A thin plastic cell containing the ferroelectric liquid crystal ZLI3654 (4 μm) was placed edge-on to a pin-hole collimated horizontal X-ray beam. In this way, the smectic layers were brought into register. Subsequently, triangular voltage waves with various peak (Vp) values were applied across the cell and diffraction photos were obtained during the application of the alternating voltage. Up toVp= ± 30 V, no significant movements in the initial tilted orientation of the smectic layers with respect to the surfaces (chevrons) could be observed. During the application ofVp= ± 32 V an increasing fraction of the smectic layers changed their initial tilt angle with respect to the cell surfaces to make larger tilt angles. At a slightly higher voltage, the layers became upright (bookshelf structure). Upon removing the voltage and short circuiting the cell, the quasi-bookshelf structure was sustained. The new method described here can be used in combination with a fast detector for time resolved experiments.