~A-Pages` are pages in Production Scripts that have been added since the Page Breaks were locked and are numbered like 12A, 12B etc rather than renumbering the entire script.
You must have the [Production Version] of ScriptThing to generate these A-Pages. ~A-Scenes` are scenes in Production Scripts that have been added since the [Scene Heading]s were locked and are numbered like 22A, 22B etc rather than renumbering all of the existing Scene Numbers.
You must have the [Production Version] of ScriptThing to generate these A-Scenes. ~Act Info` is used in TV format to identify the ACT and consists of a centered line with the word 'ACT' followed by a Number.
| ~ACT FOUR`
~To put in Act Info` - in a completely blank line, type ~NEWACT` (or whatever is the first Item in the Act Info [User List]) and ScriptThing will change NEWACT to just ACT, format it correctly, and add the appropriate Act Number following it, incrementing it from the previous Act Number.
Alternatively you can type ~SAMEACT` (or whatever is the second Item in the Act Info User List) and ScriptThing will change it to just ACT, format it correctly, and add the appropriate Act Number following it, keeping the same number as the previous Act.
With [QuickType] On, you also have the option of putting in Act Info Text by selecting ~Page Break/Act Info` from the Initial Scene Text Menu which pops up automatically if you press <Enter> in a [Transition], Blank [Action] Element, or [END OF ACT] Element. ~ACTION` is the basic description of what is happening in the Scene, for example:
| The ~LAWYER` walked into the room and opened his briefcase. | As he was pulling out his files, a ~CRAZED LUNATIC` jumped | out from behind the bookcase and harassed him with yet | another lawyer joke.
In standard screenplay format, action is typically about 60 characters wide and is in Upper/Lower case, in most sitcom formats the margins are smaller and the action is all UPPER CASE.
You can always get to Action by pressing <CTRL-ENTER> from anywhere in the script, although <ENTER> will also frequently take you to action depending on which [Element] you are in and whether [QuickType] is on. A ~Forced Page Break` is a Page Break which is fixed in position and not automatically adjusted as text is edited. It is primarily used in TV Formats in between Acts.
To add a Forced Page Break into your script, press <Shift-Enter> or select Add Forced Page Break from the [Edit Menu]. ScriptThing's ~Alt-Keys` let you put any existing [Character Name] into the script and ready for [dialogue] with one keystroke if the [Use Alt-Keys] CheckBox is checked in the [Program Options] Menu.
~To Put in a Character Name with an Alt-Key` - from anywhere in the script, simply press <ALT> and hold it down while you press any letter. If there is at least one Character Name already in your script that starts with that letter, then ScriptThing will add a [Character Name] element at the current cursor position, type in a Character Name for you, and leave you in Dialogue, ready to type.
If there are more than one name that starts with that letter, then the name that was typed in will be alphabetically the First Name that starts with that letter or the Character Name which you have designated for that Alt-Key if one exists. Please see the help section [Designate an Alt-Key Name] for information on setting which Character Name will be typed in.
If there are NO names already existing in the script that start with that letter, then it will ask you whether it should add a new Character Name element with that letter. The ~Append` Block` (and Append Block & Delete) options found on the [Edit Menu] when you've ~Selected Text`, allow you to take blocked text and add it to the end of an existing file, optionally also deleting it from its current position in the script.
This is most typically done to create a "DELETE FILE" when you're re-writing a script and you don't want to lose text that you're cutting out. An ~ASCII FILE` is a file that only has normal letters in it and doesn't have any formatting or control codes in it. It is used primarily as a format for exchanging text between programs. ~Automatic Text Recognition` is ScriptThing's ability to identify text that you type as being of a specific [Element] Type and auto- matically format it appropriately without you having to tell it to do so. (ie You'd type CUT TO: at the beginning of any blank line and ScriptThing would recognize that as being a Transition. It would then change that element to a Transition, adjusting the spacing, capitalization and margins accordingly.)
For ScriptThing to be able to automatically recognize text, the text must be in a [User List], and you must type it at the begin- ning of a blank Element line, though being the smart wee beastie that it is, ScriptThing can recognize text with any capitaliza- tion. (See ~How User Lists Work` in the manual for more details).
ScriptThing supports Automatic Text Recognition for the following Elements:
[Scene Heading] [Shot] [Prologue] [Act Info Text]
[End of Act] [Final Act] [Transition] ~AutoRevision Marks` are a feature which is only available on the [Production Version] of ScriptThing. If you turn AutoRevision Marks on, then any edits you subsequently make will automatically have [Revision Marks] added for you.
You can select ~AutoRevision Marks On` or ~AutoRevision Marks Off` on the [Formats Menu]. You can ~Block` text for Cutting, Copying or Deleting, by pressing either ~<SHIFT KEY>` and then any movement key such as an UP or DOWN ARROW or <PgUp> or <PgDown>. Alternatively, you can block text with a mouse by clicking the Left Mouse button and holding it down while dragging the mouse cursor to extend the block.
Once you have started the block, you can also extend it with the any of the functions on the [Goto Menu].
To turn off the block without doing anything to the blocked text, simply press any of the Movement Keys (but NOT the Goto Menu!) without having a <SHIFT KEY> pressed, or Left Click the Mouse anywhere. There are several ways of ~Bolding` text, depending on whether you want to Bold an entire element, or just a portion of one, and whether the text has been typed already.
~There are three methods of turning Bold on and off`: (~1`) Get to the [Edit Menu], select [Text Style], and then select Bold; (~2`) press ~<CTRL-B>`; or (~3`) press ~<F6>`.
If you want to bold just a portion of an element, such as a Char- acter Name the first time it appears in Action, then turn Bold on using one of the methods listed above before you type it in, and turn Bold off by again using one of the above listed Methods.
If you want to bold some text that is already typed in, [Block] the text, and then do one of the bolding methods.
If you want to bold an Entire [Element] then you should select the [Cheat Element Style] Menu (which is located under [Current Element] which is on the [Edit Menu]) and check the Bold CheckBox. ~Bottom Continueds` are one of the optional formatting features in ScriptThing, and there is great dissention over whether they should be used in [Spec Scripts]. Make your own decision.
Bottom Continueds are the (CONTINUED) that appear on the bottom of all pages where the scene continues onto the next page and should not be confused with the MORE and Character Continueds which are used when breaking [DIALOGUE].
Bottom Continueds are set on the Menu [Continued Text Options] which is found under [Edit Script Formats] on the [Formats Menu]. On this Continued Text Options Menu, then you can set both whether ScriptThing should put them in and what the text should actually be. NOTE: If you want the Bottom Continueds to have Parenthesis (which is standard) they must be entered into the Bottom Continued Text Field or they will not print.
~NOTE: Neither Bottom nor `[Top Continueds]~ will display on screen, although they will print if selected.` ~Breakdowns` are a feature available only in the [Production Version] of ScriptThing. If the option ~Breakdown` is not listed on the [Print Menu], then you have the [Freelance Version] of ScriptThing and will need to upgrade to have this feature.
~When you select Breakdown from the Print Menu`, a Pop-Up Box comes up with the following options:
~Print Breakdown` - If you select this RadioBox then it will print the breakdown;
~Write Breakdown to File` - If you select this RadioBox, then it will create the breakdown as an [ASCII File] with the same name as the script but with the extension '.BRK'.
~Include Speaking Characters` - If you check this CheckBox then in the breakdown for each scene, it will list all Characters who speak in that Scene.
[Breakdown - Cont'd] ~Breakdown - Continued`
There is also a box on the Print Script Breakdown Menu entitled CALCULATE 1/8ths OF A PAGE WITH... and it has two options in it, although if you have 51 or fewer lines allowed on a page in the [Page Layout] screen, then the second option will be grayed-out and unselectable.
The first option is a RadioBox which says ~Standard: 6 lines = 1/8th of a page` and if this RadioBox is checked then ScriptThing will use the formula 6 lines (which is 1") per eighth of a page when it calculates how many eighths of a page each scene is. If your script allows 52 or more lines on a page, however, then the standard 1" per eighth of a page could produce scenes reported as having 1 1/8th pages even though they are only one page long as 52 lines of text is 8½".
Thus we have the second option which says ~Adjusted: 7 lines = 1/8th of a page` and if you select this RadioBox then ScriptThing will use 7 lines (which is 1.17") per eighth to more accurately reflect the total page count. Certain [Element]s in a script are automatically CAPITALIZED as you type. (See ~Setting Element Text Styles` in the manual for infor- mation as to how to define whether an Element should be all Capitals or not.)
