The Narrative View

Customize Content

Choose Which Item Types Can Be Added

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The narrative always allows you to add folders to organize your story. You can also choose which item types—such as Events or Backstory items—can appear in the narrative.

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To customize which item types are available:

1. Open Settings
2. Select the Narrative tab
3. Under Allowed Item Types, choose the item types you want to include

Only the selected item types will be available to add as cards in the Narrative view.

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Customize Card Details

1. Open the Content panel in the view header..
2. Under Fields, click fields to show or hide them on timeline cards.
3. (Optional) Under Card options, adjust Max Lines Per Text Field to limit how much text can be shown.

Tip: If you choose to show items’ positions in the narrative (like Act 2, Scene 1), you can also customize what section labels are used. Learn more →

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Customize Card Arrangement

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You can choose how cards are laid out in the Narrative view. Cards can either stack vertically, or use a mix of vertical and horizontal stacking. The deeper your folder structure, the more useful horizontal stacking becomes, as it helps spread nested levels across the view.

1. Open the Content panel in the view header
2. Open the Narrative Layout section.
3. Choose the layout option you prefer

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Add Events, Items, and Folders

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The Narrative view includes Add buttons that let you insert a new event or folder exactly where you want it in the story order.

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You can use these buttons to either create something new or include an existing item from your timeline.

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Add a New Event, Item, or Folder

1. In the Narrative view, click an Add (+) button at the position where you want the card to appear.
2. Choose whether to add a Folder or a new Event (or other allowed item type)
3. Type a label and press Enter.
   
   

Add an Existing Event or Item to the Narrative

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You can also add events or items that already exist elsewhere in your timeline, as long as their item type is allowed in the narrative.

1. In the Narrative view, click an Add (+) button at the position where you want the card to appear.
2. Under Add Existing Item, select the item you want to include
3. The item appears as a card at that point in the narrative order

Adding an existing item places it into the narrative without duplicating it—any edits you make to that item are reflected everywhere it appears.

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Rearrange Events, Items, and Folders

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In the Narrative view, you can experiment with your story structure by moving and nesting cards.

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You can drag and drop cards to:

• Reorder folders and events.
• Nest and arrange events into acts, chapters, sub-scenes, or other story structure.

These changes affect only the narrative order. Your timeline dates and hierarchy in other views remain unchanged.

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Remove Events and Items from the Narrative

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To remove an event or item from the narrative only, but keep it in your project:

1. Select the event or item to open the inspector.
2. Find the Narrative field.
   If it isn’t shown, scroll to the bottom of the inspector and click Add and Edit Fields to add it.
3. Click Remove from Narrative.

Note: Deleting an event or item from the bottom of the inspector removes it entirely from both the narrative and the timeline.

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