🧭 How to Use Timer Groups in UbiTimer

Timer Groups let you apply a single countdown timer across a range of slides. Instead of setting a timer on each slide, you define a slide range and a duration — and the timer runs automatically when you enter that section.

📌 What Are Timer Groups?

  • Start a timer automatically when entering a slide range
  • Keep the timer running across multiple slides
  • Stop the timer automatically when leaving the group
  • Choose where the timer appears on the slide before saving the group
  • Change the timer size after it has started

Perfect for:

  • Exams and timed assessments
  • Classroom activities
  • Workshop segments
  • Presentation sections
New Timer Groups feature

Position your Timer Group exactly where you want it

Timer Groups now include a draggable timer position preview. Before saving a Timer Group, drag the timer preview to your preferred location. When the Timer Group starts, UbiTimer places the timer in that same area on your slide.

1

Open the Sync tab

Go to the Sync tab in UbiTimer and enable Timer Groups.

2

Drag the timer preview

Move the preview timer around the mini slide until it is clear of important slide content.

3

Save the group

Click Add Group. UbiTimer saves the slide range, duration, auto-start option, size, and position.

4

Adjust size while running

After the Timer Group starts, you can still switch between compact, standard, and large timer sizes.

Timer position preview

05:00
Tip: Place the timer away from slide titles, diagrams, questions, or answer options. This is especially useful for classroom activities and assessment slides.

Step 1 — Enable Timer Groups

  1. Open the Sync tab in UbiTimer.
  2. Select Timer Groups.
  3. Ensure the Global Timer is available. Timer Groups use the Global Timer engine.

Step 2 — Create a Group

  1. Enter the Start slide.
  2. Enter the End slide.
  3. Set the Duration.
  4. Drag the timer preview to choose where the timer should appear.
  5. Optional: enable Auto-start if you want the group timer to start automatically.
  6. Click Add Group.

Example:

  • Slides 5–10
  • Duration: 300 seconds, or 5 minutes
  • Timer position: bottom-right of the slide

When you move to slide 5, the timer will start automatically if auto-start is enabled. The timer will appear in the position you selected in the preview.

Step 3 — How It Works

  • The timer starts when you enter the first slide in the group, if auto-start is enabled.
  • The timer continues across all slides in that range.
  • Leaving the group stops the timer automatically.
  • The saved position is used when the group timer appears on the slide.

Step 4 — Change Timer Size While Running

After a Timer Group has started, you can still change the timer size from the size preset control.

  • Compact — useful when slide space is limited
  • Standard — best for most classroom and presentation uses
  • Large — useful when the timer needs to be highly visible

The timer updates immediately while it is running, so you do not need to stop and recreate the group.

Step 5 — Using Sticky Controls

While inside a group, you can use the sticky control bar to:

  • Pause the timer
  • Resume from where it stopped
  • Reset the group timer

The timer continues across slides within the group unless you leave the defined range.

📚 Example Scenario

Slides 1–4: Introduction
Slides 5–10: Activity, 5 minutes
Slides 11–12: Discussion

Create a group for slides 5–10 with a 5-minute duration. Drag the preview timer to the bottom-right of the mini slide before saving. When you enter slide 5, the timer starts automatically and appears in the saved position. It continues while moving between slides 5–10. When you move to slide 11, the timer stops.

💡 Important Notes

  • Timer Groups use the Global Timer engine.
  • Pause and Reset affect the entire group.
  • Only one group runs at a time.
  • Groups do not permanently modify slide content.
  • Use the draggable preview before saving if you want the timer away from slide content.
  • You can change the timer size while the group timer is running.