General Diagrams
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      Timeline Diagram

      Innoslate's Timeline Diagram is used to visualize the linear order of actions and milestones within a window of time.

      Using Timeline Diagrams

      Function Description
      Creating Timeline Diagrams Using ‘Diagrams Dashboard’ in Innoslate, you can create a new ‘Timeline Diagram.’
      Viewing Timeline Diagrams You can ‘View a Timeline Diagram’ of any new or existing entity of the Action class via the ‘Open’ drop-down menu, where available.
      Adding an Entity An entity can be added to a ‘Timeline Diagram’ via drag-and-drop.
      Removing an Entity An entity can be easily removed from a ‘Timeline Diagram.’
      Customization The ‘Timeline Diagram’ can easily be customized functionally and visually.

       

      TimelineDiagram-2048x1037

       

      The ‘Timeline Diagram’ is used to visualize the linear order of actions and milestones within a window of time. This diagram is capable of displaying up to three levels of decomposition of actions (or action subclasses).

      The ‘Timeline Diagram’ is not composed of special diagram constructs. In fact, a ‘Timeline Diagram’ can be generated by Innoslate on the fly based on the current contents of your project’s database. The ‘Timeline Diagram’ is built using entities in the database of the ‘Action’ class. The actions display as timeline event blocks within the timescale grid.

      Creating Timeline Diagrams

      Within the ‘Diagrams Dashboard,’ users can create a new diagram by clicking the ‘ New Diagram’ button in the top right corner of the page.

      chrome_7SxmHr5V15-1

       

      Clicking the ‘New Diagram’ button will open the New Diagram dialog where you will be directed through the process of creating a new diagram.

      Create a Timeline Diagram

      1. Choose Which Type of Diagram to Create

        In step 1, select ‘Timeline Diagram,’ under ‘General,’ as your diagram type.

                                 ChooseCreateTimeline

         

        Click the ‘Next’ button.

                                        ChooseCreateTimelineNext

      2. Specify New Root Action Information

        In step 2, you will be prompted to input a diagram ‘Name,’ ‘Number’ (optional), and ‘Description’ (optional). Then, click the ‘Finish’ button to save and automatically open your new Timeline Diagram.

                                      CreateTimeline
       

      Viewing Timeline Diagrams

      In Innoslate, you can view a ‘Timeline Diagram’ from wherever the ‘Open’ drop-down menu is available on the toolbar (Entity View, Database View, within a Diagram).

      View a Timeline Diagram

      1. Locate and click the ‘Open’ drop-down menu in the toolbar. Select ‘Timeline Diagram.’

        OpenTimeline

      2. This will navigate you to view a ‘Timeline Diagram,’ where you can begin adding and removing entities. Click the ‘Save’ button located on the toolbar to persist your changes to your project’s database.

        SaveTimeline
       

      Adding an Entity

      An entity can be added to a ‘Timeline Diagram’ via drag-and-drop.

      Adding a Timeline Action

      1. Within a ‘Timeline Diagram,’ ensure you do not currently have an ‘Action’ selected, and click the ‘Timeline’ icon in the ‘New’ tab of the left sidebar and continue to hold down the left mouse button.

        HoverTimeline

      2. Drag the ‘Action’ timeline block over to the adjacent diagram canvas. Release the left mouse button while over the diagram canvas to the desired start time to drop the new ‘Timeline’ Action and add it to the diagram.

        Notice the ‘Timeline’ Action stays selected once it has been dropped. Since it is selected, the toolbar changes to include buttons for functions that can be used on the construct. The sidebar also changes to show the ‘Metadata,’ ‘Attributes’ and ‘Relationships’ tabs.

        AddTimeline

      3. Enter a meaningful name for your new ‘Timeline’ Action via the ‘Attributes’ tab of the left sidebar (focused automatically for convenience).

        MeaningfulNameTimeline

      4. You can easily change an Action’s Duration by clicking the Action shape and then clicking and dragging the blue circle on the right side of the Action.

        ChangeTimelineDuration

      5. Click the ‘Save’ button located on the toolbar to persist your changes to your project’s database.

        SaveTimelineDiagram

      Adding a Milestone

      1. Within a ‘Timeline Diagram,’ ensure you do not currently have an ‘Action’ selected, and click the ‘Milestone’ diamond icon in the ‘New’ tab of the left sidebar and continue to hold down the left mouse button.
      2. Drag the ‘Milestone’ diamond over to the adjacent diagram canvas.
      3. Release the left mouse button while over the diagram canvas to the desired start time to drop the new ‘Milestone’ diamond and add it to the diagram.

        Notice the ‘Timeline’ Action stays selected once it has been dropped. Since it is selected, the toolbar changes to include buttons for functions that can be used on the construct. The sidebar also changes to show the ‘Metadata,’ ‘Attributes’ and ‘Relationships’ tabs.

      4. Enter a meaningful name for your new ‘Milestone’ via the ‘Attributes’ tab of the left sidebar (focused automatically for convenience).
      5. Click the ‘Save’ button located on the toolbar to persist your changes to your project’s database.

      * Note: The above process describes using the ‘New’ tab of the left sidebar, which automatically generates a new entity to represent each new block. If you would like to reuse existing entities from your database in your diagram, use the ‘Existing’ tab instead.

      Removing an Entity

       timeline_removing

      An entity can be easily removed from a ‘Timeline Diagram.’

      1. Within a ‘Timeline Diagram,’ select the entity you wish to remove. This will make the toolbar appear with applicable functions which can be used on the selected entity.
      2. Click the  ‘Remove’ button to remove the entity from the diagram (as the default action).

        * Note: The  ‘Remove’ button also includes a drop-down menu where you can select ‘Delete from Database’ or the default option of ‘Remove from Diagram.’

      Customization

      Customize Timescale

      adjust_timescale

      1.   This will change the timescale of the timeline diagram. Click the ‘Save’ button located on the toolbar to persist your changes to your project’s database.

      Change Timeline Settings

      change_settings
       
      2.   To change the number of levels, click on the wrench button in the top-right corner of the page, then expand the level options, and click on the level of choice. To reset the diagram, click on the ‘Reset Diagram’ button.

      Add Or Remove Grid Lines

      add_remove_gridlines
       
      3.   To show or hide the grid lines, click on the wrench button in the top-right corner of the page, then click on “show grid lines” or “hide grid lines”. To reset the diagram, click on the ‘Reset Diagram’ button.

      Add or Remove Relationship Lines

      relationship_lines
       
      4.   To show or hide the “depends on” relationship lines between Timeline Actions, click on the wrench button in the top-right corner of the page, then click on “show lines” or “hide lines”. To reset the diagram, click on the ‘Reset Diagram’ button. 

      Tutorial Video

       

      To continue learning about General Diagrams, Click Here.

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