In the basic [Screenplay format], the [Scene Heading], [Transition], and [Character Name] are capitalized; in [Sitcom format], [Action] is also capitalized as are sometimes [Parenthetical]s.
If you just want to change the Capitalization of some existing text, first you must [block] the text then select [Current Element] on the [Edit Menu] and then select ~Change to UpperCase`, ~Change to Lowercase`, or ~Change to Initial Caps` as desired.
~NOTE:` (~1`) You WILL NOT be able to change the capitalization of an element which is defined as Capitalized such as Character Name or Scene Heading; (~2`) If you select CHANGE TO LOWERCASE, ScriptThing will keep Initial Capitalization for all speaking Character Names in that text along with all starts of Sentences. Certain elements can be set to be centered. They are:
[Act Info], [Scene Info], [Title] and [Character Name]s.
Individual Elements cannot be Cheated to be centered, although the same effect can be accomplished simply by spacing them manually.
ScriptThing is shipped with all of these elements except Character Name already set as Centered, and if you want to Center your Character Names (something we DO NOT recommend) then see your manual under Setting Element Specific Options for details.
~NOTE:` Although ScriptThing allows Character Names to be centered, we highly recommend against it, as in most circles it considered extremely amateurish. We have only offered the option because some people insist upon it. ~Character Names` are always Capitalized when they precede [Dialogue] and although ScriptThing allows the option to [center] them, we ~HIGHLY` discourage it as in most circles that is considered extremely amateurish. We have only offered the option because some people insist upon it.
~To put in a Character Name for Dialogue`, simply press the <TAB> key from anywhere in the script, and you will be brought down the appropriate number of lines and put into caps. Start typing and if there any Speaking Characters in the script whose name matches the initial letter, then one of two things will happen:
If you have the [Character Name Menu] set to ON , then a List Menu will pop up with all the names in the script that start with that letter.
If you have the Character Name Menu set to OFF, then if there are any names in the script that match the letter(s) you've typed, the first matching Name will be displayed on the top Menu Bar.
[Character Name - Cont'd] ~To Put in that Matching Name` - if the name you want is either highlighted in the [Character Name Menu] Box or is displayed on the top Menu bar, simply press <ENTER> to accept it and it will be put in and you will be placed in [Dialogue].
~To Enter a New Name` - simply keep typing and press <ENTER> when done. Although the Character Name Menu (if previously displayed) will not disappear, as soon as what you've typed does not match any existing name, the Highlight Bar will go away, telling you that it will leave the name as you have typed it.
For even faster Character Name input, use an [Alt-Key].
~To put an Existing Character Name in as Text` - press <CTRL-C> and ScriptThing will pop up a List Menu of all Existing Names in your script. Selected the one you want, and it will type it into the current [Element] in either All Capitals or Initial Capitals de- pending on whether the ~Put Character Name into All Caps` Check box is checked on the [Program Options] Menu or not. See Help on [Extension]. The ~Character Name Menu` is a pop-up box that will appear when you've pressed <TAB> and typed at least one letter. It will ONLY appear, however, if there is at least one existing [Character Name] in the script that starts with that Letter, and the selection ~Char Name Menu` is checked in the [Program Options] Menu.
While you type in the [Character Name], the ~Highlight Bar` in the Character Name Menu will show the currently Matched Name. As soon as the Name you want is HIGHLIGHTED, simply press <ENTER> and ScriptThing will finish out the Character Name for you.
You can also use the ~cursor keys` and Mouse to change the High- lighted Name to the one you want.
~If you want to add a new name`, just ignore the Character Name Menu and keep typing. As soon as what you've typed does not match any existing name, the Highlight Bar will go away, although the Character Name Menu will still remain visible. Press <ENTER> and you will have added a new name.
If you don't want the Character Name Menu to pop-up, turn it off in the ~Program Options` Menu. The ~Character Names` [User List] is a list of Character Names that have been entered separately from the script. This User List gives you the ability to pre-load Character Names before you start writing, something that is especially useful if you are writing a serial such as a TV Show, where multiple scripts will have the same Characters.
Once any Character Name is in the Character Names User List, it will automatically be available for use with an [Alt-Key] and will appear on the [Character Name Menu] when you are entering a Character Name.
If you are NOT writing a serial, then I don't recommend entering your Character Names into the Character Names User List before you start typing as it is an unnecessary step unless the list has already been generated from some other source such as the program [Collaborator II].
Not only can you ~Add`, ~Delete` or ~load` Character Names with this list, but you can also share lists among scripts. Please see ~Using User Lists` in the manual for more details. ScriptThing's unique ~Cheat Element` function allows you complete control over all of each element's Margins and Line Spacing, allowing you to adjust them as needed.
There are two ways of Cheating an element, the first is to access the ~Cheat Element Menu` by going to the [Edit Menu], selecting [Current Element], and then selecting ~Cheat Element`. A Menu will appear and you can change any of the settings as you desire.
However, there are also two [Quick Keys] for cheating the margins. Pressing ~<ALT>` + the Equals sign (~=`) will increase the right-hand margin of the current element by one character, ~<ALT>` + the Minus sign (~-`) will decrease it by one character.
~NOTE:` If you reset ANY of the margins or settings (line spacing, bold, caps etc) of an element on the [Edit Script Formats] Menu, all settings for all elements of that type (INCLUDING Cheated ones!) will be reset to the Standard Settings, and all Cheats will be lost for that element type. ScriptThing is pleased to support ~Collaborator II`, an Interactive Software program for Character development, Story Creation, Structure and Analysis. It is available from Collaborator Systems, Inc P.O. Box 57557 Sherman Oaks, CA 91403 Phone: 818-980-2943.
Collaborator must be loaded into a subdirectory called COLLAB2 for you to be able to use the Option ~Load from Collaborator` found on the [User List] Menu, otherwise you'll have to follow the instruc- tions in the manual under ~Using User Lists`.
Assuming Collaborator is loaded as described, select the option LOAD FROM COLLABORATOR and a list of your story files will come up. Select one and ScriptThing will load the Collaborator Character List into its [Character Names User List], and the first ten locations of the Settings List into its [Scene Body Text] User List. ~PROGRAM OPTIONS - MOVEMENT`
~When loading a Script, Start at Last Position` - If this box is checked then when you retrieve a script, it will automatically go to where you were when you saved it. If you don't have this option selected then it will leave you at the top of the script.
~When using the Goto Menu, Display at Top of Screen` - If this box is checked, then when you use the [Goto Menu], or when you press <CTRL-PgUp> or <CTRL-PgDn> then the first line of the page or the [Scene Heading] or whatever it is you have gone to will be displayed as the very first line on the screen. If this box is NOT checked, then whatever you have 'gone' to will be displayed about a quarter of the way down so that you can see what precedes it.
~Char Name Menu` - See the help on [Character Name] for a discussion of the ~Char Name Menu`. This is where you turn it on or off, however.
~Always Show Menu Bar` allows you to choose between having the [Pull-Down Menus] Options always on, or only appear when you press <ESC> or the Right Mouse Button. If it is always on, then the Element Style and Clock information will be automatically moved to the lower Menu Bar, although Memory Available and Matching Character Name information will not.
~Display Clock` lets you specify whether you want a clock or not.
~Screen Saver Sound` lets you specify whether it should BEEP when it hits a wall or not. Try it, you'll like it.
~QuickType Input` - See [QuickType] for a discussion of what QuickType does. This is where you turn it on or off.
~Use Previous Character Name when pasting Dialogue` - When you [Paste] [Dialogue] or a [Parenthetical] without a [Character Name] and following [Action] or [Scene Heading], ScriptThing will either use the first Character Name it finds before this paste position (the 'Previous Name') or put in a Question Mark in place of a Character Name.
~Put Character Names into Action in All Caps` - When you press <CTRL-C> to put a Character Name into Action, this specifies how it will be put in, either ALL CAPS or Initial Caps.
[Misc - Cont'd] The Continued Text Options Menu has the following Choices:
~CHARACTER NAME CONT'D TEXT` - lets you specify what ScriptThing should write when a Character has two speeches separated only by [Action], and what text it should put after a Character Name when it breaks it with a (MORE). There is also a checkbox that allows you to specify whether MORE should be in capitals or not.
~PUT IN CONTINUED TEXT AS` - lets you specify whether ScriptThing should put in the Character Continued Text after the name as an [Extension] or underneath it as a [Parenthetical]. It also allows you to specify what character it should use to separate the continued text from the parenthetical text if you have both.
~TOP & BOTTOM CONTINUED TEXT` - lets you specify the text for Top and Bottom SCENE Continueds.
