It’s easy to create a timeline on Timetoast. Learn how to make your first Unbound or Standard (Classic) Timeline.
Creating a new timeline
Start at the Timeline dashboard by clicking on ‘Dashboard’ at the top right of the Timetoast homepage when signed in. From your Timeline dashboard, click 'Add Timeline +'.
This will pop up a window for you to choose whether to create a new Unbound Timeline or our Standard (Classic) Timeline.
Choosing between the timeline options
Depending on your choice, jump to the right section:
Creating an Unbound Timeline
When you choose an Unbound Timeline, a template window will appear. These are ready-made timeline templates that pre-create fields so you don't have to create them yourself.
Tip: Choose the 'Classic timeline' template if you want the timeline structure similar to our classic timelines with titles, descriptions, dates and images.
Template window appears when you choose to create an Unbound timeline.
You can also choose to skip the templates (press 'Skip' at the bottom of the window), but this gives you the most bare-bones structure.
How do I learn more about timeline templates?
The timeline templates page has an overview of available templates. Explore each in detail to learn about the fields and options included.
Once you've made your template selection, the Unbound project editor window will pop up and you can give your project a name.
Unbound project editor window when you choose an Unbound Timeline.
Next, choose who can edit your timeline project. Timetoast allows you to collaborate on timelines and choose who can edit your timelines. If you have a premium account, you have the option to make it editable by all account members or only editable by you.
If a timeline is editable by other account members, it will also be included in their list of timeline projects. If you set it to just editable by you, then it will only show up for you and they won't be able to edit it.
If you’re on the free plan, there’s just one account member. Only the Editable by Account members option is available in this case.
When you first create an Unbound timeline, it is only viewable by who you specify in the project editor window: the account members or just you. To share a timeline, you share a timeline view (grid, horizontal, vertical) from the project timeline view. To learn more about privacy and sharing, refer to our article on Timeline Privacy, Access and Sharing.
Timelines are only viewable when you share a link or viewable by those in your account (unless you specify it to be editable by ‘Just me’).
You can also add a photo or image if you’d like. Just press on the box under ‘Photo’ and a photo editor pop up will emerge. You can drag and drop the photo file that you would like to upload, or browse your files to choose an image to upload. The maximum photo size is 10 MB.
Finally, press the 'Add' button. The timeline project is now created and you will be taken to your timeline project.
Don't forget to press the 'Add' button to save your timeline. If you close the project editor window or click outside the window before pressing the 'Add' button, your timeline project will not be created.
To learn more about adding items and completing an Unbound timeline project, check out our article on Creating an Unbound Timeline Project.
Creating a Classic Timeline
When you choose a Standard (Classic) Timeline, the timeline editor window will pop up and you can fill in the details.
Timeline editor window will appear when you press 'Add Timeline +' and choose a Standard (Classic) Timeline.
First, add a title for your timeline. Remember, there’s a 255 character limit for your title. You can see the number of characters you have left below the text field.
When you create your timeline, you can choose whether to make it public or keep it in draft/unpublished. This is the publish status. When the timeline is in draft, it is only viewable by you or members you choose and is not on the public website. When the timeline is published, it is listed on the public website.
Published timelines will be marked with a green published button on your Timeline dashboard.
Can’t choose to make the timeline draft?
It may be that you have already reached your draft timeline limit. On the free plan, you can have one draft timeline, but an unlimited number of published timelines. If you want to create more draft or unpublished timelines, you can look at our premium plans.
Timetoast allows you to collaborate on timelines and choose who can edit your timelines. If you have a premium account, you have the option to make it editable by all account members or only editable by you.
If a timeline is editable by other account members, it will also be included in their list of timeline projects. If you set it to just editable by you, then it will only show up for you and they won't be able to edit it.
If you’re on the free plan, there’s just one account member. Only the Editable by Account members option is available in this case.
To make the timeline easier to find or group it in the right place, you can add a Category relevant to your timeline. For example, if you are writing a timeline about space exploration, you might categorize it under Science and Technology. You can also choose to keep it uncategorized.
You can add a photo or image if you’d like. Just press on the box under ‘Photo’ and a photo editor pop up will emerge. You can drag and drop the photo file that you would like to upload, or browse your files to choose an image to upload. The maximum photo size is 10 MB.
To finish creating your timeline, press the ‘Create timeline’ button. The timeline is now created and you will be taken to the Timeline editor page.
Don't forget to press the 'Create' button to save your timeline. If you close the timeline editor window or click outside the window before pressing the 'Create' button, your timeline will not be created.
To learn more about adding items and completing an classic timeline, check out our article on Creating a Classic Timeline.