Timelined Events

Table of Contents

• Creating Events
• Editing Events
• Event Properties
• Date Precision
• Parent-Child Relationships
• Deleting Events
• Exporting Events
• Tips and Best Practices

Creating Events

Method 1: From the Timeline View

1. Open Timelined and navigate to the main timeline view
2. Tap the “+” button in the top-right corner of the screen
3. Fill in the event details (see Event Properties below)
4. Tap “Save” to create the event

Method 2: Using URL Scheme

You can create events programmatically using the URL scheme. See Timelined URL scheme for detailed information.

Example:

timelined://create?title=Team Meeting&date=2024-01-15T14:30:00Z&category=Work&type=Meeting

Method 3: From Another Event (Child Event)

1. Open an existing event that will be the parent
2. Tap “Add Child Event” button
3. Fill in the child event details
4. Tap “Save” to create the child event

Note: Free users can create up to 10 events. Premium users have unlimited events.

Editing Events

How to Edit an Event

1. Tap on any event in the timeline view to open the event detail view
2. Tap the “Edit” button (pencil icon) in the top-right corner
3. Modify any event properties you want to change
4. Tap “Save” to save your changes

What Can Be Edited

All event properties can be edited:

• Title and subtitle
• Description
• Dates (start and end)
• Date precision
• Category and type
• Tags and people
• Location
• Photos
• References
• Parent-child relationships

Event Properties

Basic Information

Title

• Required: Yes
• Description: The main name of the event
• Example: “Team Meeting”, “Product Launch”, “Birthday Party”
• Tips: Keep titles concise but descriptive / Use consistent naming conventions for similar events

Subtitle

• Required: No
• Description: A short summary or tagline
• Example: “Q1 Review”, “Major Milestone”, “Important Update”
• Tips: Use subtitles to add context without cluttering the title

Description

• Required: No
• Description: Detailed description of the event
• Supports: Rich text formatting
• Tips: Include relevant details, context, and outcomes / Use formatting to organise information / Add links or references if needed

Date and Time

Start Date

• Required: Yes
• Description: When the event began or occurred
• Formats Supported:
  • Full date and time: 2024-01-15T14:30:00Z
  • Date only: 2024-01-15
  • Month and year: 2024-01
  • Year only: 2024
  • See: Date Precision for more details

End Date

• Required: No
• Description: When the event ended (for events with duration)
• Example: Multi-day conferences, vacations, projects
• Tips: Only add end dates for events that span multiple days

Date Precision

• Options:
  • Full: Exact date and time (e.g., “January 15, 2024 at 2:30 PM”)
  • Date only: Date without specific time (e.g., “January 15, 2024”)
  • Month only: Month and year (e.g., “January 2024”)
  • Year only: Year only (e.g., “2024”)
  • Auto-detection: The app automatically detects precision based on the date format you enter (if adding event via url scheme)

Organisation

Category

• Required: No
• Description: High-level grouping for events
• Examples: Work, Personal, Travel, Health, Education
• Tips:
  • Use categories to group related events
  • Create categories that make sense for your use case
  • See SETTINGS_USAGE.md for managing categories

Type

• Required: No
• Description: Specific classification of the event
• Examples: Meeting, Milestone, Vacation, Appointment, Project
• Tips:
  • Types are more specific than categories
  • Use types to further classify events within categories
  • See SETTINGS_USAGE.md for managing types

Tags

• Required: No
• Description: Flexible labels for filtering and organization
• Examples: important, urgent, completed, personal, work-related
• Tips:
  • Use multiple tags per event
  • Tags are great for cross-cutting concerns
  • See SETTINGS_USAGE.md for managing tags

People

• Required: No
• Description: Individuals associated with the event
• Examples: Team members, family members, clients
• Tips:
  • Add people who were involved or present
  • Useful for filtering events by person
  • See SETTINGS_USAGE.md for managing people

Location

Adding a Location

1. In the event form, scroll to the “Location” section
2. Type an address in the search field
3. Select from search results or tap directly on the map
4. The location is saved with coordinates automatically

Location Features

• Search Integration: Search using Apple Maps
• Map Selection: Tap directly on the map to set coordinates
• Address Geocoding: Automatic conversion of addresses to coordinates
• Coordinate Display: Shows latitude and longitude

Removing a Location

• Clear the address field in the location section
• Or tap the “X” button next to the address field
• Save the event to remove the location

Media

Photos

• Adding Photos:

1. Tap “Add Photo” in the event form
2. Choose from photo library or take a new photo
3. Add multiple photos per event

• Managing Photos:
  • View photos in the event detail view
  • Delete photos by swiping or using the delete button
• Tips:
  • Photos help document events visually
  • Use photos to capture important moments or documents

References

Adding References

• Title: Name of the reference (e.g., “Project Documentation”)
• URL: Web link or resource URL
• Description: Additional context about the reference
• Tips:
  • Use references to link to external resources
  • Great for documentation, articles, or related content

Date Precision

Understanding Date Precision

Date precision determines how dates are displayed and stored. Choose the precision that matches what you know about the event.

