> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.pensiv.so/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# 10.2.2 Order events with the timeline

> Timeline view, axis and cards and labels, when to use it, difference from multi-view

The timeline **sorts documents in a folder by time or order** and shows them in a visual layout.

It’s not for reading text; it’s for **seeing structure and progress** at a glance.

***

## What is the timeline view?

Select a folder and choose **Timeline** in the view switcher.

Documents in that folder appear as **cards on a horizontal axis**.

Each document is one event or step.

***

## What’s on the screen

### 1️⃣ Axis (what you sort by)

The default is a **horizontal axis**.

![Timeline horizontal axis](https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/24100a87-f568-4119-8737-ecdd32e8de5c/477d8e49-940d-43b8-9c2c-1b4c526bbad2/image.png?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256\&X-Amz-Content-Sha256=UNSIGNED-PAYLOAD\&X-Amz-Credential=ASIAZI2LB466UE7PN67T%2F20260228%2Fus-west-2%2Fs3%2Faws4_request\&X-Amz-Date=20260228T215926Z\&X-Amz-Expires=3600\&X-Amz-Security-Token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjEJX%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2FwEaCXVzLXdlc3QtMiJGMEQCICC3w3gQpBIP1ry4GtR0CUWyjYXLOKB8FbXrUwUejeP%2BAiA%2BIr%2Bi7RNlJAjvCwT%2F40tMpDo6Nbc9iqizGI9zJQlyjir%2FAwheEAAaDDYzNzQyMzE4MzgwNSIMaMK1qa%2BfrsHl23wYKtwDw%2Bs2REMYlVnmKqKYWCwAcGiyymrqPfx4nmBaai8BN3J49W%2FqICrLkqpB4kFlnZAXZoQYxAsfyZhytdfoJNCd8oxhhtpTcE3DE5e4KK9POSIUTtHwp94VpL9g98f2AMxRiu5NCQw%2BrZwBseGseetuIdIhSMgRzeVsUefxP%2FbNYIX3imFwP5qJMeq%2FwDKmOtIYx58qrgpvRdTbudxBpnUauILCHBro9mW2%2Fq8E8XvH9ofKu4qVuwksVaPDdOK9EVukROxKK%2Bl9FwUnuhY5R%2BFAe8PYlSQVZxFg6m2WSsBo2VbF%2FpJT%2BA5eDTQkoLD2ToCAJbF2PsAwgiy8wDshhwubTI1%2BQ0Lxrk5aAwJdqEKxuwwWB%2FMU6vPDbUYGLK1w0ts3aNYQDo3%2BbTaB3PmaIU3ZjXMVNkrp2x0ahmDKonGjVSwLwwyB3ho0%2B6G0loSajlaCr4D5TFAW9JV4hWliV2w2bXkijlTGo4XOm6uv5cZq19YIkfY4IvL9BMdX4jXPPBh61xngDGChLzdibmOcxrtKkT%2FrK%2BP4Svpt%2FvGjjDBSZocSEhQNEFQhKccwRENZ80NLOBXIp05%2FqZpKX69n3b0qWLL8sNHHhv9C2cm8kEFv0hLyNr5f5x36lZUpENEw46uNzQY6pgFmm5Q18FMHJZ%2FT9gGhmGzoFUVhaP6H3ynN%2FAywF1h6w7k71epoX2yIUzU52sDw8ewfkdi1B2H9Bv%2F6OUIxvGSzzYH3pTQsivRtITT4W6nxnw8TfEFMJxTWVeqv9BFA8iY8z6hdX%2BwhDeXWX04rLZPPtwNAtgBUfky4W7vQhgwdVHzvye2geQEDJUCy89WlF439L89WIHgxFiSMh5JYYPe1jMuf7YVK\&X-Amz-Signature=81edd5eabee79e838310121df33f1bff2461c9318252250aa7dd689c5e5db310\&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host\&x-amz-checksum-mode=ENABLED\&x-id=GetObject)

* Documents are arranged by time or your sort order
* You can see sequence at a glance

You can switch to a **vertical axis**.

