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Docs › Import, export and PDF to Final Draft

Import, export and PDF to Final Draft

Scenaloom imports scripts from Final Draft (.fdx), Fountain (.fountain or .spmd) and PDF files, and exports PDF, Final Draft, Fountain, Word (.docx), plain text and Markdown, plus outlines, beat sheets and CSV production sheets. To move a script from PDF to Final Draft, import the PDF and export it as .fdx. You can take your work out at any time, on every plan.

Supported formats at a glance

  • Import a script: .fdx, .fountain, .spmd and .pdf.
  • Export a script: PDF, Final Draft (.fdx), Fountain (.fountain), Word (.docx), plain text (.txt) and Markdown (.md).
  • Export planning documents: an outline (this episode's, every episode's or the story's) and the beat sheet, as PDF, Word, plain text or Markdown.
  • Export production sheets: scene list, storyboard and shot list, casting, locations and props, as CSV or as a document.
  • Upload reference files to Knowledge: .txt, .md, .fountain, .csv, .json, .pdf and .docx, up to 10 MB each (PDF up to 200 pages).

Import a Final Draft, Fountain or PDF script

  1. Open New.
  2. Choose Import script.
  3. Pick the file. Scenaloom reads its scene headings, action, cues, parentheticals, dialogue and transitions and opens the script as a new project.
  4. If the file had a title page, check it on the Cover view.

Final Draft files keep bold, italic and underline, so an .fdx can go out and come back without losing emphasis. An imported screenplay can be up to 2 MB. On the Free plan a script holds 400 lines, so a longer file asks you to upgrade before it imports in full.

You can also paste: choose the Format chip on the New page, pick "Turn the text I paste into a properly formatted screenplay" and paste your pages into the composer. Each screenplay in the Screenplay Museum, and each project shared to the community, can be opened as your own project.

Export a PDF that matches the page

Open Export — the download icon in the Writing panel, or Export in the project menu. Choose PDF and the export target Script, set the options, press Save as PDF… and choose Save as PDF in your browser's print dialog. The PDF uses the same layout engine as the editor, so page 12 in the editor is page 12 on paper.

  • Scene numbers, and in a series, numbering within each episode (2-14).
  • Page numbers, a title page from the Cover view and an end line (THE END).
  • Paper texture (PDF only) and the Hollywood or Asian layout.
  • Revision marks… (PDF and plain text): pick a revision color such as Blue or Pink and a named version to mark changes against. Changed lines get an asterisk in the right margin, each page header shows the revision, and Revised pages only prints just the pages that changed.

Convert a PDF to Final Draft

Final Draft can't open a PDF as a script, so to import a PDF into Final Draft, bring it through Scenaloom first: choose Import script on the New page and pick the PDF, check the scene headings, cues and dialogue it read, then export Final Draft (.fdx) and open that file in Final Draft. A PDF made by screenwriting software converts best; a scanned PDF has no text to read and needs OCR first.

Export FDX, Fountain, Word, text and Markdown

Final Draft and Fountain files hold one episode and always use the Hollywood layout, so in a series they switch off while several episodes are picked. Word (.docx) writes each element in its own screenplay style with scenes numbered. Plain text is laid out like the printed page, and Markdown suits notes and outlines. Press Preview to read the text before you download it.

Export outlines, beat sheets and CSV sheets

Change the export target to Outline, Beat Sheet, Scene Sheet, Storyboard Sheet, Casting Sheet, Location Sheet or Prop Sheet. Sheets let you choose their columns: a scene sheet can carry scene number, heading, INT/EXT, location, time, page, length in pages, cast and opening action. CSV files are UTF-8 and open in Excel or Google Sheets.