Writing script in word

How to format a screenplay  •  Subscribe on YouTube

Beginner’s guide to MS Word  •  Script format word doc

Set your margins in MS Word  •  Script format word

Also during this step, set your font to Courier or Courier New and make sure that your font size is set to 12. For a script, you will need page numbers in the top right corner for all pages except the first one. To do this, click on “Insert” → “Page Numbers.”

Set your page numbers in MS Word  •  How to make a script in word

A window will pop up allowing you to customize your page numbers. Set the “Position” field to “Top of page (Header)” and set the “Alignment” to “Right.” Make sure that the box beside “Show number on first page” is NOT checked. Then, simply click “OK.”

Setting the measurements for specialized lines  •  How to write a screenplay in Microsoft Word

For additional help using the “Styles” pane in Microsoft Word, refer to the video below.

A guide to using styles in MS Word  •  Script format Word doc

How to design and save a template  •  Writing screenplays in Word

After familiarizing yourself with the formatting rules of a screenplay, as well as learning how to format a screenplay on Google Docs, it’s time to move on to yet another common writing app: Microsoft Word.

If Microsoft Word is your writing medium of choice, you’re in luck. Here’s a guide to formatting your screenplays on Microsoft Word, as well as a bonus look into how you can format your screenplay with little fuss at the bottom of the article.

Manual screenplay formatting on Microsoft Word

1) Page Margins

The general formatting rules for page margins are as follows:

• 1.5 inch margin on the left of the page
• 1 inch margin on the right, top and bottom of the page

In a blank Microsoft Word document, simply go to Layout > Margins and scroll down until you find the Custom Margins option. In the window that pops up, change the left margin to 1.5 inches and leave everything else at 1 inch.

2) Font size and line spacing

In screenplays, text should be written in Courier font size 12. Your lines should be single-spaced, barring some exceptions. To change the font and line spacing, go to the Home tab, and you’ll find options to change your font and line spacing under Font and Paragraph respectively

3) Creating a title page

Your title should be:

• Courier Font Size 12
• Double spaced
• Be capitalized
• Centered on the page, a third down the page

To center your title (or any other word in your screenplay), search for the alignment options under the Home tab, in the paragraph section. There will be options to align right, left, center, or justify.

To capitalize words, highlight the word and go to Change Case in the Font section of the Home tab.

As for the rest of the information on your title page, they should follow these rules:

• Use Courier Font Size 12
• Double spaced
• Include your name, only first letter capitalized.
• Include your contact information at bottom right corner

4) Indentation

Some elements in your screenplay have custom indentations. For example, dialogues have to aligned to the center and then indented one inch from the left margin.

To customize indentations, simply go to the Layout tab and adjust the indents under the Paragraph section.

5) Page Numbers

In a screenplay, the page numbers are located on the top right hand corner of the page; against the right margin and 0.5 inches below the top margin. The page number should be followed by a period, and the title page should not have a page number.

To add and customize page numbers for your screenplay in Microsoft Word, go to Insert > Page Number > Top of Page > Plain Number 3

Then, double click the page number to open the Header and Footer Tools tab. Under that tab, tick the Different First Page box to remove the page number from the title page.

Download a screenplay template

Manually formatting every line of your screenplay can be a hassle, and can interrupt your writing flow! Instead, save yourself the trouble and download a template instead.

Conveniently enough, Microsoft already has a screenplay template for Microsoft Word that can downloaded for free. Once you open the document, all you’ll need to do is add your details to the template and make any changes accordingly.

Use JotterPad for a hassle-free screenwriting experience

That said, it can still be quite frustrating. After all, you’ll have to write your screenplay unformatted on a separate document, and then transfer everything onto the template in Microsoft Word. To some screenwriters, that might be a little too troublesome for their tastes.

So, in order to further streamline your writing experience, why not use JotterPad instead? JotterPad utilizes Fountain, a screenwriting syntax, to give you a wide range of easy-to-use formatting features for all your screenwriting needs

Quick and easy formatting features

By simply creating a Fountain document, everything that you write will be exported in the appropriate font and font size, as well as with the right page margins and page numbers.

JotterPad also offers a wealth of easy-to-use formatting features that will streamline your writing process. For example, creating a title page has never been easier; all you need to do is go to Properties and input the relevant information in the window that pops up.

Your title page will then be fully formatted upon exporting!

Need to add a transition? We’ve got you covered. JotterPad makes things easy on you by giving you a list of transitions that you can input into your screenplay with proper formatting – all with a single click!

These are just some of the many formatting features that JotterPad has to offer!

Cloud sync feature

Furthermore, JotterPad’s cloud sync feature allows you to auto-save and keep all your documents in one place, across multiple devices, so you’ll never have to worry about losing progress again!

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So, if you’re both a screenwriter as well as a budding novelist, JotterPad also functions as a novel-writing software as well. Download JotterPad now to get started on your next screenplay!

JotterPad — Write Better

JotterPad is a professional text editor designed for writers and screenplay writers.

