# Problems with TimelinePlot

I'm trying to play with the example in this recent blog post, but I'm having a few basic issues with TimelinePlot:

1. Labels are getting cut off:

2. How can I get labels to go above and below a timeline in TimelinePlot just like in the following example?

I cannot quite manage what you want: the labels keep getting cut off when placed below the image. However, placing the labels to the right of the image does very well.

data = EntityValue[EntityClass["Movie", "StarTrekFranchise"],
{"ReleaseDate", "Image", "Name"}];

movieInfo = #1 -> Labeled[ImageResize[#2, 40], #3, Right] & @@@ data;


Note the entity query above; it gathers all the information from the server with a minimum of calls. Now, with the right options, this can be made quite nice

TimelinePlot[movieInfo, AxesOrigin -> Center, PlotLayout -> "Grouped"]


PlotLayout -> "Grouped" does not do much here as several of the other layouts do the same thing, but it does a trigger different layout algorithm which works better in tight groupings.

I also like the vertical style

TimelinePlot[movieInfo, PlotLayout -> "ReversedVertical",
AxesOrigin -> Center]


The "Reverse" is needed to have the axis ascending, not descending, and not the lack of "Grouped".

• thanks, with PlotLayout -> "Grouped"] the arrows go underneath the labels and it's hard to see which goes where, is there some option to make them use bezier curves or something to make the lines go around the labels? – M.R. Apr 20 '15 at 21:46
• @M.R. that's effectively what the default does, but it clusters the labels which isn't useful here. I'll play with and see. – rcollyer Apr 20 '15 at 22:13
• @M.R., I don't think currently TimelinePlot has a true layout engine. For a roll your own, see for example my answer to mathematica.stackexchange.com/questions/6802/… – alancalvitti Apr 25 '15 at 17:20
• @alancalvitti I think you are right. – M.R. Apr 26 '15 at 0:46
• @alancalvitti I'm not sure what you mean by a "true layout engine" even after reading your previous post. – rcollyer Apr 26 '15 at 2:09