diff --git a/Core/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/timeline/ui/AbstractVisualizationPane.java b/Core/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/timeline/ui/AbstractVisualizationPane.java
index 874252f50b..d240f473a8 100644
--- a/Core/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/timeline/ui/AbstractVisualizationPane.java
+++ b/Core/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/timeline/ui/AbstractVisualizationPane.java
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 /*
  * Autopsy Forensic Browser
  *
- * Copyright 2014 Basis Technology Corp.
+ * Copyright 2014-15 Basis Technology Corp.
  * Contact: carrier <at> sleuthkit <dot> org
  *
  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ import javafx.beans.property.SimpleBooleanProperty;
 import javafx.collections.FXCollections;
 import javafx.collections.ListChangeListener;
 import javafx.collections.ObservableList;
+import javafx.concurrent.Service;
 import javafx.concurrent.Task;
 import javafx.geometry.Pos;
 import javafx.scene.Cursor;
@@ -75,7 +76,7 @@ import org.sleuthkit.autopsy.timeline.events.RefreshRequestedEvent;
  * @param <Y>         the type of data plotted along the y axis
  * @param <NodeType>  the type of nodes used to represent data items
  * @param <ChartType> the type of the {@link XYChart<X,Y>} this class uses to
- *                    plot the * data.
+ *                    plot the data.
  *
  * TODO: this is becoming (too?) closely tied to the notion that their is a
  * {@link XYChart} doing the rendering. Is this a good idea? -jm TODO: pull up
@@ -97,16 +98,13 @@ public abstract class AbstractVisualizationPane<X, Y, NodeType extends Node, Cha
      * access to chart data via series
      */
     protected final ObservableList<XYChart.Series<X, Y>> dataSeries = FXCollections.<XYChart.Series<X, Y>>observableArrayList();
-
-    abstract protected void resetData();
+    protected final Map<EventType, XYChart.Series<X, Y>> eventTypeToSeriesMap = new HashMap<>();
 
     protected ChartType chart;
 
     //// replacement axis label componenets
     private final Pane leafPane; // container for the leaf lables in the declutterd axis
-
     private final Pane branchPane;// container for the branch lables in the declutterd axis
-
     protected final Region spacer;
 
     /**
@@ -148,7 +146,7 @@ public abstract class AbstractVisualizationPane<X, Y, NodeType extends Node, Cha
      * @return true if the tick label for the given value should be bold ( has
      *         relevant data), false* otherwise
      */
-    protected abstract Boolean isTickBold(X value);
+    abstract protected Boolean isTickBold(X value);
 
     /**
      * apply this visualization's 'selection effect' to the given node
@@ -157,27 +155,27 @@ public abstract class AbstractVisualizationPane<X, Y, NodeType extends Node, Cha
      * @param applied true if the effect should be applied, false if the effect
      *                should
      */
-    protected abstract void applySelectionEffect(NodeType node, Boolean applied);
+    abstract protected void applySelectionEffect(NodeType node, Boolean applied);
 
     /**
      * @return a task to execute on a background thread to reload this
      *         visualization with different data.
      */
-    protected abstract Task<Boolean> getUpdateTask();
+    abstract protected Task<Boolean> getUpdateTask();
 
     /**
      * @return return the {@link Effect} applied to 'selected nodes' in this
      *         visualization, or null if selection is visualized via another
      *         mechanism
      */
-    protected abstract Effect getSelectionEffect();
+    abstract protected Effect getSelectionEffect();
 
     /**
      * @param tickValue
      *
      * @return a String to use for a tick mark label given a tick value
      */
-    protected abstract String getTickMarkLabel(X tickValue);
+    abstract protected String getTickMarkLabel(X tickValue);
 
     /**
      * the spacing (in pixels) between tick marks of the horizontal axis. This
@@ -185,22 +183,27 @@ public abstract class AbstractVisualizationPane<X, Y, NodeType extends Node, Cha
      *
      * @return the spacing in pixels between tick marks of the horizontal axis
      */
-    protected abstract double getTickSpacing();
+    abstract protected double getTickSpacing();
 
     /**
      * @return the horizontal axis used by this Visualization's chart
      */
-    protected abstract Axis<X> getXAxis();
+    abstract protected Axis<X> getXAxis();
 
     /**
      * @return the vertical axis used by this Visualization's chart
      */
-    protected abstract Axis<Y> getYAxis();
+    abstract protected Axis<Y> getYAxis();
+
+    abstract protected void resetData();
 
