---
schema_version: "1"
id: 97e4887e6581fc7d5c8be1110dc19972c5dc12779dbce7d26659b521c5d949b4
title: Timeline Charts
collection: admin
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/admin/current/en-us/analytics/264-0-0/bi_chart_intro_timeline.md
canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.bi_chart_intro_timeline.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5
source_site: help.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: 50a55298b9118a5a1b8f439b05d12e01c9dbdc12c1f7ac78071ecf76260f3726
description: A timeline chart is a line chart with one axis dedicated to a time dimension. Use a timeline chart to show how a value changes over time.
products:
  - CRM Analytics
  - Cross Cloud
release: "264"
---
# Timeline Charts

A timeline chart is a line chart with one axis dedicated to a time dimension. Use a timeline chart to show how a value changes over time.

## Create a Timeline Chart

Use a timeline chart to analyze changes to a measure over time using a line.

For example, a timeline chart can show how profit changes over a year. Exploring a year's worth of data, you want to visualize not just the total profit, but how profits change from month to month.

1. In the lens, click ![Chart Mode button](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-analytics-bi-264-0-0-production-enus/ec791473-f5b4-4f64-a656-9104f455d966/bi/images/bi/bi_chart_mode_button.png) and then select the **Timeline** chart type.
2. In Time Axis, select the date field and the granularity that you want to analyze the results by. For example, select **Closed Date** | **Year-Quarter**.
3. In Y-Axis, add at least one measure to analyze over time, such as the total opportunity amount.
4. If needed, add a filter to restrict the results to a particular time period, like a single year.
    
    The timeline chart analyzes the measures with the time dimension shown along the x-axis.
    
    ![Analytics explorer timeline chart](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-analytics-bi-264-0-0-production-enus/ec791473-f5b4-4f64-a656-9104f455d966/bi/images/bi/bi_explorer_timeline_profit.png)
    
    ![Note](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-analytics-bi-264-0-0-production-enus/ec791473-f5b4-4f64-a656-9104f455d966/images/icon_note.png)
    
    Note Timeline charts need a defined point in time. If a data point has a null or missing value for its time-related field, the chart can’t place it on the time axis. As a result, rows with a null value in the axis field are excluded.
5. To change the chart display, click ![Formatting button](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-analytics-bi-264-0-0-production-enus/ec791473-f5b4-4f64-a656-9104f455d966/bi/images/bi/bi_button_formatting.png) and set the chart properties in the Formatting panel.
    
    For example, if some of the dataset includes predictions of future amounts, click **Predictive Line** under the X-Axis section in the charts properties panel. Or add a reference line to provide a visual cue about a particular point in time.
6. To add a reference line, set the position of the reference line by specifying the date in **Time**.
    
    The numerical date you specify should match the granularity selected in the Time Axis field. For example, if you selected Year-Month and want the reference line to start just after August 2016, enter 2016/8. You can also specify a label in **Label** for the line, and a color.
    
    ![Analytics explorer timeline chart with a reference line](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-analytics-bi-264-0-0-production-enus/ec791473-f5b4-4f64-a656-9104f455d966/bi/images/bi/wave_charts_timeline_reference_line.png)