StoryProject 3.6 is a professional story development tool for writers of novels, plays, and screenplays.
The program’s powerful features are detailed in the accompanying documentation.
The documentation is as follows:
Read Me - the file you’re reading
Manual - StoryProject explained
Advanced Notes - further ideas to help you succeed
Mouse Shortcuts Reference - for your convenience
License - your legal agreement regarding StoryProject
The Maltese Falcon Outline - a sample file
The sample file is based on John Huston’s 1941 faithful film adaptation of Dashiell Hammett’s classic novel, and is provided here for educational purposes. I claim no rights to the story, which is the property of its copyright owners.
StoryProject supports Balloon Help: press Command-? to toggle it on and off.
Do not move or change the name of the program or any of its accompanying files and folders, or StoryProject will not work correctly. The StoryProject Folder itself can be renamed and placed anywhere you like.
System Requirements
StoryProject 3.6 is compatible with all Apple Macintosh computers running System 7 or greater, and runs native on PowerMacs. System 7.5 or greater is required for importing and exporting Note Pad contents. Text-to-speech system software, Speech Manager or MacInTalk, is required for the “Speak Text” command. The memory partition of the program (set through the Get Info dialog in the Finder) must be set to at least 1500K, or at least 2500K to run in color. (The program ships with the partition set to 2500K. PowerMacs may require a minimum setting of 2500K.)
Quick Start
• Launch StoryProject from the Finder.
• Press Enter to bring up the Event dialog, then type an event. Something short will do, like “My first event”. Press Enter.
• Another dialog will ask you to enter a thread that this event should belong to. Threads are meaningful strands of your narrative. For the sake of speedy entry, the default thread name presented is the event you have entered. Change it to something like “My first thread” and click OK.
• The event will be entered in the Events field in the main window, and the thread will appear in the Threads field below it. Click on the thread once and then click it again: this will make the event disappear and then appear again. That's how you hide and show threads of events in StoryProject.
• Command-click a word in the event. A dialog will ask you if you want to spotlight events by that word. Click OK. The word will appear in the Spotlight pop-up menu. This is how you spotlight events by a keyword.
• Press Enter again. When the Event dialog appears, you will notice that the thread the first event belongs to is in the Threads field of the dialog. StoryProject assumes you are adding a new event to the thread you created. Let’s say you are not: click on the Threads field in the Event dialog to bring up another dialog with a number of threading options. Click the New button and enter the name of your new thread. Click OK. Now both threads appear in the Threads field of the Event dialog. Option-click the first one, to unassign it from this event. If you haven't already done so, type your event, then press Enter. The new event and thread name will appear in the main window.
• Now experiment for a while, try different commands, turn on Balloon Help, and read the rest of the documentation at least once. StoryProject is designed to be used intuitively — you’ll learn quick.
Shareware Fees
To reduce the cost of distribution and keep its price at a minimum, StoryProject is distributed under the shareware system.
You are free to evaluate it for 31 days without restrictions. During the evaluation period, a registration reminder appears at startup and printouts end with a reminder too. If you fail to obtain a license for its continued use beyond the evaluation period, you will be able to use the program’s story development tools for further evaluation, but you will no longer be able to save, export, copy, or print your work. (You will be able to export existing story files if you make no changes to them in StoryProject.) Once registered, StoryProject will be fully functional and reminders will no longer appear.
WARNING: Do not change the system date to beat the 31 day limit. If you do, you may lose your evaluation period. Re-installing the program will not help.
If you wish to continue using StoryProject beyond the evaluation period, you must obtain a license by paying the shareware fee.
There are two types of license:
Single User - $30
For individuals using StoryProject on a single computer.
Organizations that will be using the software on up to 6 computers must obtain a license for each. (For 7 or more computers it is better to obtain a site license.) Organizations buying 1 single user license must double their payment. In other words, the minimum payment expected from organizations is $60. The single user license is priced low for the sake of home users. It is fair that organizations pay more. (An organization is an entity employing one or more persons for profit or non-profit purposes.)
Site - $210
For organizations using the software on any number of computers within an area of one hundred miles (160 kilometers) in radius.
If you wish to obtain a worldwide license, please email me to negotiate a fee. Here I go, daydreaming…
How can I pay?
Payment is handled by Kagi, a safe and reliable payment service for shareware authors. You can pay by cash, check, credit card, invoice, or First Virtual. Avoid First Virtual because they delay payment to Kagi by 91 days. If paying by check, the check must be in US dollars, drawn on a US bank. For most customers outside the US this is not an option, but they can pay by credit card, or by cash in one of 33 currencies.
You can transfer your payment to Kagi by telephone, fax, email, or post, depending of course on which payment method you choose. Avoid paying over the telephone, because this incurs an additional processing charge. Use email, fax, or post.
Whatever your payment method, use the Register program that is bundled with StoryProject (in the Documentation folder) to fill out the payment form. You can launch Register from within StoryProject: choose “About StoryProject…” from the Apple menu and click the Register button.
The Register program is designed to make the payment process as foolproof as possible. You should have no trouble using it and can turn on Balloon Help for assistance. As you choose your payment options, follow the instructions the program displays.
When you have completed the Register form on screen, click the Print or Copy button. (Print for posting or faxing, Copy for emailing.) When you click either button, Register will output the form to the printer or clipboard, adding to it clear instructions on how to proceed with your payment. This will include Kagi contact details. Please read all of the instructions to be sure you proceed correctly.
Alternatively, you can order online at <http://order.kagi.com/?QGD>.
For more details about Kagi visit their website at <http://www.kagi.com/>.
What happens after I paid?
Kagi will email you a receipt of your payment a few days after they receive it. If you ask for a printed receipt by post, this will take longer. Kagi will also forward your contact details to me, the software author. Within a few days, usually no more than 2, I will email (or post if required) your registration code to you.
Summary of License
You are allowed to use the software as described in this Read Me file. You may distribute the software in its unaltered original form, if you don’t charge for it. Within reasonable limits, you can charge for its floppy, CD-ROM or DVD-ROM delivery. Please read the License for full details. If you do not meet the terms of the license, but would like to distribute StoryProject, get in touch for an exclusive agreement.
Feedback
Your comments about StoryProject are welcome. Bookmark the StoryProject website for up-to-date information. For automatic notification of version updates, enter your email address on the download page of the site.
