diff --git a/__init__.py b/__init__.py
index cb4bed4..eb9c57b 100644
--- a/__init__.py
+++ b/__init__.py
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@
     BSEQ_OT_disable_all,
     BSEQ_OT_enable_all,
     BSEQ_OT_refresh_sequences,
+    BSEQ_OT_set_start_end_frames,
     WM_OT_batchSequences,
     WM_OT_MeshioObject
 ]
diff --git a/bseq/__init__.py b/bseq/__init__.py
index 361914c..d039423 100644
--- a/bseq/__init__.py
+++ b/bseq/__init__.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 from bseq.utils import refresh_obj
-from .operators import BSEQ_OT_load, BSEQ_OT_edit, BSEQ_OT_resetpt, BSEQ_OT_resetmesh, BSEQ_OT_resetins, BSEQ_OT_set_as_split_norm, BSEQ_OT_remove_split_norm, BSEQ_OT_disable_selected, BSEQ_OT_enable_selected, BSEQ_OT_refresh_seq, BSEQ_OT_disable_all, BSEQ_OT_enable_all, BSEQ_OT_refresh_sequences, WM_OT_batchSequences, WM_OT_MeshioObject
+from .operators import BSEQ_OT_load, BSEQ_OT_edit, BSEQ_OT_resetpt, BSEQ_OT_resetmesh, BSEQ_OT_resetins, BSEQ_OT_set_as_split_norm, BSEQ_OT_remove_split_norm, BSEQ_OT_disable_selected, BSEQ_OT_enable_selected, BSEQ_OT_refresh_seq, BSEQ_OT_disable_all, BSEQ_OT_enable_all, BSEQ_OT_refresh_sequences, BSEQ_OT_set_start_end_frames, WM_OT_batchSequences, WM_OT_MeshioObject
 from .properties import BSEQ_scene_property, BSEQ_obj_property, BSEQ_mesh_property
 from .panels import BSEQ_UL_Obj_List, BSEQ_List_Panel, BSEQ_Settings, BSEQ_Import, BSEQ_Templates, BSEQ_UL_Att_List, draw_template
 from .messenger import subscribe_to_selected, unsubscribe_to_selected
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ def BSEQ_initialize(scene):
     "BSEQ_OT_disable_all",
     "BSEQ_OT_enable_all",
     "BSEQ_OT_refresh_sequences",
+    "BSEQ_OT_set_start_end_frames",
     "WM_OT_batchSequences",
     "WM_OT_MeshioObject"
 ]
diff --git a/bseq/importer.py b/bseq/importer.py
index d5dbc93..7a3e5fa 100644
--- a/bseq/importer.py
+++ b/bseq/importer.py
@@ -63,8 +63,8 @@ def has_keyframe(obj, attr):
 
 def apply_transformation(meshio_mesh, obj, depsgraph):
     # evaluate the keyframe animation system
-    eval_location = obj.evaluated_get(depsgraph).location if has_keyframe(obj, "location") else None
-    eval_scale = obj.evaluated_get(depsgraph).scale if has_keyframe(obj, "scale") else None
+    eval_location = obj.evaluated_get(depsgraph).location if has_keyframe(obj, "location") else obj.location
+    eval_scale = obj.evaluated_get(depsgraph).scale if has_keyframe(obj, "scale") else obj.scale
 
     if has_keyframe(obj, "rotation_quaternion"):
         eval_rotation = obj.evaluated_get(depsgraph).rotation_quaternion
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ def apply_transformation(meshio_mesh, obj, depsgraph):
     elif has_keyframe(obj, "rotation_euler"):
         eval_rotation = obj.evaluated_get(depsgraph).rotation_euler
     else:
-        eval_rotation = None
+        eval_rotation = obj.rotation_euler
 
     eval_transform_matrix = mathutils.Matrix.LocRotScale(eval_location, eval_rotation, eval_scale)
 
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ def apply_transformation(meshio_mesh, obj, depsgraph):
         rigid_body_transformation = meshio_mesh.field_data["transformation_matrix"]
 
