Timeline View
Understanding and navigating the Gantt chart timeline view in YAPL.
Timeline View
The timeline view displays your plan's tasks in a visual Gantt chart format. This guide covers navigating, understanding, and customizing the timeline display.
Accessing Timeline View
- Navigate to Plans in the sidebar
- Open a plan
- Click the Timeline tab
Interface Overview
The timeline view consists of several areas:
Task List Panel (Left)
The left panel shows task information:
- Task name and WBS code
- Duration
- Start date
- End date
- Progress percentage
- Assignees
Timeline Panel (Right)
The right panel shows the Gantt chart:
- Time scale header
- Task bars
- Dependencies (connecting lines)
- Milestones (diamond markers)
- Today marker (vertical line)
Header Area
Contains controls for:
- Zoom level selection
- View options toggle
- Filter controls
- Export menu
Understanding Task Bars
Bar Anatomy
Each task bar shows:
| Element | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Bar position | Start and end dates |
| Bar length | Task duration |
| Fill color | Task status or category |
| Progress fill | Completion percentage |
| Text label | Task name (if space allows) |
Bar Colors
Default color meanings:
- Blue - In progress or planned
- Green - Completed
- Red - Critical path tasks
- Gray - Not started
- Custom - Workspace-defined status colors
Progress Indicator
A darker fill within the bar shows progress:
- 0% - Empty bar
- 50% - Half filled
- 100% - Fully filled
Navigation
Zooming
Control time scale granularity:
| Zoom Level | Shows |
|---|---|
| Day | Individual days |
| Week | Weekly increments |
| Month | Monthly view |
| Quarter | Quarterly overview |
| Year | Annual summary |
How to zoom:
- Use zoom controls in header
- Mouse scroll with modifier key
- Pinch gesture on touch devices
Scrolling
Navigate the timeline:
- Horizontal - Move through time
- Vertical - See more tasks
- Click and drag to pan
- Use scrollbars
Today Line
A vertical line indicates the current date:
- Quick reference for schedule position
- Shows if tasks are behind/ahead
Fit to View
Auto-adjust to show:
- All tasks in plan
- Selected date range
- Project duration
Task List Features
Columns
The task list displays:
| Column | Description |
|---|---|
| Task | Name with hierarchy indent |
| Duration | Length of task |
| Start | Planned start date |
| Finish | Planned end date |
| Progress | Completion percentage |
| Assignees | Assigned team members |
Hierarchy
Tasks show hierarchical structure:
- Parent tasks (summary bars)
- Child tasks (indented)
- Expandable/collapsible groups
Sorting
Click column headers to sort:
- By name
- By start date
- By duration
- By progress
Dependencies
Viewing Dependencies
Dependencies appear as lines connecting task bars:
- Arrow shows direction of relationship
- Line style may indicate dependency type
Dependency Types
| Type | Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Finish-to-Start | FS | Successor starts after predecessor finishes |
| Start-to-Start | SS | Tasks start at same time |
| Finish-to-Finish | FF | Tasks finish at same time |
| Start-to-Finish | SF | Successor finishes when predecessor starts |
Lag and Lead
Dependencies may include:
- Lag - Delay between tasks (positive)
- Lead - Overlap between tasks (negative)
Milestones
Appearance
Milestones appear as:
- Diamond shapes on the timeline
- Zero-duration markers
- Key project events
Uses
Mark important events:
- Project kick-off
- Phase completion
- Client approvals
- Deliverable dates
Summary Tasks
What They Are
Summary tasks (parent tasks) show:
- Span of all child tasks
- Rolled-up progress
- Overall duration
Display
Summary bars typically:
- Extend from first child start to last child finish
- Show aggregate completion
- Can be collapsed to hide children
Expanding/Collapsing
Click the expand/collapse icon to:
- Show child tasks (expanded)
- Hide child tasks (collapsed)
- Simplify complex schedules
View Options
Toggles
Common view options:
- Show/hide dependencies
- Show/hide progress
- Show/hide critical path
- Show/hide baseline
- Show/hide weekends
Filters
Filter what appears:
- By assignee
- By status
- By date range
- By WBS level
Today Marker
Purpose
The today line shows:
- Current date position
- Quick progress reference
- Schedule status indicator
Interpretation
If most tasks are:
- Left of line - On or ahead of schedule
- Right of line - Behind schedule (for progress bars)
Time Scale
Header Format
The time scale header shows:
- Primary scale (larger increments)
- Secondary scale (smaller increments)
Example:
- Primary: Months (January, February, ...)
- Secondary: Weeks (Week 1, Week 2, ...)
Non-Working Time
Weekends and holidays may appear:
- Shaded differently
- Excluded from calculations
- Based on plan calendar
Performance Tips
Large Plans
For plans with many tasks:
- Collapse summary tasks
- Use filters
- Zoom out for overview
- Focus on active tasks
Smooth Scrolling
To improve performance:
- Limit visible date range
- Collapse hierarchies
- Apply task filters
Troubleshooting
Tasks Not Visible
- Check date range is correct
- Verify tasks have dates assigned
- Check filter settings
- Expand collapsed parents
Bars Not Displaying
- Ensure tasks have start and end dates
- Check zoom level
- Verify date range includes tasks
Dependencies Missing
- Enable dependencies in view options
- Check tasks are linked
- Verify zoom shows detail level
Related Topics
- Editing Timeline - Modify tasks on chart
- Critical Path - Schedule analysis
- Tasks - Task management
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