# Interactive Timeline & Motion Tags

### Summary

Learn how to use the Interactive Timeline to visualize the chronological history of a case and filter complex dockets by specific event types (Motion Tags).

### Why This is Important

Complex litigation can span years and contain hundreds of docket entries. Scrolling through a text-based list to find a specific "Motion to Dismiss" or "Summary Judgment" is time-consuming. The **Interactive Timeline** transforms this list into a visual map, allowing you to see the cadence of the case and instantly isolate the documents that matter most.

### Accessing the Timeline

1. Open any Docket Sheet (case page).
2. Look for the **Show Interactive Timeline** button located near the top of the page, just above the list of docket entries.
3. Click it to expand the visual timeline view.

<figure><img src="https://1556743161-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MS8Dq_iqEIflAmbaOkI-887967055%2Fuploads%2FbeuIMmDN2oYxwHXeqsIf%2FToggle%20the%20timeline%20view%20to%20see%20a%20visual%20representation%20of%20the%20case%20history..gif?alt=media&#x26;token=db8daa04-c3cd-41db-bf09-f906088dc235" alt=""><figcaption><p>Toggle the timeline view to see a visual representation of the case history.</p></figcaption></figure>

### Navigating the Timeline

* **Chronological View:** The timeline displays events from left to right.
* **Zoom & Scroll:** You can scroll horizontally to move through time or zoom in to focus on a specific month or year.
* **Lanes:** Events are often grouped into "lanes" based on their type (e.g., Motions, Orders, Pleadings) to help you distinguish between actions taken by the parties versus rulings by the judge.

### Using Motion Tags

Docket Alarm created a parser to automatically "tag" docket entries with over **220+ specific types** (e.g., *Motion to Dismiss*, *Complaint*, *Order*, *Answer*).

**How to Filter by Tags:**

1. In the timeline view, you will see a filter menu or legend.
2. **Hover** over a specific tag (e.g., "Motion to Dismiss") to highlight only those events on the timeline.
3. **Click** a tag to filter the docket sheet below, hiding all other entries. This allows you to see, for example, *only* the motions filed in the case, ignoring all administrative entries.

### Springboarding to Analytics

The timeline is not just for navigation; it is a gateway to research.

* **Hover** over a Motion Tag in the timeline.
* A popup will appear showing **Outcome Analytics** for that specific motion type.
* Click **Search** within that popup to find *similar motions* filed in other cases. This is a powerful way to find precedent or see how other judges have ruled on identical motions.

{% hint style="info" %}
**Pro Tip:** You can filter the timeline by "Importance." Select **High Importance** to see only dispositive motions and major orders, giving you a "CliffsNotes" version of the case history in seconds.&#x20;
{% endhint %}

### Related Articles

* [Using Federal Analytics](https://support.vlex.com/docket-alarm/docket-alarm-home/analytics/using-federal-analytics)
* [How to Search for a Case](https://support.vlex.com/docket-alarm/docket-alarm-home/search-and-discovery/how-to-search-for-a-case)

#### Need more help?

If you do not see the "Show Interactive Timeline" button, the case may be from a jurisdiction that does not yet support advanced tagging. Contact Support for coverage details.

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