Constructing a timeline

[SteveK]

I'm using pp2003.

I want to construct a timeline that has tick marks that will relate to days
or weeks or months....

Let's say I have 155 days before the start of an event and but I have
milestones leading to that event. How can I make a scaled timeline that
equates to actual calendar dates?

Any templates existing for that?

 

[tohlz]

Try the templates at Office Online.
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/default.aspx

Here's an example of my search result:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/results.aspx?Scope=TC&Query=timeline

 

[Echo S]

Maybe create a chart (Insert/Chart) and set the X-axis numbers to Date. You
might also need to select "category" or "time scale" in Chart/Chart Options.

The axis would give you a scaled timeline. You could even use it as a guide
to draw your own.

 

[Bill Dilworth]

One way, although a bit time consuming, would be to...

1) Create a blank new slide.
2) make a hash mark size line (approx. 1/4 inch and 1/2 point )
3) Copy it and paste it so you have 10 of them
4) copy all 10 and paste them 15 times,
5) then pick 5 unlucky ones and delete them (net 155 hashes in a mess on
your slide)
6) Select them all (Ctl+A)
7) Select Draw => Align or Distribute => Align top (they all should be at
the same height now)
8) Select one hash mark (do not drag your mouse over the hashes to select
them but click on one) and move it to the left side of the slide
9) Select one hash mark (same as above) and drag it to the right side of the
slide
10) Select Draw => Align or Distribute => horizontally
11) You may want to repeat steps 6 & 7
12) Draw a line underneath or thru the hashes
Optional step 12.5) Select every 10th or 20th hash and change the line
weight or length to indicate decades/weeks/whatever
13) Select all the objects on the slide (Ctl + A)
14) Group them together (Ctl+Shift+G)
15) Copy and paste the group object to where you need it.

--
Bill Dilworth
A proud member of the Microsoft PPT MVP Team
Users helping fellow users.
http://billdilworth.mvps.org
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..

 

[SteveK]

Thanks Bill, that's exactly what I did, and it's why I posted the question.
There should be a "wizard" for this... How days in the project, etc...

Cheers

 

[Kathy Jacobs]

Steve,
Can I offer a usability idea? What if, instead of putting all 155 days on
one slide, you made a set of slides? On the first slide, put the high level
timeline items (kind of a summary slide for your timeline). Then, on
subsequent slides, put the details for each high level item. Once the
detailed slides are made, use Slide Show--> Custom Show to create one custom
show for each detail slide. Finally, on the summary slide, link the names
and/or the timeline clicks for each item to the custom show with its
details. When you create the links, be sure to select "Show and return".

This gives you a very viewable timeline. It also makes updating easier, as
you don't have to worry about squishing things into the small space.

Just my two cents, take or leave as desired.....

--
Kathryn Jacobs, Microsoft MVP PowerPoint and OneNote
Author of Kathy Jacobs on PowerPoint - Available now from Holy Macro! Books
Get PowerPoint answers at http://www.powerpointanswers.com

I believe life is meant to be lived. But:
if we live without making a difference, it makes no difference that we lived