     /**
      * update this visualization based on current state of zoom / filters.
-     * Primarily this invokes the background {@link Task} returned by
-     * {@link #getUpdateTask()} which derived classes must implement.
+     * Primarily this invokes the background {@link VisualizationUpdateTask}
+     * returned by {@link #getUpdateTask()}, which derived classes must
+     * implement.
+     *
+     * TODO: replace this logic with a {@link Service} ? -jm
      */
     final synchronized public void update() {
         if (updateTask != null) {
@@ -236,8 +239,10 @@ public abstract class AbstractVisualizationPane<X, Y, NodeType extends Node, Cha
         invalidationListener = null;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * make a series for each event type in a consistent order
+     */
     protected final void createSeries() {
-        //make all series to ensure they get created in consistent order
         for (EventType eventType : EventType.allTypes) {
             XYChart.Series<X, Y> series = new XYChart.Series<>();
             series.setName(eventType.getDisplayName());
@@ -246,9 +251,19 @@ public abstract class AbstractVisualizationPane<X, Y, NodeType extends Node, Cha
         }
     }
 
+    /**
+     *
+     * @param et the EventType to get the series for
+     *
+     * @return a Series object to contain all the events with the given
+     *         EventType
+     */
+    protected final XYChart.Series<X, Y> getSeries(final EventType et) {
+        return eventTypeToSeriesMap.get(et);
+    }
+
     protected AbstractVisualizationPane(TimeLineController controller, Pane partPane, Pane contextPane, Region spacer) {
         this.controller = controller;
-
         this.filteredEvents = controller.getEventsModel();
         this.filteredEvents.registerForEvents(this);
         this.filteredEvents.zoomParametersProperty().addListener(invalidationListener);
@@ -268,18 +283,10 @@ public abstract class AbstractVisualizationPane<X, Y, NodeType extends Node, Cha
         TimeLineController.getTimeZone().addListener(invalidationListener);
 
         //show tooltip text in status bar
-        hoverProperty().addListener((observable, oldActivated, newActivated) -> {
-            if (newActivated) {
-                controller.setStatus(DEFAULT_TOOLTIP.getText());
-            } else {
-                controller.setStatus("");
-            }
-        });
+        hoverProperty().addListener(observable -> controller.setStatus(isHover() ? DEFAULT_TOOLTIP.getText() : ""));
 
     }
 
-    protected final Map<EventType, XYChart.Series<X, Y>> eventTypeToSeriesMap = new HashMap<>();
-
     @Subscribe
     public void handleRefreshRequested(RefreshRequestedEvent event) {
         update();
@@ -477,17 +484,8 @@ public abstract class AbstractVisualizationPane<X, Y, NodeType extends Node, Cha
         }
     }
 
-    /**
-     * NOTE: Because this method modifies data directly used by the chart, this
-     * method should only be called from JavaFX thread!
-     *
-     * @param et the EventType to get the series for
-     *
-     * @return a Series object to contain all the events with the given
-     *         EventType
-     */
-    protected final XYChart.Series<X, Y> getSeries(final EventType et) {
-        return eventTypeToSeriesMap.get(et);
+    protected Interval getTimeRange() {
+        return filteredEvents.timeRangeProperty().get();
     }
 
     abstract protected class VisualizationUpdateTask<AxisValuesType> extends LoggedTask<Boolean> {
@@ -496,30 +494,36 @@ public abstract class AbstractVisualizationPane<X, Y, NodeType extends Node, Cha
             super(taskName, logStateChanges);
         }
 
-        protected void installMaskerPane() {
-            MaskerPane maskerPane = new MaskerPane();
-            maskerPane.textProperty().bind(messageProperty());
-            maskerPane.progressProperty().bind(progressProperty());
-            setCenter(new StackPane(chart, maskerPane));
-        }
-
-        protected Interval getTimeRange() {
-            return filteredEvents.timeRangeProperty().get();
-        }
-
+        /**
+         * Sets initial progress value and message and shows blocking progress
+         * indicator over the visualization. Derived Tasks should be sure to
+         * call this as part of their call() implementation.
+         *
+         * @return true
+         *
+         * @throws Exception
+         */
         @NbBundle.Messages({"VisualizationUpdateTask.preparing=Analyzing zoom and filter settings"})
         @Override
         protected Boolean call() throws Exception {
             updateProgress(-1, 1);
             updateMessage(Bundle.VisualizationUpdateTask_preparing());
             Platform.runLater(() -> {
-                installMaskerPane();
+                MaskerPane maskerPane = new MaskerPane();
+                maskerPane.textProperty().bind(messageProperty());
+                maskerPane.progressProperty().bind(progressProperty());
+                setCenter(new StackPane(chart, maskerPane));
                 setCursor(Cursor.WAIT);
             });
 
             return true;
         }
 
+        /**
+         * updates the horisontal axis and removes the blocking progress
+         * indicator. Derived Tasks should be sure to call this as part of their
+         * succeeded() implementation.
+         */
         @Override
         protected void succeeded() {
             super.succeeded();
@@ -532,7 +536,8 @@ public abstract class AbstractVisualizationPane<X, Y, NodeType extends Node, Cha
         }
 
