Text completions and prefixes

In your screenwriting scripts, NovaMind has been designed to automatically type repetitive text so you can save time. This includes character names, parenthetical extensions, transitions, scene prefixes, scene times, "continueds" and "mores". These text completions are remembered for all scripts in your document, not just the active Mind Map.

Below is a list of the type of completions NovaMind can perform and how to activate and use each one. To see a list of the completions available (and edit the lists) please refer to the Screenwriting tab in your Preferences. To cancel a completion, press "Esc" to close the popup window and continue typing, or if you just want to insert something different, just type it.

NovaMind remembers all character names as you enter them in your script so that in future character sections it will automatically display them for you.

The completions are triggered by the user starting to type the first letter or two of character names. E.g. If the character name Robert is used in your script, the next time the user starts to type "R" in the character name field NovaMind will popup with the name "Robert" as it's suggested completion, just press Return and the name will be inserted.

Global change of character names

You can use the inspector on the screenwriter panel to show all the characters in the screenplay. Select one and type the new name over it, and it will be updated everywhere it is used as a character name in the document. Note that this does not pick up places in the dialogue or actions etc where the name is used.

To activate these extensions, type the character name then press space and open parenthesis (i.e. " (") and use your arrow and return keys to select from the list e.g. V.O. (means voice over). You can also edit the list of extensions in your Preferences panel.

In the transition section, start typing the first letter of your desired transition e.g. "F" which will prompt NovaMind and the popup will appear with all the "F" options - Fade In, Fade Out, Fade to Black etc. You can also edit the list of transitions in your Preferences panel.

At the start of the Scene, by typing the first letter of your prefix NovaMind will popup with the list for you to choose from. E.g. by typing "I" your "INT""I/E" and "INT/EXT" options will popup for you to choose from (by using your up/down arrow keys and return). You can also edit the list of scene prefixes in your Preferences panel.

If you start a scene with a prefix, it is correct practice to finish with a suffix. NovaMind will detect the prefix and will prompt you to insert the suffix at the end of the scene when you press Tab or Return.

NovaMind remembers previously typed scene names in the same way it does Character Names. After typing your scene prefix, if you start to type the description of a scene that you have already used in your script NovaMind will recognize this and will popup with the text for you to select to save re-typing. Simply continue to type if it is going to be something different to the suggested text.

Global change of scene names

You can use the inspector on the screenwriter panel to show all the scenes in the screenplay. Select one and type the new scene name over it, and it will be updated everywhere it is used in the document.

At the end of your scene, if you press the spacebar "-" spacebar (i.e. " - ") then type the first letter of a scene time completion, a popup of time completions will appear e.g. Day, Night, Afternoon, Later etc. You can also trigger this popup by typing your scene and then press tab and typing the first letter of a completion. It also automatically appears when you press Tab or Return in a scene with a prefix.

Use your arrow keys and return to select the appropriate time of day for your scene.

In the Screenwriting panel of the Preferences you can see a list of the "completions" (text that will be completed for you once you start typing the first letter or two) including the option to add customised completions by clicking on the appropriate "+" sign or removing existing ones with the "-".