Timeline
The Timeline shows entries on a timeline — with a start and end date, grouped into rows.
Suited for: project planning, booking schedules, resource overviews, staff scheduling.
Plan-dependent
The Timeline isn't available on all plans. The notice in the interface reads Upgrade to Pro to add Timeline views. → Change plan
Requirements
The Timeline is the only view configured across two Grids. That makes it more powerful, but also more involved to set up than any other view.
The design is intentional
A timeline needs rows and bars — and those are two different things: rooms and bookings, staff and assignments, machines and orders. A single Grid couldn't express that.
So plan your data model with two Grids from the start if you need a Timeline.
Two conditions must be met
1. A field of type Link multiple records in the Grid the view sits on.
To see a Timeline, your Grid needs a column of type multiple link.
2. Date fields in the linked Grid — that's where start and end live.
The referenced Grid has no date or date-time fields.
Where "multiple link" comes from
The message uses the term multiple link. That refers to the column type otherwise called Link multiple records everywhere else. → Linking Grids
The structure
An example for a booking schedule:
Grid "Rooms" Grid "Bookings"
├── Name ├── Title
└── Bookings ←─────────────────┤ Room
(Link multiple ├── From (Date)
records) └── To (Date)The Timeline sits on "Rooms":
- Each room becomes a row of the timeline.
- The linked Bookings appear as bars within it.
- Their start and end date determine position and length.
The mental model
The Grid the Timeline sits on provides the rows, the linked Grid provides the bars.
So build your data model from this question: What should be stacked, row by row? Rooms, staff, machines, projects — that's the Grid the view sits on.
Setting it up
- Create both Grids and link them via Link multiple records.
- Make sure the linked Grid has date fields for start and end.
- Under the first Grid, choose Create view → Timeline.
- Open Timeline and configure:
The dialog is called Configure Timeline:
Choose a reference field and date fields to create the Timeline.
| Setting | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Reference field | The link column the bars come from |
| Start date | Date field in the linked Grid |
| End date | Date field in the linked Grid |
Save with Save. If the link is missing, ApptiveGrid offers Add reference field.
Working in the timeline
| Element | |
|---|---|
| Time grid | Day, Week, Month, Year |
| Today | Jumps to the current date |
| Row | Header of the row column |
Entries without a title appear as Untitled.
Which grid for which planning horizon
- Day for day-level planning with times
- Week for operational scheduling
- Month for project phases
- Year for annual planning and utilization
The year grid has no equivalent in any other view — for that, the Timeline is the only tool.
Timeline or Calendar?
Both display time, but solve different problems:
| Calendar | Timeline | |
|---|---|---|
| Basis | one date field in the same Grid | a link plus two date fields in the target Grid |
| Structure | one Grid | two Grids |
| Display | calendar sheet | timeline with rows |
| Grid | Day, Week, Month | Day, Week, Month, Year |
| Strength | appointments | utilization and overlaps |
| Plan | all plans | plan-dependent |
When the extra effort pays off
If you just want to see appointments, use the Calendar — it's set up in a minute.
The Timeline pays off when you want to compare overlapping bookings: which room is free? Which machine is overbooked? Who has capacity when? That's exactly what a calendar doesn't show.
When nothing appears
| Symptom | Cause |
|---|---|
| To see a Timeline, your Grid needs a column of type multiple link. | No column of type Link multiple records exists |
| The referenced Grid has no date or date-time fields. | Date fields are missing in the target Grid |
| Rows without bars | The entries have no link, or their date fields are empty |
| Bars in the wrong place | Start and end date swapped |
| Can't create the view | Check your plan |
Finding data gaps
A filter From is empty in the linked Grid shows all entries that can't appear on the Timeline. → Filtering, Sorting, Grouping