Timeline views

This article is specific to the updated TrackVia UI released in Fall 2026

A Timeline view shows records as bars from start date to end date, grouped into rows by parent record. Use a Timeline view in TrackVia's updated UI to see overlaps and gaps. Sections cover time spans, search, and dragging records to reschedule.

Timeline views: before you begin

An Admin sets up the Timeline view and picks a start date field, an end date field, and the linked field for rows.
The Timeline view needs a linked field to group by. Without a linked field, the view shows a message instead of a timeline.
The Admin also picks the Timeline view's default time span. The Timeline view opens on the default time span each time the view loads.
A Calendar view can also show its records as a timeline with the Display mode switcher. For details, see Calendar views.

Timeline views: what the timeline shows

Each record shows as a horizontal bar. The bar starts on the record's start date and ends on the record's end date.
Bars are grouped into rows, 1 row per parent record. Rows are listed in alphabetical order by parent record.
Records with no parent record show in a (None) row at the bottom of the timeline. These records aren't left out, so the Timeline view and Calendar view show the same records.
A parent record with no linked records doesn't get a row.
A Timeline view loads up to 250 records.

Note: Records with no start date don't appear on the Timeline view. To show a record on the timeline, enter a date in the record's start date field.

Timeline views: move through time

The Timeline view has no Previous or Next buttons. The timeline holds every loaded record, from the earliest to the latest, and you scroll across the timeline.

On the timeline, scroll with your mouse wheel to move back or forward in time.
Click Today to return to the current period.

Timeline views: change the time span

The time span buttons in the Timeline view toolbar set how much time each column on the timeline covers. You can switch between Day, Week, Month, Quarter, and Year.

To change the time span, in the Timeline view toolbar, click a time span, such as Week or Quarter. The column headers change to match the time span you picked, and each bar resizes to stay lined up with the record's dates.

Timeline views: what to know about time spans

Day shows the most detail, and Year shows the widest range of dates.
An hourly time span is available only when the Timeline view's start or end date field includes a time. Timeline views with date-only fields don't offer the hourly time span.
Changing the time span keeps your place on the timeline.
The time span you pick stays selected when you search the Timeline view or apply a quick filter.
The time span you pick isn't saved. When you reload the page, the Timeline view opens on its default time span.

Tip: You can change the time span with the keyboard. Move focus to the time span buttons, use the arrow keys to move between them, and press Enter or Space to select one.

Timeline views: see every record in a busy row

When more bars overlap in 1 row than the row can show, the Timeline view shows 3 bars and a +N more link. N is the number of hidden records. For example, a row with 6 overlapping records shows 3 bars and +3 more.

To see the hidden records, in the row, click +N more. A pop-up lists the hidden records.

Timeline views: search and filter

Search and filters narrow the Timeline view to matching records. Rows with no matching records are hidden.

To search the Timeline view:

In the view toolbar, click the magnifying glass.
Enter your search text.

To clear the search, clear the search box. All records show again. If no records match a search, the Timeline view shows no bars and no rows, and no "no results" message appears.

To filter the Timeline view:

In the view toolbar, click the funnel.
Select a field and set your parameters.
Click Apply. The toolbar shows how many filters are applied.

To remove filters, click Clear all. All records show again.

Timeline views: open a record

To open a record, click the record's bar on the Timeline view.

Timeline views: drag a record to new dates

You can drag a record's bar to reschedule the record. TrackVia saves the new dates when you let go.

In the Timeline view, hover over the record's bar. The pointer changes to a grab hand.
Click and hold the bar, then drag the bar left or right to the new dates. While you drag, the bar is outlined and faded.
Release the mouse. TrackVia saves the record's new start and end dates.

When you drag a record to new dates:

The record keeps the same length. Only the start and end dates move.
A record with Date/Time fields keeps its time of day. For example, a record that runs 10 days and 30 minutes still runs 10 days and 30 minutes after the drag.
A record with date-only fields moves by whole days, and its end date stays the last day it covers. For example, a record from Apr 6 to Apr 16 dragged 3 days later runs Apr 9 to Apr 19.
A record with date-only fields can't be placed on a specific hour. The hourly time span only shows for views whose start date field includes a time.
Dragging moves the whole record. You can't drag the edge of a bar to change how long a record lasts.

Timeline views: drag a record to a different parent row

Each row in a Timeline view is a parent record. Dragging a record's bar into another row changes the record's parent to that row's record. The record's dates don't change.

In the Timeline view, click and hold the record's bar.
Drag the bar up or down into the row of the new parent record.
Release the mouse. TrackVia saves the record's new parent.

To change a record's dates and parent at the same time, drag the bar diagonally into the new row and the new dates. TrackVia saves both changes together.

You can only drop a bar into a row that shows on the timeline. A parent record only has a row when at least 1 of its records is on the timeline.
The (None) row shows when at least 1 record on the timeline has no parent. Dragging a bar into the (None) row removes the record's parent.

Timeline views: who can drag records

You can drag records in a Timeline view only if your role can edit records in the view's form. If your role can only view records, the pointer doesn't change to a grab hand, the bars don't move, and nothing is saved.

If the form makes a date field or the parent field read-only for your role, TrackVia doesn't save the drag. The bar goes back to where it started, and a message says the change wasn't saved.

Records can't be dragged in a Calendar view. Drag and drop only works in Timeline views.

Timeline views: when a drag doesn't save

If TrackVia can't save a dragged record, the bar goes back to where it started and a message shows at the bottom of the screen. The message names the record, for example Couldn't reschedule <record name>. The bar is back where it was. Try again.

The record's dates and parent don't change. Drag the bar again to retry. If the drag keeps failing, contact TrackVia Support.

Timeline views: when the timeline won't load

If a Timeline view's settings are incomplete or out of date, the view shows a message that explains why instead of an empty timeline. A Timeline view can't load when:

The view has no calendar or timeline settings
No date field is picked to place records on
The date field picked for the timeline is no longer on the view
The field picked for the timeline no longer holds dates
No linked field is picked to group records into rows

If you see one of these messages, contact your Admin to update the Timeline view's settings.