Getting Started with the Final Draft Vault Sync Utility

Installation and First Launch

1. Run the downloaded installer and follow the on-screen instructions.
2. After installation, the Final Draft Vault Sync icon will appear in your system tray (Windows) or menu bar (macOS).
3. Click the icon and select Sign-In.
4. Enter your Final Draft Cloud credentials to authenticate. Once signed in, the app will begin monitoring your files.

The Monitored Folder

Final Draft Vault automatically syncs the contents of a specific folder on your computer. Any supported files you save to this location will be uploaded to your Final Draft Cloud storage.

• Windows: C:\Users\[YourUsername]\Documents\Final Draft Vault
• macOS: /Users/[YourUsername]/Documents/Final Draft Vault

Features and Functionality

Automatic Synchronization

The Sync Utility is designed for simplicity. By default, it operates in a one-way sync mode:

• Upload Only (Default): Any changes you make to files in the monitored folder on your computer are automatically and immediately uploaded to the cloud. This ensures your cloud backup is always up-to-date with your latest work.

For more advanced workflows, you can enable two-way synchronization in your Settings. Click the FD Sync Utility icon and choose "Settings" from the menu. Then click to enable:

• Bi-directional Sync (Optional): In this mode, the app not only uploads your local changes but also downloads any changes made in the cloud. This is perfect for keeping your files consistent if you work on them from different locations via the cloud. You can enable this feature in the app's settings.

Conflict Resolution

If you edit a file in two different places before a sync can occur, a conflict may arise. Final Draft Vault Sync handles this intelligently. You can choose your preferred strategy in the settings, such as always keeping the newest version, prioritizing your local copy, or even keeping both copies to ensure no work is ever lost.

File Deletion

To protect you from accidental data loss, deleting a file from your local monitored folder does not automatically delete the cloud copy. If you wish for local deletions to be mirrored in the cloud, you can enable this option in the settings. Please use this feature with caution.

Security

Your security is paramount. All files stored in your Final Draft Vault on the cloud are encrypted, safeguarding your intellectual property. When you download a file from the cloud directly to your machine (outside of the monitored folder), that specific copy is no longer encrypted. The files within your monitored local folder are also not encrypted by the Vault Sync application.

Supported File Types

Final Draft Vault is optimized for your screenwriting workflow and supports a variety of file formats, including: