Timelines are a new feature introduced by the 2010 version of Excel. It allows you to easily select a date range on a pivot table on an Excel worksheet. If you have an Excel sheet with a pivot table and dates, you can create a timeline to visually show your data.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Using SmartArt (Excel 2007 or Later)
Step 1. Create a new spreadsheet
SmartArt creates a new graphic layout to which you can add data. It doesn't transform the data you have, so you can create a new blank spreadsheet for the timeline.
Step 2. Open the SmartArt menu
Depending on your version of Excel, you can click the SmartArt bar in the menu, or the Insert bar and then the SmartArt button. The latter option is available in Excel 2007 and later.
Step 3. Select the timeline from the Process submenu
Click Process in the SmartArt bar, inside the Insert a Smart Art Graphic group. In the drop-down menu that appears, select Baseline Timeline (indicated by an arrow on the right).
You can adapt many other Process graphics to your timeline. To see their name, move the mouse cursor over the icons and wait for it to appear
Step 4. Add other events
By default, you start with a few events; to add, select the timeline: a text field should appear on the left. Click the + button at the top of the panel to add a new event.
To enlarge the timeline without adding new events, click the timeline to bring up an outer box, then drag the right or left side
Step 5. Edit the timeline
Type in the Text field to add data. You can also copy and paste data into the timeline and let Excel fix it. Generally, each column of data will look like a single timeline.
Method 2 of 3: Using PivotTable Analysis (Excel 2013 or Later)
Step 1. Open the spreadsheet that contains the pivot table
In order to use timelines, your data must be sorted in a pivot table.
Step 2. Click anywhere within the pivot table
This will allow you to open the "Pivot Table Tools" menu on the top ribbon.
Step 3. Click on "Analyze"
This will open a ribbon with the option to manipulate the table data.
Step 4. Click on "Insert Timeline"
A dialog box will appear showing the fields that match the date format. Warning: dates entered as text will not be recognized.
Step 5. Select the Applicable field and click OK
A new window will appear allowing you to navigate your timeline.
Step 6. Select the data filtering method
According to the information available, you will be able to choose how to filter the data. (By month, year or quarter).
Step 7. Review the monthly data
When you click on a month in the Timeline Control Window, you will only see data for that particular month in the pivot table.
Step 8. Expand your selection
You can decide to expand the selection by clicking and dragging the sides of the selector.
Method 3 of 3: Using a Basic Spreadsheet (Any Version of Excel)
Step 1. Consider downloading a pattern
While not necessary, a schema (or template) will save you some work by creating the timeline structure for you. You can check if you already have a template by going to File → New or File → New from Template. Alternatively, search online for templates created by other users. But if you don't want to use a template, continue reading the next step.
If your timeline follows the progress of a very structured project, you might consider using a Gantt chart
Step 2. Start your timeline from normal cells
You can create a basic timeline from a classic blank worksheet. Type the timeline dates in a row, spacing them with blank cells roughly in proportion to the time pauses between them.
Step 3. Write down the characteristics of your timeline
In the cells directly above or below each date, write a description of the event. Don't worry if it looks a little sloppy.
Alternating descriptions above and below dates generally creates the most readable timelines
Step 4. Angola descriptions
Select the line containing your descriptions. Click the Home bar in the menu, then, in the Alignment group, find the Orientation button (in some versions the Orientation button has the letters abc). Click the button and select one of the proposed text slants: in this way the descriptions should enter the timeline.