~PRINT SCENE CONTINUEDs` - lets you specify whether you want to have [Bottom Continueds] and/or [Top Continueds] and at what position the Bottom Continued should be printed. To ~Copy` text in order to be able to [Paste] it elsewhere, first you must [Block] the text, then either go to the [Edit Menu] on the Pull-Down Bar and select Copy or <Ctrl-F4> and select Copy. The ~Current Element Menu` is found on the [Edit Menu] off the main [Pull-Down Menus] bar.
This Menu has the following Options: [Switch Element Type], [Cheat Element Style] and ~Change to Uppercase`, ~Change to Lowercase` and ~Change to Initial Caps`.
NOTE: The last three options will be grayed-out and unselectable in an Element that is defined as Capitals such as Character Name or Scene Heading. To ~Cut` text in order to be able to [Paste] it elsewhere, first you must [Block] the text, then either go to the [Edit Menu] on the Pull-Down Bar and select Cut or instead press <Shift-Delete> or <Ctrl-F4> to cut it. ~Designating an Alt-Key Name` is extremely easy and allows you to specify which name you want to come up when you press <ALT> + its initial letter.
First put in a Character Name, either by pressing <TAB> or by using an [Alt-Key].
Now while in the blank paragraph of Dialogue, before you type anything, press <ENTER> and a pull-down menu will pop up with all the Character Names that start with the same letter as the one you just put in.
Select the name you want from this menu and if it is different from the name that was just put in, that name will be changed to match your new selection, and from then on, when you select <ALT>+the first Letter of that name, the selected Alt-Key Name will be put in until you designate a new one.
You can change the designated Alt-Key Name as many times as needed, and ScriptThing, being the smart beast that it is, will remember the last chosen Alt-Key Name from writing session to writing session. ~Dialogue` are the lines spoken by the characters. In screenplay format, the Dialogue [Element] is singled spaced, it most sitcom formats, it is double spaced.
See [Edit Script Formats] for information on how to change the line spacing. The ~Edit Menu` is one of the Seven Main [Pull-Down Menus] available from the Top Menu Bar. You can access the Edit Menu by pressing <ESC> or the Right Mouse Button to select the Menu Bar, and then select Edit, or you can simply press <CTRL+D>.
The Edit Menu is actually two different Menus depending on whether or not there is currently selected Text. If there is NO selected text than the options are:
If there IS selected Text then the Menu will be different, giving you options to Bold, Italicize, or Underline Text if you've selected text in ONLY one element, in addition to options to [Cut], [Copy] and [Append] the Selected (Blocked) Text. The ~Edit Script Formats` Option is found under the [Formats Menu] on the Main Menu Bar.
When you select this Menu, you'll be able to change the margins, line spacing, capitalizations etc. of any or every [Element] in addition to setting the [Page Break Options], [Numbering Options] and [Continued Text Options].
See the ScriptThing Manual for specific details as needed. ~<TAB>` Puts you into a Character Name Element, and allows you to either input a new name or match an existing one by typing initial letters and pressing <ENTER>.
~<ENTER>` Puts you into the next "logical" element or list. What it does depends on where you are in the script, and whether the [QuickType] feature is on.
~<CTRL-ENTER>` Puts you into Action.
~<(>` Puts you into a parenthetical if you're in dialogue, or it will pop up the Character Name [Extension] [User List] if you're in a Character Name.
~<ALT+Key>` If there is already a [Character Name] selected for that [Alt-Key], it will put in that name otherwise it will put in the first Name with that letter.
~<Ctrl+Key>` There are quite a number of Quick Keys to Access the [Pull-Down Menus] and functions - see [Quick Keys] for details.
[Editing Keys - Cont'd] ~<SHIFT-ENTER>` Puts in a [Forced Page Break]. If you have the [Production Version] of ScriptThing and have Double-Locked Pages then it will pop up a menu letting you choose between putting in a [Locked Page] or a ~Double-Locked Page`.
~<CTRL-O>` Puts you into a [Shot], popping up a menu of all available Shots in the [User List].
~<CTRL-ALT-H>` Script Story Help. The following is a list of the available editing keys:
~<Tab>` - Puts you into a [Character Name] [Element] ~<Enter>` - Puts you into a new Element NOTE: This new Element will vary as to Element type depending on which Element you were in when you pressed <Enter>.
~ALL OF THE FOLLOWING KEYS ARE OPTIONAL EDITING KEYS AND YOU CAN DO EVERYTHING YOU NEED WITHOUT LEARNING THEM, BUT THEY ARE SUPPLIED FOR SPEEDING UP THINGS IF YOU WANT TO USE THEM.
~<Ctrl-Enter>` - Puts you into an [Action] Element ~<Ctrl-S>` - Puts you into a [Scene Heading] Element ~<Ctrl-T>` - Puts you into a [Transition] Element ~<Ctrl-O>` - Puts you into a [Shot] Element
NOTE: If QuickType is on, or you were already in a Scene Heading, Transition, or Shot when you pressed that Element's Control-key, then ScriptThing will pop up a List Menu of available Text for that Element.
[Quick List Cont'd] TEXT FORMATTING KEYS: ~<Ctrl-B>` - Turns [Bold] On/Off ~<Ctrl-U>` - Turns [Underline] On/Off ~<Ctrl-Y>` - Turns [Italics] On/Off ~<Ctrl-N>` - Turns Any existing Text Formatting Off ~<Ctrl+Dash>` - Puts in Soft [Hyphen]
QUICK SCENE HEADING TEXT INPUT: ~<Ctrl-I>` - Puts you into [Scene Heading] with "INT." typed in ~<Ctrl-E>` - Puts you into Scene Heading with "EXT." typed in
MISCELLANEOUS QUICK INPUT: ~<Shift-Enter>`- Inserts [Forced Page Break] ~<Ctrl-C>` - Put in a Character Name as text ~<Alt+Letter>` - Puts in a Character Name ready for Dialogue
MENU QUICK KEYS AND SUBSTITUTIONS: ~<Esc>` - Displays Menu Bar or is Cancel when in a Menu ~<Ctrl-R>` - Makes ScriptThing [Repaginate] the script ~<Ctrl-W>` - Will [Switch Documents] or [Swap Scripts]
[Quick List - Cont'd] MOVEMENT KEYS: ~<PgDn>` - Move Down One Screen ~<PgUp>` - Move Up One Screen ~<Ctrl-PgDn>` - Move Down One Full Page ~<Ctrl-PgUp>` - Move Up One Full Page ~<Arrow Left>` - Move Left one Letter ~<Arrow Right>` - Move Right one Letter ~<Ctrl-Left>` - Move Left one Word ~<Ctrl-Right>` - Move Right one Word ~<Home>` - Move to beginning of current line ~<End>` - Move to end of current line ~<Ctrl-End>` - Delete to End of Line ~<Ctrl-Bkspace>` - Delete Current Word
BLOCK EDITING KEYS: ~<Shift+Any Movement Key>` - [Block] On ~<Shift-Del>` - [Cut] Block (works when Block is On Only) ~<Shift-Ins>` - [Paste] Block at Current Cursor Position In ScriptThing terms, an ~Element` is the most basic unit of the script. There are 10 standard available elements, each with their own Characteristics (Bold, underlining, margins, page breaking options etc) although since ScriptThing allows you to Cheat their margins, line spacing etc. you can create an almost infinite variety as needed.
[Scene Info], and [End of Act]. The ~End of Act` [Element] is used to put in END OF ACT Information in your script, and has its own [User List] so if you want to change the END OF ACT Text to something else, simply edit its user list. See ~Using User Lists` in the manual for more details.
To put in End of Act Information, simply type ~END OF` or whatever is in the End of Act User List, and ScriptThing will automatically follow it with the text of whatever Act you are in.
| END OF ACT THREE The End of Act Text is the [User List] that contains the specific text that ScriptThing uses for its [Automatic Text Recognition] to put in the automatic [End of Act] information. ScriptThing allows you the flexibility to ~Export Scripts` into the following formats:
~WordPerfect`, ~ScriptPerfection`, ~MS Word (RTF)`, ~Mac PlayWrite (RTF)`, ~Scriptware Tagged`, and ~Formatted ASCII`
To export a script, retrieve it and then select the [File Menu] from the Main Pull-Down Menu Bar. Select ~Export` and then choose the output format you want. ScriptPerfection is a format for Word-Perfect 5.1 with Style Sheets, PlayWrite and Scriptware are other company's (aaah, competitors!) Script Writing software programs.
