Customizing the Legend

To access the customization features available for the legend, click on the legend in your timeline chart. This will open the Legend, Format tab. In this tab you can assign category colors, choose the font, along with its size, formatting, and color, as well as select the legend shape with its fill, outline and effects. As you select customization options, the legend will automatically update with your preferences.

In this article

• Assigning category colors
• Customizing the font
• Selecting the legend shape and fill
• Formatting the outline
• Choosing effects
  

Assigning category colors

Timeline Maker Pro automatically assigns colors to your categories based on the theme in use on your timeline chart. If you wish to change the category color, including the color of all events associated with the category, you can do so quickly and easily using the Category Colors button.

To assign new category colors:

1. While viewing the timeline chart, select the Chart tab, or click on the legend. This will open the Legend, Format tab.
2. In the Chart group, click the Category Colors button.
3. Click on the category you wish to modify, then 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.
   

The legend and all events associated with the category will now be updated with your new color choice.

_Note: When you save a theme with custom category names and colors, the category names and their associated colors are saved with the theme. This means that the colors you have chosen for specific category names will be used if you apply the same theme to a new timeline chart with the same category names, even if you are using a separate file. For more information on saving themes, see Creating, Importing and Deleting Themes

Customizing the font

To customize the legend font:

1. Click on the legend. This will open the Legend, Format tab
2. In the Text group, change the font settings as desired.
   

Selecting the legend shape and fill

To change the legend shape:

1. Click on the legend. This will open the Legend, Format tab.
2. In the Shape group, click on the desired shape.
   

To select a single color for the legend shape fill:

1. Click on the legend. This will open the Legend, Format tab.
2. In the Shape group, click the down arrow beside Shape Fill.
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 legend shape fill:

1. Click on the legend. This will open the Legend, Format tab.
2. In the Shape group, click the down arrow beside Shape Fill, 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 legend shape fill:

1. Click on the legend. This will open the Legend, Format tab.
2. In the Shape group, click the down arrow beside Shape Fill, 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.
   

Tip: If you wish to leave the legend shape fill blank, select No Fill in the Shape Fill drop down list.

Formatting the outline

To customize the legend shape outline:

1. Click on the legend. This will open the Legend, 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 legend shape effects:
1. Click on the legend. This will open the Legend, Format tab.
2. In the Shape group, click the down arrow beside Shape Effects.
3. Click Bevel or Shadow and select the desired options.