![Timeline vertical axis](https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/24100a87-f568-4119-8737-ecdd32e8de5c/20edd903-db9e-4072-8737-3a6b1f147c32/image.png?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256\&X-Amz-Content-Sha256=UNSIGNED-PAYLOAD\&X-Amz-Credential=ASIAZI2LB466UE7PN67T%2F20260228%2Fus-west-2%2Fs3%2Faws4_request\&X-Amz-Date=20260228T215926Z\&X-Amz-Expires=3600\&X-Amz-Security-Token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjEJX%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2FwEaCXVzLXdlc3QtMiJGMEQCICC3w3gQpBIP1ry4GtR0CUWyjYXLOKB8FbXrUwUejeP%2BAiA%2BIr%2Bi7RNlJAjvCwT%2F40tMpDo6Nbc9iqizGI9zJQlyjir%2FAwheEAAaDDYzNzQyMzE4MzgwNSIMaMK1qa%2BfrsHl23wYKtwDw%2Bs2REMYlVnmKqKYWCwAcGiyymrqPfx4nmBaai8BN3J49W%2FqICrLkqpB4kFlnZAXZoQYxAsfyZhytdfoJNCd8oxhhtpTcE3DE5e4KK9POSIUTtHwp94VpL9g98f2AMxRiu5NCQw%2BrZwBseGseetuIdIhSMgRzeVsUefxP%2FbNYIX3imFwP5qJMeq%2FwDKmOtIYx58qrgpvRdTbudxBpnUauILCHBro9mW2%2Fq8E8XvH9ofKu4qVuwksVaPDdOK9EVukROxKK%2Bl9FwUnuhY5R%2BFAe8PYlSQVZxFg6m2WSsBo2VbF%2FpJT%2BA5eDTQkoLD2ToCAJbF2PsAwgiy8wDshhwubTI1%2BQ0Lxrk5aAwJdqEKxuwwWB%2FMU6vPDbUYGLK1w0ts3aNYQDo3%2BbTaB3PmaIU3ZjXMVNkrp2x0ahmDKonGjVSwLwwyB3ho0%2B6G0loSajlaCr4D5TFAW9JV4hWliV2w2bXkijlTGo4XOm6uv5cZq19YIkfY4IvL9BMdX4jXPPBh61xngDGChLzdibmOcxrtKkT%2FrK%2BP4Svpt%2FvGjjDBSZocSEhQNEFQhKccwRENZ80NLOBXIp05%2FqZpKX69n3b0qWLL8sNHHhv9C2cm8kEFv0hLyNr5f5x36lZUpENEw46uNzQY6pgFmm5Q18FMHJZ%2FT9gGhmGzoFUVhaP6H3ynN%2FAywF1h6w7k71epoX2yIUzU52sDw8ewfkdi1B2H9Bv%2F6OUIxvGSzzYH3pTQsivRtITT4W6nxnw8TfEFMJxTWVeqv9BFA8iY8z6hdX%2BwhDeXWX04rLZPPtwNAtgBUfky4W7vQhgwdVHzvye2geQEDJUCy89WlF439L89WIHgxFiSMh5JYYPe1jMuf7YVK\&X-Amz-Signature=97ac94e4b718d5f4d13c5d9bfa38a5fe92642b6501370b82aba4e1c4fc9ec423\&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host\&x-amz-checksum-mode=ENABLED\&x-id=GetObject)

With a vertical axis:

* Tracks are split by label (color) or another property
* Each label is one track
* Documents sit in the track that matches their property

So:

* **Horizontal axis** → check time flow
* **Vertical axis** → check balance of structure or attributes

### 2️⃣ Document cards

Each card can show:

* Title
* Summary
* Status (draft / done, etc.)
* Label (color)

You can drag cards to reorder. Changing a label moves the card to the right track.

### 3️⃣ Label tracks

In vertical-axis mode, each label group is its own track (e.g. no label, red, orange, yellow).

Documents are grouped by label so you can see emotional beats, conflict phases, or character-focused events.

***

## When to use it

### Long-form fiction

* Check order of events
* Separate conflict phases
* See where the climax sits
* Split by emotional beat

With the vertical axis you can:

* See how colors (labels) are distributed
* See where one character’s events cluster
* Check balance of conflict vs. calm

### Planning and structure

* See stages and order
* Check execution order
* Check logical flow

### Rewriting

* Find slow or flat sections
* Spot repeated events
* Decide on reordering
* Fix structural imbalance

***

## What the timeline is for

It answers:

* Does the story rise naturally?
* Are there gaps in the middle?
* Is the climax too early or late?
* Is one label overused?
* Is the structure balanced?

You’re not reading text; you’re **viewing story structure from above**.

***

## Timeline vs. multi-view

| Feature                      | What you see     | Purpose                               |
| ---------------------------- | ---------------- | ------------------------------------- |
| Multi-view                   | Text in sequence | Check reading flow                    |
| Folder timeline (horizontal) | Event cards      | Check time flow                       |
| Folder timeline (vertical)   | Events by label  | Check balance of structure/attributes |

Multi-view = reader view. Timeline = structural view.

***

## How to use it well

Write clear summaries for each document. The timeline relies on them.

Cards should include:

* One-line summary of the main event
* Change in conflict or tension
* Turning point
* Link to the next event

If the summary is vague, the structure will look vague too.

***

## Summary

The folder timeline sorts documents by time or order and shows story structure at a glance.

* Cards on an axis
* Horizontal or vertical
* Labels and status
* Reorder and check balance

It’s most powerful when **designing or rearranging structure**, not while writing the first draft.