Here's the short answer: no.
Here's a more elaborate answer: AE doesn't work like a video editing application. It was never intended to work like a video editing application. You have to learn new ways of working.
You'll probably want to read up on viewing and previewing:
http://helpx.adobe.com/content/help/en/after-effects/using/previewing1.html
If you happen to read that you can use the space bar, ignore it. It stinks. Doesn't work well at all. Just forget it exists.
Dave LaRonde
Sr. Promotion Producer
KCRG-TV (ABC) Cedar Rapids, IA
