Scripto combines the collaborative powers of Google Docs with the script-writing power of Final Draft. The program allows you to create scripts that can be written in real-time with any number of collaborators.

Scripto has a script format that is specifically geared towards the unique needs of studio-based TV productions. Here's how to get the most out of this format.

Every chunk of text in a script is called a "block." Each block has a type. Based on the block type, Scripto knows how to format each block of text, automatically applying the correct alignment, margins, casing, and text formatting.

These are the block types that exist in the studio format:

Slug is for the name of an item in your script. Eg. Monologue
​Bracket is for produced multimedia elements. Eg. Graphics, SOT, OTS, FF
​Character is for speaker names.
​Parenthetical is for stage directions or cues for talent that should appear in the prompter. Eg. camera turn, opens envelope
​Dialogue is for the words that need to be said.
​New Act is for marking the beginning of an act.
​End of Act is for marking the end of an act.
​General is for text that doesn't fit into any other block type.

Here's a Studio script with the most common block types labeled.

When your cursor is in a text block, you can determine its block type by looking at the gray icon displayed in the left margin.

You want to write easily without breaking your flow to think about formatting. Scripto predicts which block type you need based on context, and will automatically adjust the type based on what you write. For instance, if the first thing you type in an empty line is ( the type will immediately be switched to parenthetical. If the first thing you type is [ the type will immediately be switched to bracket.

If the default block type is incorrect makes, there are a few ways to change it.

1️⃣ TAB key – Press the TAB key repeatedly to cycle through the likely block types.

2️⃣ Keyboard shortcuts – Each block type has a keyboard shortcut. (⌘1 for Scene Heading. ⌘2 for Action. And so on)

3️⃣ Block type menu – You can open the block type menu by clicking on the icon in the margin (or pressing ⌘K). Then select the block type that you want.

Note: Shows on our paid plans can customize the default formatting for each block type.

You can manually apply bold, italics, underlines, strikethroughs or all caps formatting to any text in the script using the buttons in the toolbar, or the standard keyboard shortcuts.

To force text into ALL CAPS, click the up arrow. To revert back to mixed case click the Undo button or ⌘Z.

Hyperlinked text is a great way to link to other sites without having to paste a huge long URL into your script. For example, you might want to link to the original source video so your media team can edit the clip you need for the show.

Use the Insert Link button in the toolbar to hyperlink text in the script. Select the text you want to link, click the Insert Link button, paste the URL into the form that opens and hit Apply.

If you want to start an Act or Slug on a new page, you can manually insert a page break either from the block type menu or with the keyboard shortcut Command + Enter.
​
If you prefer to write in a continuous view without seeing the page breaks, you can switch between a view that shows page breaks and a view that hides them.

​

The script view will not show dynamic page breaks and other pagination-related decorations like page numbers.

Manual page breaks will be visible in pageless view.

​

IMPORTANT

- Switching to pageless view is a personal view preference that only applies to the person who sets it. It will not apply to the document globally.
- The preference will persist across any document that you open – until you switch it again.

Studio-based TV productions often contain multimedia elements (eg. video or audio clips) that affect the timing of the show. The Studio script format has a special timing feature that helps you write to time. 📚Learn more about the script timer