> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.royaltyport.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Agreement Timeline

> Chronological view of agreements per entity, artist, or writer based on linked contracts

## Overview

The **Agreement Timeline** is a chronological view of all agreements related to a single party in your CRM: an **entity**, **artist**, or **writer**. You open it from that party's detail page via the **Timeline** tab. It shows when agreements were signed or became effective, including agreements that are only mentioned in other contracts and not yet in your system.

## Where to Find It

The Timeline tab is available on every CRM party:

* **Entities** — [Entities](/projects/crm/entities) → open an entity → **Timeline** tab
* **Artists** — [Artists](/projects/crm/artists) → open an artist → **Timeline** tab
* **Writers** — [Writers](/projects/crm/writers) → open a writer → **Timeline** tab
* **Relations** — [Relations](/projects/crm/relations) → open a relation → **Timeline** tab

## What the Timeline Shows

| Element           | Description                                                            |
| ----------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Summary**       | Collapsible overview of the complete agreement history for that party  |
| **Events**        | Individual agreement events in chronological order                     |
| **Date Badge**    | When the agreement was signed or became effective                      |
| **Contract Link** | "View Contract" button when the agreement exists in your system        |
| **Missing Badge** | "Contract Missing" when the agreement is only referenced, not uploaded |

A **info icon** (ⓘ) at the bottom of the timeline opens a tooltip with a quick reference for these labels:

* **"View Contract"** — links to a contract in your Drive that mentions this entity.
* **"Contract Missing"** — the contract is referenced in other documents but hasn't been uploaded yet.

## Types of Events

* Signed agreements (recording, publishing, distribution, etc.)
* Amendments to existing agreements
* Referenced agreements mentioned in other contracts but not yet in the system

## How It Works

The timeline is built from all contracts linked to that entity, artist, or writer. It:

1. Identifies direct agreements where the party is involved
2. Picks up agreements referenced in other contracts (shown as "Contract Missing" if not uploaded)
3. Orders key dates and relationship milestones chronologically

<Note>
  The timeline updates when new contracts are processed. Referenced agreements marked as "Contract Missing" can be resolved by uploading the missing contract.
</Note>

## How This Relates to IP Groups

Royaltyport has two different ways to look at contracts and agreements over time. They complement each other:

| Feature                                        | What it shows                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | Where to find it                                                      |
| ---------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Agreement Timeline** (this page)             | Chronological agreement history **per CRM party** (entity, artist, writer). Answers: "What agreements has this label/artist/writer had over time?"                                                                                          | CRM: Entity, Artist, or Writer detail → **Timeline** tab              |
| **[IP Groups](/projects/contracts/ip-groups)** | Contracts **grouped by shared intellectual property** (same recordings, compositions, or rights chain). Shows parent/child and sibling relationships between contracts. Answers: "Which contracts touch this asset and how do they relate?" | **Contracts** → **IP Groups**; or contract detail → **IP Groups** tab |

Use the **Agreement Timeline** for a party-centric story (e.g. an artist's deal history). Use **IP Groups** for an asset-centric view of related contracts.

## Next Steps

<Card title="Entities" icon="building" href="/projects/crm/entities">
  Open an entity and use the Timeline tab.
</Card>

<Card title="IP Groups" icon="git-merge" href="/projects/contracts/ip-groups">
  See how contracts are grouped by shared IP.
</Card>