← ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10

Timeline slicers for dates

A timeline slicer filters a pivot table by dragging along a date range. Pick months, quarters or years from the time level drop-down. It needs a date field.

Part of: ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10 — Analysing and Visualising Data — Module 58

Understanding Timeline slicers for dates in ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10

What it does: The Timeline button on the Insert tab is how you add the date-range slicer to a pivot table. Choosing Quarters in the time level drop-down groups the timeline into 3-month blocks, so you can drag across quarters. You drag the bar along the timeline to choose the dates you want. No formula is needed. A timeline only works with real dates. Fields such as names or categories need a normal slicer instead.

Common mistakes: A timeline slicer needs a date field. A text field like Name cannot be used. It should be 'Tick the Date field, press OK'. The time level drop-down offers Years, Quarters, Months and Days. Hours is not a choice. It should be Months (or another valid level).

Class: _____________________  ·  Name: _____________________  ·  Date: _________

Free printable worksheet with full answer key — or add this module to a class and your students practise it interactively.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 378–412) and word search (Modules 333–412).

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Learning
Duo
Which menu path adds a timeline slicer to a pivot table?
Insert > Timeline Chart RowInsert > Timeline
Matches
Insert > Timeline on a table with a Name column and a Score column only
↓
A timeline slicer needs a date field. With only text and number columns there is nothing to build the timeline from.
Applying
Meanings
Term
Insert > Timeline
Meaning
A timeline slicer filters a pivot table by dragging along a date range. Pick months, quarters or years from the time level drop-down. It needs a date field.
Practice
Click inside the pivot table
Testing
Gaps
Insert >
Check Answer
Spots
2Go to Insert > Timeline
3Tick the Name field, press OK

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Quick Questions

1. Which menu path adds a timeline slicer to a pivot table?
A. Insert > Timeline Chart Row
B. Insert > Timeline ✓
A timeline slicer is added from the Insert tab with Timeline. It is a filter for the pivot table, not a chart.
2. A timeline slicer filters a pivot table by...
A. Dragging along a date range ✓
B. Typing a formula in a cell
You drag the bar along the timeline to choose the dates you want. No formula is needed.
3. Which kind of field does a timeline slicer need?
A. A text field like Name
B. A date field ✓
A timeline only works with real dates. Fields such as names or categories need a normal slicer instead.
4. Where do you change the timeline from months to quarters?
A. The time level drop-down ✓
B. The Sort A to Z button
The time level drop-down sits at the top right of the timeline. It offers Years, Quarters, Months and Days.
5. Your orders column holds dates stored as text, such as 'third of Feb'. Will Insert > Timeline work?
A. No, it needs real date values ✓
B. Yes, any column works
Convert the text to real dates first (see fixing date formats). Then the timeline can be inserted.

Match the Pairs

Insert > Timeline → Adds a timeline slicer to a pivot table so you can filter its data by dragging along a date range
Time level drop-down: Months | Quarters | Years → Changes the size of the time steps the timeline slicer uses to filter the pivot table
A timeline slicer is added from the Insert tab and filters a pivot table by a range of dates → Insert > Timeline
To view sales one quarter at a time, change the time level on the timeline → Time level: Quarters
Insert > Timeline on a table with a Name column and a Score column only → A timeline slicer needs a date field. With only text and number columns there is nothing to build the timeline from.
Dragging the timeline slicer bar to filter by region name → A timeline slicer filters by date ranges, not by text categories like region. Dragging along it changes the dates shown.

Key Term

Insert > Timeline
A timeline slicer filters a pivot table by dragging along a date range. Pick months, quarters or years from the time level drop-down. It needs a date field.

Fill in the Blanks

1. Insert > Timeline
Hint: Type the name of the slicer type used to filter by dates.
2. Insert > Timeline
Hint: Type the name of the ribbon tab that holds the timeline button.
3. Time level: Months, Quarters, Years
Hint: Type the time level that groups three months together.
4. A timeline needs a date field
Hint: Type the kind of data field the timeline requires.
5. Click the PivotTable, then Insert > Timeline
Hint: Type the one-word name of the object you select before inserting a timeline.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A Click inside the pivot table
B Go to Insert > Timeline
C Tick the Name field, press OK
D Drag along the timeline bar
Line C — A timeline slicer needs a date field. A text field like Name cannot be used. It should be 'Tick the Date field, press OK'.
Question 2
A Click inside the pivot table
B Insert > Timeline
C Pick Hours in time level
D Drag the bar across Jan-Mar
Line C — The time level drop-down offers Years, Quarters, Months and Days. Hours is not a choice. It should be Months (or another valid level).
Question 3
A Click inside the pivot table
B Insert > Slicer
C Tick the OrderDate field
Line B — Insert > Slicer makes a normal slicer with buttons for text items. A date range bar needs Insert > Timeline.
Question 4
A Click outside the pivot table
B Insert > Timeline
C Tick the OrderDate field
Line A — Timeline needs the pivot table to be selected first. Click inside the pivot table, not outside it.
Question 5
A Click inside the pivot table
B Insert > Timeline, tick Date
C Type Jan-Mar into a text box
Line C — A timeline has no text box. You filter by dragging the bar (or its handles) along the date range.

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