Hi all,

We’ve just released some cool new features for the Histropedia Wikidata Query Timeline tool.

Here's a quick overview of what's new, along with some examples (more examples available in the drop down menu on the query input page) :

1. Vertical spacing controls + auto-fit mode
A new control panel on the timeline for controlling the space between rows of events.
This includes an 'auto' mode that keeps everything visible as you zoom and scroll (set to ‘on’ by default for small timelines).
Example:

Heritage structures in London - should load in auto mode. Try zooming in to an area with your mousewheel to see it auto adjust. You can click on the arrows in the new panel (right of screen) to adjust the spacing manually.

2. 'Colour scale' colour coding
This is created automatically if you choose to colour code by a variable that returns a number (e.g. population, height, etc).
Examples:
Click the icon to see the colour code key

Discovery of the chemical elements – colour coded by atomic number (shows that heavy elements are discovered much later than light ones)
Things located within 20km of the Statue of Liberty - colour coded by distance from the Statue of Liberty (light colours are closest)

3. Multiple filters
You can now have multiple filter options on a timeline (previously only allowed a single filter option)
Examples:
Click on the icon to see the available filters.

The Louvre Collections - filter by creator, genre, movement, material used and room

People born on this day – filter by gender, occupation, education, cause of death and ethnic group

4. Automatic detection of timeline data from the SPARQL query
Just paste a SPARQL query in to the input box on the query input page and click 'generate timeline'. Any query that has the timeline view built available on the Wikidata Query Service should work automatically.
You can then optionally use the 'map variables' section to add date precision, colour codes and filters, or to override anything that automatic detection got wrong.

5. New help popups
There are now lots of new instructions on the query input page (just click on the little help icons ). This includes info on how to add colour codes and filters to a timeline.

Let me know if you have any feedback or suggestions!

Cheers :)

Navino

navino@histropedia.com

@NavinoEvans