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Timeline Creator Documentation
(Microsoft Word Version: 1.23 MB:Help_Documentation.doc - or - Adobe PDF Version: 0.92 MB:Help_Documentation.pdf)

This documentation provides detailed instructions for using the Creator Application of the Timeline Creator Tool. Topics covered include creating a new timeline, configuring the timeline interface, and importing/exporting content to other applications.

Contacts
Questions/Suggestions about this product can be emailed to timeline@jhu.edu.

What files do I need to create a timeline?
How do I create multiple timelines?
What is the timeline.xml file?
How do I check if I have JAVA installed?
Do I have to create a timeline from scratch?
Where can I report bugs?
What is the CER?

What files do I need to create a timeline? ^

Download the timeline.zip file to your computer and double click on it. This will copy five files to your computer: Creator.jar, timeline.html, timeline.swf, READme.txt and Help_Documentation.pdf. The Creator.jar application is used to enter events and configure the timeline interface, resulting in a timeline.xml file representing your timeline. The timeline.html acts as the Web-based window to the timeline, which loads the timeline.swf file. The timeline.swf file then displays the timeline.xml file that was configured using the Creator.jar application.

How do I create multiple timelines? ^

You can create multiple timelines by copying the timeline.swf file into a new folder. Then use the Creator.jar application to enter new Events and save the timeline.xml file to the new folder.

What is the timeline.xml file? ^

The timeline.xml file is automatically created by the Creator.jar file when you click File-->Save. This file stores all the Events and Interface Configurations entered in the Creator.jar application. The timeline.swf file reads this file to import the Events and Interface Configurations. Therefore, the timeline.xml file must reside in the same folder as the timeline.swf file.

The storage file is wrapped in XML tags so that users can easily import the contents into other applications. If you would like to learn more about XML, visit Webmonkey.

How do I check if I have Java Installed? ^

JAVA 1.4.2 or later must be installed on the computer for the Creator.jar file to work. The free JAVA install is available for download at http://www.java.com/en/download/index.jsp. To check if JAVA is installed

• Windows - Go to Start-->Settings-->Control Panels. JAVA should be listed as an option.
• MAC - Go to the Applications/Utilities folder. A JAVA folder will exist if it is installed.

Do I have to create a timeline from scratch? ^

No. Instructors and researchers are sharing their timeline.xml files on the Community page. By downloading a timeline.xml file and importing them into the Creator.jar file, your timeline can take advantage of events others have already created. Delete, change, or add content as needed.

Where can I report bugs? ^

Bugs should be emailed to timeline@jhu.edu.

What is the CER? ^

The Center for Educational Resources (CER) at Johns Hopkins University is a faculty support Center whose mission is to enhance the instructional impact of faculty through the use of instructional technology. The CER created this tool for faculty at Johns Hopkins University, but makes the tool freely available for teachers, faculty members, or researchers at any institution. To learn more visit the Center's web site - http://www.cer.jhu.edu.

1) Event Descriptions not saved when "Save as HTML" is used - When viewing the "timeline-preview.html" file, after "Saving as HTML", all of the descriptions for the events are not available.

2) Some xml files created with the previous version of the Creator Application do not load in the Flash Timeline Template. In this case, open up the xml file in the new Creator Application and save it. Opening the newly saved file in the new Flash Timeline Template should work correctly.

3) Images not appearing in Detail Window - Users must use Flash Player 7.0 or later to view images on an Event's detail popup window. The latest viewer is available at http://www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer.

4) The Creator App will start, but will not save the timeline.xml file if JAVA 1.4.2 or later is not installed. The latest version of the JAVA JRE (SDK is not needed) can be downloaded at http://www.java.com/getjava.

5) Foreign Characters - Non-standard English characters will appear in the Creator Application and will be stored correctly in the XML file. However, the special characters will cause the Flash Timeline Template to not display.