alt.)

[joojaa]

yap... you appear having sticly keys on...

from windows manual

StickyKeys is designed for people who have difficulty holding down two or more keys simultaneously. When a shortcut requires a key combination, such as CTRL+P, StickyKeys will enable you to press a modifier key (CTRL, ALT, or SHIFT), or the Windows logo key, and have it remain active until another key is pressed.

wich would explain why your behaving badly since whenever you press alt it will remain pressed untill you press something else.

try going to accesibility options and unchek use sticky keys also MAKE SURE you press the advanced and unchek use shortcut

[scratch]

Well ... sticky keys are always off ...
And this alt key "bug" happens on 2 computers.
I never tweaked my system. Settings were set at installation time.

When you press alt key and scrub at the same time, there's no update because the alt keys prevents from scrubbing. The grey tick indicating current time doesn't move. So if my alt key remained pressed ( by sticky keys on or whatever ), I couldn't scrub anymore.
But, after that, if you scrub without pressing alt key, as you would do usually, then time field updates.

1) Maya launch.
2) scrub without alt key pressed : no update
3) scrub with alt key pressed : no update because alt key prevents from scrubbing
4) scrub without alt key pressed (like in step 2)) : update

Thank you for your help Joojaa ... please let me know if you got this "bug" ... it might happen only with maya PLE, although that sounds weird ... I don't think my configuration has something to do with it, as I got this result on 2 different computers using the same maya PLE.

[joojaa]

alt presswing will not scrub. Not only on ple but as faar as i can se happens on Everey version of maya i can test on.

Its actualy rather usefull tough since, altpressing appears to be there to make sure you can clear the selection without affecting time quickly. wich cold make make it a designed featiure not realy a BUG. its like a clear selection and return to time on screen shortcut.

Might still be a bug tough too ask alias.

Why is this a major annoyance?

[scratch]

That's not huge prob ... well I'm making a mel script which uses time field value, so I need it to update correctly ... but I can find another way. I was also curious about it, looking for a guru's opinion. I can try to ask alias about this.
Thanks for your help