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If you want to create a graphical representation of a sequence of events, such as the milestones in a project or the main events of a person's life, you can use a SmartArt graphic timeline. After you create the timeline, you can add more dates, move dates, change layouts and colors, and apply different styles.

Basic Timeline Example

Create a timeline

  1. On the Insert tab, click SmartArt.

    Click SmartArt

  2. In the Choose a SmartArt Graphic gallery, click Process, and then double-click a timeline layout.

    Tip: There are two timeline SmartArt graphics: Basic timeline and Circle Accent Timeline, but you can also use almost any process-related SmartArt graphic.

    SmartArt Graphic timelines

  3. Click [Text], and then type or paste your text in the SmartArt graphic.

    Note: You can also open the Text Pane and type your text there. If you do not see the Text Pane, on the SmartArt ToolsDesign tab, click Text Pane.

  1. Click a shape in the timeline.

    Click the last date point

  2. On the SmartArt ToolsDesign tab, do one of the following:

    • To add an earlier date, click Add Shape, and then click Add Shape Before.

    • To add a later date, click Add Shape, and then click Add Shape After.

      On the Design tab, click Add Shape.

  3. In the new date box, type the date that you want.

  1. On the timeline, click the date you want to move.

    Select the timeline date

  2. On the SmartArt ToolsDesign tab, do one of the following:

    • To move a date sooner than the selected date, click Move Up.

  3. To move a date later than the selected date, click Move Down.

Move date up or down

  1. Click the SmartArt graphic timeline.

  2. On the SmartArt ToolsDesign tab, in the Layouts group, click More More button .Click to see more layouts

    Note: To view only the timeline and process-related layouts, at the bottom of the layouts list, click More Layouts, and then click Process.

  3. Pick a timeline or process-related SmartArt graphic, like the following:

    • To show progression in a timeline, click Accent Process.

      Accent Process

    • To create a timeline with pictures or photos, click Continuous Picture List. The circular shapes are designed to contain pictures.

      Continuous Picture List

  1. Click the SmartArt graphic timeline.

  2. On the SmartArt ToolsDesign tab, click Change Colors.

    Change colors of your timeline

    Note: If you don't see the SmartArt ToolsDesign tab, make sure you’ve selected the timeline.

  3. Click the color combination that you want.

Tip: Place your pointer over any combination to see a preview of how the colors look in your timeline.

A SmartArt style applies a combination of effects, such as line style, bevel, or 3-D perspective, in one click, to give your timeline a professionally polished look.

  1. Click the timeline.

  2. On the SmartArt ToolsDesign tab, click the style you want.

    Choose a new style

    Tip: For more styles, click More More button, in the lower right corner of the Styles box.

See also

Create a timeline

When you want to show a sequence of events, such as project milestones or events, you can use a SmartArt graphic timeline. After you create the timeline, you can add events, move events, change layouts and colors, and apply different styles.

Sample timeline graphic
  1. On the Insert tab, click SmartArt > Process.

    Insert Smart Art on the Insert tab
  2. Click Basic Timeline or one of the other process-related graphics.

    Insert a basic timeline
  3. Click the [Text] placeholders and enter the details of your events.

    Tip: You can also open the Text Pane and enter your text there. On the SmartArt Design tab, click Text Pane.

  1. Click a shape in the timeline.

    click a shape in the timeline
  2. On the SmartArt Design tab, click Add Shape, and then click Add Shape Before or Add Shape After.

    add a shape before or after
  3. Enter the text you want.

  1. On the timeline, click the text of the event you want to move.

    click the event text to move it earlier or later
  2. On the SmartArt Design tab, click Move Up (left), or Move Down (right).

    choose the move up or move down commands

  1. Click the timeline.

  2. On the SmartArt Design tab, point to the layout panel and click the down arrow.

    Choosing a new layout for timeline
  3. Pick a timeline or process-related SmartArt graphic, like the following:

    • To show progression in a timeline, click Accent Process.

      Accent process example
    • To create a timeline with pictures or photos, click Continuous Picture List. The circular shapes are designed to contain pictures.

      Continuous pictures list example

  1. Click the timeline.

  2. On the SmartArt Design tab, click Change Colors, and then click the color combination you want.

    chage the color scheme of the timeline

Give your timeline a professional look by using a SmartArt style to apply a combination of effects, such as line style, bevel, or 3-D perspective.

  1. Click the timeline.

  2. On the SmartArt Design tab, click the style you want.

    Apply a style to the smart art timeline

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