> 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/timeline.md).

# Timeline

The MemoryString Timeline: reorder and trim slides, zoom, Go to Start, groups on the strip, the end card, and the Audioline.

The strip under the preview shows time, slides, and music. Use it to reorder, trim, and scrub.

![Photo lane: stack and filmstrip group cells with duration chips](https://316881897-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F6lG8Zi4VdmddHJ8jUOT5%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-075300f354455d955d420a939215d6a75e2f9273%2Ftimeline-full.png?alt=media)

![Timeline header: clip name and zoom](https://316881897-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F6lG8Zi4VdmddHJ8jUOT5%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-a65f8c41c65d9e2d33ebbd182e0f2201fb870f14%2Ftimeline-chrome.png?alt=media)

![Timeline: typing a slide caption](https://316881897-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F6lG8Zi4VdmddHJ8jUOT5%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-40c37c5d976d4c030b545e97e367c842a5054764%2Fcaption-edit.png?alt=media)

## Layout

1. **Time ruler**: click or drag to seek
2. **Photo lane**: slides, the opening card, and group cells. Hover a cell to preview that moment; move off the strip and the moment you left stays on the preview. Hover is ignored while playing
3. **Audioline**: soundtrack clips

The header shows **Timeline**, then **|◀** (**Go to Start**). Click it and the playhead jumps to **0:00**. If the filmstrip is zoomed or scrolled, it scrolls back to the start. The same key is **⌥⌘←**. The button is dimmed only when the timeline is empty, and it highlights when you hover it.

![Timeline header: Go to Start beside Timeline](https://316881897-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F6lG8Zi4VdmddHJ8jUOT5%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-10736071e7761831571816342c2bb72d0147e689%2Ftimeline-rewind-button.png?alt=media)

The header also shows the selected clip **name**, and zoom. **1.0×** fits the whole project. Empty strip: **Nothing on the timeline yet**.

### Timeline height

Drag the **thin seam** between the preview and **Timeline** **up** to grow the photo lane, **down** to shrink. Height is remembered. **⌘+** / **⌘-** scale strip height with UI text size.

![Drag the seam to grow the filmstrip; zoom slider scales the strip live](https://316881897-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F6lG8Zi4VdmddHJ8jUOT5%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-bf294468aef4ce027688e496e6794880e73a2c17%2Ftimeline-expand-zoom.gif?alt=media)

### Zoom and gestures

* **Zoom slider**: live zoom; all the way left for full overview
* **Pinch** on trackpad
* **Scroll wheel** over **Timeline**: up zooms in, down out
* **⌥⌘+** / **⌥⌘-**
* **Two-finger pan** or horizontal scroll
* **Middle-mouse drag** to pan

**⌘+** / **⌘-** / **⌘0** change UI text size for **Library** cards and strip height, not zoom.

Long projects scroll instead of squeezing cells. During playback the strip follows the playhead.

Dragging the playhead shows a blue time chip. **←** / **→** nudge (\~0.1s); **⇧** for larger steps. **|◀** beside **Timeline**, or **⌥⌘←**, jumps to the start. After you edit, scrub still follows. The slide you stop on comes up first. A slide with no backdrop fills in while you drag.

## Reorder and trim

Drag clips on the photo lane. From **Library**: gap = insert/move; drop on slide or group seat = **Replace**; the opening-card tile sets its background. Music reorders on the **Audioline**.

First click on a group selects the whole window. Second click on a thumb selects one seat. See [Organizing](/build-your-movie/organizing.md#in-group-photos-and-videos).

