Template:Graphical timeline

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The easy way

Type {{include timeline}} in your article, press preview, and follow the link generated. You'll be presented with a ready-to-go template; once this is finished, return to your article, and { {include timeline} } will display your timeline.

Development

As of May 2021, the template has been converted to Lua and is now implemented at Module:Graphical timeline. New features include:

• Unlimited numbered parameters --- use note435, note34234532, whatever is convenient
• HTML size, memory, and run-time are all proportional to the number of items, not the number of potential items
• Incorrect HTML and fragile CSS now cleaned up
• Annotation text now automatically aligned with arrows (|disable-arrow-align=true to turn off)
• Box text now automatically centered (|disable-box-align=true to turn off)

Template function

This template provides an intuitive, user-friendly and flexible way to insert timelines into articles. It's designed to require the minimum number of variables, and to generate an HTML table.

Why use this template?

The alternative to this template is m:EasyTimeline, using the <template> syntax. EasyTimeline has the following weaknesses:

• Pixelated image produced, which looks different and increases page load time
• Long set-up time – taking 30 minutes plus even when you know what you are doing
• Impenetrable code requiring precise syntax
• Difficult to place bars exactly where you want them
• Changing minimum dates and sizes requires modification in many places
• Everything must be specified – nothing is automatic
• It is not scalable – it does not enlarge with text size.

Using the template

Where to use it

Whilst short timelines can be inserted directly into the article, some editors complain that long, complex timelines break up the flow of the page and make editing difficult. Therefore, you may want to use {{Include timeline}} to host the timeline code on a separate page, which will be automatically included.

Getting started

You can set the switch |help=on in the template to produce some quick pointers.
When you are getting started, you might want to use {{Graphical timeline|help=on}} to generate a ready-made, empty template – or type {{subst:Graphical timeline/blank}} into a sandbox page, save the page, and edit the resulting code. Hopefully, the parameter names are pretty self-explanatory.

What numbers mean

Numeric values are by default in units of em, that is, the height and width of a capital M.

The exception to this is the left and right parameters of a bar, which are set using fractional coordinates. That is to say, the code

|bar1-right=0.5 
|bar2-left=0.666
|bar3-left=0.5
|bar3-right=0.666

...will produce bar1 covering the left half of the area, bar2 covering the right-most third, and bar3 in between them. Further, for operational reasons, the height-units are always used to generate border widths.

Bar borders

Borders appear only on the top and bottom of any given bar. Unfortunately, this cannot be changed – to have a border at the top or bottom only of a bar, you should create a separate bar to overlay the end.

Border style can be set to the CSS standards of solid, dotted, dashed, double, groove, ridge, inset or outset. Width is in the same units as height, and if none is specified 0.1 to 0.2 is a suitable hairline value.

Blank parameters

Leaving a parameter blank is NOT the same as not specifying it – it will override the template's default value. Be sure to remove any lines you do not specify.

Geological periods

To draw a geological period, use the syntax |period3=Cenozoic, with |period3-left=0.1 as usual. The template will then calculate the beginning, end and correct color of the bar. For an example, see Template:Cenozoic graphical timeline (backlinks edit)

Considerations

Browsers

Unfortunately, different browsers have different ways of dealing with lines of text that overflow their container – some stretch the container whilst others wrap the text. This means it's probably worth checking your finished timeline in at least IE and Firefox if you are making a particularly complex timeline.

Colors

If you are setting colors using html values that look like #e0b539, do consider that some older monitors, and many projectors, cannot display some colours. Sticking to Web-safe colors ensures maximum compatibility, which is often appreciated; i.e. multiples of 33, e.g. #ff99cc or #03C.

Easy editing

If you create a timeline on a template page, do use the | link-to= parameter. Specify the page name without Template: (e.g. My graphical timeline for Template:My graphical timeline), and "view", "talk", "edit" links will appear.

Parameter list

The list may be long, but do not be daunted – you only need to use a couple, and the rest give you incredible flexibility!

Replace any instance of # with a number.

To and from are mandatory, all other parameters are optional.

Either spelling of colour/color is always acceptable.

General parameters

Timeline parameters

Parameter	Function	Default
from to	Bounds the start & end of the timeline. May be negative.	Required
instance-id	Differentiates this timeline from others that appear on the page	Sometimes required
title	Writes the title bar	No title
title-colour	Colours the title bar's background	No colour
plot-colour	Colours the background for the timeline space	No colour
unit	Defines the unit of (graphical) measurement	em
height-unit width-unit	Overrides either the height or width unit	<unit>
height width	Sizes the timeline container	36 10
disable-arrow-align	If true (or equivalent), enables text in notes to be nudged away from arrow	false
disable-box-align	If true (or equivalent), enables text in bars to be nudged away from center	false
collapsible	If true (or equivalent), enables infobox to be collapsed	false
state	state=expanded to force the box to the expanded state, or |state=collapsed to hide it.	expanded

Bars

Bars are sizable coloured rectangles with a text label in the middle.

Bar parameters are prefixed with bar#, where # is the bar's ID. The number doesn't imply any particular order, but it does have to be unique.

Bar parameters

Parameter	Function	Default
-colour (-color)	Sets the background colour	Required
-from -to	Positions the top & bottom edges along the timeline	Required
-left -right	Positions the left & right edges, as a fraction of the width (0.0 to 1.0)	0.0 1.0
-border-width -border-colour -border-style	Stylises the top & bottom borders, simultaneously; styles are solid dotted dashed double groove ridge inset outset	No border
-text	Writes the central label	No text
-font-size	Sizes the label	90%
-nudge-down -nudge-up -nudge-right -nudge-left	Nudges the label around (Units are in ems). Only enabled if |disable-box-align=1	0.0

Geological periods

Gets data to create a bar with default values for -colour, -from, -to, -text.

Period parameters are prefixed with period#, where # is the period's unique number.

Period parameters

Parameter	Function	Default
null	Names the geological division (e.g. period1=Phanerozoic)	Required
-colour (-color)	Overrides the division's colour	{{Period color|<period>}}
-text	Overrides the division's label	<period>
-from -to	Overrides the division's start & end times	-{{Period start|<period>}} -{{Period end|<period>}}
-left -right	Positions the left & right edges, as a fraction of the width (0.0 to 1.0)	0.0 1.0
-border-width -border-colour -border-style	Stylises the top & bottom borders, simultaneously; styles are solid dotted dashed double groove ridge inset outset	No border
-font-size	Sizes the central label	90%
-nudge-down -nudge-up -nudge-right -nudge-left	Nudges the label around (Units are in ems). Only enabled if |disable-box-align=1	0.0

Legend

Legend entries coordinate with bars (i.e. legend1 matches the colour of bar1, etc.).

Legend parameters

Parameter	Function	Default
null (-text)	Writes the entry's label (e.g. legend1=[[Phanerozoic]] eon	Required
-colour (-color)	Overrides the entry's colour	<bar#-colour>

Notes

Notes are annotations that show up to the right of the timeline with an arrow (←).

Note parameters are prefixed with note#, where # is the note's unique number.

Note/Annotation parameters

Parameter	Function	Default
null	Writes the note's content (e.g. note1=Cambrian explosion)	Required
-at	Positions the arrow & note text vertically along the timeline	Required
-remove-arrow (-no-arrow)	Removes the note's arrow, if true	0
-nudge-down -nudge-up -nudge-right -nudge-left	Nudges the note's text around (units are in ems) If arrow, then text is centered next to arrow unless |disable-arrow-align=1. Also, nudge left/right affects both arrow and text.	0.0
-size (-font-size)	Sizes the note's font	100%
-colour (-color)	Colours the note's font

In use: an example

The code on the left produces the timeline on the right. For another example, please see Ediacaran biota.