Once you've selected the export format, it will prompt you to give it a name and then export the script with lightning speed.
~NOTE:` The exported script WILL NOT maintain exactly the same margins or page breaks as the ScriptThing script, and will not have any (MORES) or (CONTINUED)s in it.
[Export Scripts - Cont'd] EXPORTING SCRIPTS - Continued
Scriptware & PlayWrite users will still have to import the exported scripts to get them formatted correctly, but that import should produce a script that does not require ANY 'Clean-up' and in the case of Scriptware will maintain all of the original script's Bold, Underlining, and Italics.
WordPerfect, ScriptPerfection and MS Word Users can simply retrieve the exported script without any further manipulation.
If you want the MS Word Script to have ~Style Sheets` in place then you must give them the file SCRNPLAY.STY (also SITCOM.STY if the exported script is a sitcom) and when MS Word prompts them 'Attach Style Sheet' or some such thing, they should enter SCRNPLAY.STY ~even if it's a sitcom!`. If the script is in Sitcom format, then once the script is retrieved, they should ~then` go into the Style Sheet Menu and load the Style Sheet SITCOM.STY and it will reformat it appropriately. In ScriptThing Terms, an ~Extension` is the text following a Character Name that tells us whether the dialogue is a Voice-Over or Off-Screen. Although (CONT'D) may also follow a Character Name, it is not considered an extension for our purposes
As there seems to be great confusion as to when to use (V.O.) and (O.S), I'll give a brief definition:
~(V.O.)` - ~Voice Over` is used when we are hearing a Character's thoughts or he/she is talking directly to the audience, ~BUT IF YOU WERE ACTUALLY IN THE SCENE, THERE WOULDN'T BE ANYTHING TO HEAR!`
~(O.S.)` - ~Off-Screen` (Sometimes (O.C.) - ~Off-Camera` for taped shows) is when the Dialogue ~ACTUALLY HAPPENS` in the scene, but the speaking Character is not visible to us when he or she says it.
~To Put In or Remove an Extension`, put the cursor anywhere in a Character name and press the Left Parenthesis <~(`>. A Pop-Up Menu will appear, and you should select the option you want. To edit the options that appear on this Menu, edit the Character Extension [User List]. The ~File Menu` is one of the Seven Main [Pull-Down Menus] available from the Top Menu Bar. You can access the File Menu by pressing <ESC> or clicking the Right Mouse Button to select the Menu Bar, and then select File, or you can simply press <CTRL+F>.
What options actually appear on the File Menu depends upon (~1`) Whether you are in an empty script; (~2`) Whether there is selected text or not. In a COMPLETELY BLANK Script there are five options:
~LOAD FROM HARD DRIVE` - will display a list of all Scripts in the [Script Subdirectory] and load the one you choose.
~LOAD FROM FLOPPY` - will display a list of all Scripts on the floppy you specify and load the one you choose.
~LOAD THE TIMED BACKUP` - will load the last-saved [Timed Backup].
~IMPORT SCRIPT` - will take you directly to the [Importing Scripts] Menu.
[File Menu Cont'd] ~File Menu in BLANK SCRIPT Cont'd`
~DELETE SCRIPT` - will list all FILES in the Script Subdirectory and allow you to delete the ones you no longer want or need.
~In a Script that IS NOT BLANK, the File Menu has eight options in addition to DELETE SCRIPTS.`
~SAVE SCRIPT` - will save the script, automatically replacing any existing version with the same name and without prompting you for permission. It will then return you to your script without exiting.
~SAVE AS...` - will take you to the Save Options Menu, with the CheckBox "Return to Script" checked. If this setting is accepted, it will save your script then return you to it.
~SAVE/EXIT SCRIPT` - will take you to the Save Options Menu, with the CheckBox "Exit Script" checked. If this is accepted, it will save your script and exit it, leaving you in a blank document.
[File Menu - Cont'd] ~File Menu in a NOT-BLANK SCRIPT Cont'd`
~SAVE/LOAD NEW SCRIPT` - will do exactly as the SAVE/EXIT SCRIPT Menu did, except instead of leaving you in a blank document, it will automatically display a list of all existing scripts in the [Script Subdirectory] and load the one you select.
~PASTE BLOCK` - will [Paste] the last [Cut] text at the cursor position.
~SWAP SCRIPTS` - will [Swap Scripts].
~MERGE SCRIPTS` - will display a list of all existing Scripts in the Script Subdirectory and will Merge (ie combine into one script) the script you select with the current script, adding the text of the new script at the current cursor position.
~EXPORT SCRIPT` - will take you to the [Export Scripts] Menu. The ~Final Act` [User List] contains the text that ScriptThing should use for the last Act in a TV Format Script. It is most usually "TAG." The ~Find/Replace` Menu Option is found on the [Goto Menu] and when selected will display a screen with two options:
~Find:` - This is where you type in the text you want ScriptThing to find and replace with some different text.
~Repl:` - This is where you type in the text you want ScriptThing to replace the found text with.
Once you've entered the two texts (and you CAN replace text with nothing), you'll see a prompt saying ~Confirm Each Replacement?` If you say YES then every time it finds some text to replace, it will prompt you before replacing it, otherwise it will replace it automatically without asking. Use this second option carefully because, for example, if you tell it to replace car with auto then the above carefully would become autoefully without you knowing. The ~Find Text` Menu Option is found on the [Goto Menu] and when selected will display a screen where you can type in the text to find, and ScriptThing will automatically Search for that text from the current cursor position on downwards. See [Add Forced Page Break]. The ~Formats Menu` is one of the Seven Main [Pull-Down Menus] available from the Top Menu Bar. You can access the Formats Menu by pressing <ESC>, or clicking the Right Mouse Button to select the Menu Bar, and then select ~Formats`, or you can simply press <CTRL+M>.
What options actually appear on the File Menu depends upon whether you have the [Freelance Version] or [Production Version] of ScriptThing.
[Remove Revision Marks] [Lock/Unlock Script] [AutoRevision Marks] The ~Freelance Version` of ScriptThing does everything the [Production Version] does with the exception of the following:
| [A-Pages] [A-Scenes]
| [Breakdown] [AutoRevision Marks]
...and some additional features associated with Revision Marks, ~Print Asterisked Pages`.
NOTE: If you aren't sure which Version of ScriptThing you have, then select ~About ScriptThing` from the [Help Menu]. The ~Goto Menu` is one of the Seven Main [Pull-Down Menus] avail- able from the Top Menu Bar. You can access the Goto Menu by pressing <ESC> or clicking the Right Mouse Button to select the Menu Bar, and then select Goto, or you can simply press <CTRL+G>. There are nine or ten options available on this menu:
~Top` - Will take you to the Top of the script. ~Bottom` - Will take you to the Bottom of the script. ~Page` - Will take you to the Page you specify. ~Scene` - Will take you to the Scene heading you specify. ~Find Text` - Will Find the text you specify. ~Find/Replace` - Will Find and Replace the text you specify. ~ScreenSave` - Will turn on the [Screen Saver]. ~Document 2` - Will take you to the other Document. ~Next Speech` - Will find Next Speech of a character you specify. ~Next Revision`- Will goto the next Element with a Revision Mark.
NOTE: The last Option, NEXT REVISION, is only available on the [Production Version] of ScriptThing and will not appear on the [Freelance Version]. The ~Headers Setup` Menu consists of four parts:
~HEADER TEXT` - Where you define the text you want to go in the headers using the codes explained in the fourth box Header Codes. Note that ScriptThing will print a second Header line if there is ANY text including just spaces in Line 2.
~PRINT HEADER` - Which consists of three RadioBoxes that let you choose when you want the header printed.
~DATE FORMAT` - Two RadioBoxes that let you specify how you want the Date to be printed if it is included in the header and a CheckBox to specify to use dashes rather than slashes if desired.
~HEADER CODES` - A "legend" box that gives you information as to which codes to put in to cause the Header to print what things. Note that you have to use the correct capitalization for these codes to work correctly.
The ~VIEW` PushButton if pressed will display a simulated Header based on the codes & text in lines 1 and 2. ~Headers` are the text that go on the top of each page, frequently just the page number, but sometimes also including the date, Act and Scene Number and so on.
See [Header Setup] and the ScriptThing Manual for more details. The ~Help Menu` is one of the Seven Main [Pull-Down Menus] available from the Top Menu Bar. You can access the Help Menu by pressing <ESC> or clicking the Right Mouse Button to select the Menu Bar, and then select Help, or you can simply press ~<CTRL+H>`. There are five options available on this menu:
~HELP INDEX` - which will bring up a list menu of all the available Help Topics.