         /**
-         * for use within the derived impementation of {@link #call() }
+         * Clears the chart data and sets the horisontal axis range. For use
+         * within the derived impementation of {@link #call() }
          *
          * @param axisValues
          */
diff --git a/Core/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/timeline/ui/countsview/CountsViewPane.java b/Core/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/timeline/ui/countsview/CountsViewPane.java
index 05bf0e4f6a..e687412022 100644
--- a/Core/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/timeline/ui/countsview/CountsViewPane.java
+++ b/Core/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/timeline/ui/countsview/CountsViewPane.java
@@ -252,20 +252,30 @@ public class CountsViewPane extends AbstractVisualizationPane<String, Number, No
             chart.setRangeInfo(rangeInfo);  //do we need this.  It seems like a hack.
 
             List<Interval> intervals = rangeInfo.getIntervals();
-            //clear old data, and reset ranges and series
             List<String> categories = Lists.transform(intervals, rangeInfo::formatForTick);
+
+            //clear old data, and reset ranges and series
             resetChart(categories);
 
             updateMessage(Bundle.CountsViewPane_loggedTask_updatingCounts());
             int chartMax = 0;
             int numIntervals = intervals.size();
+            /*
+             * for each interval query database for event counts and add to
+             * chart.
+             *
+             * Doing this in chunks might seem inefficient but it lets us reuse
+             * more cached results as the user navigates to overlapping viewws
+             *
+             * //TODO: implement similar chunked caching in DetailsView -jm
+             */
             for (int i = 0; i < numIntervals; i++) {
                 if (isCancelled()) {
                     return null;
                 }
                 updateProgress(i, numIntervals);
                 final Interval interval = intervals.get(i);
-                int maxPerInterval = 0; //used in total max tracking
+                int maxPerInterval = 0;
 
                 //query for current interval
                 Map<EventType, Long> eventCounts = filteredEvents.getEventCounts(interval);
@@ -290,6 +300,7 @@ public class CountsViewPane extends AbstractVisualizationPane<String, Number, No
                 }
                 chartMax = Math.max(chartMax, maxPerInterval);
             }
+            //adjust vertical axis according to scale type and max counts
             double countAxisUpperbound = 1 + chartMax * 1.2;
             double tickUnit = ScaleType.LINEAR.equals(scale.get())
                     ? Math.pow(10, Math.max(0, Math.floor(Math.log10(chartMax)) - 1))
@@ -298,7 +309,7 @@ public class CountsViewPane extends AbstractVisualizationPane<String, Number, No
                 countAxis.setTickUnit(tickUnit);
                 countAxis.setUpperBound(countAxisUpperbound);
             });
-            return chartMax > 0;
+            return chartMax > 0;  // are there events
         }
 
