The timeline graph feature of PingPlotter is specifically built for long-term monitoring projects.

Often, your ISP problems occur when you're not watching it.  The timeline graph feature of PingPlotter allows you to trace over a long period of time - and then look back over this history to find when and where the problem occurs.

By default, PingPlotter will automatically trace the last hop (the host you're tracing to) on a time-line graph.  You also trace any of the other hops by right clicking on that hop in the trace graph and then selecting "Show this Timeline Graph".  You can also turn off any graph by this same mechanism.

Once tracing, PingPlotter will record each sample on the time-line graph.  The amount of data displayed on the graph can be changed by right-clicking on the timeline graph - then selecting the amount of time you want displayed.  This scale affects ALL timeline graphs and is saved when you shut down PingPlotter.

If there is more data collected than you can show on the timeline graph with your selected scale, click on the graph and while holding down your mouse button, drag the graph.  This will allow you to move back in history and examine the samples.  You can also use the keyboard to scroll.  To scroll with the keyboard, select the timeline graph and use one of the following keys:

If you find a time period that looks "interesting", you can double click on the timeline graph at that point.  The upper graph (the trace graph) will move to that time period.  This allows you to troubleshoot where the connection problem may have occurred.  Keep in mind that the upper graph always focuses in on the number of samples in "Samples to include".  If you have that set to ALL, then the upper graph can't zoom in on any piece of the graph.

It may be that you see a problem period in the 48 hour graph.  Double-click on that period, and the upper graph will focus on that period.  You can then change your timeline graph scale and the lower graphs will try to stay focused on the time period you selected.  This makes it easy to see details about a specific period.

Another handy way to navigate through the time graph is with the mouse wheel.  If you select a graph, scrolling your mouse wheel will move the graph forward and backwards.  If you hold down the mouse wheel while you scroll, you'll zoom in on the period your mouse is pointing at.

When you're done zooming the graph, right-click on it and select "Reset focus to current".  This will return both graphs (the timeline and the trace graph) to the current time.

Because PingPlotter takes so little CPU time when running, you can set it up to trace while you're doing something else.  One particularly interesting way to use it is to set it tracing to a site that is hosting a game you're playing, or server you're using (streaming stock quotes, for example).  If you notice your response slowing down, you can check out PingPlotter and use it to quickly troubleshoot where the problem is coming from.