~EDITING KEYS` - which will bring up a Help Screen of all the avail- able ScriptThing Editing Keys.
~QUICK KEYS` - which will bring up a Help Screen of all the Control and Function Quick Keys which you can use to get to various Menus.
~ABOUT SCRIPTTHING` - which will display a help screen with the program's Version Number, who this copy has been registered to, the serial number, and whether it is the [Production Version] or [Freelance Version].
~SCRIPTTHING TUTOR` - which, if you're in a totally BLANK document, will run the ScriptThing Tutor. ScriptThing's Help function uses a form of ~HYPERTEXT` that allows you to jump from one screen to another one just by pressing a button that contains related text.
The buttons all look like the following: [Help Cont'd] and can be accessed either by pressing the left or right cursor keys until the one you want is highlighted and then pressing enter, or by double-clicking on it with the mouse. You can also always select the option ~Go Back to Menu` to return to the Main Index or the function that you called Help From.
Note that the ~Highlighted` text (like the word highlighted) is just used for emphasis and ease of reading, but is not a selectable option. Press [Help on Using Help] to get back to the previous screen. ScriptThing offers a ~Soft Hyphen` which is a Hyphen that if it is needed will display and print as a dash, but if you edit the text so that it is no longer appropriate, then it will not display or print at all. To put in a Soft Hyphen, simply press <CTRL>+the Dash Key where you want it to go. ScriptThing can ~Import` an [ASCII File] that maintains standard script format, even if its margins aren't exactly what ScriptThing uses.
When you've selected ~Import Script` from the [File Menu] then you'll see an Import Script Menu with a line ~IMPORT NAME:` where you can enter the path and name of the ASCII file to be imported, it will also have a ~LIST FILES` PushButton and a CheckBox that says ~MANUAL IMPORT`.
If the file to be imported is already located in the ScriptThing [Script Subdirectory] and has either the suffix .DOS or .DOC then you can just press the LIST FILES PushButton and select it from the list that comes up, otherwise you have to enter the path and name where it says IMPORT NAME: and then press OK.
See the ScriptThing Manual for more details including an explanation of the Manual Import CheckBox if needed. The ~Initial Scene Text` is the text that comes before the location in a Scene Heading such as INT. or EXT. or less typically FULL SHOT or HIGH ANGLE.
It is also a ScriptThing [User List] and is used for building a Menu that appears whenever you start a Scene Heading with [QuickType] on. There are several ways of ~Italicizing` text, depending on whether you want to Italicize an entire element, or just a portion of one, and whether the text has been typed already.
~There are three methods of turning Italics on and off`: (~1`) Get to the [Edit Menu], select [Text Style], then select Italics; (~2`) press ~<CTRL-Y>~; or (~3`) press ~<F9>`.
If you want to Italicize just a portion of an element, such as a single word in Dialogue, then turn Italics on using one of the methods listed above before you type it in, and then turn Italics off by again using one of the above listed Methods.
If you want to Italicize some text that is already typed in, [Block] the text, and then do one of the Italics methods.
If you want to Italicize an Entire [Element] then you should select the [Cheat Element Style] Menu (which is located under the option [Current Element] which is on the [Edit Menu]) and check the Italics CheckBox. The ~Load Script Formats` Menu found on the [Formats Menu] allows you to load the formats from either another ScriptThing Script or from a saved or pre-defined Script Type such as Screenplay or Sitcom Version I or Sitcom Version II.
See the ScriptThing Manual for a discussion of the different formats. The ~Lock/Unlock Script` Menu Option is only available on the [Production Version] of ScriptThing, and can be found under the [Formats Menu] on the Main Menu Bar.
From this Menu, you can set [Locked Scene Numbers] and [Locked Pages] or you can unlock any already existing ones, you can turn on or off [AutoRevision Marks] and [Scene Numbers], change the text used for [Revision Marks], [Scene Omitted Text], and Double-Locked Scene Characters.
See your ScriptThing Manual for more details. There are Three RadioBoxes on the [Lock/Unlock Script] Menu which allow you to set how you want your Scene Numbers:
~UNLOCKED SCENE NUMBERS`: when you select this option, all Scenes will have normal numbering. Any existing Locked or Double-Locked Scenes will be UNLOCKED and the script will be renumbered normally with all A-Numbering information completely lost.
~LOCKED SCENE NUMBERS`: when you select this option, any new Scene that you add will be put in with the same number as the preceding scene but with a Letter (A-Z) following it. Any DOUBLE-LOCKED SCENE NUMBERS in the script will be re-numbered as normal LOCKED SCENE NUMBERS, and all double-locked Numbering information will be completely lost.
~DOUBLE-LOCKED SCENE NUMBERS`: when you select this option, any New Scene that you add will be put in with the same letter and number as the preceding scene but with an additional number following it. (eg. a scene added after 12A will be numbered as 12A1.) If you add a scene immediately after a Non-A-Scene then instead of the A-Scene Letter, it will use whatever Character is set at the DOUBLE-LOCKED SCENE CHARACTER. There are Three RadioBoxes on the [Lock/Unlock Script] Menu which allow you to set how you want your Page Breaks:
~UNLOCKED PAGE BREAKS`: when you select this option, all pages will have normal numbering. Any existing Locked or Double-Locked Pages will be UNLOCKED and the pages will be renumbered normally with all A-Numbering information completely lost.
~LOCKED PAGE BREAKS`: when you select this option, any new page that is created will be put in with the same number as the preceding Page but with a Letter (A-Z) following it. Any DOUBLE-LOCKED PAGE BREAKS in the script will be renumbered as normal LOCKED PAGE BREAKS, and all double-locked Numbering information will be completely lost.
~DOUBLE-LOCKED PAGE BREAKS`: when you select this option, any New Page that is created will be put in with the same letter and number as the preceding page but with an additional number following it. (eg. a page added after 12A will be numbered as 12A1.) If you add a page immediately after a Non-A-Page then instead of the A-Page Letter, it will use whatever Character is set at the DOUBLE-LOCKED SCENE CHARACTER. Every [Element] has its own ~Margins` and they can be changed globally (meaning change the margins of all existing elements of a certain type) or they can also be cheated on an element by element basis. See [Cheat Element Style] for details on the latter.
To change the Margins of one or more Elements globally, goto the [Formats Menu] and select [Edit Script Formats]. You'll see a Warning Prompt, read it and then press OK. Select either ~ALL MARGINS` or the specific element type that you want to change and make any changes as desired.
~NOTE:` If you globally change the margins of an element, then ALL elements of that type will be reset to these New Margins and all previously made cheats will be irrevocably lost. ~PROGRAM OPTIONS - MISCELLANEOUS OPTIONS Cont'd`
~Put in Real-Time Page Breaks as you type` - on slow computers, or in scripts where there are many very long speeches, you may find that ScriptThing slows down. One way to speed it up is to turn off the [Real-Time Page Breaks].
Turning off Real-Time Page Breaks will cause the Page Number Information on the Bottom Menu Bar to display as Question Marks except immediately after you [Repaginate] the script. ScriptThing will still automatically repaginate your script before printing even if Real-Time Page Breaks is off.
~Run SmartCheck to Check Formatting before Printing` - specifies whether ScriptThing should automatically run [SmartCheck] before every print job. Whether this is on or off, you can still manually run SmartCheck from the [Edit Menu].
[Program options] [Cont'd - Movement] [Cont'd - Display] To ~MOVE TEXT` from one position in the script to another, first [Block] the text you want to move, then [Cut] it. Now move the cursor to where you want the text to go and then [Paste] it. ScriptThing's ~Numbering Options` Menu (on [Edit Script Formats]) has the following options:
~NUMBER CONTINUOUSLY` - If this checkbox is checked, rather than starting at Scene One at the beginning of each new act, the Scene Number increments continuously from Scene One irregardless of Act.
~USE THE WORD SCENE` - If this checkbox is checked then [Scene Info] Text will be put in as SCENE ONE (or whatever is appropriate), if not it will be put in as ONE.
~TAG TEXT SHOULD FOLLOW...` - Whatever number is put in here will be the Final Act of the script, after which ScriptThing will call the next Act TAG (or whatever is in the [Final Act] [User List].
~STARTING PAGE NUMBER` - Lets you set the starting Page Number.
~STARTING ACT NUMBER` - Lets you to set the starting Act Number.
~STARTING SCENE NUMBER` - Lets you set the starting Scene Number. The Page Break Options Menu lets you define how ScriptThing should break Action/Dialogue and is found under the [Edit Script Formats] Menu which is found on the [Formats Menu].