         @Override
diff --git a/Core/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/timeline/ui/countsview/EventCountsChart.java b/Core/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/timeline/ui/countsview/EventCountsChart.java
index 61cf9ca507..fee0522fa6 100644
--- a/Core/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/timeline/ui/countsview/EventCountsChart.java
+++ b/Core/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/timeline/ui/countsview/EventCountsChart.java
@@ -173,6 +173,48 @@ final class EventCountsChart extends StackedBarChart<String, Number> implements
         return SELECTED_NODE_EFFECT;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Add the bar click handler,tooltip, border styling and hover effect to the
+     * node generated by StackedBarChart.
+     *
+     * @param series
+     * @param itemIndex
+     * @param item
+     */
+    @NbBundle.Messages({
+        "# {0} - count",
+        "# {1} - event type displayname",
+        "# {2} - start date time",
+        "# {3} - end date time",
+        "CountsViewPane.tooltip.text={0} {1} events\nbetween {2}\nand     {3}"})
+    @Override
+    protected void dataItemAdded(Series<String, Number> series, int itemIndex, Data<String, Number> item) {
+        ExtraData extraValue = (ExtraData) item.getExtraValue();
+        EventType eventType = extraValue.getEventType();
+        Interval interval = extraValue.getInterval();
+        long count = extraValue.getRawCount();
+
+        item.nodeProperty().addListener((Observable o) -> {
+            final Node node = item.getNode();
+            if (node != null) {
+                node.setStyle("-fx-border-width: 2; -fx-border-color: " + ColorUtilities.getRGBCode(eventType.getSuperType().getColor()) + "; -fx-bar-fill: " + ColorUtilities.getRGBCode(eventType.getColor())); // NON-NLS
+                node.setCursor(Cursor.HAND);
+
+                final Tooltip tooltip = new Tooltip(Bundle.CountsViewPane_tooltip_text(
+                        count, eventType.getDisplayName(),
+                        item.getXValue(),
+                        interval.getEnd().toString(rangeInfo.getTickFormatter())));
+                tooltip.setGraphic(new ImageView(eventType.getFXImage()));
+                Tooltip.install(node, tooltip);
+
+                node.setOnMouseEntered((mouseEntered) -> node.setEffect(new DropShadow(10, eventType.getColor())));
+                node.setOnMouseExited((MouseEvent mouseExited) -> node.setEffect(selectedNodes.contains(node) ? SELECTED_NODE_EFFECT : null));
+                node.setOnMouseClicked(new BarClickHandler(item));
+            }
+        });
+        super.dataItemAdded(series, itemIndex, item); //To change body of generated methods, choose Tools | Templates.
+    }
+
     /**
      * StringConvereter used to 'format' vertical axis labels
      */
@@ -228,40 +270,6 @@ final class EventCountsChart extends StackedBarChart<String, Number> implements
         }
     }
 
-    @NbBundle.Messages({
-        "# {0} - count",
-        "# {1} - event type displayname",
-        "# {2} - start date time",
-        "# {3} - end date time",
-        "CountsViewPane.tooltip.text={0} {1} events\nbetween {2}\nand     {3}"})
-    @Override
-    protected void dataItemAdded(Series<String, Number> series, int itemIndex, Data<String, Number> item) {
-        ExtraData extraValue = (ExtraData) item.getExtraValue();
-        EventType eventType = extraValue.getEventType();
-        Interval interval = extraValue.getInterval();
-        long count = extraValue.getRawCount();
-
-        item.nodeProperty().addListener((Observable o) -> {
-            final Node node = item.getNode();
-            if (node != null) {
-                node.setStyle("-fx-border-width: 2; -fx-border-color: " + ColorUtilities.getRGBCode(eventType.getSuperType().getColor()) + "; -fx-bar-fill: " + ColorUtilities.getRGBCode(eventType.getColor())); // NON-NLS
-                node.setCursor(Cursor.HAND);
-
-                final Tooltip tooltip = new Tooltip(Bundle.CountsViewPane_tooltip_text(
-                        count, eventType.getDisplayName(),
-                        item.getXValue(),
-                        interval.getEnd().toString(rangeInfo.getTickFormatter())));
-                tooltip.setGraphic(new ImageView(eventType.getFXImage()));
-                Tooltip.install(node, tooltip);
-
-                node.setOnMouseEntered((mouseEntered) -> node.setEffect(new DropShadow(10, eventType.getColor())));
-                node.setOnMouseExited((MouseEvent mouseExited) -> node.setEffect(selectedNodes.contains(node) ? SELECTED_NODE_EFFECT : null));
-                node.setOnMouseClicked(new BarClickHandler(item));
-            }
-        });
-        super.dataItemAdded(series, itemIndex, item); //To change body of generated methods, choose Tools | Templates.
-    }
-
     /**
      * EventHandler for click events on nodes representing a bar(segment) in the
      * stacked bar chart.
@@ -415,6 +423,10 @@ final class EventCountsChart extends StackedBarChart<String, Number> implements
         }
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Encapsulate extra data stuffed into each {@link Data} item to give click
+     * handler and tooltip access to more info.
+     */
     static class ExtraData {
 
         private final Interval interval;
diff --git a/Core/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/timeline/ui/detailview/EventDetailsChart.java b/Core/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/timeline/ui/detailview/EventDetailsChart.java
index 387120f7ef..01876bcc14 100644
--- a/Core/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/timeline/ui/detailview/EventDetailsChart.java
+++ b/Core/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/timeline/ui/detailview/EventDetailsChart.java
@@ -110,7 +110,9 @@ public final class EventDetailsChart extends XYChart<DateTime, EventStripe> impl
 
     private ContextMenu chartContextMenu;
 
+    @ThreadConfined(type = ThreadConfined.ThreadType.JFX)//at start of layout pass
     private Set<String> activeQuickHidefilters;
+    @ThreadConfined(type = ThreadConfined.ThreadType.JFX)//at start of layout pass
     private double descriptionWidth;
 
