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General discussion

Looking for software to create a timeline

by pgd01 Feb 9, 2008 3:27PM PST

Hi,
I'm trying to find an application or program that would allow me to make a horizontal timeline that I could then position text above, below and inside of.
I've often seen this type of graphic in a National Geographic or a History book where there are horizontal strips of various colors and gradations and then there is type positioned above or below it describing historic people or events. I've tried to use Photoshop, but it's too rasterized.
Can anyone recommend a program that does something like this or that I can adapt so I can get this effect?

Thanks for any help,

pg

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3 Posts
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Depending what it is to be used for...
by MarkFlax Forum moderator Feb 9, 2008 6:21PM PST

I would consider something like a spreadsheet, like Microsoft Excel.

If it is for a presentation you could use that in a PowerPoint presentation file.

With Excel, or any other spreadsheet, you can hide the grid lines to the cells giving a blank white window, in which you can then color individual cells or groups of cells, draw horizontal lines, and have text in cells above and below.

It would take some work, but then something like this project normally does.

Mark

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Looking for software to create a timeline
by pgd01 Feb 10, 2008 12:02PM PST

Thanks for the reply,
Can you put text anywhere you want around the timeline made with a spreadsheet? For instance, at some points there would be quite a few separate texts bunched around a certain time period, while in others there would be only a few. Would I be able to put the text precisely where I want it?

Thanks again,

pg

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That would be more difficult, but
by MarkFlax Forum moderator Feb 10, 2008 5:17PM PST

in Excel there is also the 'Draw' toolbar which includes a Text Box. This can be moved around, formatted, colored, how you wish. The Draw toolbar also has a selection of line and arrow styles as well as callouts and other basic shapes.

But you have to have the Microsoft Office suite installed on the computer. This includes Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, (depending what was purchased with the suite), and others.

If you don't have Microsoft Office you may have Microsoft Works and this also includes a spreadsheet, but if you want a free suite, look for OpenOffice from http://www.openoffice.org which has Calc, it's own version of Excel and which is compatible with Office files.

Mark

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