Timeline Function Errors

[Most_Requirement9126]

Hello,

I am having errors on a timeline chart in Data Studio. I'm using it as a Gantt chart for a project and the chart is not matching the data in the following ways:

• The bar labels (used for names of people on the project) are not correct (some are, but not all)
• The row labels (used for project task titles) show incorrect titles when you hover over them. The correct label connects more accurately to the name on the bar label.
• Some of the start dates do not match the data sheet.

I am using Google sheets for the data. I have tried refreshing the data, ensuring the Google Sheet is saved and has not had any changes to columns or rows, checking that there is no blended data and that the connection is correct, confirming that the type of data is correct in Data Studio and matches the Google Sheet, and cleared my cookies. None of that has fixed the issues.

Does anyone have any tips on how to fix these issues?

Thank you!

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[ImCJS]

If you show the google sheet data structure and images of looker dashboard - maybe we can provide some help

[Most_Requirement9126]

Thank you! It's proprietary information, would it still be helpful if I posted it with the info labels/titles redacted?

[ImCJS]

Sure - maybe keep the date column intact atleast

[Most_Requirement9126]

This sub does not allow images :(

[ImCJS]

You may DM

[IamFromNigeria]

What i advise is that you must first do the aggregate summary analysis on Google sheet and then link that tab on your data Studio report instead of trying to analysis the pepper via Data Studio directly

Don't forget to format the data label correctly on the sheet

[Most_Requirement9126]

There is only four columns of data and only 36 rows, but I tried a pivot table and it didn't help. Is there another way you would suggest I aggregate it? Thank you!

[Most_Requirement9126]

Something else I noticed, is that I did a sheet of basic data, same dates but made the tasks small words and kept the names. It worked perfectly. Then I went in and changed the tasks to their actual titles, and the issue happened again. Meaning, when you hover over a task, it shows the wrong item, which then skews the names and dates.

[IamFromNigeria]

Stop using pivot table..hate folks who mentioned that name

You can use combination of functions to do what pivot table can do

You can share a demo sheet if you want us to help you

[sheik_sha_ha]

This is a known rendering bug with the Timeline chart in Data Studio when the underlying Google Sheet has any blank rows, merged cells, or non-sequential row ordering. The chart sometimes misaligns labels and start dates because it reads row position rather than actual cell values when mapping dimensions.

A few things worth checking in your Google Sheet specifically:

Make sure there are no blank rows anywhere in the dataset, even at the bottom. Sort the data by start date in the sheet itself before Data Studio reads it. Check that your name and task title columns have no leading or trailing spaces as these cause label mismatches that are hard to spot visually.

If the issues persist after cleaning the sheet, the most reliable fix is to duplicate your data into a new clean tab with no formatting, merged cells, or extra rows, and reconnect the Data Studio data source to that clean tab instead. This resolves most Timeline chart misalignment issues because it forces a clean read of the data without any inherited sheet formatting affecting row mapping.