The Timeline View in SmartSuite offers a dynamic and interactive way to visualize work streams and schedules over a custom period. This view is ideal for managing projects, planning schedules, and getting a "big picture" overview of work across multiple streams.
Plan Availability | All plan types |
Permissions | Solution Creators - Can configure and manage Timeline Views. |
Related Reading |
The Report Toolbar Introduction outlines the primary controls for modifying views and provides links to dive deeper into each control's functionality. Timeline View has all of the Report Toolbar controls, except the Fields to Display option is replaced with a "By Date" control.
Key Features
Why Use Timeline View?
Timeline View is perfect for:
Visualizing work over durations or distinct start and end dates.
Helping team leads, project managers, and executives track progress.
Providing a high-level overview of multiple work streams.
Date Fields in Timeline View
Recognizes all date fields (e.g., Date, Due Date, Date Range) within records.
Date Ranges and Due Date fields can contain a Start and End Date within the field. When selecting a Date Range or Due Date, there is only one date field to select.
Since Date fields contains one date value, Timeline view allows you to select from other Date fields in the table to add as an End Date.
Displays records on a timeline, color-coded by their associated date field.
Working with Timeline View
Creating a Timeline View
Select "Timeline" from the view dropdown.
Use the "By Date" control in the Report Toolbar to choose the relevant date field.
Adjust the default date field and color as needed.
Interactive Features
Record Listing Panel:
Displays all records in the Table, even if they lack a date field.
Hover over a record to reveal the "Show in Timeline" option.
Click on a record to open and edit it directly.
Drag & Drop:
Drag records from the Listing Panel to the timeline to update their dates automatically.
Customizing the Timeline
The Timeline View provides extensive customization options to fit your needs:
Full Report Toolbar Controls:
All controls, except for Fields to Display and Row/Card Size, are available.
Customize your view with Sort, Filter, Group, Spotlight, and Find options.
Gantt-Like Grouping:
Group records by attributes such as team, campaign, or sprint to create a Gantt-style view.
This is particularly helpful for:
Viewing project tasks by team.
Tracking marketing campaigns across social media channels.
Monitoring product feature development in sprints.
Linked Display Modifications:
Changes made using Sort, Filter, or Group affect both the timeline display and the Record Listing Panel.
Highlight specific records using Spotlight to make important dates stand out.
Timeline Navigation:
Easily switch between Today, Hours, Days, Weeks, or Months by clicking on the timeline header.
Choose the time scale that aligns with your work:
Hours: Ideal for packed schedules with multi-day events.
Weeks: Perfect for long-term projects like home renovations.
These configurations are saved automatically within saved views created by Solution Managers.
Quick Access to Records:
Click on any item in the timeline to open its record, make updates, and return seamlessly to the timeline. No backend updates are required—everything happens directly in the Timeline View.
Examples of Uses
1. Due Diligence
Scenario: A legal team manages deadlines for contract reviews and approvals. Solution: Use Timeline View to track critical dates and ensure tasks are completed on schedule.
2. Software Release Schedule
Scenario: A development team plans feature rollouts and bug fixes.
Solution: Organize sprints and release dates visually to manage overlapping tasks and milestones.
3. Marketing Campaigns
Scenario: A marketing team coordinates campaigns across multiple channels.
Solution: Use Timeline View to plan and monitor campaign durations and align efforts.
4. Construction Projects
Scenario: A construction manager oversees timelines for different phases of a project.
Solution: View start and end dates for various tasks like groundwork, framing, and finishing.
5. Department Team Schedules
Scenario: A team lead tracks team members' availability and task assignments.
Solution: Use Timeline View to ensure even workload distribution and effective scheduling.