Index Card Panel
The Index Card panel is designed to approximate a common way scripts are developed, structure and annotated. each card represents one scene.
A scene is defined as extending from the first letter of a scene heading to the last possible punctuation mark or letter before the next general, scene heading or transition element.
Cards are ordered in a left-to-right, top-to-bottom fashion. This section describes functionality that is specific to the Index Card panel. For discussion of functionality common to both the Index Card panel and Scene View, see Scene View and Index Card Panels.
The top line of each card contains the scene’s scene heading, scene number (if any) and page number. Cards (scenes) may be added in both Index Cards views and the number of columns of cards viewed at any time may be changed. Index Cards may be viewed along with the Script (see following).
Index Card Panel Display Modes
The Index Card panel has two display modes, Summary and Script, which simulate the two sides of a physical index card. The Summary display is blank initially and available for the user to type in notes pertaining to the scene:
The Script side contains some of the script text from that scene:
To change the display mode of an Index Card panel, go to the View menu and choose Index Cards > Script or Index Cards > Summary
- or -
Control + click the mouse on any card and choose Script View or Summary View from the context menu.
Summary Cards
In addition to the scene heading, scene number and page number, the Summary cards contain any notes written that pertain to the scene.
Example: A useful Summary card might contain this text (without quotes): "Bob confronts Sue about the secret documents." This is a concise description of the story beat or plot point conveyed in this scene. Additional notes about what happens in the scene may also be added.
To add summary text to an Index Card
- Click once in the summary area of an Index Card;
The cursor appears in the summary text area of the Index Card.
- Type in any text;
- Click anywhere else in the panel to apply the changes to the card.
Text added to a Summary card will be added to the script page at the beginning of the scene represented by its Summary card:
Script Cards
The Script cards display text from the scenes in the actual script -- as much of the beginning of the scene as the card can hold.
The amount of text the card can hold depends on the size of the card, which depends on the View > Cards Across setting. If more cards are displayed, the cards are smaller and less text is visible.
Text in Script cards cannot be edited but the scene heading may be edited.
Editing the Scene Heading
Edit the scene heading of a scene in either display mode of the Index Card panel.
To edit a scene heading in an Index Card
- Click the scene heading in an Index Card;
The cursor appears in the scene heading text area of the Index Card.
- Edit the scene heading;
- Click anywhere else in the panel to apply the changes to the card. Any changes made to the scene heading in an Index Card will be reflected in the actual script.
Changing Fonts and Font Size
Index Cards can use any font and font size available on your computer.
To change the font and font size of Index Cards, choose Format > Font and all font settings are available.
The Index Cards appear in the selected font and size. The font changes for all the text in all the Index Cards in the script. The font cannot be changed for individual index cards or ranges of text in the summary.
Printing Index Cards
The Index Card panel may be printed to actual index cards, regular paper or index card stock.
To print Index Cards
- Choose File > Print;
- Set the options as desired;
- Click OK.
The standard Print dialogue appears.
- Choose the number of copies to print, page range, etc.;
- Click OK.
Print Cards Dialogue
The Print Cards dialogue allows the user to configure how the cards will print.
Layout
Index Cards
Prints to index cards. Choose to print on either 3x5 or 4x6 index cards.
Index Card Paper
Prints to pre-cut perforated index card stock.
Custom
Prints to custom-size paper. When this option is chosen, the Across and Down adjustment pop-up lists become available so the number of cards that will print on a page can be set. Since all printers are different, some experimenting and test prints may be necessary to get the desired results.
To change the number of cards that will print on a sheet, enter or select numbers in the Across and Down pop-up lists.
Options
Selected Cards Only
If this option is selected, only the selected cards in the panel print.
Frame Cards
If this option is selected, each card prints with a black border around it.
Print Gray Background
If this option is selected, a gray background prints behind the cards.
To print on Index Cards
- Select the Index Card layout option;
- Select “3x5” or “4x6” from the Card Size dropdown;
- Click OK and the standard Print dialogue appears;
- Make sure the index cards are placed in the manual feed tray of the printer. See the printer’s documentation for instructions on using the manual feed tray to print small paper sizes;
- Click OK/Print in the Print dialogue.
Index Card Context Menu
Right-click click anywhere in the panel to access the Index Card panel context menu.
Summary View / Script View
Toggles between Summary View and Script View. The current card view will have a check-mark next to it:
Insert New Scene
Creates a new Index Card. See Insert New Scene.
Insert Non-Speaking Character
Inserts a non-speaking character into the scene represented by the currently-selected card. See Insert Non-Speaking Character.
Send to Script
Sends the Summary content in the card as an Action paragraph to the scene on the page.
When a Summary index card is selected or a range of cards is selected, this command copies the summary text into the body of the script as Action at the location of the scene on the page. Note that text entered into the Scene Heading field of a Summary card is automatically placed on the script page as a Scene Heading when the mouse is clicked outside of the card's Scene Heading field.
When a Beat is selected, this command copies the Beat Title onto the script page as an Outline 1 and the Beat body as a Summary paragraph. If more than one Beat is selected, the paste onto the script page will be in the order in which the the Beats were selected.
Scene Colors
Assign or change the selected scene’s color:
Choose Custom to display a standard Mac or Windows color picker, which can be used to create a custom color to assign to the selected scene.
For more information on the Index Card panel read "How do I use Index Cards?"