The time dimension slider enables you to simulate the passage of time in a time frame. Moving the slider left or right moves your diagrams through time and your diagrams change according to the temporal properties in symbol definitions. For example, in Business Process diagrams, Process symbols are defined by Process definitions. The In Service Date and Effective Date properties in these definitions set the start and end points of the slider.

When creating diagram comparisons, you can enable or disable a time dimension option. If you choose to disable it, the comparison displays diagrams without the Time Slider control. If you enable it, you must also choose whether to use the "In Service Date" or "Effective Date" time dimension properties.

The comparison output displayed contains the Time Slider control. Beneath the control, the time property in use is displayed, along with the time range (for example, "Effective Date" and "01/25/2008 TO 01/25/2009"). The left endpoint on the slider control represents the minimum date; the right endpoint the maximum date. The dates of each endpoint are calculated from the "Effective Date" and "In Service Date" properties in all diagrams.