Enable time animation

You can add a time-aware layer to a map when the data layer contains temporal values, such as data and time fields. Add a time-aware layer to the map and enable a time animation to show how patterns in the data change over time. Time animations show how features in a dataset change over time based on location or a data attribute's value. These typically involve a time slider, allowing you to explore moments of time or time windows.

Note:

This functionality is available only for ArcGIS feature layers or layers created using your  data.

When you enable time animation on a map layer, you use the  Time  tab of the Analysis pane to configure the field in the data that contains the time information. You can also configure the animation slider to specify playback speed, time interval, and whether cumulative data is displayed on the map.

To enable time animation on a map layer, complete the following steps:

1. Sign in to ArcGIS.
2. From the map tools, click Analysis .

   The Analysis pane appears.

3. Click Time animation .
4. Choose a layer to modify from the Active layer drop-down menu.
5. Turn on the Enable time animation toggle button.

   A time slider appears at the bottom of the map with the default options.

6. To turn off time animation on a layer, turn off the Enable time animation toggle button.
7. Optionally, click Close on the time slider to turn off time animation.
8. Click Close in the Analysis pane to close the pane.

Use the time slider controls

The time slider appears as an animation control overlaid on the map.

You can define the time intervals. Time slider settings apply to all time-animated layers in a map.

Note:

To turn the time slider on or off, click the Close button on the slider.

The time slider controls described below allow you to interact with time animation:

1. Play—Click the  Play button  to begin the animation. When the animation is playing, this changes to the  Pause button .
2. Previous—Click the Previous button to move the animation to the previous time interval. This control is active only while the animation is playing.
3. Next—Click  the Next button to move the animation to the next time interval. This control is active only while the animation is playing.
4. Drag the interval along the slider to manually control the data that appears on the map. You can also move the interval handles individually to display a specific time range or adjust the interval.

   Note:

   When you select features on a time-aware layer and run the time animation, only the features visible during the specified time period are visible during the animation.