Macro possible?

[Andre]

I was wondering if it is possible to use a macro in Atlantis. I want to use a macro that will ad the option (like an extra menu) to write a screenplay in the correct format. I know thay this is possible in Word. It installs itself automatically in Word. Does Atlantis do this?

[admin]

I am sorry but plugins, macros, etc designed for MS Word cannot be used in Atlantis.

[Andre]

Then, is there another way to assign tabs, Keystrokes etc, with a fixed distance and save these all into a template? Of course, I could buy a pro screenwriter software package, but I like the idea of having everything inside one program. I just finished my first novel into Atlantis, and it will be published this summer. Now, I want to turn it into a screenplay.

[admin]

You can create a new document (or modify an existing document). You could include the desired styles, specify the tab settings, font face and size, zooming factor, etc. Then save this document as a document template ("File > Save Special > Save As Template"). Keystrokes (as I understand, you mean the Atlantis Hot Keys) are shared by all documents in Atlantis (are the global settings of Atlantis). They are stored in the Registry.

[Robert]

Greetings–
Note that you can assign hot keys to the styles in your template. Here is how to proceed:
1. Run “Style…” from the “Format” menu.
2. Select the target style in the Style dialog.
3. Press the “Modify…” button.
4. Click in the “Hot key:” field.
5. Press the desired key combination.
6. OK out of all open dialogs.

Also note that Hot Keys to the Atlantis commands can be customized from the “Tools | Hot Keys…” dialog.
Cheers
Robert

[Andre]

Thanks all for your help! I tried to add new styles and used the settings that I found in a screenwriter program (demo). Still, not so easy. When I use the left and right settings, for example, it is not at all what it shows in that program. I understand ofcourse that a screenwriting prg is totally focused on that and is very powerful, but I wonder really how far Atlantis is able to imitate it. I will try to make a template for it while Iwork on my play, but any kind of help and suggestions would be great!

[Robert]

Greetings–
We could help more if you sent us a sample document illustrating the kind of formatting and page layout that you want. If you have such a document, please send it to comment@rssol.com
If you do not have such a document, or do not wish to send it, could you please direct us to a Web page where a similar formatting and page layout can be found?
Cheers
Robert

[andre]

Hi, I have send you a example page for the formats. I hope you can help me with creating the template! Thanks!

[Andre]

Hi!
I found some more info about the screenplay templates at this address:

http://www.online-communicator.com/spmacros.html

greetings,
André

[Robert]

Greetings--
There are many different formats available from
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/script ... mats.shtml
Could you please tell us which are of interest to you?
Cheers
Robert

[andre]

hi!
nice page! I am interessted in the screenplay formaat on http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/script ... enplay.pdf

is it possible to make this one as a template?

thanks!

André

[admin]

Strictly speaking, any document can be used in a word processor as a document template. From some point, your document is already a template because you could write your new screenplays simply by modifying this document.

We have modified your document. The modified document (template) still contains your original screenplay text. But it is not a key component of the template at all. 7 styles have been added to this template. These styles represent different components of your screenplay. And the current text of the template is used for demonstrating which styles are used for formatting which components of the screenplay. If you know what all the styles from this template mean, you could entirely remove the text from this template (Ctrl+A, then Del). Then when starting a new screenplay, you should simply use the corresponding style to format the current paragraph.

The style names (Scene Heading, Scene Action, Scene Transaction, Narrative, Character Name, Dialog Text, Parenthetical) are based on the terminology used in the PDF file from the BBC site (the above link). As well as the formatting of these styles reflects the recommendations mentioned in this PDF.

For example, the “Scene Heading” style includes “keep with next paragraph” attribute. This means that Atlantis would never leave a “Scene Heading” paragraph at the bottom of a page on its own. The same regarding the “Scene Transaction” and “Character Name” style. The associated paragraphs are never left at the bottom of a page.

The “Character Name”, “Narrative”, “Scene Heading” and “Scene Transaction” paragraphs are always displayed in uppercase.

