Import Script
From CeltxWiki
Script | Import Script allows scripts produced in other programs to be loaded into Celtx.
Celtx can import plain text scripts generated by other script writing or word processing applications. Once a script is imported into Celtx it can then be further developed, edited and then broken down using the Production Breakdown features of Celtx. It is important to ensure that scripts are properly formatted before importing into Celtx, otherwise some manual tweaking may be required. Adhere to the instructions below and your import should go smoothly:
Contents |
To Import a Script into Celtx
- Open the script / file in the word processor.
- Remove any scene numbers.
- Remove anything before the first scene (Title Page, Sources, etc). This may require using a pure text editor such as (On Macintosh) BBedit to see all the non-normal text characters.
- Ensure the first text is EXT. or INT. (include periods and use uppercase, as shown)
- Lines which you wish to be imported as Scene Headers MUST be COMPLETELY CAPITALIZED (the entire line), not just the INT. and the EXT. at the beginning of each scene header line. The whole line must be completely in caps.
- To convert your file to .txt, choose File->Save As and select File Type 'Text Only', or 'Text with Layout'.
- Ensure a .txt file is created. (Suggestion: Save it to your desktop for easy retrieval.)
- Open Celtx and select 'Start a New Project' from the splash page OR select File -> New Project from the Menu toolbar.
- Complete the New Project dialog as desired being sure to select 'Script' as one of your project items, then hit OK.
- Your new project opens, defaulting to script mode in the Editor window.
- Select Script->Import Script
- From your displayed file directory, navigate to and select the script /.txt file you want to import, then hit 'Open'.
- A progress bar appears showing the import activity of your script.
- Once the script has loaded, it will appear in the Script Editor window, while each scene is loaded into the Scene Navigator on the left hand side of the screen.
Importing from the Other Guys
Currently Celtx only imports plain text script files, which can be created with either Final Draft Pro or Movie Magic Screen Writer 2000.
MS WORD
When in an open Celtx project, a WORD file can be added as an external file by selecting File menu->Add Item.
Please note that Celtx does not support MS WORD imports directly. WORD documents often include embedded tags that have a negative affect on Celtx formatting. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you do NOT cut and paste text from WORD documents directly into the Celtx editor, nor into text files to be imported into Celtx .
Importing from Final Draft
Users of Final Draft will want to save their scripts with the 'Text Only with Layout' found under 'File -> Save As'.
Importing from Movie Magic Screen Writer
Users of Movie Magic Screen Writer will want to save their scripts using the 'Formatted ASCII' format found under 'File -> Save As' for Windows.
On a Mac:
- In MMSW, cancel Page Numbers in the 'Format -> Header and Footer, by removing the #. in the Header #1 box.
- If trying to convert a stageplay, replace all "ACT" titles with scene headings ("INT." and so forth)
- Also ensure that all elements are separate (e.g., parentheticals are not in dialogue)
- Select 'File -> Export To', then select the 'Avid Editor Format' from the file type drop down menu.
- Open BBEdit or TextWrangler (or somesuch)
- Load the file you just exported
- In TextWranger, select 'Text -> Zap Gremlins' with non ASCII set to 'Delete'
- Delete all spaces before first element
- Re-save the file
- Import the resulting file into Celtx
OR
To quote the illustrious Laina Kaffenberger, excuse my "unfiltered snark", but you could also:
-Open .MMSW File -Select all text -Select copy -Open blank Celtx file -Paste text into Celtx file -Save
I mean, if you want to, or you could "zap" gremlins or whatever nerdy shit. This did not work for me. But good 'ol copy and paste worked like a charm.
Importing from Pages for Macintosh
- File->Export using the Plain Text Setting.
- Open in BBedit ( the free version will work)
- Delete all formatting characters at the beginning of the script; there will be some arrows or non alpha characters
- Delete all the lines before the first text characters.
- In BBedit, do Edit->Zap Gremlins, with the non-ASCII set to "Delete"
- Use "Convert to ASCII" ( forget where the menu choice is)
Import to an Existing Script
Celtx allows you to import additional scenes into your existing script. When you import an additional script, or portion of a script, it will be appended to the end of your existing project script.
