Timeline view is split in two main parts, the event tree on the left side and the timeline graphical representation on the right side. Graphical view is composed from top to down, of the time scale, the century bar, the period bar and the event bars.
View is displayed according to the current view profile.
Timescale is displayed according to the selected calendar and time unit. The scale is sub-divided in two parts with two distinct units. Time unit can be set on the view toolbar or in the view profile.
| Time unit | Super Division | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Century | Millenium | Milleniums and centuries are displayed in roman numbers with AD/BC Anno Domini specifier. |
| Decade | Century | Decades is the ten year sub-division of the century. Decades are numbered from 1st to 10th. |
| Year | Decade | Only the two last digits of the year is displayed on the scale. E.g. 84 for 1584 or 1984. |
| Month | Year | Only first letter of the month is displayed (J,F, ..., D). |
| Day | Month | Display two digits day number of the month. |
Following calendar can be used:
| Calendar | Description |
|---|---|
| Gregorian | The Gregorian calendar is the calendar in use nowadays in most of the occidental countries and through the world. |
| Julian | The Julian calendar has been introduced by Julius Caesar in 43 BC to replace the complex roman calendar. It is not really used before 45 BC. |
Timescale is not scrolled up/down; It is always visible.
Century bar is the grey bar that displays the century corresponding to the displayed period of time. Century bar is not scrolled up/down and can be hidden in the view profile.
Period bar displayed the defined periods. I.e. The events with "Period" property set to "true". It is intended to give user a time reference for the other displayed events. Several periods can be displayed on the same line as soon as they don't overlapp. If two periods are defined for the same period of time, they are displayed on two separate lines.
The hue of the bar is set on the current view profile. The bar is not scrolled up or down. It is so always visible unless it is disabled on the view profile.
All of the events within the open databases can be displayed in the view as soon as they match the current filter and if they have a defined date. The order under which the event bars are displayed is determined by the sort criterion.
| Sort Criterion | Description |
|---|---|
| None | Events are displayed following the order of their declaration in the database. |
| Sort by date | Events are ordered by their start date. |
| Sort by matching condition | Events are ordered by the start date of the child event (or event itself) that matches the format condition. |
| Sort by format condition | A little bit like "matching condition" the start date of the matching event is used but events are also grouped by format conditions from first condition to the last. |
Event names can be displayed on the event bars if option is selected on the view profile.
Tooltips are displayed when moving mouse cursor to the event bars. Tooltip content gives event name, date, age and description. You can select particular event by left-clicking on it directly on the event bars.
The events displayed on the timeline view can be filtered out with respect to some defined criteria. Filters are defined on the filter editor in the scope of the current workspace or one of the open database. Criterion can be defined on event name, date, location or any of its properties.
The current filter of a view can be selected on the timeline view filter combo-box.
You can also define dynamic filter on event name by typing a pattern directly on filter selector of the timeline view. The pattern is a simple portion of word is automatically converted into *<word1>* filter. That dynamic filter is case insensitive and is tested on root events only. You can also insert wildcard * character on the typed pattern to search event named like *<word1>*<word2>*
User can define any number of filter within his workspace using the filter editor. Complex filtering conditions such like "events is comprised between two dates" can be defined combining two simple conditions with logical AND operator (match all conditions).
Note: Filters are used to set conditional event formatting.
Select database where current filter is defined. If none is selected, filter is declared in current workspace.
Current edited filter name. You can enter new filter name or select an already defined one.
If checked in, the filter is evaluated on each root events as well as their contained child events.
If "Match all conditions" is selected, the event must match all the defined criteria else at least one of the condition must match.
Apply button is used to save the filter updates in the selected database or the current workspace.
Delete button allows to delete the selected filter from the database or current workspace.
Conditions is composed of three fields: Property, operator and value. You can define up to three conditions per filter.
| Property | Operator | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Event name | equals | Event name strictly equals to given value. |
| not equals | Event name does not equal gievn name. | |
| like | Event name is like given value with respect to the letter case. Value is specified with * wild card. | |
| like (case insensitive) | Similar to the "like" operator but case insensitive. | |
| Event kind, Property | equals to | Property value stricly matches the given value. |
| not equals to | Property value does not match the given value. | |
| Event start/end date | is before | Date of the event is before given value. |
| is after | Date of the event is after given value. | |
| Event location | is | Event is located at given place. |
View profile groups a set of display properties. It can be define and stored within the current workspace or within one of the open database.
First defined view profile inside database is automatically selected on open database.
Select database where view profile is stored. If none is selected, profile is declared in current workspace.
Current edited view profile name. You can enter new profile name or select an already defined one.
Select view profile time unit like defined here.
Select view profile calendar here
Select view profile filter.
Select sort criterion like defined here.
Select the hue of the period bar. Period bar is displayed with the selected colour and each linked events with a gradation of the hue.
Select default background colour of the event bars. The colour is used to display the event bar when no matching format condition exists.
Event background color can be dynamically determined thanks to the conditional event formatting. Up to 5 conditions can be set within event view properties.
Conditions are evaluated from top to bottom. The last matching gives the format of the event. If none of the conditions matches default color is used.
Condition is the association of one event filter with one background color. Color can be picked from standard color chooser invoked by clicking on colored button on the right. Condition can be removed by selecting "none" filter or clicking "Clear All" button.
UP buttons allow to re-order conditions. Click on one of them to move corresponding condition up, swapping the condition above.
View content - timeline and familly tree - can be saved into standard picture file formats.
Function is triggered from the timeline toolbar. Select picture name and format (from standard png,gif,jpeg,bmp,tga,emf). Current event view is then saved on desired location. Generated file can be freely incorporated in any web site or electronic document.
The graphical content of the views can be copies into windows enhanced metafile format. Timelines can then be open and modified inside most of the vectorial drawing applications.
You can save the views as metafile (emf format) like described in there. Copy-paste inside windows clipboard can also be used to speed-up the export of the views towards drawing applications. Click on dedicated toolbar button or do Ctrl-v.
Contact: postmaster@in-heh.com
Copyright © 2007-2010 IN-HEH Ch.Pardon