Exactly how to use a Sequence column varies between tools - see the Help for the required tool. This is an overview for Case Review Administrators.


The first column in a chronology table can be a Sequence column. This provides two main benefits:

  • it can contain a reference number for each event
  • you can use it to specify the order of events on a particular day when you do not know their times

Defining a Sequence Column

The Case Review Administrator can define a Sequence column when setting up the chronology document. 

Chronology users can define one in the tool they are using (this is the only change Chronolator allows to Administrator-defined column headings).

Updating Sequence Numbers

When you first add a Sequence column, Chronolator automatically adds a sequence number to each event. 


Later, you can update the numbers at any time - for example, if some events are added or removed.

Forcing events into order

Sometimes you might not know at what time events happened on a particular day, but you do know their order. You can use the Sequence column to specify it.


In this example from a multi-agency chronology, the time has only been given for one of the events of July 15 (2013-07-15), and events are in the wrong order (in the first one an infant has collapsed, while in the second he seemed well):

We can put them in the right order by adding a Sequence column ...

... and editing each event, putting the desired sequence number in it:





You do not always have to update sequence numbers in all the events, as the sort recognises decimal numbers. For example, suppose that you now wanted to put event 4 before event 2 (this might not make sense in terms of the story, but we will do it here just to illustrate the feature).


Replace the 4 in the event with a number between 1 and 2 - 1.5 say:

               

       


Chronolator Integrate and Chronolator Review automatically sort the table. In Chronolator Enter, the user must sort the table using the Update > Sort button.

Afterwards, the numbers can be updated as described above.