Its options are:
~DON'T BREAK ACTION/DIALOGUE` - ScriptThing won't break ACTION or DIALOGUE elements at all, ever. End of Story.
~ONLY AT SENTENCE ENDS` - will ONLY break after a Period, Question Mark or Exclamation point, and if there is no Sentence break within the Maximum available lines, then it will NOT break that element at all.
~SENTENCE ENDS PREFERRED` - will check the maximum number of lines it can fit on a page and if there is a Sentence End within two lines of the maximum then it will break it there, otherwise it will break it at the maximum number of lines regardless of Sentence Ends.
~MAXIMUM LINES` - will break the element at the MAXIMUM Number of Lines that it can fit on the Page irregardless of Sentence ends.
~MINIMUM ACTION LINES ON PAGE` - ScriptThing WON'T put a page break that leaves fewer than this number of lines of Action.
~MINIMUM DIALOGUE LINES ON PAGE` - ScriptThing WON'T put a page break that leaves fewer than this number of lines of Dialogue on a page, WITH SEVERAL EXCEPTIONS! See the Manual for details on these exceptions.
~BREAK AFTER A SINGLE SENTENCE` - if this box is checked, then ScriptThing may break Dialogue after a 1-Line Sentence, otherwise it won't unless that sentence is the entire element and it preceded or followed by a parenthetical
~BREAK TWO ONE-LINE SENTENCES` - if this box is checked, then ScriptThing may break any Dialogue Element into sentences, even if that means that there is a single one-line sentence on a page. Otherwise, it will not break up two single-line Sentences if that Dialogue Element comes immediately after the Character Name. If the Dialogue comes after a parenthetical then it may break up the lines.
~COUNT (MORE) LINE IN LINES ON PG` - if this box is checked, then when ScriptThing calculates where to break up the dialogue with a MORE, it will allow one fewer Line on the page to allow space for the (MORE), otherwise it will simply put the (MORE) on line further down and you'll get the same number of lines on a page. A ~Parenthetical` is a dialogue direction in a speech such as the following:
| REGINALD | (to himself) | Now I know I put that poisoned fish | hook somewhere around here... OUCH!
The Parenthetical is the ~(to himself)` and it is put in simply by pressing the Left Parenthesis from anywhere in Dialogue.
If you want to put a Parenthetical immediately under the Character Name, from anywhere in Dialogue you can also press ~<Alt+9>` which is <Alt> + the unshifted version of the Left Parenthesis. ScriptThing allows you to ~Paste` the text that you have most recently [Cut], even if it was cut during a previous writing session.
To Paste the Cut Text, simply position the cursor where you want the text to go and then either press ~<Shift-Insert>` or go to the [Edit Menu] and select ~Paste Block`. The ~Print Menu` has either Eight or Ten Options on it depending on whether you have the [Freelance Version] or the [Production Version] of ScriptThing:
~THIS PAGE` - will print the page the cursor is currently on.
~TO END OF SCRIPT` - will print from the page the cursor is currently on through to the end of the script.
~ENTIRE SCRIPT` - will print the entire script irregardless of what page the cursor is currently on.
~SOME PAGES` - will take you to an option Menu that will let you to specify which pages of the script to print.
~SOME SCENES` - will take you to a list menu of all Scene Headings in the script and let you select which scenes to print. Script- Thing will then print all of the pages which those scenes cover.
[Print Menu Cont'd] ~Print Menu - Cont'd
~DIALOGUE` - will let you select a Character from the list of all speaking Characters, and will then print all of that Character's dialogue with reference page numbers and fascinating statistics.
~PRINTER SETUP` - will take you to other menus which will let you Setup your printer.
~HEADER SETUP` - will take you to the [Header Setup] Menu.
If you have the [Production Version] of ScriptThing, then you will also have the following two extra options on the [Print Menu]:
~ASTERISKED PAGES` - will print all pages that have at least one Revision Mark (whether or not that is set to print as an asterisk or not) anywhere on it.
~BREAKDOWN` - will print a Production [Breakdown] of the script. ~Editing Printer Codes` is a very advanced feature and you should only do it as an absolute LAST RESORT if other options do not fix whatever printer problem you're having.
However, if you do decide to edit these codes then once you're in a text field on this screen...
~To Enter the Printer <ESC> Code` simply press <CTRL-E> and it will put in a code that will be sent to the printer as ASCII Value 27, the normal Printer <ESC> Code.
~To Enter ASCII Values` simply enclose the ASCII Value in brackets and when you completely exit the Edit Printer Codes Menu, Script- Thing will automatically convert that to the correct ASCII Value.
~NOTE:` Not all printers will have codes in all fields. A ~Production Script` is a script that is in a format used while actually in Production. For Feature Scripts this generally means that it includes Left and Right [Scene Numbers], [Top Continueds], [Bottom Continueds], [Revision Marks], Revision [Headers], [A-Pages] and [A-Scenes].
For [Sitcom Formats], it may include Top or Bottom Continueds, A-Pages or A-Scenes, Revision Marks, and Production Headers.
ScriptThing is only capable of producing a Production Script if you have the [Production Version], otherwise you will only be able to write [Spec Scripts] or at least scripts not requiring A-Pages or A-Scenes. The ~Production Version` of ScriptThing does everything the [Freelance Version] does with the addition of the following:
| [A-Pages] [A-Scenes]
| [Breakdown] [AutoRevision Marks]
...and some additional features associated with Revision Marks like ~Print Asterisked Pages`.
NOTE: If you aren't sure which Version of ScriptThing you have, then select ~About ScriptThing` from the [Help Menu]. The Program Options Menu is accessed off the [File Menu] and is where you set how you want ScriptThing to run.
~SAVE OPTIONS` - Checking the ~Back-up on Floppy` box will cause ScriptThing to automatically prompt you to back-up your script onto a floppy when you exit it. If you don't check this box, then you'll still have to option to back it up, but it won't happen automatically.
~Drive A` and ~Drive B` let you specify you'd primarily want to use for backups and retrieving from floppies.
[Timed Backup] lets you specify how long between automatic backups.
~NOTE:` a setting of 0 or any setting over 60 minutes will be changed to 60 minutes.
~Screen Saver` delay time specifies how long ScriptThing should wait without a keystroke before starting the [Screen Saver].
[Cont'd - Display] [Cont'd - Movement] [Cont'd - Misc.] ~Prologue` Text is like [Act Info Text] that precedes Act One. There are several standard Prologue Text that ScriptThing will recognize, though you can always edit the Prologue [User List] if you need something else. They are ~Teaser`, ~Prologue`, and ~Cold Opening`.
Type any of these three text items with any capitalization at the beginning of any blank line and ScriptThing will recognize what you've typed, center, capitalize and underline it, and then if [QuickType] is on, start a Scene Heading. ScriptThing's ~Pull-Down Menus` are available from anywhere in the script simply by (~1`) Pressing ~<ESC>`; (~2`) Clicking the ~Left Mouse Button` anywhere on the top Menu Bar (other than the downwards-pointing triangle); or (~3`) Clicking the ~Right Mouse Button` anywhere.
Once the Menu Bar is displayed, you can select any Option by (~1`) pressing the Cursor Keys until the Option you want is Highlighted and then pressing <ENTER>; (~2`) Pressing the BOLDED letter of the Option you want; or (~3`) Double Clicking the option you want with the Mouse. The following are a list of the QUICK KEYS which will take you to the various Menus without having to go through the Main Menu Bar:
File Menu - ~<Ctrl-F>` or ~<Shift-F10>` Edit Menu - ~<CTRL-D>` Goto Menu - ~<CTRL-G>` or ~<Ctrl-Home>` Spell Menu - ~<CTRL-L>` or ~<Ctrl-F2>` Print Menu - ~<CTRL-P>` or ~<Shift-F7>` Formats Menu - ~<CTRL-M>` or ~<Shift-F8>` Help Menu - ~<CTRL-H>` or ~<F1>` Program Options - ~<Shift-F1>` Text Styles - ~<Ctrl-F8>` ~QuickType` is ScriptThing's intuitive interface that makes switch- ing from one [Element] to another as easy as pressing <ENTER>. ScriptThing will automatically go to the next "logical" element ([Dialogue] after [Character Name], [Scene Heading] after [Transition], etc) popping up a Menu with Text Items if appropriate.
You can turn QuickType On or Off on the [Program Options] Menu. The ~Real-Time Page Breaks` are the page breaks (with (MORE) and (CONT'D)) that ScriptThing puts in as you write. They cannot be manually edited, and if you NEED a page break at a specific place you should use a Forced Page Break. See [Add Forced Page Break] for details.
