---
title: Manually Shortening a Stage
slug: zen-master/manually-shortening-a-stage
docTags: 
createdAt: 2025-11-06T16:48:32.808Z
---

After changing an **Auto **Stage to **Manual **(see, [Switching to Manual or Auto During the Event](docId\:CpoByE-8DDBja2Qg9gY98)), a dialog will be displayed asking you to choose whether you want to **Maintain start time** or **Maintain duration**. In this section we will explain what is the meaning of each option and what are its consequences for the next stages when you use them **to shorten a stage**. 

## Maintain Start Time Shortening

In this option the **start time of the next stage** will be according to the originally configured **Start Time**.

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/mzxtTQEvCNIdUNgF2kuwJ/sMt8dhMhlyKaej77aszTi-20251110-131745.png)

In the example illustrated above, the First Half stage is **manually shortened by 5 minutes**. In this case the following will occur:

- During the “First Half” stage the operator switched to manual and selected the **Maintain Start Time** option. 
- 5 minutes before the original end of the First Half, the operator clicked **Start Next Stage **and moved to the Half Time Break stage.
- The Half Time Break is extended by 5 minutes, as it started early.
- The start times of the following stages (marked by a red rectangle) will begin automatically according to the original configuration: 
  - **Half Time Break stage **will end automatically at** 9:00 PM** (the original configured start time for the Second Half stage) and the Second Half will start automatically.
  -
    **The Second Half **will end automatically at **9:45 PM **(the original configured start time for the Off stage).

## Maintain Duration Shortening

In this option the **start time of the next stage **will be according to the **Duration **of each stage.

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/mzxtTQEvCNIdUNgF2kuwJ/sDes4woJPpz4XeZPpK1CP-20251110-133618.png)

In the example illustrated above the first half is manually shortened by 5 minutes. In this case the following will occur:

- During the “First Half” stage the operator switched to manual and selected the **Maintain Duration** option.
- 5 minutes before the original end of the first half, the operator clicked Start Next Stage and moved to the Half Time Break stage.
- The start times of the following stages will be **shifted 5 minutes earlier**, as they will begin automatically according to the original duration configuration (marked by a red rectangle):

  - **Half Time Break stage** will end automatically at **8:55 PM** (based on the original configured duration for the Half Time Break stage) and the Second Half will start automatically. 
  - **The Second Half** will end automatically at** 9:40 PM** (based on the original configured duration for the Second Half stage).