How to remove character names from the drop down

Hi,

Thanks for raising this issue. We agree that this is a problem right now. There are two ways that we can fix this. I would like to get your opinion regarding which fix you find better:

1. We can ignore anything that is in parenthesis while adding things to the character drop down. This would mean that you will always need to add things like offscreen manually. This will be a pretty easy fix.

2. We can have separate pop-ups for character and the following parenthetical. This would mean that these two types of values will get remembered separately. This will be more effort on our part to implement and might take time to get prioritized for implementation in our schedule.

Please let us know if the first fix is good enough or you really think that the more elaborate fix is required, or if you think there is a better way than these two methods.

Thanks

Solution 1 is great! should be implemented soon,

However, what if I wanted to completely remove a name from the drop down? I misstyped a character name, so now I have a list of names that include Jac and Jack on the list...

We are thinking of providing a delete option next to every character added in the drop down so that you can remove it if its not required or added due to mistyping. You might need to wait for some time as we have plenty of high priority things to finish.

One workaround here is that you close and reopen the document. Each time a document is opened this list is recreated so all those entries which are not being used in your document will be gone.

Thanks

I hadn't noticed this as I use a (VO) tag under the character name rather than (OS) but this is a good point.  I agree, simply ignoring anything in parantheticals is a good way to go on this one.  It all goes to the same name then.  Good ideas.

Not sure about all the formal formatting issues as I'm really an experimental filmmaker so I don;t get that involved int he formaities but can't you also simply write these as follows:

                                        JUDGE LAWLESS

                                                  (VO)

                         Why did Jesse go and shoot that old goat anyway?

To represent his voice being heard over the scene.  Or is this indicitave of the person being physically on camera for the scene but overheard as an inner dialogue?

Sean

for personal use, student projects, experimental films, etc, there really are no hard set rules. however, in a professional screenplay that will be read by professionals in the industry, they are real sticklers about format. placing the parenthtical (also known as the "wryly) on the next line is generally reserved for how the character is delivering the line, it is a direction for performance or impact, like:

                                        INDIANA JONES

                                               (wryly)

                                              Trust me.

to place the (VO) there would indicate to the actor that he is present onscreen during delivery, and will wonder how to act "VO."

but, as i said, if your scripts are only for your use, then it's okay to format them however you wish.

I think you could set it up like a macro.  Holding down (command + shift + O)  should give you O.S. for your character and (command + shift + V) should give you V.O. for your character.   It's like hitting (command + B) when you want bold.  Or (command + I) when you want italics. Probably doesn't matter now that it's 2014!

Was there ever a way created to delete names from the drop down list? I have a name appearing on there twice and I have tried everything I can to make it go away.

Hi,

There are two ways to get rid of the extra entry -

1) Use character lists as then the drop down is populated from the list only. (Lists are available for paid customers only).

2) Make sure that all the occurrences of that extra entry in your script are deleted , then save and reopen your document. The entries which are not used in your script will now be removed from the drop down.

Please give it a try and let me know if it works for you. Else send across the stdoc (File->Save to disk) of your document at DL-AdobeStory-support<at>adobe<dot>com so that I can have a look at it.

Thanks

Rashi