How to Make a Timeline Template With Microsoft Word

Make a timeline template for anything. They make great visual aids.

You can make a timeline template for anything that can be put in order. This includes events, steps, procedures, company progress or anything else that needs a visual aid.

When you put things in order for people to see, it makes everything much clearer.

Read on to find out how to easily make a timeline template that you can use over and over again, for personal or professional use.

Instructions

1. 

   Make a timeline template by opening up a new Word document and format it.

   Set your margins. Go to the top left corner, click on "File," then "Format," and finally "Margins." When make a timeline, use 1" on all 4 sides (L/R/T/B.)

   To finish formatting, click on "Paper Size," within the page setup. Choose the "landscape" format to make the paper long and short.

2. 

   Go back to the document. Find the "Auto Shapes" button on your tool bar and click it.

   If you do not have one, go to the upper left hand side and click on "Insert," then "Picture," and finally "Auto Shapes." It really doesn't matter which way you get to it.

3. 

   Choose the straight line to make a timeline. When you click on the straight line tab, a + should appear on the document. Move it to where you want to begin on the page.

   Once you are in place, left click and drag it across the document. The line gets longer as you drag. This is the base line of your timeline template.

   To move the line, just left click and drag. The line moves to wherever you place it.

4. 

   Add short lines to the long one, marking points. To do this, go back to "Auto Shapes" and choose the straight line again.

   This time make a very short line. Right click and drag it to the correct place on the base line. For multiple short lines, just right click on it, copy and paste. Move each small line to the correct place on the timeline template.

5. 

   Add text to make a timeline. To add text up under each small mark on the timeline template: Go back to the top left hand corner and click on "Insert," then "Text Box."

   Once you click on the "Text box" tab, you see the + again. This allows you to make a box for your text. As you click and drag, the box gets bigger. When you finish, you have a box on your timeline that you can type inside.

   Make a timeline with certain colors, lines, or no lines at all for the text box. To do this, right click on the box and choose your preferences.

   Add a title, choose specials fonts and sizes. A timeline template is for your preferences.

Tips & Warnings

• Save the timeline template in MS Word.

• You can make a timeline for anything. Have fun with it!

• Add pictures to your timeline by copying and pasting to the document.