Select a clip and drag **edge grips**:

* **Videos**: trim with frame feedback; **2 second** minimum. **Reset Video Duration** restores full file
* **Music**: edge drag auditions that point. **Set Start Here** / **Set End Here** at playhead. See [Music → Audition the Audioline](/build-your-movie/music.md#audition-the-audioline). **Reset Length** restores auto-skipped edges or full file
* **Stills**: edge drag changes hold time

Right-click a photo or video on the photo lane:

* **Slide Transition**: pick a cut or **Random** (groups: **Group Transition** / **Ungroup**)
* **Lens Effect**: Studio only
* **Rotate & Flip**
* **Set Duration…** (**⌘D**). Videos: **Timing** submenu with duration and **Set Start Here** / **Set End Here**
* **Set Caption** (**⇧⌘C**)
* **Clear Caption**
* **Move to Outtakes**
* **Remove from Project** (**⌘⌫**)

On a **grouped seat**, the top of the menu applies to **that photo**, plus **Auto Trim videos in this group** and **Reset Video Durations in this group**. Header shows **Photo 2 of 5 · Ribbon**. Below: **Group Transition**, **Entire group ▸** (rotate, lens, **Set Duration…**, **Move N photos to Outtakes**, **Remove N**), and **Ungroup**.

![Timeline grouped-seat menu: Photo 2 of 5 · Ribbon](https://316881897-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F6lG8Zi4VdmddHJ8jUOT5%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-4cf17c106cebc42c4d81ac2eaf2571cd6046ecbb%2Ftimeline-grouped-seat-menu.png?alt=media)

**Set Duration…** on a group opens **Group Length**. It sets the whole group, the same as dragging the group's edge. A video seat inside does not cap it. Typing a length in the Inspector does the same.

![Group Length: the whole group, same as dragging its edge](https://316881897-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F6lG8Zi4VdmddHJ8jUOT5%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-03105225a7ad5f71a22978231bdae2312066e89b%2Fgroup-length.png?alt=media)

Videos also: **Mute Video Sound** / **Unmute Video Sound**, **Auto Trim**, **Reset Video Duration**

![Timeline video menu: Auto Trim, Mute Video Sound, Timing](https://316881897-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F6lG8Zi4VdmddHJ8jUOT5%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-110d46a4042c063e4d56010d091b72a71582f389%2Ftimeline-video-context-menu.png?alt=media)

**Auto Trim**: about four seconds from the middle, with a small nudge toward a face, and the cut works about 70% of the time. Not on import. Undo **⌘Z**. See [Auto detection](/build-your-movie/auto-detection.md#auto-trim).

Right-click video or music for **Set Start Here** / **Set End Here** and reset duration/length.

Inspector clip footer has the same trims for selected video or soundtrack.

![Slide Length for the selected slide](https://316881897-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F6lG8Zi4VdmddHJ8jUOT5%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-3e29b269d5e0b916fdb7df7d295bbee6d2a78ad4%2Fset-duration.png?alt=media)

**Auto Caption** is not on this menu. Use **Library** captions bubble, **Edit**, Style → Captions, or **Generate**.

Right-click selects the clip under the pointer and seeks the playhead there. **Esc** deselects clips and music tracks.

Opening-card cell: **Set Intro Title**, **Set Background Image**, **Disable Intro Slide**, (Studio) **Lens Effect**, **Rotate & Flip** with background, **Reset Center of Interest** with background.

## Motion → Timeline (Studio)

Inspector → **Motion** → **Timeline**:

* **Sort by Date Taken**
* **Shuffle Slides**
* **Shuffle Transitions**
* **Reset Slide Durations**

Also on the **Library** Show menu. The opening card stays first. **⌘Z** undoes.

![Motion → Timeline: Sort by Date Taken, Shuffle Slides, Shuffle Transitions, Reset Slide Durations](https://316881897-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F6lG8Zi4VdmddHJ8jUOT5%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-20437bff83a08dd11c3ee9e5db659578a1e6a0cf%2Finspector-motion-timeline.png?alt=media)

## End card

Every show ends with a **Created with MemoryString** credit. On the photo lane this is a trailing **end** cell. You can select it but not trim or reorder it like media. Optional **closing words** (the box starts with **The End**) sit on that same card. See [Titles and captions](/build-your-movie/intro-captions.md#closing-words). Double-click the card to edit.

## Groups on the strip

Multi-photo windows collapse to one cell (stack, carousel, ribbon, pair, filmstrip, scatter). The cell may show multiple thumbs and video mute badges. See [Multi-photo groups](/style-and-motion/groups.md#timeline-library).


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