# The timeline is missing at some topics without replies
**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/the-timeline-is-missing-at-some-topics-without-replies/285095
**Category:** UX
**Tags:** topic-timeline
**Created:** [November 10, 2023, 5:18pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/the-timeline-is-missing-at-some-topics-without-replies/285095 "2023-11-10T17:18:10Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Moin](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Moin)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2023, 5:18pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/the-timeline-is-missing-at-some-topics-without-replies/285095/1 "2023-11-10T17:18:10Z")
I noticed there is just white space on the right
To reproduce visit a topic without replies like [Indicate which themes and components are safe to use with RTL locales](https://meta.discourse.org/t/indicate-which-themes-and-components-are-safe-to-use-with-rtl-locales/284922) or [another one](https://meta.discourse.org/latest?ascending=true&order=posts) without replies. As long as this topic has no reply you can also see it here. I have the impression that the topic should not be too long. Long topics had a timeline.
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### Author:  [@supermathie](https://meta.discourse.org/u/supermathie)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2023, 9:01pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/the-timeline-is-missing-at-some-topics-without-replies/285095/2 "2023-11-10T21:01:03Z")
I’m fairly certain the timeline is not so much “missing” as “deliberately not shown” for short topics to reduce the noise onscreen.
EDIT: ah, ok, for topics without replies. Once a reply appears, it shows up:
> 
I can’t envision any reason to change this - there’s no information imparted by the timeline on a topic with no replies.
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### Author:  [@Arkshine](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Arkshine)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2023, 9:05pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/the-timeline-is-missing-at-some-topics-without-replies/285095/3 "2023-11-10T21:05:40Z")
I believe this is by design! 😄
If there is one post, and its height goes below 1000px, it doesn’t show the timeline.
[https://github.com/discourse/discourse/blob/main/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/app/components/topic-timeline/container.js#L91-L104](https://github.com/discourse/discourse/blob/main/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/app/components/topic-timeline/container.js#L91-L104)
It makes sense to me. Especially for short posts, the timeline height is enforced to 300px; it won’t look good and has little usefulness here.
> **Example**
>
> 
That said, I understand that for (visual) consistency, I would not mind seeing one (even a shorter version). I think 🤔
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### Author:  [@Moin](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Moin)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2023, 9:24pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/the-timeline-is-missing-at-some-topics-without-replies/285095/4 "2023-11-10T21:24:39Z")
> [@Arkshine](#):
>
> It makes sense to me.
Your example makes sense to me too. But for a topic where I have to scroll to read the full post, it is confusing. How do I know that it is missing because the post is “short” and there is no reply?
> [@supermathie](#):
>
> there’s no information imparted by the timeline on a topic with no replies.
The first information for me is the number of replies. There are also two buttons. At some topics I have to scroll to use the buttons at the end and at other topics they are below the timeline. If there is no reason to put them there, you could always scroll down to reach them.
My first post here was also to short, but the timeline easily fits next to it
For me the blank space at the right indicates something is missing. Maybe the post notice and the text should not leave space for the timeline, when it does not show? Then it would not seem something is missing. (But I think the wrench is shown on all topics, so for some users the space is used)
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### Author:  [@Arkshine](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Arkshine)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2023, 9:38pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/the-timeline-is-missing-at-some-topics-without-replies/285095/5 "2023-11-10T21:38:10Z")
> [@Moin](#):
>
> Your example makes sense to me too. But for a topic where I have to scroll to read the full post, it is confusing. How do I know that it is missing because the post is “short” and there is no reply?
Good point 👍
I’ve tested it on a large screen. For sure you are not going to have the same behavior on a tablet or small screen. I did not think about it.
I agree with you. 🙂
EDIT: I think it would be a safe bet to show the timeline as soon as the post height goes beyond the timeline height + some margin. So ~450/500px maybe.
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### Author:  [@JammyDodger](https://meta.discourse.org/u/JammyDodger)
#### Post date: [November 11, 2023, 11:54am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/the-timeline-is-missing-at-some-topics-without-replies/285095/6 "2023-11-11T11:54:20Z")
I’ve slipped this over to #Contribute > UX 👍
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### Author:  [@manuel](https://meta.discourse.org/u/manuel)
#### Post date: [November 11, 2023, 2:37pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/the-timeline-is-missing-at-some-topics-without-replies/285095/7 "2023-11-11T14:37:17Z")
On a related note there’s a tooltip popup as well explaining the timeline feature, but it sometimes shows on the welcome topic when there’s no replies. And thus there’s no timeline.
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### Author:  [@Moin](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Moin)
#### Post date: [November 11, 2023, 2:45pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/the-timeline-is-missing-at-some-topics-without-replies/285095/8 "2023-11-11T14:45:53Z")
There is also a separate topic
> [@Only show 'Timeline' tip on topics with replies](https://meta.discourse.org/t/only-show-timeline-tip-on-topics-with-replies/283097):
>
> Hi, I noticed this tip: [image] shown on a closed topic that doesn’t have replies. Wouldn’t it make sense to show it only on a topic that does have replies (I’d even suggest at least 2 as otherwise the timeline isn’t so useful)?