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Usenet Posted 21 years ago
Screenwriting

Alternatives to Final Draft

I've been using FD4 (Macintosh) for several years, and about a year ago bought the upgrade to FD6. I got around to installing it this weekend. Unfortunately, it doesn't work; launches and then crashes.

Tried to contact the company for support, but of course they don't do real tech support anymore. One has to register to their site (and have a properly registered number from the software) to create an account so as to have access to their webmail. But no software launch means no registration, which means no tech support which means no software launch. Catch 22 (sort of).
I understand why they do it - they protect the software so they can protect their interest and continue to receive income. But the methods and measures they go to have me fed up.
Does anybody know of a Word template with macros that emulates the functionality of Final Draft. (And what programs do others use to get the same functionality for writing in screenplay format?)

Thanks,
Dan

A proud member of the reality-based community since 1980.
  

Top answer

[nq:1]Does anybody know of a Word template with macros that emulates the functionality of Final Draft. )[/nq] Movie Magic Screenwriter 2000 I like it better than FD for almost everything. " Victor Hugo

  • [nq:1]Does anybody know of a Word template with macros that emulates the functionality of Final Draft.
  • )[/nq] Movie Magic Screenwriter 2000 I like it better than FD for almost everything.
  • " Victor Hugo
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15 Answers
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[nq:1]Does anybody know of a Word template with macros that emulates the functionality of Final Draft. (And what programs do others use to get the same functionality for writing in screenplay format?)[/nq]
Movie Magic Screenwriter 2000 I like it better than FD for almost everything.

"I write with one hand, but I fight with both."
Victor Hugo
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[nq:1]Tried to contact the company for support, but of course they don't do real tech support anymore. One has to ... protect their interest and continue to receive income. But the methods and measures they go to have me fed up.[/nq]
I bought FD for Sys 9. Then I upgraded to OSX. By which time I had switched to Screenwriter.
I do still have the occasional use for FD and I'm currently worki
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[nq:1]Does anybody know of a Word template with macros that emulates the functionality of Final Draft. (And what programs do others use to get the same functionality for writing in screenplay format?)[/nq]
Script Maker Macro for Word can be found around here:

http://www3.sympat
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Are you using OSX?
What you describe sounds like a corrupted preferences file.
[nq:1]From your user directory, findlibrary/preferences/com.finaldraft.fd6.plist and delete it.[/nq]
See if that lets you start up.
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I like Sophocles. But it's not as widely used in the industry as Final Draft and Movie Magic. Sophocles is great for developing a story. For what it's worth, I learned in a meeting yesterday night that some big names are switching to Movie Magic from Final Draft.
"dano"
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"Distortion"
[nq:1]For what it's worth, I learned in a meeting yesterday night that some big names are switching to Movie Magic from Final Draft.[/nq]
Actually it really doesn't matter what they use so long as what you use can Save As RTF that way they can import into either.

Exception:
If everyone on the eproject is using the same thing and they use features such as Sc
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[nq:1]Are you using OSX?[/nq]
I am.
[nq:1]What you describe sounds like a corrupted preferences file.[/nq]
[nq:2]From your user directory, find[/nq]
[nq:1]library/preferences/com.finaldraft.fd6.plist and delete it. See if that lets you start up.[/nq]
Didn't work. And the exact same behavior happened on multiple machines.

Good suggestion though.

A proud member
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[nq:2]Does anybody know of a Word template with macros that ... to get the same functionality for writing in screenplay format?)[/nq]
[nq:1]Script Maker Macro for Word can be found around here: http://www3.sympatico.ca/mbelli/sm help/install.htm[/nq]
This is good to know abo
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[nq:2]Tried to contact the company for support, but of course ... methods and measures they go to have me fed up.[/nq]
[nq:1]I bought FD for Sys 9. Then I upgraded to OSX. By which time I had switched to Screenwriter. I ... Stealing? Yes. But in the case of FD, fair game. They put out an unstable product and don't support it.[/nq]
I feel pretty much the same way. If they set the rules to p
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[nq:2]Does anybody know of a Word template with macros that ... to get the same functionality for writing in screenplay format?)[/nq]
[nq:1]Movie Magic Screenwriter 2000 I like it better than FD for almost everything.[/nq]
Am reading the descriptions now on both Screenplay.com and Write-Bros.com. It looks like it will do everything necessary.

I'll grab a demo and check it out.

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