The “Dialog Text” style includes “Widow/Orphan Control”. This means that Atlantis will not allow splitting a “Dialog Text” paragraph when only one line of dialog text appears on a page.

Also the styles include “Space before/after paragraph”. This means that you do not need to insert blank paragraphs between the components of your screenplay.

In addition, the “Scene Heading” and “Scene Action” styles include outline levels (it is a new paragraph characteristic which will be supported by the new version of Atlantis). Your screenplay would be displayed in the document map (it is a new feature of the next version of Atlantis too) in the following way:



You could easily navigate among the scenes, and even reorder them easily.

You could add more styles, or modifying existing ones (for example, you could assign hot keys to the desired styles through the "Format | Style" dialog).

You can download this template here.

You could unpack it to the “Templates” folder of your Atlantis (by default, “C:\Program Files\Atlantis\Templates”). It would be available through the “File | Document Templates” and “File | New | Create from Template” menu commands of Atlantis.

[andre]

hi!
Thanks a lot for the help. It works great. I added 1 extra thing that makes it even easier during the switching from one style to the other: Character name is always followed by dialogue; parenthetical allways by dialogue; dialogue mostly by action; scene heading by scene action; so I modified this in the style menu. now it is even easier and faster to switch from on eto the next!

thanks!
André

[Andre]

Hi again.
i looked a little bit further on the page you gave me, and I found the macro's for word, that includes all formats, used in the US for tv, radio etc. I openened the macro in word, saved it as rtf doc and openend it again in Atlantis were I saved it as template. Works like a charm!

Now, I can use Atlantis with al the correct formats for these productions.

Thanks for all the help!

André

[Robert]

You're welcome!
Glad we could help.
Cheers
Robert

[Robert]

Greetings--
You might want to have a look at the following page:
http://www.eltweb.com/liason/Movies_and_Screenplays/
It contains links to Web pages with movie scripts.
Cheers
Robert

[andre]

Thanks! I knew most of these sites already. I love to browse through movie sites like this, lots of good scripts to find to learn from.

I am working at the same time on the script version of my book as well as on an English translation of my Dutch book. For that, I also found a good novel macro for word that gives all the correct formats. Like with the screenplay macro, I saved it as rtf. and opened it again in Atlantis after which I saved is as template. That macro is on the site you gave me before, very good site!

Working on my text is very pleasurable now with those templates, but I have a question again (keeps on going...): Is there a possibility in Atlantis to let it remember data in a popup list or so? In screenwriters programs, for example, after putting a location name or character name in, the program remembers them and pops up with a little screen the moment I start to insert another location or character name. I think that this is really more a programming part, maybe not really possible in Atlantis template. Right?

Thanks for all the help!
Greetings,
André

[Robert]

Is there a possibility in Atlantis to let it remember data in a popup list or so? In screenwriters programs, for example, after putting a location name or character name in, the program remembers them and pops up with a little screen the moment I start to insert another location or character name. I think that this is really more a programming part, maybe not really possible in Atlantis template. Right?
Thanks for all the help!
Greetings,
André

Greetings--
The next version of Atlantis will include a “Power Type” feature.
The words that you type with any frequency will be memorized by Atlantis.
When you start typing these words again, a small window will pop up and offer to insert them for you.
It will also be possible to add words and phrases manually to the Power Type list. In your case, you will be able to add location or character names. When you start typing them, Atlantis will offer to insert them only after you have typed a few of their first characters.
Until this new version is released, you could add the appropriate strings to one of your existing Clip Libraries. When you want to insert one of these strings, simply type 3 “*” (star characters). Atlantis will pop up a window with suggestions to insert strings from the Clip Library that you last selected.
Cheers
Robert

[andre]

I love the Clip Library option! Works great for me, thanks! Looking also very forward for the update of Atlantis with that power option.

André

[andre]

i have send you the template that I use for my writings. I hope there are no copyright probelems with this, because it is free. Hopefully others can use it in Atlantis!

geetings,
André