Quote: Griff @ August 24 2008, 6:42 PM BSTPhill - I have Final Draft (the Mac version) but it seems to be very buggy, ie the whole app crashes when you try to export to PDF? But I do like all the intelligent stuff it does about remembering your list of characters and locations etc.
I've had it on both Windows and Mac and it IS very buggy and annoying.
Don't know if it's already been mentioned but you can't get much better than Celtx http://celtx.com/ it works on Windows/Mac/Linux/eeePc and can be carried on a thumb drive.
It does just about everything Final Draft does and is is about £160 cheaper, cause it's FREE!!!!
One more shout going out for Movie Magic Screenwriter 6.
It's so simple to use. Lots of templates, easy to format. postcard view for easy shuffling.
takes all the fannying about out of writing. Honestly think it wees all over FD. Although I have only used FD6, the one with the wonky 'w'
You can download a trial version from the write bros website.
Quote: Griff @ June 6 2009, 10:41 PM BSTWhat are the messages that come up?
Hi Griff,
I'm using Microsoft Basic Office - Word. I suspect it may be defaulted on to some editing format I never knew about which may be useful in certain circumstances but not this one! I'm trying to change the footer and have gone into insert. Instead of being able to go into the footer straight away it comes up with a long menu
Built in
Blank
Blank 3 columns
Alphabet
Annual
Austere (even page)
Austere (odd page)
Conservative
Contrast (even page)
Contrast (odd page)
Cubicles (Even Page)
Cubicles (Odd Page)
Exposure
Mod
Motion (Even Page)
Motion (Odd Page)
Pinstripes
Puzzle (Even Page)
Puzzle (Odd Page)
Sideline
Stacks
Tiles
Transcend (Even Page)
Transcend (Odd Page)
Which I ignore 
and go straight on to Edit Footer. Then when I edit it it leaves the former words in with a strike through and underlines all my substitutions and this is all in red! With messages at the side in think bubbles
Formatted: Line spacing: Double
Formatted: Superscript
Separate Celtx Question - maybe for KJSmyling?
For anyone who uses Celtx I have a question about that as well. Is there any way of getting it to do double line spacing for dialogue?
Separate Word Question
Can anyone tell me in an idiot's guide how to set up a template in Word for a stage play script à la ScriptSmart Gold or point me to a website which tells me how to do it?
Hope this will be of help to others as well!
Quote: Griff @ June 7 2009, 1:53 PM BSTGoldnutmeg - I use Word for Mac, so maybe not the same - but I use "View" then "Header and Footer" to edit footers?
Hi Griff,
OK. Think I've cracked it as far as the red underlining and balloons is concerned. I was searching for an "editing" function. The old chestnut of searching with the wrong vocab! It's a function called Track Changes in the Review Menu in Word 2007 which has Final Showing Markup as the default setting - meaning you can see what's been edited but the person receiving it doesn't.
In fact,I think it could be a very useful function for scripts going between a writer and director, as I've been saving all the different drafts in different files and being able to put it on a slightly different setting and allowing the receiver to see the changes in a script could be very useful. But I didn't want in this case. I've gone to review and changed Final Showing Markup to Final and it's gone back to what I want.
If anyone still knows how to put dialogue in Celtx into double line spacing and how to do a playwriting Word template in the style of Scriptsmart gold, I'd really like to know!
I've been considering getting some writing software. I used to use ScriptSmart when I used Windows XP but now I've moved to a Macbook I need to find something else. I've tried word but not happy with it for my scripts. I've considered Final Draft but something is holding me back on that. The one that I'm leaning towards is Movie Magic Screenwriter 6.
i use FD...superb and no bugs. I just ripped it off the net (but will buy a real version when I'm famous )
This is a techie question - because basically I'm thick.
What is the advantage of using a template? Is it just laziness? I can layout my pages as featured in a template - or does it not get viewed properly?
Basically, you don't have worry about the layout, as it's already there in that format. So you don't spend ages messing with fonts/margins/etc trying to make it look right. You just put the text in.
Dan
I just type over old scripts, it's a great system and I can reuse old bits of dialogue. 
Quote: swerytd @ June 12 2009, 9:53 AM BSTBasically, you don't have worry about the layout, as it's already there in that format. So you don't spend ages messing with fonts/margins/etc trying to make it look right. You just put the text in.
Dan
I mean if I don't buy any templates I can just lay them out the same way manually.
Quote: Chappers @ June 12 2009, 4:31 PM BSTI mean if I don't buy any templates I can just lay them out the same way manually.
I would suggest that Final Draft is more than just a template. It is, to a certain extent, intuitive. As well as setting out to a number of industry standard templates if you begin a convesation between 2 characters it will automatically bring up the character name who probably speaks next once you finish a piece of dialogue.
I find it helpful although it's not the best script writing package I've used, it does seem to be the most popular amongst producers.
I would certainly recommend using a scriptwriting package as it takes the ball ache out of it. I only have to worry about the creative bit then. Which is more than enough.
These discussions always seem to end up dividing along the same lines ie Free/budget v Pricey Specialist ( in this case FD and MMSW6).
You don't need the big name software.
You don't need a porsche, either.
But if you've got a birthday coming up, you get 4 numbers on the lottery or you want to treat yourself, I heartily recommend blowing the cash.
They do make life brilliantly easy.
They've got all sorts of 'little' extras that enhance the process.
The outline panel on MMSW6 is, now that I'm used to it, indispensable.
The 'Goto' functions really help getting round the script.
Forced page breaks, A/B numbering, reporting options ( how many locations, who speaks the most and when etc)- the more you use it the more you get out of it.
If you spend a lot of time in front of the PC - especially if it's screenplays, dramas & sitcoms ( less so sketches & jokes)- they really help.
But you don't HAVE to have them - you don't NEED them (they certainly won't make you funnier).
You will undoubtedly love them, though.
Quote: Chappers @ June 12 2009, 4:31 PM BSTI mean if I don't buy any templates I can just lay them out the same way manually.
Yeah, if you really want to.
The ScriptSmart templates are free though (as is scripped.com, as is Celtx). It's by no means perfect, but I've tried laying stuff out manually and that takes me much longer than the writing of any comedy!
Dan
Well comparing things from my position of ignorance MMSW6 looks more versatile than FD. Is that right?