Creating Timelines

Let's say you're creating a timeline called "Family History". To create this new timeline:

1. Click on the "add timeline" header in the application to bring up the new timeline panel
2. You'll be asked to provide just a few pieces of information:

• title
• description
• intial focus
• initial zoom
• whether you want to make the timeline public

Try to keep the title as short and as descriptive as possible.

The description is especially important if you make the timeline public: It will provide viewers with a brief introduction or any other important information (sources, instructions etc.). If this timeline is not for public viewing, this field can be used for notes or whatevery you'd like. You can use basic HTML in the description field: images, links, and bold and italic formatting.

The initial focus of a timeline is the date to which the viewer will go when that timeline is first selected from the timelines menu. It could be the beginning, the middle, or the end of what will eventually be a collection of events.

The initial zoom is the zoom level to which the viewer will go when that timeline is first selected. It will take some time and experience to work out what zoom level is right for your timelines, so we recommend leaving this with the default value unless you know what you are doing! Zoom levels go from 0 to 60.

Timelines automatically use the (event) size=importance feature, so this box is checked by default. If you do not want events on the timeline to change size as the timeline is zoomed, uncheck this box.

Click the check box to determine whether you want to make your timeline public or not. Making a timeline public will create a URL that makes it viewable (read only) by anyone who has that URL. There is no way for the general public to "browse" to or search for the timeline, however. The URL for your timeline will appear in the 'public link' field.

The best way to choose both the initial focus and initial zoom is after most of the events have been entered, so that you understand the best viewing position. Here's how:

1. Move the timeline around zoom in and out to find and position and scope that you like
2. When it looks good, look at the navigation controls, and
3. Note the number on the navigation panel slider — this is the zoom level.
4. Click the "go to" button on the bottom of the navigation panel — this is the date at which the timeline is focused.

When your timeline becomes crowded with events, you can edit event size=importance, or, if you're feeling brave, create thresholds for individual events. These will make less important events (like your haircut next week) disappear from view at higher zoom levels (say, at the decade view).