---
title: Timelines
description: Create a timeline in SmartDraw and add events, milestones, and date ranges along a horizontal axis.
---
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# Timelines
Select a **Timeline** template from the **Project Planning** category under **New Document** on the dashboard.
SmartDraw's simple timeline templates let you quickly add events along a horizontal line that represents any time period you define.
The template has some placeholders for events and time periods. You can define these as you want. To add information to an event, just double-click to add text on the relevant event box. To define the time, click to add a year, month, or specific date as you want.
To add a new event to the template, select an event symbol from the SmartPanel and drag and drop it to your timeline.
### Adding Style
Change the look of your entire timeline with the help of professionally-designed Themes. You can change the theme in a single click under the **Themes** drop-down in the Home tab.
Or change the look of individual shapes instantly by selecting a new Quick Style from the **Styles** drop-down.
### Add Picture
You can replace the text inside any shape on your timeline with a photo or image. Add logos, screenshots, or photographs to create a bigger visual impact.
Select the shape you want to turn into an image and click the **Picture** command in the **Insert** drop-down on the **Home** tab. Browse and select the image you want to add.
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