> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.memorystring.app/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.memorystring.app/build-your-movie/organizing.md).
# Organizing
Order a MemoryString slideshow: sort by date, shuffle, drag to reorder, groups, and Shuffle Transitions.
Slide order is your story. The **opening card** stays first when it is on. Sort, shuffle, and drag never move it among normal slides.
Library: drag thumbs to reorder; drop on a slide or group seat to Replace
Timeline: drag a single clip or a whole group on the photo lane
## Sort and shuffle slides
Use the **Library** **calendar** menu (or right-click empty **Library** space) for sort and **Shuffle**. **Edit → Sort by Date Taken** and **Studio** **Motion → Timeline → Sort by Date Taken** offer the three date/import choices only. **Studio** **Motion** also has **Shuffle Slides**:
| Command | What it does |
| -------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Oldest First (Story Order)** | Capture date, oldest → newest |
| **Newest First** | Newest → oldest |
| **Import Order** | The order files were imported |
| **Shuffle** / **Shuffle Slides** | Random photo order. Pauses playback and seeks to the start |
Date sorts use camera capture date (EXIF / recording date). If missing, file date is used. Undated files go at the **end**. Filenames are not used. Captions, trims, and rotations stay. Groups are planned again. **⌘Z** undoes.
**Essential:** after import, if the **Library** was empty or already **Oldest First**, new stills auto-sort **Oldest First**. **Studio** does not.
## Captions (Library bubble)
Use the captions bubble for bulk fill or clear. Settings: [Titles and captions](/build-your-movie/intro-captions.md#slide-captions).
## Shuffle Transitions
**Shuffle Transitions** keeps photo order. It picks new transitions and new places for groups. The kinds you checked under **Motion → Transitions** stay when you use **Shuffle** there. A per-slide **Slide Transition** stays unless you confirm clearing those picks.
Find it in the **Library** Show menu, Inspector → **Motion → Timeline**, or right-click empty **Library** space. If you set **Slide Transition** by hand, MemoryString asks before clearing those picks.
**Reset Slide Durations** (same menus) restores default still timing.
Clicking a **Look** chip also changes transitions. See [Looks](/style-and-motion/looks.md#the-eight-chips).
## Drag to reorder
**Library**: drag thumbnails in the grid. A group shows as one plate. Drop on the group’s first seat to **join** the group.
**Timeline** photo lane. Drag clips. The strip auto-scrolls near the edges. Hover a cell to peek; move off the strip and that moment stays on the preview.
Drag from the **Library** to the **Timeline**:
* Drop in a **gap**: insert or move
* Drop on a **single** slide or **group seat** until **Replace**
* Drop on the **opening card** tile: sets the opening background
Music reorders on the **music lane**. See [Music](/build-your-movie/music.md#arrange-on-the-timeline).
Hand-dragging **pins** group windows to those photos. Deleting a slide, moving a slide, or changing a group's transition leaves the groups in place. Sort, shuffle slides, or **Reset Motion to Defaults** lets the planner place groups again. See [Multi-photo groups](/style-and-motion/groups.md).
### Singles vs whole groups
First click on a group selects the **whole window**. Drag moves every seat together.
Right-click a grouped photo for **that seat**. **Entire group ▸** holds actions for all seats. Right-click two or more singles → **Group Transition**. **Ungroup** splits that group. The other slides keep their transitions. The photos that leave take a mix, not all the same kind. See [Library](/build-your-movie/library.md#right-click-a-slide).
### In-group photos and videos
Click a group again on a **member** (Library) or a **thumb** on the **Timeline** cell to select one seat. Drag that seat alone.
* Drop on another **seat** in the same group to swap
* Drop in a **gap** to pull the photo out of the group
* After seat changes, the strip may show **Preparing preview…** while the group rebuilds
The group **badge** on a **Library** thumb selects the whole window again.
## Undo
**⌘Z** undoes sort, shuffle, **Shuffle Transitions**, drag reorder, **Keep Best Shots**, and **Auto Trim**. The **Edit** menu names the action.
**Keep Best Shots** and **Auto Trim** are under the **Library** Show menu. **Auto Trim** is also on a video’s right-click menu. Keep Best extras go to [Outtakes](/build-your-movie/library.md#outtakes). See [Auto detection](/build-your-movie/auto-detection.md#auto-trim).
Right-click a Take → **Move to Outtakes**. Right-click an Outtake → **Move to Takes**. Drag between panes does the same.
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