VP23 (or any version) Keeping track of text events on timeline

anthony-chiappette wrote on 1/25/2026, 2:13 PM

I'm not sure how to explain this, but here goes ...

I make videos for my YouTube channel and use Vegas practically every day. I record gameplay of old games, usually pinball, bagatelle or marble games from the 1930's to the 1980's. In my videos, I use several animated text events to keep track of scores, achievements, bonuses, etc.

I label each track event, so I know what it represents, but since I have several animated text events on the timeline, it's difficult to keep track of which event is actually selected when clicking the edit text icon on the event. While editing text, I know what I'm editing based on the text displayed and the text highlighted on the preview, but the problem is keeping track of which event on the timeline to edit next. There is no visual indication on the timeline of which text event is selected. I generally layout the events in order of what will appear on the screen and edit from top to bottom. But editing one text event, then needing to edit the next one down, I lose my place in the order since there is no visual indication on the timeline. I know this is solely the fault of my aging eyes and memory, but some indication of the event selected would be helpful.

In other words, I edit the first event, now I need to edit the second event, etc. But somewhere along the line I lose track of which to select next. Again, I know, his is solely down to my aging facilities, but a visual representation would be helpful. Something like highlighting the track name while editing that event's text or showing the name of the event or color of the event in the edit box.

Does anyone have any ideas on how I can make this easier for myself? Not specific to V23, but that's what I'm currently using. The screenshot below represents a typical timeline for the videos I create.

Comments

john_dennis wrote on 1/25/2026, 2:34 PM

@anthony-chiappette

Have you looked at different sort options in Project Media? There are Right Click options to select the event(s) on the project timeline.

Robert Johnston wrote on 1/25/2026, 5:05 PM

There's an internal preference to "Move Selection on Edit" that does not seem to be working. But I don't really know what that's supposed to do. When you click on an event's button to Edit Generated Media, the selection should move to that event, it seems. That way you have a visual reference of the event you are editing. Otherwise, the selection stays on some other event, which is how you lose track of where you are. I guess the trick is to first select the event so it's highlighted, and then click the edit generated media button. It would also be nice if the event name/label and track number were presented on the generated media UI.

anthony-chiappette wrote on 1/25/2026, 9:47 PM

There's an internal preference to "Move Selection on Edit" that does not seem to be working. But I don't really know what that's supposed to do. When you click on an event's button to Edit Generated Media, the selection should move to that event, it seems. That way you have a visual reference of the event you are editing. Otherwise, the selection stays on some other event, which is how you lose track of where you are. I guess the trick is to first select the event so it's highlighted, and then click the edit generated media button. It would also be nice if the event name/label and track number were presented on the generated media UI.

Yes, having that info on the edit dialog would be nice, like how when you add fx to an event, the fx dialog box shows what event it applies to.

I can't use the event selection method because then the cursor moves. Since I am using animated text, i change multiple text events at the same keyframe. Selecting the event would move the keyframe when the cursor moves. Unless you meant selecting the event on the event line/name on the right. That might work.

anthony-chiappette wrote on 1/25/2026, 9:54 PM

@anthony-chiappette

Have you looked at different sort options in Project Media? There are Right Click options to select the event(s) on the project timeline.

Thanks, but I'm not sure how this would help. I don't have multiple events on the same line for each section. The video is seperated by games, so each game is a seperate section. The text events cover the entire section. What you're showing seems like it would work for multiple events placed backt o back. I edit each section seperately, then group all the events in the section and move to the next section. I combine them all after editing each seperate section.

anthony-chiappette wrote on 1/25/2026, 10:01 PM

I just realized something. I do save every type of text event I use as a separate preset. For each game I make a video of, I have sections of the presets for the game name and type of text I use. I reuse them in other videos when necessary. Since I also name every track in the project, I can match the preset names to the track names and keep track of where I am that way. Why didn't I think of this before?

I have hundreds of text presets, which tends to bog down Vegas on loading and adding text events to a project the first time, or when saving a new preset.

Robert Johnston wrote on 1/26/2026, 10:35 PM

@anthony-chiappette I just noticed in Vegas Pro 23 there is an option on the editing tab in preferences that might be of use to you. If you clear the checkmark for "Move cursor when clicking on an event", then the cursor won't move when you click on an event. I didn't see this option in Vegas Pro 22.

anthony-chiappette wrote on 1/27/2026, 3:54 PM

Thank you @Robert Johnston

I will check the setting.

anthony-chiappette wrote on 1/27/2026, 3:56 PM

Oh yes, that works. Thank you.