To ease the frustration of having to type the same names and phrases over and over again, Final Draft provides an auto-complete function called SmartType. SmartType maintains lists of all the character names, character extensions, scene intros, locations, times and transitions in the script.
When the cursor is positioned on a character, scene heading or transitions paragraph, SmartType auto-completes the list, narrowing choices as text is entered. SmartType lists are included for these elements:
- Characters
- Character Extensions, such as voiceovers or subtitles
- Scene Intros, such as interior
- Locations
- Times
- Transitions
To open the SmartType window go to Document > SmartType...
Entering SmartType Items in the Script
By default, all SmartType lists are initially active (see SmartType Options below to learn how to disable SmartType lists).
The Character SmartType List from the sample script Tangle & Mossy - script is used as an example here. All the functions described are applicable to the Extensions, Locations, Times, and Transitions SmartType Lists.
The Character SmartType List for Tangle & Mossy - script initially consists of:
When a letter is typed into an empty character paragraph, if any items in the Character SmartType start with that letter, the SmartType window displays all the matching items in the list. The rest of the first matching item text appears in a light gray color after the cursor. For example, in the character paragraph below, suppose the letter “M” is typed in. At the moment there is only one character whose name begins with the letter M. This entry, MOSSY, will be displayed in the SmartType window:
The rest of the name appears in gray, allowing the user to either accept the SmartType choice with the Return key or continue typing to add a new character. New items are added to SmartType lists automatically when they are typed into the script. In Tangle & Mossy, there are no items in the Character SmartType list that begin with the letter O. Consequently, if the letter “O” is typed into a character paragraph, the SmartType window does not appear. If the rest of the name “OLD SOLDIER” is typed and the Return key is pressed to create a Dialogue paragraph, SmartType automatically adds OLD SOLDIER to the Character SmartType list.
If another character is added whose name begins with the letter T ("THE BOY"), it will be added to the SmartType list and both will be displayed in the SmartType window when the letter T is pressed:
As more letters are entered, SmartType narrows the items in the list to contain only those that match what has been typed.
To highlight and choose THE BOY for insertion on the page:
- Click that name with the mouse OR
- Tap the T key to cycle through the list OR
- Type the letter H to form "TH" (which removes TANGLE from the list of candidates) and select it OR
- Arrow down on the keyboard.
When the correct item has been highlighted, press Return or double-click it to insert the name and dismiss the SmartType window.
New SmartType Entries
Although new items are automatically entered into the appropriate list as the user types in the script, they can also be added manually in the SmartType dialogue.
To add a new item to a SmartType list:
- Choose the list to which the new item is to be added by clicking the appropriate tab;
- Click New;
A default name appears at the bottom of the list and in the text box:
- Type the name of the new item;
- Click OK to return to the script.
Modify SmartType Entries
To change an existing entry in the list
- Choose the list in which the item is stored by selecting it from the dropdown menu;
- Select the item to change;
The item’s name appears in the text box above the list.
- Click in the text box;
- Edit the item;
- Click OK to return to the script.
Correcting and Deleting Erroneous SmartType Entries
It is a good idea to manage SmartType lists by deleting erroneous or duplicate entries. In this example, the writer has accidentally misspelled the name "SECOND MAID" on the page and it has been added to the Character SmartType list:
Go to Document > SmartType and select the unwanted SmartType item (in this example, "SECODN MAID"). Either correct it in the field at the top of the window or click Delete to remove it from the SmartType list. Note that there is no confirmation dialogue.
Rebuild SmartType Lists
As a script is written, new character names, locations, times of day and other pieces of text will be entered that Final Draft stores in the SmartType lists. If a character is entered on the page (and added to the SmartType list) but is later removed from the pages, that entry will remain on the SmartType list.
The remedy is to rebuild the SmartType list, which causes Final Draft to compare the contents of the SmartType list to what is actually in the script. If a word or term is on a SmartType list but is not found in the body of the script, it is removed from the SmartType list. Conversely, if a word or term is in the script but is not on a SmartType list, rebuilding the SmartType list will add that word or term to it.
Erroneous SmartType entries can be removed manually by opening that list, selecting the item and clicking Delete but using the Rebuild command is a quicker and more comprehensive way to ensure the accuracy of the SmartType lists.
Reorder SmartType Lists
By default, SmartType lists are listed in the order in which entries are made. The list may be reordered.
To view the list in alphabetical order:
Click the Alphabetize button.
To reposition an item within a SmartType list, drag and drop the item to a new position:
Managing SmartType Lists
View and modify all SmartType lists in the SmartType dialogue.
- Choose Document > SmartType and the SmartType dialogue appears with the SmartType Character List displayed;
- Choose a list to view or modify by selecting it from the dropdown menu:
All SmartType lists can be edited, rebuilt and rearranged.
SmartType Options
Click the Options tab in the SmartType dialogue to view SmartType options:
By default, matching for all of the SmartType Lists is enabled.
To disable Character, Scene Heading or Transition matching
Uncheck the option for the SmartType list to be disabled.
If matching for a SmartType list is disabled and a new paragraph of that type is created, the SmartType window does not appear. SmartType still automatically adds any new entries to the appropriate list, however.
Automatically Guess Next Character
Checking this option causes Final Draft to track the entry of character names and when it senses that two individuals are having a conversation, alternately offers their names when a new character element is created, which is useful when a scene contains multiple conversations between two individuals.
Tab Key Transitions to Character Extension
By default, pressing the tab key after entering a character automatically creates a parenthetical paragraph. Check this box so that pressing tab will create a character extension instead.
Window
Check this option if the SmartType window should appear when the user types.
List Order
Expand this dropdown menu for options for the order in which characters are presented in the SmartType window. Options are Alphabetical and Custom.
If Alphabetical is chosen, the list of characters is presented A-Z.
If Custom is chosen, SmartType items may be dragged in a desired order and will be presented in that order in the SmartType window.
This dropdown menu is disabled if the box to display the SmartType window is unchecked.
Auto-Position SmartType Window
Check this option to set the SmartType window to always display just above or beneath the insertion point (the blinking cursor) whenever it is invoked. Uncheck this box for the ability to drag the SmartType window to a desired location on the screen and have it displayed there whenever it is invoked.
Sort Characters by Number of Dialogues
Check this option to place characters with the most dialogue at the top of the SmartType window, regardless of the order in which they were entered into the script.
SmartType Color
Select the text color for SmartType matches. When the color swatch is clicked, a standard Mac color picker is displayed.
Scene Intros and Times Separators
Scene Intros and Times are special entries in their respective SmartType lists because they are sub-units of the Scene Heading element. The characters used to separate sections of the scene heading may be changed. In US film production (and in the default Screenplay template), the defaults are a period (.) separating scene intro and location and a dash (-) separating the location and the time.
To change the separator character
- In the SmartType dialogue, select either the Scene Intros or Times SmartType list;
- Type the new separator character in the Separator text box. If there should be spaces before and / or after the character, type those in as well;
- Click OK.