{{Graphical timeline

|title=Example Timeline
|align=right

|plot-colour=#bbeebb

|from=-550
|to=-500
|scale-increment=10

|width=10
|height=250
|height-unit=px

|legend1=[[Phanerozoic]]

|bar1-from=-542
|bar1-left=0
|bar1-right=0.1

|legend2=[[Precambrian]]

|bar2-to=-542
|bar2-left=0
|bar2-right=0.2


|legend3=[[Infracambrian]]
|legend3-colour=#e0aacc

|bar3-to=-534
|bar3-left=0.1
|bar3-right=0.2
|bar3-colour=#e0aacc

|<!-- If this were bar 4, it would be overlapped by the Botomian bar -->
|bar14-from=-530
|bar14-to=-520
|bar14-left=0.95
|bar14-right=1.05
|bar14-colour=red
|legend14=Cambrian explosion

|<!--Epochs & stages-->
|bar5-text=[[Ediacaran]]
|bar5-to=-540
|bar5-left=0.2
|bar5-border-width=1
|bar5-border-colour= #996666
|bar5-colour=#cc9999

|bar6-text=[[Nemakit-Daldynian]]
|bar6-from=-542
|bar6-to=-534
|bar6-left=0.2
|bar6-border-width=0.1
|bar6-colour=#99cc99

|bar7-text=[[Tommotian]]
|bar7-from=-534
|bar7-to=-530
|bar7-left=0.1
|bar7-colour=#99cc99
|bar7-border-width=0.1

|bar8-from=-530.1
|bar8-to=-529.9
|bar8-left=0.2
|bar8-colour=black

|bar9-text=[[Atdabanian]]
|bar9-from=-530
|bar9-to=-524
|bar9-left=0.1
|bar9-right=0.95
|bar9-colour=#99cc99

|bar10-text=[[Botomian]]
|bar10-from=-524
|bar10-to=-518
|bar10-left=0.1
|bar10-colour=#99cc99
|bar10-border-width=0.1

|bar11-text=[[Toyonian]]
|bar11-from=-518
|bar11-to=-513
|bar11-left=0.1
|bar11-border-width=0.1
|bar11-colour=#99cc99


|note1=Base of the Cambrian
|note1-at=-542
|note1-colour=green

|note2=[[Middle Cambrian]]
|note2-nudge-left=8.5
|note2-nudge-down=0
|note2-at=-507
|note2-remove-arrow=yes

|caption=An approximate time-scale of events<br>at the base of the [[Cambrian]] [[Period (geology){{!}}Period]].
<br>Axis scale is in millions of years ago.
}}

Notes on the example

• {{!}} must be used wherever you want a | to appear (e.g. the caption)
• If you do not specify when a bar should start or end, it will continue to the edge of the plot
• Text should not be too long for the bar
• The way that overflowing text wraps is also handled differently in different browsers – it pokes out of the right of the bar on Firefox, but is wrapped within it by IE. Try to manually enter newlines when required rather than relying on browsers to sort it out. Or position a note over the bar – check out note2, which is nudged left over the plot background.

Blank template to copy

{{Graphical timeline
 |<!--you MUST remove any lines you don't need-->

 | help=off
 | link-to={{subst:PAGENAMEE}}
   <!--use that^ line if the timeline's on a 
   page of its own, so it can be edited easily-->
 | embedded={{{embedded|}}} 
   <!--Leave if might be used in table-->

 | from=REQUIRED
 | to=REQUIRED
 | scale-increment=
 
 | align=
 | margin=
 | width=
 | annotations-width=<!--defines space for notes right to the timelines width-->
 | width-unit=
 | height=
 | height-unit=
 | unit=<!--overridden by: width-unit or height-unit-->

 | title=
 | title-colour=
 | plot-colour=

<!-- replace # with 1, 2, 3 etc.-->

 | bar#-from=
 | bar#-to=
 | bar#-left=<!--0 is the far left of the timeline, 1 the far right.-->
 | bar#-right=
 | bar#-colour=
 | bar#-border-width=<!--in the same units as height-->
 | bar#-border-colour=
 | bar#-text=
 | bar#-nudge-left=
 | bar#-nudge-right=<!--overrides nudge-left-->
 | bar#-nudge-up=
 | bar#-nudge-down=<!--overrides nudge-up-->

 | legend#=
 | legend#-colour=<!-- defaults to bar#-colour-->

 | note#=
 | note#-nudge-down=<!--overrides nudge-up-->
 | note#-nudge-up=
 | note#-nudge-left=
 | note#-nudge-right=<!--overrides nudge-left-->
 | note#-remove-arrow=yes
 | note#-size=<!--Default value is 90%-->
 | note#-colour=

 | caption=

}}