JotterPad.app

If you have Microsoft Word, even the basic one, this article will show you how to format it so you can write your screenplays.

A side note: If you’re writing screenplays and making a living from them, I highly recommend Final Draft (Amazon, B&H). The program gets out of the way and allows you to focus completely on your craft. Also, it’s the industry standard.

For a free software that works great, take a look at Fade In. You will have to pay to remove the watermark and publish your pages, but at least you can get your script written.

Exclusive Bonus: Download your FREE Blueprint: How to make a movie. A complete visual representation of the filmmaking process from beginning to end.

I have used MS Word for six years without any problems.

The only two ‘must-haves’ for a serious screenplay writer are a great keyboard and a great chair. If you’re writing on a tablet, get a bluetooth keyboard and pound away.

I’m assuming you know what the correct format is. If not, please start by reading this article:

What is the Format of a Screenplay?

How is A4 different from US Letter for screenplays?

You might be wondering if there are any practical ramifications of using A4 over the standard US Letter format. If you’re sending a web PDF document, then consider where it will be printed. If it is going to the US, then it will be printed on US Letter.

The screenplay format is designed for US letter, and not for A4. I’ve been using it for A4, since that’s the only kind of paper I can buy in India.

Courier 12-point should give you 4.23mm (0.166″) per line. For A4 paper, this means 55-64 lines , and for US Letter paper, this means a maximum of 51-60 lines. How many characters does that make?

• A4 – Between 3,135 to 3,648 per page.
• Letter – Between 3,060 to 3,600 per page.

That’s an approximate difference of 2% between the two. If one page equals one minute (60 seconds) in US Letter, it would mean 61 seconds on A4. For a 100 page script, it would approximate 100 minutes in US Letter, and 102 minutes in A4. There is no difference. Also, don’t forget to take note that you are allowed to use double or even triple spaces between lines, or break up your page breaks for better readability. This by itself is a 10% difference per page!

To recap, don’t worry about the paper size. Stick to the margins, and keep your font fixed at Courier 12-point 10-pitch.

The font for a screenplay

The font is Courier 12-point 10-pitch.

Where do you find Courier 12 pt 10-pitch?

The easiest way is to download a demo version of Final Draft. Then copy the font to your font directory before the trial version expires. Then you’ll have it available for Microsoft Word or another word processing application.

Before you use fonts for any commercial activity, make sure there are no licensing fees involved. Some fonts are not usable for any purpose, commercial or personal. When in doubt, use the default Courier font on your word processor. Nothing bad will happen.

How to format MS Word for the page layout

I’m going to be using Microsoft Word, but you can do the same with any word processor.

Open a new blank document. Go to Layout and choose the paper size – stick to US Letter or A4.

Go to Margins and select Custom Margins…:

Click OK. Go to Insert > Page Numbers and select Top and Right. Page numbers should be displayed from the first page. Note: Some people shift the page numbers a bit to the right but it doesn’t matter. Start the numbering from 2 (1 is reserved for the title page).

Finally, select the Courier 12pt font.

That’s it, your main document is ready. Save it on your hard drive before proceeding. We’ll come back to it after the next section.

How to create the title page for your screenplay

Create your title page only after you’ve finished writing your script. Otherwise you might spend months with just the name of your movie!

Open a new Word document and select the same paper size as your preferred screenplay format. Choose your font.

The title is centered somewhere just above the middle (doesn’t matter). On the next line (or you could leave a couple of lines) you write ‘by’. On the next line write your full name (only first letter is capitalized).

No jazzy stuff, bold fonts or styles or colors. The page number shouldn’t be visible on the title page.

On the bottom right (align to the right), write down your address, phone number and/or email address (Many competitions forbid you to include this information). Nobody’s going to study your title page and gush at your layout skills. It shouldn’t draw attention to itself. If your script is good, then the reader will want to meet you.

Save this as a title template and you’re done.

Next let’s look at the elements that form a screenplay, and how you can ensure the smoothest writing experience with Microsoft Word.

Now let’s create the elements of a screenplay.

How to get elements into Microsoft Word

Word has a crazy system of adding spacing to the margin, so you need to get rid of that first. Type these to the script template:

Slug
Description or actions
Character name
Parenthetical action
Dialogue
Transition
Page break
Title

Select them and right click. Select Paragraph…. Make sure the Alignment is ‘Left’ and Indentation is ‘0 cm or inches’. Hit OK.

Character name

Place the curser at the beginning of ‘Character name’. Right click and select Paragraph…. You have two choices:

• Change the left indentation to 6.86 cm (2.7″). Use this if you’re using the 4.2″ formatting.
• Change the alignment to ‘Centered’. Use this if you’re just centering the character name.

Parenthetical action

Place the cursor on Parenthetical action. Repeat the steps above to get to the Paragraph popup. Because the paranthetical action position is related to the character name, you have two choices:

• If you have opted for the 4.2″ system, set the left indentation at 5.59 cm (2.2″).
• If you have opted for the centered system, set the alignment to ‘Centered’. Then set the left indentation at -1.27 cm (0.5″).

