How to Create a Horizontal Timeline

Excel, PowerPoint and Word can insert horizontal timelines to display a sequence.

Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint and Word 2010 contain timeline templates, including horizontal timelines. A horizontal timeline displays graphics and concise text to represent a project's process. A horizontal timeline that runs from left to right can give an orderly, step-by-step look. The "Insert" tab on the command ribbon includes a "SmartArt" command. The "SmartArt" list includes the "Process" group of timeline graphics. Examples of horizontal timelines include simple process and picture accent process.

Instructions

1. Open the document.

2. Click the "Insert" tab on the command ribbon.

3. Click the "SmartArt" button in the "Illustrations" group. A dialog window appears.

4. Click the "Process" command. The graphics for timelines appear.

5. Select a graphic, such as simple process, closed chevron process or picture accent process. These examples display a horizontal progression from left to right. The graphic appears on the Word document.

6. Resize or move the graphic on the document. Point over the resize arrows or click the pull handles that frame the graphic.

7. Type the text, such as a date, event or deadline, between the square brackets in the text boxes.

8. Save this Word document.

Tips & Warnings

• The "Design" tab in the SmartArt Tools ribbon can add entries to the horizontal timeline. Click the "Add Shape" button in the "Create Graphic" group.

References

• Microsoft Office: Support, Word 2010, Create a Timeline