In rare cases such as EXTREMELY slow computers or scripts with an inordinately large number of LONG SPEECHES, you may want to turn off the Real-Time Page Breaks on the [Program Options] Menu. The ~Remove Revision Marks` function is on the [Formats Menu] of the [Production Version] of ScriptThing ONLY, and when selected will bring up a prompt telling you that it is about to remove all [Revision Marks] from the script and ask you if you want to continue. If you select Yes, then it will do just that, otherwise it will do nothing. ScriptThing automatically ~Repaginates` as you write, updating the (MORE)s, (CONTINUED)s, and Page Breaks without you having to do anything manually. However, under certain circumstances, it can get a little "behind" and you can force a repagination by either selecting ~Repaginate Script` from the [Edit Menu] or by pressing ~<CTRL-R>`.
Even this is not necessary however, as ScriptThing ALWAYS repaginates immediately before Printing and after adding or deleting any elements. See the Load File options on the [File Menu] for Details. ~Revision Marks` are a Production Feature that allows you to put an Asterisk (*) on the far right margin of a line where you have changed the text.
~To Put in a Revision Mark` - from anywhere in the line you want marked, press the asterisk.
~To Remove a Revision Mark` - from anywhere in the line that is already marked, simply press the asterisk and it will be removed.
The [Production Version] of ScriptThing also has the ability to automatically put in Revision Marks--[AutoRevision Marks]--in addition to having several other features relating to them, including ~Goto Next Revision` on the [Goto Menu], and ~Print Asterisked Pages` on the [Print Menu], the option to change how the Revision Mark will look and print, and has the additional option that will let you [Remove Revision Marks] from the entire script in one step. See the [File Menu]--specifically [File Menu Cont'd]--for information. A Scene Heading is made of three basic parts:
~INITIAL SCENE HEADING TEXT` - the "INT." or "EXT." or other equivalent Initial Text.
~SCENE BODY TEXT` - the location itself such as "MARIA'S BEDROOM" or "WHITE HOUSE OVAL OFFICE."
~TIME OF DAY` - the time of the scene such as "DAY" or "NIGHT" or "LATER."
To get a MENU of all existing unique locations for entry into a Scene Heading, simply press <ENTER> (if [QuickType] is on) or ~<CTRL+S>` in a Scene Heading that already has Initial Text typed in (INT., EXT. etc) and ScriptThing will display all the unique Scene Body Text already typed in the script.
In addition, ScriptThing has [User List]s for all three parts to make it easier for you to get the [Scene Heading] you want into your script with the minimum amount of typing. A ~Scene Heading` is the location where the Scene, takes place. For example:
INT. LAW OFFICES -- MORNING
In standard screenplay format, Scene Headings are typically about 60 characters wide and are in all Capital Letters. [Scene Numbers] are NOT used in [Spec Scripts], and in most sitcom formats the margins are smaller, and Scene Headings may be underlined.
You can always get to a Scene Heading by typing initial Scene Heading Text (such as INT. or EXT.) at the beginning of any blank line, by pressing <CTRL-S> from anywhere in the script, or by pressing <ENTER> in a blank line of Action if [QuickType] is on.
You can also press <CTRL-I> to start a new Scene Heading with "INT." typed in for you, or <CTRL-E> for a new Scene Heading with "EXT." typed in. ~Scene Info` is a TV Format that tells the reader what SCENE it is and looks like:
| SCENE FOUR
Scene Info is put in by pressing <ENTER> while the cursor is in an [Act Info Text] line, or simply by typing ~SCENE` with any capitali-zation at the beginning of a blank line. ScriptThing will automa- tically deal with the numbering for you.
See [Numbering Options] for more details. ScriptThing can put in ~Scene Numbers` on either the Left, the Right, or Both Left & Right of Scene Headings if desired.
To turn Scene Numbering on, select the [Formats Menu], then select [Edit Script Formats] and then ~Scene Heading Formats` and check the ~LeftNum` and ~RightNum` CheckBoxes as desired.
If you have the [Production Version] of ScriptThing, you can also turn both Left and Right Numbers on the [Lock/Unlock Script] Menu found under the [Formats Menu]. ~Scene Omitted Text` is only available in the [Production Version] of ScriptThing and is the text that is automatically put in when you have LOCKED SCENE HEADINGS and completely delete the text of the Scene Heading.
As soon as you move the cursor out of the Scene Heading, Script- thing types in OMITTED (or whatever the current Scene Omitted Text is) in place of the blank Scene Heading.
You can change the Scene Omitted Text in the [Lock/Unlock Script] Menu found under the [Formats Menu]. ScriptThing's Built-In ~Screen Saver` can be accessed manually by selecting ~ScreenSave` from the [Goto Menu], or it will kick in automatically after the number of seconds without a keystroke that was set on the [Program Options] Menu.
NOTE: The screen saver will NOT kick in if you are in a Menu! ~Screenplay Format` is a fairly standard format for Screenplays, TV Movies, and Hour Drama TV Shows with minor variations such as having [Act Info Text] for the two listed TV formats.
[Sitcom Formats] is a less standard format, a variation of which is used for most ½ hour TV comedies and which differs from Screenplay format by having double-spaced [Dialogue], typically capitalized [Action], Act and [Scene Info] Text and possibly other vagaries. The ~Script Subdirectory` is the subdirectory which ScriptThing uses for saving and retrieving scripts.
It is set in the [Program Options] Menu. You can ~Select` text for Cutting, Copying or Deleting, by pressing either ~<SHIFT KEY>` and then any movement key such as an UP or DOWN ARROW or <PgUp> or <PgDown>. Alternatively, you can Select text with a mouse by clicking the Left Mouse button and holding it down while dragging the mouse cursor to extend the block.
Once you have started the block, you can also extend it with the any of the functions on the [Goto Menu].
To turn off the text selection without doing anything to the selected text, simply press any of the Movement Keys (but NOT the Goto Menu!) without having a <SHIFT KEY> pressed, or Left Click the Mouse anywhere. The ~Setup Page Layout` Menu, found on the [Print Menu] allows you to specify how you want the script's page to layout. There are five options:
~TOP MARGIN` - this is the distance in lines between the physical top of the page and the first [Headers] line.
~PG# POS` - this number is the right-most character of the header. It is listed as Page Number Position because the page number is typically the last item in a header.
~BINDING MARGIN` - due to the variations of paper positions and printers, this number is an adjustment to allow you to shift the entire page left or right to allow for binding the script.
~TEXT LINES ON PAGE` - this is the total number of text lines to be allowed on the page, including [Top Continueds] if present.
~TOTAL PAGE LENGTH` - this the total length of the page in lines and although most cut-sheet printers want this set to 66 lines, many printers that use fan-fold paper want this set to 60 lines. A ~Shot` is similar to a [Scene Heading], but is not a new location and does not get [Scene Numbers] if you have numbering on.
LARRY'S POV OF ANITA
In standard screenplay format, Shots look identical to Scene Headings except concerning the Scene Numbering as noted above.
You can always get to a Shot by pressing <CTRL-O> from anywhere in the script, or by typing any text that ScriptThing recognizes as Shot Text (such as 'BACK TO SCENE'). ScriptThing lets you ~Shuffle Scenes` (ie reorder Scenes) by going to the [Edit Menu] and selecting Shuffle Scenes. You'll see a List Menu of all [Scene Heading]s in the script and you should select one by cursoring to it and pressing <ENTER> or Clicking on it with the Mouse.
That Scene Heading will then be Grayed-Out and replaced by the words "SHUFFLED SCENE" and you should then select the Scene Heading which you want the shuffled one to precede and ScriptThing will then automatically move the entire Scene and reformat the script instantly. ~Sitcom Format` is a semi-standard format, a variation of which is used for most ½ hour TV comedies and which differs from Screenplay format by having double-spaced [Dialogue], typically capitalized [Action], Act and [Scene Info] Text and possibly other vagaries.
[Screenplay Format] is a fairly standard format for Screenplays, TV Movies, and Hour Drama TV Shows with minor variations such as having [Act Info Text] for the two listed TV formats. ~SmartCheck` is ScriptThing's function to check the script for common formatting errors before you print your script. It can be run manually from the [Edit Menu] or automatically before every printing job if selected on the [Program Options] Menu.
