Fountain Publisher

FOUNTAIN PUBLISHER

Documentation

GET STARTED

Quick start

Write plain-text Fountain in Source. The screenplay updates as you type; edit a line directly in Screenplay when you prefer the page view. Insights tracks scenes and dialogue automatically.

On a blank page, use the helper buttons — Add title page, Add scene, Add dialogue, and Add direction — to insert formatted Fountain snippets, or just start typing and the format follows automatically.

Use Add title page (or type Title:) to set your screenplay's metadata.
Start a scene with a scene heading: INT. LOCATION - DAY.
Put a character cue on its own uppercase line, then write dialogue immediately below.
Use PDF mode to inspect exact compiled output, then export from File.

SYNTAX

Fountain format

Fountain is readable plain text. Most elements are inferred from capitalization, blank lines, and familiar screenplay conventions.

INT. OBSERVATORY - NIGHT

A telescope turns beneath the dome.

MAYA
(quietly)
There you are.

CUT TO:

Scene heading: INT., EXT., EST., INT./EXT., or I/E
Action: Ordinary text separated by blank lines
Character: An uppercase cue followed by dialogue
Parenthetical: A line in parentheses inside dialogue
Transition: An uppercase line ending in TO:

ORGANIZE

Title page and structure

Title page	`Title: My Film`, `Credit: Written by`, `Author: Name`, `Draft date:`, and `Contact:` at the start of the file.
Sections	`# Act One`; add more `#` characters for deeper levels.
Synopsis	`= A short outline note`.
Scene numbers	`INT. LAB - DAY #12#`.
Page break	`===` on its own line.
Notes	`[[Private production note]]`.
Boneyard	`/* omitted text */`.

CONTROL

Forced elements and formatting

Forced scene	`.THE ROOFTOP`
Forced action	`!THIS IS ACTION`
Forced character	`@McCLANE`
Forced transition	`> SMASH CUT TO:`
Centered	`> THE END <`
Lyrics	`~ Singing in the rain`
Dual dialogue	Add `^` to the second character cue, for example `JANE ^`. The two adjacent dialogue blocks render concurrently side-by-side.
Emphasis	`italic`, `bold`, `*bold italic*`, `_underline_`

OUTPUT

Preview and publish

Screenplay mode is optimized for fast editing and source synchronization. PDF mode is the authoritative Screenplain rendering. Choose US Letter or A4 in Settings, then export PDF, HTML, or Final Draft FDX from File.

Open a local file with File → Open. Save overwrites through the File System Access API when supported; otherwise the browser downloads a safe copy.

KEYBOARD

Shortcuts

Action	macOS	Windows / Linux
Undo	`⌘ Z`	`Ctrl Z`
Redo	`⇧ ⌘ Z`	`Ctrl Shift Z` or `Ctrl Y`
Save	`⌘ S`	`Ctrl S`
Save as	`⇧ ⌘ S`	`Ctrl Shift S`
Open	`⌘ O`	`Ctrl O`
New	`⌘ N`	`Ctrl N`
Complete	`⌘ Space`, then `Tab`	`Ctrl Space`, then `Tab`
Spelling	Right-click a marked word for system suggestions.

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