Precision Levels

Full Precision

• Format: 2024-01-15T14:30:00Z
• Display: “January 15, 2024 at 2:30 PM”
• Use When: You know the exact date and time
• Examples: Meetings, appointments, scheduled events

Date Only Precision

• Format: 2024-01-15
• Display: “January 15, 2024”
• Use When: You know the date but not the specific time
• Examples: Birthdays, holidays, deadlines

Month Only Precision

• Format: 2024-01
• Display: “January 2024”
• Use When: You only know the month and year
• Examples: Project start months, seasonal events

Year Only Precision

• Format: 2024
• Display: “2024”
• Use When: You only know the year
• Examples: Historical events, founding years, graduation years

Automatic Precision Detection

The app automatically detects the date format and sets the appropriate precision:

• ISO 8601 → Full precision
• YYYY-MM-DD → Date only precision
• YYYY-MM → Month only precision
• YYYY → Year only precision

Best Practices

1. Use the most precise date you know: Don’t guess times if you don’t know them
2. Be consistent: Use similar precision for related events
3. Consider context: Historical events might need year-only precision
4. Update when needed: You can always change precision later if you learn more details

Parent-Child Relationships

What Are Parent-Child Relationships?

Events can have hierarchical relationships where one event (parent) contains multiple sub-events (children).

Creating Child Events

1. Open the parent event in the event detail view
2. Tap “Add Child Event” button
3. Fill in the child event details
4. Save the child event

The child event will appear nested under the parent event in the timeline.

Use Cases

• Complex Events: Break down complex events into manageable sub-events
• Example: “Conference 2024” (parent) with “Day 1 Sessions”, “Day 2 Sessions” (children)
• Project Milestones: Track project phases as child events
• Example: “Product Launch” (parent) with “Design Phase”, “Development Phase” (children)
• Event Series: Group related events together
• Example: “Vacation 2024” (parent) with “Flight”, “Hotel Check-in”, “Activities” (children)

Best Practices

1. Logical Hierarchy: Keep parent-child relationships logical and meaningful
2. Avoid Deep Nesting: Limit nesting to 2–3 levels for clarity
3. Clear Naming: Use clear names that indicate the relationship
4. Independent Events: Child events can still be filtered and searched independently

Managing Relationships

• Change Parent: Edit a child event and select a different parent
• Remove Parent: Edit a child event and clear the parent selection
• View Children: Child events appear in the parent event’s detail view

Deleting Events

How to Delete an Event

1. Open the event you want to delete
2. Tap “Edit” button
3. Scroll to the bottom of the edit form
4. Tap “Delete Event” button
5. Confirm deletion in the alert dialog

Important Notes

• Deletion is permanent: Deleted events cannot be recovered
• Child Events: Deleting a parent event does not automatically delete child events (they become orphaned)
• Photos and References: All associated data (photos, references, etc.) are also deleted

Exporting Events

Export Options

Export as Image

1. Open an event in the detail view
2. Tap the share button (square with arrow)
3. Select “Export as Image”
4. Choose format and settings
5. Save or share the image

Export as Markdown

1. Open an event in the detail view
2. Tap the share button
3. Select “Export as Markdown”
4. Copy or share the generated markdown

Export Content Includes

• Event title and subtitle
• Description
• Date information (formatted according to precision)
• Category and type
• Tags and people
• Location information
• References
• Child events (if any)

Tips and Best Practices

Event Organization

1. Use Categories: Group related events with categories for better organization
2. Apply Types: Use specific types for better classification
3. Tag Liberally: Tags provide flexible filtering options
4. Add People: Associate relevant individuals with events for better tracking

Date Management

1. Choose Appropriate Precision: Use the most precise date you know
2. Be Consistent: Use similar precision for related events
3. Consider Context: Historical events might need year-only precision
4. Update When Needed: You can always refine dates later

Location Usage

1. Add Locations: Include locations for better context and visualization
2. Use Specific Addresses: More specific addresses provide better geocoding
3. Verify Coordinates: Check the map to ensure correct location

Content Quality

1. Descriptive Titles: Use clear, descriptive titles
2. Rich Descriptions: Add detailed descriptions with context
3. Visual Documentation: Add photos to document events
4. External References: Link to relevant resources and documentation

Efficiency Tips

1. Use URL Scheme: Automate event creation from other apps
2. Batch Creation: Create multiple related events at once
3. Templates: Use similar events as templates for new events
4. Quick Entry: Use shortcuts and automation for frequently created events

Troubleshooting

Can’t Create Events

• Check Event Limit: Free users are limited to 10 events
• Upgrade to Premium: Purchase premium to create unlimited events
• Check Internet: Some features require internet connectivity

Date Not Displaying Correctly

• Check Precision: Verify the date precision matches your input
• Format Issues: Ensure date format matches supported formats
• Time Zone: Dates are stored in UTC but displayed in your local timezone

Location Not Found

• Check Address Format: Use complete addresses when possible
• Try Alternative Names: Try different address formats or nearby landmarks
• Manual Selection: Use the map to manually select a location

Photos Not Uploading

• Check Permissions: Ensure photo library permissions are granted
• File Size: Large photos may take time to process
• Storage Space: Ensure you have enough storage space