SmartCheck will find the following Formatting Errors:
| A [Character Name] without any [Dialogue] following it
| A Character who speaks twice without ANYTHING between | the speeches
| A blank [Action], [Scene Heading], or [Transition] [Element]
If SmartCheck is run from the Edit Menu then it will give you a prompt when it is done; if it is run as part of the normal printing process and it doesn't find any errors, it will not give you any prompt but simply start printing. A ~Spec Script` is defined as a script that is written speculatively by the writer, without having any commitment for payment from anybody.
This script typically has a slightly different format from a [Production Script], lacking [Scene Numbers], [Top Continueds], and often [Bottom Continueds] in the Feature Format, and frequently lacking [Headers] in the TV Sitcom Format. To ~Spell Check` your script, select the [Spell Menu] from the Main Menu Bar, and then choose the option you want. When the Spell Check finds a word that it doesn't know, it will stop and prompt you with a Menu with four options:
~Suggestions:` Will display alternative words that ScriptThing believes you may have wanted
~Learn Word: ` Will add the selected word to ScriptThing's supplementary dictionary and it will accept that word in any script form then on
~Skip Word: ` Will cause ScriptThing to ignore this word for the rest of the duration of this writing session but NOT to permanently learn the word
~Edit Word: ` Will suspend the Spell Check and allow you to edit the word. When you are done, press <ENTER> and the Spell Check will resume. The ~Spell Menu` is one of the Seven Main [Pull-Down Menus] available from the Top Menu Bar. You can access the Spell Menu by pressing <ESC> or clicking the Right Mouse Button to select the Menu Bar, and then select Spell, or you can simply press <CTRL+L>.
There are Seven options on the Spell Menu:
~Word` Will spell check the word the cursor is on ~Page` Will spell check the Page the cursor is on ~Element` Will spell check the [Element] the cursor is on ~Forwards` Will spell check from this Element forwards | until the end of the script ~Script` Will spell check the Entire Script ~Count` Will count the number of words in the script | but WITHOUT Spell Checking them ~Clear Skip List` Will clear the list of all words that you have | told it to Skip for this writing session
See [Spell Checking] for details on what ScriptThing does when it finds a word it doesn't know You can start a New Script from the blank editing screen simply by beginning to type. When you go to save it, you will have to give it a Name. ScriptThing's ~Swap Scripts` function lets you alternatively load and save two scripts (ie swap them) with a single keystroke, letting you edit between two drafts or review notes or whatever.
To do so, first retrieve a script and then go to the [File Menu], and select Swap Scripts. You will see a List Menu of all existing scripts in the [Script Subdirectory] on your hard drive and you should select the one you want to swap with. When yo do so, the current script is swapped to Disk and the one you just selected is loaded. From here on, you can swap between them by either again selecting Swap Scripts on the File Menu, pressing ~<Ctrl+W>` or ~<Shift-F3>` or by selecting ~Swapped Doc` on the [Goto Menu].
NOTE: You CANNOT both [Switch Documents] and Swap Scripts at the same time. ScriptThing lets you work with two documents at the same time if desired. To ~Switch Documents`, simply retrieve the first one on screen, then select ~Document 2` on the [Goto Menu] and you will be taken to a blank document. Retrieve another file or write as desired.
To go back to the first document either go to the [Goto Menu] or press ~<Ctrl+W>` or ~<Shift-F3>`.
NOTE: You CANNOT both Switch Documents and [Swap Scripts] at the same time. You can ~Switch the Element Type` of an element by selecting the Switch Element Type Menu under [Current Element] on the [Edit Menu]. Only certain Element Types will be available on this Menu, which ones will depend on what element you are currently in, and whether that element is following Dialogue or not. The ~Text Style Menu~ located on the [Edit Menu] allows you to turn on or off [Bold], [Underline] or [Italics]. The option ~Normal` will turn off any Bolding Underlining, or Italics that are currently on. ScriptThing maintains an automatic ~Timed Backup` of your script, saving whatever script is currently on screen as 'AUTOSAVE' in the [Script Subdirectory]. You can set the frequency of the Timed Backup in the [Program Options] Menu, although you cannot set the interval greater than 60 minutes.
To retrieve the Timed Backup, select ~Load the Timed Backup` from the [File Menu] in a completely blank script. A Scene Heading is made of three basic parts:
~INITIAL SCENE HEADING TEXT` - the "INT." or "EXT." or other equivalent Initial Text.
~SCENE BODY TEXT` - the location itself such as "MARIA'S BEDROOM" or "WHITE HOUSE OVAL OFFICE."
~TIME OF DAY` - the time of the scene such as "DAY" or "NIGHT" or "LATER."
To get a MENU of Time-of-Day Text for your Scene Heading, simply press <ENTER> (if [QuickType] is on) or ~<CTRL+S>` in a Scene Heading that already has Initial Text (INT., EXT. etc) and Scene Body Text typed in. ScriptThing will then display a Pull-Down Menu of Times-of-Day text and when you select the one you want, it will be typed in for you, dashes and all.
NOTE: If you typed in the Time-of-Day yourself, then ScriptThing will NOT display this Menu if the Time-of-Day you typed is also in the Time-of-Day [User List]. The ~Title` Element is basically an [Action] Element that is Centered and can only be put in by being in Action and then going to the [Switch Element Type] Menu and choosing to switch the Element Type to Title. It will then be centered. ~Top Continueds` are one of the optional formatting features in ScriptThing, and we believe that they should NOT be used in your [Spec Scripts]. However, feel free to make your own decision.
Top Continueds are the (CONTINUED) that appear on the top of all pages where the scene continues from the previous page and should not be confused with the MORE and Character Continueds which are used when breaking [DIALOGUE].
Top Continueds are set on the Menu [Continued Text Options] which is found under [Edit Script Formats] on the [Formats Menu]. On this Continued Text Options Menu, then you can set both whether ScriptThing should put them in and what the text should actually be. NOTE: If you want the Top Continueds to have Parenthesis (which is also NOT standard) they must be entered into the Top Continued Text Field or they will not print.
~NOTE: Neither Top nor `[Bottom Continueds]~ will display on screen, although they will print if selected.` A ~Transition` is an optional direction as to how to go from one scene to another, and should be used sparingly if at all. For example:
| SLOW DISSOLVE TO:
In standard screenplay format, Transitions are either Flush Right or start at about position 60, and are in all Capital Letters.
You can always get to a Transition by typing anything that ends in TO: at the beginning of any blank line, or by pressing ~<CTRL-T>` from anywhere in the script. There are several ways of ~Underlining` text, depending on whether you want to underline an entire element, or just a portion of one, and whether the text has been typed already.
~There are three methods of turning Underline on and off`: (~1`) Get to the [Edit Menu], select [Text Style], then select Underline; (~2`) press ~<CTRL-U>~; or (~3`) press ~<F8>`.
If you want to underline just a portion of an element, such as a single word in Dialogue, then turn Underline on using one of the methods listed above before you type it in, and then turn Underline off by again using one of the above listed Methods.
If you want to Underline some text that is already typed in, [Block] the text, and then do one of the Underlining methods.
If you want to Underline an Entire [Element] then you should select the [Cheat Element Style] Menu (located under the Menu Option [Current Element] which is on the Edit Menu) and check the Underline CheckBox. ScriptThing has the limited ability to ~Undo Changes` to an element, ~IF AND ONLY IF` you have not moved the cursor from within that element before deciding to undo the changes.
If this is the case, then selecting the option Undo Changes from the [Edit Menu] or pressing ~<Ctrl-Alt-U>` will undo those text changes. To ~Uninstall ScriptThing` and get back an installation, go to DOS, insert the original Installation Disk into the A: drive and type:
| A:\INSTALL UNINSTALL <ENTER>
(If it is in the B: drive then type that instead.) Follow the on-screen prompts and you'll be credited back an installation and the program will not subsequently run on the hard drive without using the Installation Disk as a "Key Disk" although the files will not be removed. You can disable the [Alt-Keys] for Character Names if you don't use them and don't want to. Simply don't check the ~Use Alt-Keys` CheckBox on the [Program Options] Menu and pressing an <Alt-Key> will have no result at all. ~Users Lists` are one of the more powerful features of ScriptThing, allowing you to customize Menu Options and tell ScriptThing exactly what text should do what things.
There are eleven User Lists:
[Character Name] [Character Name Extensions] [Transition]
[Initial Scene Text] [Shot] Text [Scene Body Text]
[Time-of-Day] [Prologue] Text [Act Info] Text [End of Act Text]
and [Final Act] Text.
ScriptThing uses the information that you put in its User Lists to build the options on many of its [Pull-Down Menus] and for its [Automatic Text Recognition].
See ~Using User Lists` in the Manual for details on editing and changing them.
