Customizing Events in the Flag Chart

To access the customization features available for the events on the Flag Chart, select one or more events in your timeline chart. This will open the Flag, Format tab. In this tab, you can access all of the customization features, including choosing the font for both the header and body, along with its size, formatting and color, the amount of information to be displayed, text position, and date display. You can also customize the flag shape with its fill, outline, and effects. As you select customization options, the events will automatically update with your preferences.

*Tip: In the Flag Chart, events are placed in boxes, connected to the timescale by either single or double arrows. These boxes are divided into two sections: the header and the body. The header is the top section and typically contains the date and time data. The body is the bottom section, and usually displays the remaining selected information, such as event name, place, etc.

In this article

• Customizing the font
• Choosing content
• Selecting the flag shape and fill
• Formatting the outline
• Choosing effects
• Customizing the date and time display
  

Customizing the font

To customize the header font:

1. While viewing the Flag Chart, select one or more events. This will open the Flag, Format tab.
2. In the Header Text group, change the font settings as desired.
   

To customize the body font:

1. While viewing the Flag Chart, select one or more events. This will open the Flag, Format tab.
2. In the Body Text group, change the font settings as desired.
   

Choosing content

To select information to be displayed on events:

1. While viewing the Flag Chart, select one or more events. This will open the Flag, Format tab.
2. In the Header Text group, click the Show button and select the information to be displayed on the event(s). Options include Start, End and Duration.
3. In the Body Text group, click the Show button and select the information to be displayed on the event(s). All columns in the Timeline Data tab are available for selection, except for Start, End and Duration.
   OR
   Right-click on the event, select Show Fields in Header or Show Fields in Body and choose the desired information to be displayed.
   

Tip: You can edit event data in the Timeline Data tab, or by double clicking on the event to open the Edit dialog. Make the desired changes and click the OK button. Event data will be modified for the entire timeline file.

Selecting the flag shape and fill

To change the flag shape:

1. While viewing the Flag Chart, select one or more events. This will open the Flag, Format tab.
2. In the Shape group, click on the desired shape.
   

The majority of flag shapes divide the header and body within the flag, displaying them with their own outline and a different color within the flags. These can be edited individually, using the instructions below. However, if you choose to use the solid flag shape, both the header and body information will be displayed in the flag with no dividing outlines or colors. In this case, the flag can be edited using the Fill options from either the Header Text group or the Body Text group.

To select a single color for the flag header fill:

1. While viewing the Flag Chart, select one or more events. This will open the Flag, Format tab.
2. In the Header Text group, click the Fill button.
3. Choose a color from either the Theme Colors (drawn from the theme currently in use), Standard Colors, or click More Colors to choose a custom color.
   

To use a gradient for the flag header fill:

1. While viewing the Flag Chart, select one or more events. This will open the Flag, Format tab.
2. In the Header Text group, click the Fill button and select Gradient.
3. At the top of the Gradient dialog, select the two colors you wish to use.
4. Select a gradient style, then click OK.
   

To select a single color for the flag body fill:

1. While viewing the Flag Chart, select one or more events. This will open the Flag, Format tab.
2. In the Body Text group, click the Fill button.
3. Choose a color from either the Theme Colors (drawn from the theme currently in use), Standard Colors, or click More Colors to choose a custom color.
   

To use a gradient for the flag body fill:

1. While viewing the Flag Chart, select one or more events. This will open the Flag, Format tab.
2. In the Body Text group, click the Fill button and select Gradient.
3. At the top of the Gradient dialog, select the two colors you wish to use.
4. Select a gradient style, then click OK.
   

To use a picture for the flag body fill:

1. While viewing the Flag Chart, select one or more events. This will open the Flag, Format tab.
2. In the Body Text group, click the Fill button and select Picture.
3. In the Picture dialog, choose one of the graphics included with Timeline Maker Pro, or click the Browse button to browse to and select a picture from your own collection.
4. Select the down arrow at the top of the dialog box to choose how the picture will be displayed. Options include: Maintain Aspect, Stretch, or Tile.
5. If you wish, select Watermark to lighten the picture to a watermark.
6. Click the OK button.
   

Formatting the outline

To customize the flag outline:

1. While viewing the Flag Chart, select one or more events. This will open the Flag, Format tab.
2. In the Shape group, click the down arrow beside Shape Outline.
3. Select the Color, Size and Style as desired.
   

Choosing effects

To customize the flag effects:

1. While viewing the Flag Chart, select one or more events. This will open the Flag, Format tab.
2. In the Shape group, click the* down arrow* beside Shape Effects.
3. Click Shadow and select the desired options.
   

Customizing the date and time display

To show the date and time on events:

1. While viewing the timeline chart, select the event(s) for which you want to show dates/times.
2. In the Flag, Format tab, in the Header Text group, click the Show Fields button.
3. Select Start and/or End. A checkmark indicates the data will be included on events.
   

Dates/Times will now be displayed on all selected events.

To customize how calendar dates are displayed in the timeline chart:

1. While viewing the chart, select the Chart tab.
2. In the Date Display group, click the Date Format button.
3. Select the desired display style in the Date section of the drop down menu. A checkmark indicates the style in use.
   

Tip: You can also choose to display dates as numeric labels, relative to the time span of the date of the first event on the timeline chart. To do this, select Chart > Date Display > Numeric Labels. A checkmark indicates Numeric Labels are in use.

To customize how time is displayed in the timeline chart:

1. While viewing the chart, select the Chart tab.
2. In the Date Display group, click the Date Format button.
3. Select the desired display style in the Time section of the drop down menu.
   

Tip: If you have dates and times listed for your events but only wish to show times or vice versa, in the Date Format list in the Timeline tab, select either No Date to show only the time, or No Time to show only the date, according to your preference.

Note: For more information on customizing dates in your timeline chart, see also: Customizing Date & Time Display.