     # multiply everything together (with custom transform matrix)
-    obj.matrix_world = rigid_body_transformation @ obj.BSEQ.initial_transform_matrix @ eval_transform_matrix
+    obj.matrix_world = rigid_body_transformation @ eval_transform_matrix
 
 def update_mesh(meshio_mesh, mesh):
     # extract information from the meshio mesh
@@ -219,8 +219,8 @@ def create_obj(fileseq, use_relative, root_path, transform_matrix=Matrix([[1, 0,
         object.BSEQ.pattern = str(fileseq)
     object.BSEQ.init = True
     object.BSEQ.enabled = enabled
-    # Flatten custom transformation matrix for the property
-    object.BSEQ.initial_transform_matrix = [transform_matrix[j][i] for i in range(4) for j in range(4)]
+    object.BSEQ.start_end_frame = (fileseq.start(), fileseq.end())
+    object.matrix_world = transform_matrix
     driver = object.driver_add("BSEQ.frame")
     driver.driver.expression = 'frame'
     if enabled:
diff --git a/bseq/operators.py b/bseq/operators.py
index 0190329..ca2b636 100644
--- a/bseq/operators.py
+++ b/bseq/operators.py
@@ -315,7 +315,24 @@ def execute(self, context):
         scene = context.scene
         # call the update function of path by setting it to its own value
         scene.BSEQ.path = scene.BSEQ.path
+
         return {"FINISHED"}
+    
+class BSEQ_OT_set_start_end_frames(bpy.types.Operator):
+    '''This changes the timeline start and end frames to the length of a specific sequence'''
+    bl_label = "Set timeline"
+    bl_idname = "bseq.set_start_end_frames"
+    bl_options = {"UNDO"}
+
+    def execute(self, context):
+        scene = context.scene
+        obj = bpy.data.objects[scene.BSEQ.selected_obj_num]
+        (start, end) = obj.BSEQ.start_end_frame
+        scene.frame_start = 0
+        scene.frame_end = end - start
+
+        return {"FINISHED"}
+
 
 from pathlib import Path
 import meshio
diff --git a/bseq/panels.py b/bseq/panels.py
index c35ec7a..d75cefb 100644
--- a/bseq/panels.py
+++ b/bseq/panels.py
@@ -77,6 +77,7 @@ def draw(self, context):
         row = layout.row()
         row.operator("bseq.enableall", text="Enable All")
         row.operator("bseq.disableall", text="Disable All")
+        row.operator("bseq.set_start_end_frames", text="Set timeline")
 
 
 
diff --git a/bseq/properties.py b/bseq/properties.py
index d839791..7e31f59 100644
--- a/bseq/properties.py
+++ b/bseq/properties.py
@@ -83,10 +83,7 @@ class BSEQ_obj_property(bpy.types.PropertyGroup):
     use_relative: bpy.props.BoolProperty(default=False)
     pattern: bpy.props.StringProperty()
     frame: bpy.props.IntProperty()
-    initial_transform_matrix: bpy.props.FloatVectorProperty(name='Custom Transformation Matrix',
-                                                            description='Set custom transformation',
-                                                            size=16,
-                                                            subtype="MATRIX")
+    start_end_frame: bpy.props.IntVectorProperty(name="Start and End Frames", size=2, default=(0, 0))
 
 # set this property for mesh, not object (maybe change later?)
 class BSEQ_mesh_property(bpy.types.PropertyGroup):
diff --git a/bseq/utils.py b/bseq/utils.py
index af686b6..7cd5c40 100644
--- a/bseq/utils.py
+++ b/bseq/utils.py
@@ -29,10 +29,17 @@ def stop_animation():
 def refresh_obj(obj, scene):
     fs = obj.BSEQ.pattern
     if obj.BSEQ.use_relative:
-        fs = bpy.path.abspath(fs, start=scene.BSEQ.root_path)
+        if scene.BSEQ.root_path != "":
+            fs = bpy.path.abspath(fs, start=scene.BSEQ.root_path)
+        else:
+            fs = bpy.path.abspath(fs)
     fs = fileseq.findSequenceOnDisk(fs)
     fs = fileseq.findSequenceOnDisk(fs.dirname() + fs.basename() + "@" + fs.extension())
+    obj.BSEQ.start_end_frame = (fs.start(), fs.end())
     fs = str(fs)
     if obj.BSEQ.use_relative:
-        fs = bpy.path.relpath(fs, start=scene.BSEQ.root_path)
-    obj.BSEQ.pattern = fs
\ No newline at end of file
+        if scene.BSEQ.root_path != "":
+            fs = bpy.path.relpath(fs, start=scene.BSEQ.root_path)
+        else:
+            fs = bpy.path.relpath(fs)
+    obj.BSEQ.pattern = fs