     @Override
@@ -420,12 +422,15 @@ public final class EventDetailsChart extends XYChart<DateTime, EventStripe> impl
     protected void layoutPlotChildren() {
         setCursor(Cursor.WAIT);
         maxY.set(0);
+
+        //These don't change during a layout pass and are expensive to compute per node.  So we do it once at the start
         activeQuickHidefilters = getController().getQuickHideFilters().stream()
                 .filter(AbstractFilter::isActive)
                 .map(DescriptionFilter::getDescription)
                 .collect(Collectors.toSet());
 
-        descriptionWidth = getDescriptionWidth();
+        //This dosn't change during a layout pass and is expensive to compute per node.  So we do it once at the start
+        descriptionWidth = truncateAll.get() ? truncateWidth.get() : USE_PREF_SIZE;
 
         if (bandByType.get()) {
             sortedStripeNodes.stream()
@@ -438,10 +443,6 @@ public final class EventDetailsChart extends XYChart<DateTime, EventStripe> impl
         setCursor(null);
     }
 
-    private double getDescriptionWidth() {
-        return truncateAll.get() ? truncateWidth.get() : USE_PREF_SIZE;
-    }
-
     ReadOnlyDoubleProperty maxVScrollProperty() {
         return maxY.getReadOnlyProperty();
     }
@@ -531,8 +532,8 @@ public final class EventDetailsChart extends XYChart<DateTime, EventStripe> impl
 
                 //initial test position
                 double yTop = (oneEventPerRow.get())
-                        ? (localMax + MINIMUM_EVENT_NODE_GAP)
-                        : computeYTop(minY, h, maxXatY, xLeft, xRight); // if onePerRow, just put it at end
+                        ? (localMax + MINIMUM_EVENT_NODE_GAP)// if onePerRow, just put it at end
+                        : computeYTop(minY, h, maxXatY, xLeft, xRight);
 
                 localMax = Math.max(yTop + h, localMax);
 
@@ -545,6 +546,23 @@ public final class EventDetailsChart extends XYChart<DateTime, EventStripe> impl
         return localMax; //return new max
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Given information about the current layout pass so far and about a
+     * particular node, compute the y position of that node.
+     *
+     *
+     * @param yMin    the smallest (towards the top of the screen) y position to
+     *                consider
+     * @param h       the height of the node we are trying to position
+     * @param maxXatY a map from y ranges to the max x within that range. NOTE:
+     *                This map will be updated to include the node in question.
+     * @param xLeft   the left x-cord of the node to position
+     * @param xRight  the left x-cord of the node to position
+     *
+     * @return the y position for the node in question.
+     *
+     *
+     */
     private double computeYTop(double yMin, double h, TreeRangeMap<Double, Double> maxXatY, double xLeft, double xRight) {
         double yTop = yMin;
         double yBottom = yTop + h;
@@ -589,10 +607,10 @@ public final class EventDetailsChart extends XYChart<DateTime, EventStripe> impl
     }
 
     /**
-     * expose as public
+     * expose as protected
      */
     @Override
-    public void requestChartLayout() {
+    protected void requestChartLayout() {
         super.requestChartLayout();
     }
 
diff --git a/Core/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/timeline/ui/detailview/StripeFlattener.java b/Core/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/timeline/ui/detailview/StripeFlattener.java
index e599ce017d..391c498ef4 100644
--- a/Core/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/timeline/ui/detailview/StripeFlattener.java
+++ b/Core/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/timeline/ui/detailview/StripeFlattener.java
@@ -1,7 +1,20 @@
 /*
- * To change this license header, choose License Headers in Project Properties.
- * To change this template file, choose Tools | Templates
- * and open the template in the editor.
+ * Autopsy Forensic Browser
+ *
+ * Copyright 2015 Basis Technology Corp.
+ * Contact: carrier <at> sleuthkit <dot> org
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
  */
 package org.sleuthkit.autopsy.timeline.ui.detailview;
 
@@ -14,10 +27,6 @@ import org.sleuthkit.autopsy.timeline.datamodel.EventStripe;
  * More specifically it takes an EventStripeNode and produces a stream of
  * EventStripes containing the stripes for the given node and all child
  * eventStripes, ignoring intervening EventCluster nodes.
- *
- * @see
- * #loadSubBundles(org.sleuthkit.autopsy.timeline.zooming.DescriptionLoD.RelativeDetail)
- * for usage
  */
 class StripeFlattener implements Function<EventStripeNode, Stream<EventStripe>> {