exporting MovieMagicWindows to Final Draft Mac !?!?!

[cstring28]

I use MovieMagic on my PC. I need to send a screenplay to a producer who uses Final Draft on a Mac. I have an export option for Final Draft, but then there's the Mac thing. How the heck can this be done? (Not pdf - she needs access to the script.) Thanks.

[Medievalist]

I use MovieMagic on my PC. I need to send a screenplay to a producer who uses Final Draft on a Mac. I have an export option for Final Draft, but then there's the Mac thing. How the heck can this be done? (Not pdf - she needs access to the script.) Thanks.

The Mac can handle a PC file; PC's can't handle Mac files.

What are the Export options you have in Final Draft?

[Mac H.]

The Mac can handle a PC file; PC's can't handle Mac files.
Are you sure about that? Final Draft claims that their files are:

100% Cross-Platform
Final Draft scripts are identical on both Windows and Macintosh platforms and can easily be exchanged between both.

They've gone to so much trouble to make the programs identical - even to the extent of ignoring basic Windows conventions which makes the program harder to use for PC users. I don't quite believe that they would have stuffed up so badly that their PC software can't load their own file format generated by a Macintosh.

[Medievalist]

Are you sure about that? Final Draft claims that their files are:

They've gone to so much trouble to make the programs identical - even to the extent of ignoring basic Windows conventions which makes the program harder to use for PC users. I don't quite believe that they would have stuffed up so badly that their PC software can't load their own file format generated by a Macintosh.

There are two separate kinds of "file" here. There's the data as formatted by the software; a file exported in Final Draft format from a PC is Readable by the equivalent version of Final Draft on the Mac.

But then there's the issue of the file as it lives on the computer; for instance, a file on a floppy disk/CD formatted as a Mac is likely to be unreadable on a PC, unless it was formatted specially. I assumed the "Mac thing" the poster was concerned about was this issue.

But yeah, recent versions of FinalDraft are cross platform, except for some Font issues, but those are minor.

[dpaterso]

cstring, check your MM2000 "Save As" options. Mine include Final Draft RTF and Final Draft 4.0 Converter. Both will import OK into FD. The advantage of the Converter file over RTF is that if your producer clicks on it, FD will be launched and the file will load automatically. With the RTF, she'd have to start FD first and then manually open/import the RTF file, or use the Windows right-click "Open" option to launch FD. There's no cross platform problem with these files.

-Derek
My Web Page - naked women, bestial sex, and whopping big lies. (http://hometown.aol.co.uk/DPaterson57)

[cstring28]

TNX to all. I'll save in Final Draft Converter and email to the producer. I'll let you all know if it works.

[dpaterso]

Casual thought, you could download and install the Final Draft demo so you can test your own exported files before you send 'em. Which would be to the benefit of a registered Final Draft user.

-Derek
My Web Page - naked women, bestial sex, and whopping big lies. (http://hometown.aol.co.uk/DPaterson57)

[cstring28]

A good idea to try the FinalDraft demo. Sure don't want to antagonize an emmy-winning producer...
TNX

[Air Pirate]

And someone (PLEASE!) correct me if I'm wrong, but this is basically a one-way trip right? Meaning that you can export from MM2000 into Final Draft, but not back from Final Draft to MM2000.

Which, in turn would mean that, if your producer needs to make changes to the script, you're not going to be able to reimport them back into your native environment.

This is why I own both programs, and it still doesn't help if you fail to guess which one somebody who's someday actually going to want to see your script is going to turn out to use....

[dpaterso]

Air Pirate, an MM2000-only user would have to ask whoever's using FD to export an RTF file and send this instead of the FDR file. But if they're unwilling or just don't know how, I think you could still open the FDR file using FD in demo mode, tho' you couldn't save it (if it's over 15 pages) or export to RTF from FD demo. Copy/pasting minor changes over is probably do-able. Anything more serious than that, I'd be looking to purchase an FD license. Note how I'm completely sidestepping illegal use of FD demo, tra-la! That's up to the individual to debate with his or her conscience.

-Derek
My Web Page - naked women, bestial sex, and whopping big lies. (http://hometown.aol.co.uk/DPaterson57)

[Air Pirate]

Well, like I said, I own them both, but we all know perfectly well that the makers of Final Draft could include exporting to MM2000 if they wanted to. They just don't want to because they think it makes us buy their program.

That being the case, I'd have no moral qualms whatsoever about your workaround if I didn't already have the program. It's the least we can do for them...