Timeline Topic

It would be cool to be able to create some kind of timeline oriented topic


Event 1 (links to topic)
t _____|_________________________________________ etc...
|
Event 2 (links to topic)

Basically this could be accomplished with the storyline elements already. It would be like a different view.

Anyways just an idea =D

There is a timeline already.

I'm not sure what features you want that aren't in the existing timeline. Not that the existing timeline isn't badly in need of a lot of work.

+1 from me, too.

One way or the other the timeline needs a lot of work, including custom calendars and (maybe) a timeline oriented topic.

+1 (again)

Currently, all events and incidents default to 20000 BCE, requiring many right clicks. Some say it defaults to last used. A little clarity on date settings and options, please.

Can we just type the date in? That would speed things along a LOT.

@Cid:

I believe the reason that we can not just type in the date has to do with custom calendars.

The day they arrive you will be able to make all kinds of wacko calendars (and trust me - people will).

In order to select the date and at the same time make sure it makes sense within the (wacko) calendar system you created the program only allows you to select legal elements in order to arrive at a date that exists.

We all know (I assume) why a program balks at you when you input February 33rd.

But a user wouldn't know a custom calendar system as well.


That is my guess, anyway.

It's soon Xmas - let's see what LWD has stashed under the tree for us

Vargr said:

@Cid:

I believe the reason that we can not just type in the date has to do with custom calendars.

The day they arrive you will be able to make all kinds of wacko calendars (and trust me - people will).

In order to select the date and at the same time make sure it makes sense within the (wacko) calendar system you created the program only allows you to select legal elements in order to arrive at a date that exists.

We all know (I assume) why a program balks at you when you input February 33rd.

But a user wouldn't know a custom calendar system as well.


That is my guess, anyway.

Click to expand...

I've just been deleting the dates and working from an excel sheet in text snippets. When custom calendars comes out i'll just add them back in with the dates i conveniently already have in there.

If i even bother.

I'll just throw this out there, hopefully to get some attention from LWD, that another user just pointed me to this tool: https://www.aeontimeline.com/

This is EXACTLY what RW needs. This would be SO useful, especially if LWD and the folks at Aeon timeline could come up with a way to integrate the two products without LWD re-inventing the wheel. Some kind of linking and syncing system perhaps?

I am about ready to pull the trigger and invest in Aeon Timeline, despite the extra $50 cost, just because the calendar in RW is SO un-usable.

I have been looking at Aeontimeline a couple of times.

Graphically it looks impressive, but unfortunately it is useless for making custom calendars. :-(

Vargr said:

Graphically it looks impressive, but unfortunately it is useless for making custom calendars. :-(

Click to expand...

It claims "Create your own custom fantasy calendar if your story takes place off-world."
https://www.aeontimeline.com/users/creative-writers/

Do you know that is incorrect?

I looked at Aeon Timeline twice with a couple of years between - at those times I found that it didn't really allow custom calendars - or at least not in a way that made it worthwhile.

If I remember correctly, you could only make one custom calendar and not having several calendars at the same time. And the one custom calendar was pretty limited in how "strange" you could make it.

Having skimmed through the manual of the present version right now it doesn't seem to have changed.

But there is a possibility to download the program and try it out for a period of time before you have to decide whether to invest in it or stop using it.

I suggest that Conandy tries the program before buying - then he can see if the program does what he wants.

And ks666:
I might have been a little too abrupt in my first posting re. Aeon Timeline; my fault. - However, after having skimmed the latest manual it still seems that the program is not really the answer to the calendar needs - at least not mine.

Vargr said:

I looked at Aeon Timeline twice with a couple of years between - at those times I found that it didn't really allow custom calendars - or at least not in a way that made it worthwhile.

If I remember correctly, you could only make one custom calendar and not having several calendars at the same time. And the one custom calendar was pretty limited in how "strange" you could make it. (...)

Click to expand...

I did try Aeon Timeline 2 a few weeks ago, and, as far as I mastered the program, you are absolutely right.

It allows you to quite easily set up a broad variety of months and weeks, but that is about it.
You cannot change the frequency of leap years and you cannot add leap months. There is no easy way to add lunar cycles, absolutely no way of setting up competing calendars (like Gregorian, Jewish and Islamic or "Human", "Elven" and "Orcish" or Earth and Proxima Centauri b) etc. asf.


For the time being I calculate most dates by hand with some help of the donjon fantasy calendar generator.


Hopefully, this feature RW comes sooner(TM) than late.

Well, I did grab a copy of Aeon Timeline 2 and I have been playing with it. It has a lot of potential, but unfortunately a lot of it is not very intuitive. The custom calendars are possible, but it does take a lot for granted in your calendar structure. Also, I can't figure out how to print or view an actual block style calendar.

I'd say as a custom fantasy calendar tool it is about 80% as functional as one might want. Compared to RW's 5% functional calendar tool as of today, it would be a huge improvement. I stand by my initial thought that it would be a great place for RW to take their timeline and calendar functionality.

I'm still playing with it when I have a few minutes here and there. If I come to any revelations regarding it, I'll share.