Using Timelines
The analysis phase of portfolio applications is based on timelines.
A timeline presents key timespots of the organization from fixed dates or defined periods.A timeline is an object specific to the enterprise and can be referenced by portfolios or master plans.
The timeline associated with an application portfolio is used in time distribution of the application portfolio business capability map. See Generating the Business Capability Map of a Portfolio.
To view timelines associated with a portfolio:
1. Open the Timeline of Reference properties page of the portfolio.
This page is in two parts:
• Timeline of Reference: indicates a global calendar showing a certain number of timelines over a given time period. You can define a new timeline or connect an existing timeline.
• Owned TimeSpot: corresponds to timeline milestones; milestones appear when you select a timeline in the upper part.
The above example presents a timeline for the upgrade of application assets. Phases of deletion of obsolete applications are synchronized with phases of deployment of new applications.
Creating a timeline
To create a timeline:
1. In the first frame of the Timeline section, select New.
The Timeline creation dialog box appears.
2. Enter the name of the timeline.
3. Click OK.
The timeline is created and added to the list of portfolio timelines.
Defining timespots
The Timeline diagram allows you to define the different key events that make up the timeline, as well as their dependency links.
To create a new timeline diagram:
1. Click the icon of the timeline and select New > Timeline Diagram.
An empty diagram appears.
To create an TimeSpot:
1. In the insert toolbar, click the Timespot 
button, then click in the diagram.
button, then click in the diagram.The Add TimeSpot dialog box appears.
2. Indicate the name of the timespot and click OK.
The timespot appears in the diagram.
To specify time links between timespots, you will create a sequence flow:
1. Click the Sequence Flow button 
.
.2. Click the timespot representing the start step, and holding the mouse button down, draw a line to the timespot representing the next step.
3. Release the mouse button.
A directional link from one timespot to the next appears in the diagram. Previous and next timespots also appear in timespot Properties, in the Characteristics page.
Dating a timespot
A timespot can be associated with a precise date or a time interval. The time interval is defined by a date at earliest and a date at latest.
To define timeline timespot dates:
1. Open the Characteristics properties page of the timeline.
2. In the Owned TimeSpot section, you can date timespots.
You can also specify sequence flows.