Time Line

A Time Line is a non-analytical drawing tool used to show on the time axis the desired moment of time, the beginning or the end of the needed period of time.

Inserting Time Line

1. Select one of three ways to insert a Time line:
   • In the menu select Insert, point to Drawing and click Time Line.
   • Click the Time line icon on the Drawing toolbar.
   • Click the arrow next to the Drawing Tools icon on the Main toolbar and select Time Line from the menu.
2. The cursor will change to the Time line .
3. In the Chart Area click where the Time line to begin.
4. Release the button.

Moving Time Line

To move a Time line:

1. Point the cursor at the Time line that is to be moved.
2. The cursor Pointer will change into Hand .
3. Then keeping the left mouse button pressed drag the drawing tool to the desired position.
4. Release the button.

Formatting Time Line

In MultiCharts one can change the settings of the Time Line. All the changes are performed in the Format Time Line window.

Each instance of a Time line has its own Format window. The number (if there are 2 or more Time lines in the same Chart Window) are shown in the titlebar of each Format Time Line window.

One can change the settings of the Time line: its color, style and weight. One can also choose to show or not the labels, select their font, style, size and the character set. It is possible to apply the strikeout or underline effects to the labels. If shown the labels can be displayed horizontally or vertically and placed at the top, center or bottom of the Time line. One can also change the time coordinate of the Time line.

Setting Style

1. Access the Format Time Line window.

   To access the Format Time Line window:

   1. Drag the cursor to the Time line that is to be formatted.
   2. The cursor Pointer will change into Hand , then double-click.

   Or

   1. Drag the cursor to the Time line that is to be formatted.
   2. The cursor Pointer will change into Hand , then right-click.
   3. Select Format 'Time Line'… from the shortcut menu.

   Or

   1. In the Format Objects window select the Drawings tab.
   2. Select the Time line that is to be formatted and press the Format… button.

2. Select the Style tab.
3. In the Color section select any of the preset 40 colors or click the Others… button to select the custom color.
4. From the Style drop-down list select the desired style.
5. From the Weight drop-down list select the desired weight.
6. Check the Use as Default check box to use these settings as the default settings when creating other Time lines.
7. Click OK.

Setting Labels

1. Access the Format Time Line window.

   To access the Format Time Line window:

   1. Drag the cursor to the Time line that is to be formatted.
   2. The cursor Pointer will change into Hand , then double-click.

   Or

   1. Drag the cursor to the Time line that is to be formatted.
   2. The cursor Pointer will change into Hand , then right-click.
   3. Select Format 'Time Line'… from the shortcut menu.

   Or

   1. In the Format Objects window select the Drawings tab.
   2. Select the Time line that is to be formatted and press the Format… button.

2. Select the Labels tab.
3. Check or uncheck the Show Labels check box to display or hide the labels.
4. Enter the desired font in the Font field or select it from the Font list.
5. Enter the desired font style in the Font Style field or select it from the Font Style list.
6. Enter the desired font size in the Size field or select it from the Size list.
7. In the Effects group check or uncheck the Strikeout or/and Underline check boxes to display the labels struck out or/and underlined.
8. From the Character Set drop-down list select the desired character set.
9. From the Align drop-down list select the desired type of the labels' alignment.
10. From the Orientation drop-down list select the desired orientation to display labels horizontally or vertically.
11. Check the Use as Default check box to use these settings as the default settings when creating other Time lines.
12. Click OK.

Setting Coordinates Precisely

1. Access the Format Time Line window.

   To access the Format Time Line window:

   1. Drag the cursor to the Time line that is to be formatted.
   2. The cursor Pointer will change into Hand , then double-click.

   Or

   1. Drag the cursor to the Time line that is to be formatted.
   2. The cursor Pointer will change into Hand , then right-click.
   3. Select Format 'Time Line'… from the shortcut menu.

   Or

   1. In the Format Objects window select the Drawings tab.
   2. Select the Time line that is to be formatted and press the Format… button.

2. Select the Properties tab.
3. In the Coordinates section enter the desired time coordinate in the Date field or use the drop-down calendar.
4. Click OK.