From a938da1c8bef104f6eaf68b884c99c03c80e6f12 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Bernd Worsch <bernd.worsch@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 18 Nov 2025 20:13:22 +0000
Subject: [PATCH] Update README.md

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 README.md | 178 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++-
 1 file changed, 176 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)

diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
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-# repo-seed
+# **TimelineSvg**
 
-A git repository template to bootstrap coulomb projects from.
\ No newline at end of file
+**TimelineSvg** is a lightweight, browser-based system for generating multi-lane timelines as clean, scalable SVG graphics.
+It reads simple CSV files, applies a configurable project definition, and renders a fully customizable timeline without requiring any backend or build pipeline.
+
+All processing happens locally in the user’s browser — completely offline and fully private.
+
+---
+
+## **Features**
+
+* **Pure browser execution** — no server, no installation
+* **CSV-driven timelines** with customizable field mappings
+* **Automatic layout** of months, lanes, and items
+* **SVG templates with macros** (`{{MONTHS}}`, `{{LANES}}`)
+* **Replaceable CSS and templates at runtime**
+* **Internal and external view modes**
+* **Offline SVG export** (external view only)
+* **Extremely easy to extend or theme**
+
+---
+
+## **How It Works**
+
+TimelineSvg is built around three components:
+
+### **1. `project.json` — The project configuration**
+
+Each project folder provides a `project.json`, defining:
+
+```json
+{
+  "name": "Example Project",
+  "dataSource": "example/sample.csv",
+  "stylesheet": "example/style.css",
+  "svgTemplate": "example/template.svg",
+  "settings": {
+    "timelineMonths": 18
+  },
+  "fieldMapping": {
+    "id": "ID",
+    "title": "Title",
+    "lane": "Lane",
+    "due": ["Due"]
+  }
+}
+```
+
+This controls:
+
+* data source
+* styling
+* template structure
+* date range
+* field mapping between CSV and internal timeline model
+
+### **2. CSV input**
+
+The CSV must contain at least:
+
+* a title
+* a date (any common format: `YYYY-MM-DD`, `DD.MM.YYYY`, etc.)
+* a lane/group field
+
+Example:
+
+```csv
+ID,Title,Due,Lane
+1,Implement API,2025-12-01,Backend
+2,UI Prototype,2026-02-15,Frontend
+```
+
+### **3. Template-based SVG rendering**
+
+TimelineSvg replaces two macros in the template:
+
+* `{{MONTHS}}` → month labels and vertical grid lines
+* `{{LANES}}` → lane backgrounds, labels, and items
+
+Example template:
+
+```svg
+<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
+  <rect width="100%" height="100%" fill="#FFFFFF"/>
+  {{MONTHS}}
+  {{LANES}}
+</svg>
+```
+
+This makes TimelineSvg highly customizable:
+You can recreate any design, layout, or branding using your own SVG template.
+
+---
+
+## **Usage**
+
+### **1. Open the application**
+
+Just open `index.html` in any modern browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge).
+
+### **2. Load a project**
+
+You can choose between:
+
+* automatic loading from `project.json` in the project folder
+* manual upload of a `project.json` file via the UI
+
+### **3. Preview the timeline**
+
+The timeline renders automatically when the CSV loads and is displayed inside the viewer container.
+
+### **4. Switch views**
+
+* **Internal View:** IDs are visible
+* **External View:** IDs are hidden (used for export)
+
+### **5. Export SVG**
+
+Click **Download SVG**
+→ an external-view SVG is saved to disk.
+
+---
+
+## **Project Structure**
+
+```
+/
+│ index.html
+│ engine.js
+│ generator.js
+│
+├─ example/
+│   ├─ project.json
+│   ├─ style.css
+│   ├─ template.svg
+│   └─ sample.csv
+│
+└─ my-project/
+    ├─ project.json
+    ├─ style.css
+    ├─ template.svg
+    └─ data.csv
+```
+
+---
+
+## **Customizing Your Own Project**
+
+To create your own timeline project:
+
+1. Duplicate the `example/` folder
+2. Adjust `project.json` (dataSource, mappings, template)
+3. Replace the CSV with your data
+4. Modify the SVG template for your layout
+5. Open `index.html` and load your project
+
+TimelineSvg will take care of the rest.
+
+---
+
+## **Why SVG?**
+
+* infinitely scalable
+* editable in design tools
+* embeddable in documents, websites, and presentations
+* easy to script, style, and customize
+
+---
+
+## **Requirements**
+
+* Any modern browser
+* No build tools
+* No server
+* No dependencies except PapaParse (bundled by CDN)
+
+xxx