In addition to the elements (paragraph types such as Scene Headings and Dialogue) normally present in a script, Final Draft also gives the writer the ability to outline a script using Outline Elements.
The five Outline Elements are Summary, Outline 1, Outline 2, Outline 3 and Note.
Summary can be used for any text relating to an outline.
Outline Elements 1, 2, and 3 are header-level paragraph types with unique indents. More custom Outline Elements can also be created.
To begin an outline using these paragraph types, go to File > New from Template and choose the Outline template to see how the sample outline text is configured.
This text can be deleted in order to start writing (Command + A (Mac) or Ctrl+A (Windows) on the keyboard, then the Delete key on the keyboard).
With the cursor blinking on a blank line, press the Return key to display the Elements menu. Choose Outline 1 and type in the heading of the first section of the outline.
Press the Return key to break the line and insert a new, blank Summary paragraph, which can be the first detail of this section of the outline
- or -
press the Tab key to insert a new blank Outline 2 paragraph.
Press the Tab key at the end of any Outline paragraph to cycle through the rest of the Outline paragraph types in order:
- Outline 1 then Tab inserts a new blank Outline 2 paragraph underneath it;
- Outline 2 then Tab inserts a new blank Outline 3 paragraph underneath it.
Press the Return key after any Outline paragraph to insert a new blank Summary paragraph. The new Summary paragraph will have the same left margin as the Outline paragraph that precedes it.
Outline paragraphs can also be added by using keyboard shortcuts: on the keyboard, hold down the Command and Shift keys and the status bar at the bottom of the screen will display each Outline elements' shortcut number; Command + Shift + <number> or Ctrl + Shift <number> will insert a new Outline paragraph of that type.
Outline element text is blue by default, but this color and all other attributes can be customized the same way as any other element.
Outline paragraphs can also be converted into any other paragraph type.
To hide all Outline paragraphs on the page, go to View > Hide Outline in Script (or press Command + Shift + O (the letter) (Mac) or Ctrl+Shift+O (Windows) on the keyboard). All Outline paragraphs will be hidden. If the script is printed or saved as PDF while Outline paragraphs are hidden, they will not be included in the printout / PDF job.
To show all Outline paragraphs again, go to View > Show Outline in Script or press Command + Shift + O (the letter) (Mac) or Ctrl+Shift+O (Windows).
To learn more about Outline Elements watch the following video: