Adding a new Timeline project
When you choose to create a new timeline project, 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 'Basic timeline' template if you want the timeline structure similar to our classic timelines with titles, descriptions, dates and images.
You can also choose to 'Start from scratch,' but this gives you the most bare-bones structure.
How do I learn more about timeline templates?
Take a look at the timeline templates page on Timetoast, where you can see examples and learn more about each template. There are examples of templates for product roadmaps, client onboarding, product launches, biographies and school projects. Timeline templates help you get quickly started on your project.
Once you've made your template selection, the project editor window will pop up and you can give your project a name.
Project settings when creating a new project.
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, only the Editable by Account members option is available.
You can also add a photo or image if you’d like. Just press on the box under ‘Photo’ and your photo library will be shown. You can drag and drop the photo file that you would like to upload, or just select an image from your previously uploaded images. 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.
Adding items
You can add items to your timeline project by using the 'Add item +' button at the top right of the project view.
You can also quick add items in the grid view. To learn more, refer to our article on adding items in grid view.
'Add item +' button
In all views (grid, horizontal, vertical), you will see an 'Add item +' on the top right in the project header which you can press to start adding a new item.
How the item editor looks will depend on the fields in your project.
Item editor window
To format the description and add links, you can refer to our formatting guide. This will show you how to bold or italicize text, add lists or bullets, add quotes as well as links to other websites. The ‘Preview’ tab shows you how it will look once it has been formatted.
Add a date to your event by clicking on 'Select date(s)'. This could be when the event happened or a target date, for example, if you are planning a project.
You can input the dates either by inputting in the date boxes or by clicking on the calendar icon and selecting the appropriate date.
You can change the date input format if you prefer to input your dates in a different format (e.g. DD/MM/YYYY or MM/DD/YYYY).
You can have start and end dates, or a single date. If you don't select an end date, your item will be displayed as a single point in time.
Adding dates in the item editor
You can add a photo or image to the event 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 select one from your already-uploaded images.
Timetoast projects are quite flexible and you can add many types of custom fields to structure your projects. We have also published a few blog posts about multi-select fields and single select fields which you may find helpful. Single select fields can also be used to group items in swimlanes in the horizontal timeline view, which can really help with planning parallel streams.
Once you have completed the details, press 'Create' to create the item in your project timeline.
Don't forget to press the 'Create' button. If you close the item editor window or click outside the window before pressing the 'Create' button, your timeline item will not be saved.