US Patent 8982132 Value templates in animation timelines

Methods and systems for animation timelines using value templates are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method includes generating a data structure corresponding to a graphical representation of a timeline and creating an animation of an element along the timeline, where the animation modifies a property of the element according to a function, and where the function uses a combination of a string with a numerical value to render the animation. The method also includes adding a command corresponding to the animation into the data structure, where the command is configured to return the numerical value, and where the data structure includes a value template that produces the combination of the string with the numerical value. The method further includes passing the produced combination of the string with the numerical value to the function and executing the function to animate the element.