How to get current preview time with ExtendScript

Since there isn't a proper way to get the time during playback, I found this interesting workaround:

function getPlaybackTime () {
    // 1. Get the active comp
    var comp = app.project.activeItem;

    // 2. Read all markers in the composition (if there are any)
    function getCompMarkers () {
      var output = [];
      var markProp = comp.markerProperty;
      for (var i = 1; i <= markProp.numKeys; i++) {
        var marker = markProp.keyValue(i);
        marker['time'] = markProp.keyTime(i);
        output.push(marker);
      }

      return output;
    };

    // 3. Store the markers in a variable
    var origCompMarkers = getCompMarkers();

    // 4. Add a new marker (same as pressing the * key)
    var id = app.findMenuCommandId('Add Marker');
    app.executeCommand(id);

    // 5. Find the new marker we added and get its time and index
    function getNewMarker (origCompMarkers) {
        var newCompMarkers = getCompMarkers();
        var oldTimes = [];
        var newTimes = [];
        var diffTime = null;
        var diffIndex = null;
        for (var i = 0; i < origCompMarkers.length; i++) {
            oldTimes.push(origCompMarkers[i]['time']);
        }
        for (var j = 0; j < newCompMarkers.length; j++) {
            newTimes.push(newCompMarkers[j]['time']);
        }
        for (var h = 0; h < newTimes.length; h++) {
            if (oldTimes.indexOf(newTimes[h]) < 0) {
                diffTime = newTimes[h];
                diffIndex = h + 1;
            }
        }
        return {time: diffTime, index: diffIndex};
    };

    // 6. Store the new marker in a variable
    var newMarker = getNewMarker(origCompMarkers);

    // 7. Remove the new marker
    comp.markerProperty.removeKey(newMarker.index);

    // 8. Return the time of the new marker
    return newMarker.time;    
}

// 9. Enjoy :)
var previewTime = getPlaybackTime();
alert(previewTime);

I don't know why exactly, but it doesn't work if you preview only audio without video (if someone can figure it out it'll be awesome)

Agree with Mathias. Your idea doesn't make much sense to begin with, given how this stuff works. If you want to execute scripts and be aware of specific timing, you have to give them something to latch on to like markers, keyframes or the layer in- and out-points.

Mylenium

Not quite sure what you mean by preview time, but if you're looking work area, then look at three 2 properties:

http://docs.aenhancers.com/items/compitem/#compitem-workareaduration

http://docs.aenhancers.com/items/compitem/#compitem-workareastart