Free software for screenwriters

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This looks interesting.Lots of free software goodies for Screenwriters and Filmmamkers:http://www.sonnyboo.com/downloads/downloads.htm--"Writing is an exploration. You start from nothing and learn as you go." --E L Doctorow

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]This looks interesting. Lots of free software goodies for Screenwriters and Filmmamkers: http://www.sonnyboo.com/downloads/downloads.htm[/nq]
Buggeration. That's the problem with Macs, you* get lazy about certain things.

(* not you, MC - Prince Charles would say "one", but I'm not Prince Charles...)

I was checking out the screenplay format templates, and suddenly noticed I couldn't save anything except as a template... if I'm right, this makes three times in 15 years I've seen a virus on a Mac.

Either I finally upgrade Word (probably not going to happen, it's only 6 years old and I'm not sure if it would help anyway) or invest in a virus checker (marginally more likely). Or I could stick with the templates I created, and stop downloading free stuff I know nothing about.

(insert smiley here)

APART from that, though - yes, looks like there's some very interesting stuff there. I'm just not going to look at any of it for now, that's all.

Dave

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[nq:2]This looks interesting. Lots of free software goodies for Screenwriters and Filmmamkers: http://www.sonnyboo.com/downloads/downloads.htm[/nq]
[nq:1]Buggeration. That's the problem with Macs, you* get lazy about certain things. (* not you, MC - Prince Charles would ... there's some very interesting stuff there. I'm just not going to look at any of it for now, that's all.[/nq]
Hmmm. I'm on Mac too, and I've had a few unexpected Quits since trying them too.

Could be the Word Macro Virus -- but I can Save as Word docs.

I'm on the latest version of OSX & running the latest version of Word.

I'll run my antivirus software overnight just in case, but I doubt I have one.

+++

Questions:

Are you on OSX?

Do you do regular disk maintenance (such as Repair Permissions)?

Suggestion:

Trash your Word preferences and reboot Word.

Google the Word Macro Virus and what to do about it.

--

"Writing is an exploration. You start from nothing and learn as you go." --E L Doctorow

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[nq:1]Questions: Are you on OSX? Do you do regular disk maintenance (such as Repair Permissions)? Suggestion: Trash your Word preferences and reboot Word. Google the Word Macro Virus and what to do about it.[/nq]
OSX 10.3.8. Word '98, which I run under Classic. As for disk maintenance, "regular" probably isn't the right word. Semi-regular would be nearer the mark. I did a whole bunch of that stuff last week, though, and all was OK.

a little bit, and everything worked just as it should. I could save as a .doc and everything!

With that in mind, I think I'll give that downloaded stuff another go. One template at a time, though, making sure everything's working as it should before I try the next.

Cheers for the suggestions, Dave

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]Questions: Are you on OSX? Do you do regular disk ... the Word Macro Virus and what to do about it.[/nq]
[nq:1]OSX 10.3.8. Word '98, which I run under Classic. As for disk maintenance, "regular" probably isn't the right word. Semi-regular would be nearer the mark. I did a whole bunch of that stuff last week, though, and all was OK.[/nq]
Repair permissions wouldn't affect Classic apps, I don't think. But you can Rebuild the Classic Desktop.

Any special reason you use the Classic Word?

I actually mind of hate Word, much prefer WordPerfect, but they halted development on it while it was still under Sys 9, so there probably will never be an OSX version of it.

That said, I am increasingly using Word, just for convenience in interacting with everyone else who uses it.
[nq:1] a little bit, and everything worked just as it should. I could save as a .doc and everything![/nq]
The Normal template does get corrupted from time to time.
[nq:1]With that in mind, I think I'll give that downloaded stuff another go. One template at a time, though, making sure everything's working as it should before I try the next. Cheers for the suggestions,[/nq]
--

"Writing is an exploration. You start from nothing and learn as you go." --E L Doctorow

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MC,
[nq:1]I actually mind of hate Word, much prefer WordPerfect... That said, I am increasingly using Word, just for convenience in interacting with everyone else who uses it.[/nq]
Funnily enough I'm in exactly the same position. The two programs are so fundamentally different that I'm finding moving from one to the other a bit like learning to play the piano again after having both hands amputated.

Bert http://ww.bertcoules.co.uk

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]I actually mind of hate Word, much prefer WordPerfect... That ... for convenience in interacting with everyone else who uses it.[/nq]
[nq:1]Funnily enough I'm in exactly the same position. The two programs are so fundamentally different that I'm finding moving from one to the other a bit like learning to play the piano again after having both hands amputated.[/nq]
To the exctent that I could I customized Word to mimic the keystroke shortcuts i'm used on in WordPerfect. Did the same thing in Screenwriter -- and that is something you can't do in the Mac version of Final Draft -- one of the compelling reasons I have for preferring Screenwriter.

--

"Writing is an exploration. You start from nothing and learn as you go." --E L Doctorow

Usenet · Answer

MC,

I agree. If Word wasn't so extremely customisable (if that's a word) I don't think I'd have persevered with it. But I'm still not used to its fundamental "styles within styles" structure: WordPerfect's "continuous stream" construction just seems so much more logical.

Bert http://www.bertcoules.co.uk

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