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COVA - How to Use the Timeline

Updated

How to Use the Timeline in COVA

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Affected Roles:    End Users, System Administrators

Related DW Software:    COVA Web Client

Software Version:    COVA Rev. 05/26

Last Edit:    July 9, 2026

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How to Use the Timeline in COVA

This article will outline how to show and hide the timeline, read the color-coded legend, navigate and filter footage, jump to a specific date and time, and use all playback controls.

 

Supported/Affected Devices:

  • DW-COVA4 / DW-COVA8 / DW-COVA16

Resolution:

Part 1 — Show or Hide the Timeline

  1. Click the up arrow at the bottom of the viewing area to expand the timeline.
How to Use the Timeline in COVA - Step 1.jpeg
  1. Click the down arrow to collapse it.

Tip: Click the push pin to lock the toolbar and prevent it from collapsing.

How to Use the Timeline in COVA - Step 2.jpeg

Part 2 — Read the Timeline

  1. Color-coded blocks represent recording types:
Color Recording Type
Green Continuous
Yellow Motion
Dark Blue Human
Cyan Vehicle
Red Sensor

Note: The top line of the timeline represents the currently selected channel. The bottom line represents the combined activity of all channels.

How to Use the Timeline in COVA - Step 4.jpeg

Part 3 — Navigate the Timeline

  1. Click and drag anywhere on the timeline bar to scrub to a point in time.
How to Use the Timeline in COVA - Step 6.jpeg
  1. Zoom in — narrows the time intervals for frame-precise navigation. Maximum zoom displays the timeline by the second.
How to Use the Timeline in COVA - Step 7.jpeg
  1. Zoom out — widens the time intervals to see a broader range. Maximum zoom out displays the timeline by day.

Tip: The mouse scroll wheel can also be used to zoom in and out on the timeline.

How to Use the Timeline in COVA - Step 8.jpeg

Part 4 — Filter by Event Type

  1. Click any color label in the legend to toggle that event type on or off. Hiding event types narrows the timeline to only the recordings you care about.
How to Use the Timeline in COVA - Step 11.jpeg

Part 5 — Jump to a Specific Date and Time

  1. Click the date/time display in the toolbar to open the calendar picker.
How to Use the Timeline in COVA - Step 13.jpeg
  1. Select the year, month, and day.
How to Use the Timeline in COVA - Step 14.jpeg
  1. Set the time and toggle AM / PM. Click OK to jump directly to that moment in the timeline.
How to Use the Timeline in COVA - Step 15.jpeg

Part 6 — Control Playback

  1. Pause / Play — pause or resume playback.

Note: The Pause/Play button is not available while live video is playing.

How to Use the Timeline in COVA - Step 17.jpeg
  1. Slow 10s — skip backward 10 seconds (icon only; label appears on hover).
How to Use the Timeline in COVA - Step 18.jpeg
  1. Fast 10s — skip forward 10 seconds (icon only; label appears on hover).
How to Use the Timeline in COVA - Step 19.jpeg
  1. Speed selector — click X1 to open the speed menu. Options range from X1/32 (slowest) to X32 (fastest).
How to Use the Timeline in COVA - Step 20.jpeg
  1. Click the Live button in the toolbar at any time to exit playback and return all cameras to live video.
How to Use the Timeline in COVA - Step 21.jpeg

Part 7 — Adjust Audio

  1. Click the audio icon to mute or unmute.
How to Use the Timeline in COVA - Step 23.jpeg
  1. Drag the volume slider to adjust the level.
How to Use the Timeline in COVA - Step 24.jpeg

Part 8 — Fullscreen Mode

  1. Click the fullscreen icon to expand the viewing area to full screen. Click again or press Escape to exit.
How to Use the Timeline in COVA - Step 26.jpeg

For More Information or Technical Support

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