Importing Tab-Delimited Text Files

Import events from a spreadsheet, 3rd party application, or database

The quickest way to import events from an external data source is in the form of a tab delimited text file. You can create such a file with many programs including text editors and spreadsheet software such as Microsoft Excel.

The file must contain five columns labeled “Label”, “Start Time”, “End Time”, “Link”, and “Notes.” Each column is separated by tabs. The dates can be in any common United States or international formats recognized by Bee Docs Timeline. The End Time column label must exist but the End Time value is not required for each event.

Once you have created a tab-delimited text file, save it using the file extension .txt. Then you can open the file directly by dragging the file onto the application icon or using the Open command in the File menu.

A valid file for import might look something like this:

Label Start Time End Time Link Notes Chinese invent paper 1/1/100 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paper Paper spreads to Japan, Arabia, and Europe 1/1/125 1/1/400 Codex book form introduced 1/1/400 First printed book 1/1/868 Illuminated manuscripts 1/1/900 1/1/1300 Movable type invented in China 1/1/1040 Gutenberg invents printing press 1/1/1450 Full-color printing invented 1/1/1719 First pencils made 1/1/1795 Melvil Dewey invents vertical file system 1/1/1874 Typewriter invented 1/1/1874 Paper clip invented 1/1/1900 First ballpoint pen 1/1/1938 Desktop publishing 1/1/1984

Tips

  • Create a few events in Bee Docs Timeline and use “Export Events…” from the File menu to save them as a text document. This file can serve as a template for text imports that you create automatically.

  • Dates prior to 100 AD can not be imported using a text file.

  • Images, Colors, and Event Rows can not be automatically imported using a text file.