Overview of TimeLiner

Overview of TimeLiner

The TimeLiner plugin adds 4D schedule simulation to JetStream. TimeLiner imports schedules from a variety of sources; allows you to connect objects in the model with tasks in the schedule; simulate the schedule showing the effects on the model, including planned against actual schedules; and export images and animations based on the results of the simulation. TimeLiner will automatically update the simulation if the model or schedule changes.

TimeLiner has a Playback-only option when a full TimeLiner license is not available, allowing any externally created project data to be simulated, but no changes to be made to that data.

If both a TimeLiner and a Clash Detective license are available together, it is possible to combine the functionalities of both plugins to provide time-based clash checkes on the project. See Selecting Items for Clash Testing in the Clash Detective documentation for further details on Time-based Clashing

The TimeLiner interface is arranged as a tabbed dialog. You will perform different activities using each tab. The typical activities are outlined below:

    Getting Started

  1. Load a model into JetStream in the usual way (see the section called "Opening Files" in the chapter called "File Management" of the JetStream Roamer book for more information on opening files) and then choose TimeLiner from the Tools menu.

    Note

    If a full TimeLiner license is not available, simulation playback will be available using TimeLiner Playback from the Tools menu. TimeLiner Playback will only give access to the Simulation tab and related controls.

    The TimeLiner dialog is displayed:

    Note

    The TimeLiner dialog can be docked within the JetStream interface. To stop the dialog from docking, hold down the Ctrl key.

  2. Create some tasks, each having a name, start and end date and a task type. You can enter tasks by hand on the Tasks Tab. Alternatively, the Tools context menu on the Tasks Tab will create an initial set of tasks based on layer, item, or selection set names. TimeLiner defines some default task types for you (Construct, Demolish and Temporary), or you can define your own using the Configure Tab

    You can use the Links Tab to import tasks from an external source, such as Microsoft Project. You can choose a field from the external schedule to define the types of the imported tasks, or you can set task types by hand. Linked fields cannot be edited directly in TimeLiner. You can, of course, update the schedule externally and synchronize the tasks in TimeLiner with those from the external source.

  3. Connect objects in the model to tasks. You do this by hand on the Tasks Tab, using the context menu to attach selections, searches or selection sets.

    If you used the Tools menu on the Tasks Tab to create an initial set of tasks based on layer, item or selection set names, then the corresponding layers, items or selection sets will already be attached for you. Alternatively, you can use the Rules Tab to automatically attach objects.

  4. Simulate your schedule. Use the Simulate Tab to visualise your model at any date in your schedule with the currently active tasks highlighted. Run through the entire schedule using familiar animation controls. You can set the simulation to interact with an existing saved animation (created in JetStream Roamer) to provide a highly dynamic simulation.

  5. Configure the behaviour of the simulation. Use the Configure Tab to create new task types and edit old ones. The task type defines what happens at the start and end of each task of that type. You can hide attached objects, change their appearance or reset them to the appearance specified in the model.

  6. Create image and AVI files. Export the current simulation view as an image, or the entire simulation as an AVI.

  7. Keep upto date with changes in your project. Save your project as a JetStream .nwf file. Open the .nwf and use Synchronize Tasks from Link from the Links Tab. JetStream will update the project based on any changes to the model and external schedule. Use Rebuild Task Hierarchy from all Links to add any newly created tasks from your external schedules.

    Sort All Tasks from the context menu on the Tasks Tab will keep all your tasks in numerical/alphabetical order.