The editor of Downcodes has compiled eight excellent software for making timelines. Each of them has its own merits and meets the needs of different users. From powerful professional software to convenient online tools to commonly used office software, they can help you easily create a beautiful and intuitive timeline to clearly show the event development process or project progress. The following will introduce the characteristics and usage of each software in detail, hoping to help you find the tool that best suits you.
Work software with timelines includes: 1. Timeline Maker Pro; 2. Microsoft PowerPoint; 3. TimelineJS; 4. Excel; 5. Google Sheets; 6. Adobe Illustrator; 7. GanttProject; 8. Prezi. Timeline Maker Pro is a powerful, easy-to-use timeline creation software that provides a variety of templates and styles to allow users to better create intuitive and easy-to-understand timelines.
Timeline Maker Pro is a professional timeline creation software that provides a variety of timeline templates and styles. Users can choose the appropriate template according to their own needs to better create timelines and display the development process of events. In addition to multiple templates and styles, Timeline Maker Pro offers additional features and tools such as:
Event management: Users can add event nodes in the timeline and add corresponding text, graphics, etc. to each node to better display the development process and trends of events. Timeline adjustment: Users can adjust the style, layout, size and other parameters of the timeline according to their own needs to better display the development process of events. Import data: Users can import data from Excel, Project, Google Calendar and other software to create timelines faster. Export Timeline: Users can export Timeline to image, PDF, Word and other formats to better share and communicate with others.Microsoft PowerPoint is a powerful presentation software. In addition to basic slide production functions, it also provides rich features, including a timeline function. The timeline allows users to visually present the progress of time and the sequence of events, making presentations more vivid. In PowerPoint, you can use a timeline to display historical events, project progress, product development processes, and more. You can customize the style and settings of your timeline as needed to meet different needs.
TimelineJS is an excellent online timeline creation tool that supports the addition of multiple media types, such as pictures, videos, audio, etc. Users can freely set the start and end time, step size, interval, style, etc. of the timeline. TimelineJS also supports multi-language display to meet the needs of users in different languages. It is very simple to create a timeline using TimelineJS. You only need to upload the data file and the timeline will be automatically generated. At the same time, TimelineJS also provides a rich API interface that can be integrated with other applications to further expand its functions and application scope.
Excel is a powerful spreadsheet software. Although it does not have a native timeline function, users can create a timeline by customizing formats and formulas. Users can create a column of date data, then set the cell format to date format, and Excel will display the data as a timeline. Users can calculate the start and end time, step size, interval, etc. of the timeline through formulas, making the timeline more flexible and customized.
For example, users can calculate the step size of the timeline through the following formula:
=(end date-start date)/(number of steps-1)
Among them, the start date and end date are the start and end times of the timeline respectively, and the number of steps is the number of ticks on the timeline. Users can adjust these parameters according to their own needs to meet different timeline needs.
Google Sheets is a powerful cloud spreadsheet software that provides a timeline function. Users can add a timeline to the spreadsheet to display events or progress. Users can create a column of date data in Google Sheets, then select this column of data, click the "Data" option on the menu bar, select "Create Chart", and select the "Timeline" chart type in the pop-up window to create a Timeline chart.
When creating a timeline chart, users can adjust the start time, end time, step size, style, etc. of the timeline according to their own needs to make the timeline more in line with their own requirements. In addition, users can also add events or progress, such as tasks, milestones, events, etc., to the timeline chart to better display data and trends.
Adobe Illustrator is a powerful vector drawing software that provides a timeline function. Users can add a timeline to the canvas to create animations or show the development of events. When making animations, users can add different vector graphics to each key frame to achieve graphic motion effects. For example, in one keyframe, the user can add a square, and then in another keyframe, move the square to another position to achieve the movement effect of the square. Users can adjust the time and position of keyframes in the timeline to achieve more complex animation effects.
When displaying the development process of events, users can add event nodes in the timeline and add corresponding text, graphics, etc. to each node to better display the development process and trends of events.
GanttProject is a free project management software that provides Gantt chart and timeline functions so users can better track project progress. In GanttProject, users can view different time ranges and time granularities by dragging the slider on the timeline or zooming the timeline to better understand the project's progress and task allocation. At the same time, users can also better manage projects and tasks by selecting key dates or events on the timeline.
Prezi is a popular cloud-based presentation software that offers a wealth of features, including timeline functionality. Unlike traditional slideshows, Prezi's timeline is interactive, allowing users to more vividly display the development of events. You can create a customized timeline in Prezi and add various elements (such as pictures, videos, text, etc.) to display the content you want to present. By using the timeline feature, your audience can gain a deeper understanding of how events unfolded, allowing them to better understand your presentation.
Extended reading 1: What are the types of timelines?
According to different layout methods, the timeline chart can be divided into horizontal timeline, vertical timeline and S-shaped timeline. The following is a detailed introduction:
1. Horizontal timeline
As the name suggests, the horizontal timeline is laid out horizontally. Arrange times and events from left to right. If you continuously add and subtract secondary themes in the canvas, the timeline will continue to extend from left to right. The horizontal timeline is concise and clear, and is a very common timeline. It is often used to describe the development and production process and some website display development processes.
2. Vertical Time Axis
The layout of the vertical timeline is exactly opposite to that of the horizontal timeline. The horizontal timeline is laid out from left to right, while the vertical timeline is laid out from top to bottom. The time points from top/bottom are The beginning records events that occur at different times. The vertical timeline is mainly used to describe the development process of an enterprise or the iterative update history of software versions, etc., and visually display the development process through time points and events.
3. S-shaped timeline
The S-shaped timeline combines the above two types of timelines, with a horizontal layout and a vertical layout, making the timeline appear more compactly on the canvas, not only clarifying the time points but also facilitating large-area reading. The S-shaped timeline first continues from left to right, and then rotates and extends in a curved form, repeatedly achieving the final desired effect.
The above three types of timelines can be used in different fields. They can display the time process in an intuitive way, helping people better manage time, remember time sequence, assist decision-making, and educate and demonstrate.
I hope the above content can help you better choose and use timeline creation software! The editor of Downcodes looks forward to your feedback!