Evidence Board vs. Timeline: When to Use Each
A board and a timeline answer different questions. A board shows what is connected to what. A timeline shows what happened when. Most investigations need both, and it helps to know which one to reach for first.
Use a board when relationships matter
If your main question is who knows whom, which document supports which claim, or what touches a place, start with a board. Cards and strings show structure, and selecting one card shows everything directly tied to it.
Use a timeline when order matters
If you are asking what came first, whether two events could have overlapped, or where the gaps are, put dates on your cards and list them in order. A short gap between a purchase and a fire, or a long silence before a message, only becomes visible once events are in sequence.
Combine them
Give each card an event date, keep the connections, and switch between views. In AnacapaChart you can read the timeline panel, then arrange the board by date, then arrange it as a network again to see relationships without the sequence getting in the way.
A simple rule
Start with the board while you are collecting. Add dates as you verify things. Move to the timeline when you need to test a story against the order of events.