Sync Mode vs Independent Mode

When you drag a stage boundary in the timeline, Nimoo gives you two modes that control whether your change ripples out to other stages.

Want later stages to shift along with your change? Use sync mode. Want to adjust only the one stage you’re touching? Use independent mode.

Sync Mode

When you adjust a stage boundary, all later stages shift by the same amount — their relative positions stay intact.

If stages after the one you’re adjusting have custom gaps or overlaps (from earlier independent-mode work), those gaps and overlaps are preserved as everything shifts together.

When to use it

  • The client wants the whole timeline pushed back or pulled forward
  • A stage is definitely getting longer or shorter, and later stages need to follow
  • You want to keep stages tightly packed together

How to switch

  • Click the mode toggle in the top-right of the timeline and select “Sync”
  • Sync mode is the default

Behavior

  • Drag a stage’s right boundary right (extend) → later stages shift right
  • Drag a stage’s right boundary left (shorten) → later stages shift left
  • All later stages shift by the same amount; their relative spacing stays the same
  • If a later stage is locked, the sync effect stops at the locked stage and doesn’t push further (see: Lock Stage)

Independent Mode

When you adjust a stage boundary, all other stages stay where they are — only the stage you’re dragging changes.

When to use it

  • You want to adjust a single stage without the change spreading to others
  • Two stages need to overlap because they run in parallel

How to switch

  • Click the mode toggle in the top-right and select “Independent”

Behavior

  • Drag a stage boundary → only that stage’s length or position changes
  • If extending a stage causes it to overlap a later stage, the overlap is shown as-is — no automatic conflict resolution
  • If shortening a stage creates a gap before the next stage, the gap is kept

Switching on the fly

You can switch modes at any point — no need to finish an operation first. Whatever mode is active applies immediately to the drag you’re doing.