Cinema 4D has many work environments for creating the 'total package'.
While there are similarities, each workspace has special features, special considerations of it's own.
There is great documentation with the software package but sometimes some shortcuts and basics help save time and jump your learning curve.
Let's see.
Animation is one of the most exciting features in any 3D package, especially Cinema 4D.
Animation has it's own dedicated workspace with dedicated tools and guides.
Some of these overlap with others such as the timeline, some are unique to the animation's own workspace.
The best way to see some of these shortcuts is to create an animation of our own and try them out.
Let's create a simple animation.
To set a keyframe for the basic coordinate values, simply adjust the value, then mouse click 'Ctrl click' the check box next to the value.
This is how you would set a keyframe for the coordinate position, scale, or rotation values.
Note that when you do create a key, the check box turns red letting you know it has been set.
A simple 'gottcha' in the beginning is being sure to set the default value if you want your new keyed value to represent a change.
It will record you new value and it will record a key but if you haven't recorded any others, it won't record a change.
The complete timeline will show this keyed value for your parameter.
For example, with nothing set, at frame 50 you change the Y position to 50 and add a keyframe.
Now play your animation.
The sphere just sits there at en elevated height of 50.
Since you had no other keyframes, a Yposition of 0 at the beginning, for example, this single keyed value is the only one Cinema 'knows'.
This is easy enough to fix.
Simply click the 'Goto Start' and enter 0 for Y at the beginning.
Notice the Y check box has a red outline, but empty not filled, indicating this coordinate has been keyed but not at this point on the timeline.
If you want to change a value after setting it, simply go to that point, enter a new value, and click the checkbox.
In this case, go to beginning of the timeline, enter 0 for Y, hit return then click the check box to enter this new value.
Now if we play our animation we will see our sphere slowly rise to 50 units.
If you want to delete a key after entering it, right click on the letter, in our case, Y, then from the animation menu, choose 'delete Keyframe'.
From this same animation menu you can 'delete track' and delete all the keyframes on this particular track.
Here we would be deleting the keys that animated our sphere's height.
There are many more animation shortcuts and assistants provided by Cinema 4D.
Try creating different effects with the position, scale, and rotation to see how easily you can animate your objects, and how easy it is to make adjustments as your stage develops!