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TimelineJS

by Knight Lab
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ActiveAvailable globallyCloud
Quick facts
VendorKnight Lab
Year launched
StatusActive
Location1845 Sheridan Rd, Fisk Hall 111, Evanston, IL, United States, Illinois
Countries servedGlobal
Languages11
Integrations1+
Free tier
Free trial
Contact sales

About TimelineJS

TimelineJS is a free software from Knight Lab that allows users to create stories in a timeline format. It combines project creation, a device lab, and community support so users can build visually appealing timelines easily. This tool is designed to help individuals and teams showcase their narratives through a chronological display, making information more accessible and engaging. Users can incorporate multimedia elements such as images, videos, and audio to enrich their timelines. Key capabilities: project creation device compatibility community contributions interactive elements multimedia integration Best for: educators and journalists that need to present information in a clear, chronological manner.

TimelineJS, developed by Northwestern University's Knight Lab, is an open-source tool that enables users of varying technical expertise to create interactive and visually appealing timelines. Its simplicity and accessibility make it an ideal solution for anyone looking to present chronological narratives in an engaging way. The most notable feature of TimelineJS is its reliance on Google Sheets as a means to input and organize data, making it incredibly easy for non-technical users to create and manage timelines. Users simply input dates, text, and media links into a structured Google Spreadsheet template, and the platform automatically generates a timeline. This user-friendly approach democratizes the process of timeline creation, allowing even those without coding skills to produce high-quality, interactive visual content. For users with a bit more technical knowledge, TimelineJS also offers the option to use JSON, providing greater flexibility and customization options for more advanced projects. The user interface of TimelineJS is straightforward, with a clean and interactive layout that ensures a seamless experience.

Pros & Cons

What users like
  • +Ease of Use: Enables users to create illustrative stories with timelines that are visually appealing, without extensive complexity.
  • +Convenient Visualization Tool: Offers a straightforward way to enhance articles with engaging timelines.
What users flag
  • Limited Flexibility: Lacks adaptability for creativity and customization, especially when fine-tuning for websites.
  • Website Integration Challenges: Difficult to adjust and integrate smoothly into webpages.
  • Steep Learning Curve: The initial use of the tool can be quite challenging for new users.

Features

Key features

Easy Timeline Creation from Google Sheets
Allows beginners to create timelines using a simple Google Spreadsheet template.
JSON Support for Advanced Users
Experts can use JSON to create custom timeline installations while leveraging core TimelineJS functionality.
Visually Rich and Interactive Timelines
Creates engaging and interactive visual representations of chronological events.
Embeddable on Any Site or Blog
Timelines can be easily embedded into any website or blog platform.
Supports Various Media Sources
Can pull in media from Twitter, Flickr, YouTube, Vimeo, Vine, Dailymotion, Google Maps, Wikipedia, SoundCloud, Document Cloud, and more.
Customizable Appearance
Offers options to set language, fonts, starting slide, and other visual elements.

Additional features

Easy Timeline Creation from Google Sheets
Allows beginners to create timelines using a simple Google Spreadsheet template.
JSON Support for Advanced Users
Experts can use JSON to create custom timeline installations while leveraging core TimelineJS functionality.
Visually Rich and Interactive Timelines
Creates engaging and interactive visual representations of chronological events.
Embeddable on Any Site or Blog
Timelines can be easily embedded into any website or blog platform.
Supports Various Media Sources
Can pull in media from Twitter, Flickr, YouTube, Vimeo, Vine, Dailymotion, Google Maps, Wikipedia, SoundCloud, Document Cloud, and more.
Customizable Appearance
Offers options to set language, fonts, starting slide, and other visual elements.
Shareable Link
Provides a direct link to share the created timeline.
Embed Code
Generates embed code for easy integration into websites.
Preview Option
Allows users to preview their timeline before publishing.
Help Section
Offers a frequently asked questions list, introductory video, support forums, and a tech support web form for assistance.
Technical Documentation
Provides in-depth documentation for further customization and advanced usage.
Spreadsheet Template
Offers a pre-formatted Google Spreadsheet template to guide users in organizing their timeline data.
Supports BCE Dates
Allows the inclusion of events with Before Common Era dates.
Handles Ancient Dates
Capable of displaying very ancient dates.
Privacy Considerations
Provides information and recommendations on how to use TimelineJS with privacy in mind regarding Google Spreadsheets.
WordPress Compatibility
Can be used with WordPress websites.
Free for Commercial Use
TimelineJS is available for free even for commercial purposes.

Pricing

Free trial
Free version
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Countries & Languages

Global
Countries served
11
Interface languages
10
Billing currencies

Interface languages

EnglishSpanishFrenchGermanItalianPortugueseDutchRussianChineseJapaneseKorean.

Billing currencies

🇺🇸USD🇪🇺EUR🇬🇧GBP🇦🇺AUD🇨🇦CAD🇯🇵JPY🇨🇳CNY🇮🇳INR🇧🇷BRL🇲🇽MXN

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