Dialogue

Place the cursor on Dialogue. Repeat the steps above to get to the Paragraph popup. Because the position of the dialogue is relative to the character name, you have two choices:

• If you have opted for the 4.2″ system, set the left indentation at 3.84 cm (1.5″). Set the right indentation at 2.54 cm (1″).
• If you have opted for the centered system, set the alignment to ‘Centered’. Then set the left indentation at -3.81 cm (1.5″). Set the right indentation at -4.44 cm (1.75″). This will center the text and give you a width of 3″.

Centered looks better for online reading but the 4.2″ system is better for MS Word formatting. The ‘centering system’ is harder to implement in Word, don’t worry.

Transition

Same steps. Align to the Right.

Page break

Same as Character name.

For Slug, Title and Description, don’t make any changes yet. If you’ve done everything okay, this is what your template should look like:

Changing the fonts and line spacing

The next step is to make sure the fonts that are always in upper case be assigned that style.

Fonts

Choose Slug, Character name, Page break, Transitions and Title one by one, right click and select Font…. Check ‘All caps’. This is what it will look like:

Finally, we manipulate the line spacing so each element behaves the way it is supposed to.

Line Spacing

This part could have been done alongside indentation and alignment, but this way it is more foolproof for first timers. First, let’s understand how line spacing works in a screenplay:

Double spacing follows these elements, always:

• Slug
• Each paragraph of a description or action.
• Diagloue.
• Transition.

Why not add them in automatically? We can do that.

Select each of these elements one by one, right click and select Paragraph…. Change the Spacing, After to 12 pt. This is what it will look like:

There shouldn’t be a double spacing before the Page break. However, this only applies rarely to a screenplay, so you can just hit backspace when you need it. There are some writers who like to have two spaces prior to every slug. You can use the same method to change things up.

With this system, you don’t have to worry about line spaces before any element because it will follow automatically after another element.

Add Actions to your template

What are actions? Simply put, there are some rules that always hold true in a screenplay format:

• A slug or scene heading is always followed by action/description.
• The end of a transition is always a slug or scene heading.
• Dialogue is assumed after each character’s name, unless a parenthetical action is necessary. After every parenthetical there is always a dialogue.
• More likely than not a dialogue will be followed by another character’s name.

Software like Final Draft makes it easy to write because as soon as you finish one line of the above and hit ENTER the next line assumes the next logical step – saving you many keystrokes. To get the same benefits in Microsoft Word, you must try to create actions (term borrowed from Photoshop) that make it as easy as possible.

Let’s go in this order:

Description or action

Select/Highlight Description or actions in your template. Go to Format > Style > New…:

Name the style as ‘Action’. Click OK. Word will automatically assign the ‘Style for following paragraph’ to ‘Action’. To create a shortcut, click on the ‘Format’ drop down on the lower left:

Select Shortcut key…. You’ll get this box:

Alt is assigned to the menu and Shift is assigned to upper case letters. I recommend using CTRL+SHIFT+Number. E.g., for Action you could have CTRL+SHIFT+2. Click on Assign and then OK.

Slug

Highlight ‘Slug’ and repeat the above steps. In the New Style popup, name it ‘Slug’ and assign the ‘Style for following paragraph’ to ‘Action’. Click OK.

Set the shortcut as CTRL+SHIFT+1.

Transition

Same as above. In the New Style popup, name it ‘Transition’ and assign the ‘Style for following paragraph’ to ‘Slug’. Click OK.

Set the shortcut as CTRL+SHIFT+6.

Character name

Same as above. In the New Style popup, name it ‘CharacterName’. Click OK.

Set the shortcut as CTRL+SHIFT+3.

Dialogue

Same as above. In the New Style popup, name it ‘Dialogue’ and assign the ‘Style for following paragraph’ to ‘CharacterName’. Click OK.

Go back to the CharacterName style and assign the ‘Style for following paragraph’ to ‘Dialogue’. Click OK.

Set the shortcut as CTRL+SHIFT+5.

Parenthetical action

Same as above. In the New Style popup, name it ‘Paranthetical’ and assign the ‘Style for following paragraph’ to ‘Dialogue’. Click OK.

Set the shortcut as CTRL+SHIFT+4.

Title

Same as above. In the New Style popup, name it ‘TitleOver’ and assign the ‘Style for following paragraph’ to ‘Dialogue’. Click OK.

Set the shortcut as CTRL+SHIFT+7.

Now we have our styles. Page break has the exact same style as CharacterName so you can use that instead. Try playing around with the styles. It works!

Don’t forget to save your template!

If you’re having trouble with my shortcuts, feel free to choose your own. Keep it simple and repeatable so you only have to learn one set of movements and you’ll be doing it fast in no time.

Microsoft Word tells you whether your preferred shortcut is already in use for an important function or not. You can also save your shortcuts and styles to apply to all documents created in Word (but that isn’t a good idea if you’re using Word for other stuff as well).

There you have it, how to set up Microsoft Word to write a screenplay. Happy writing!

Nobody needs to invest a small fortune in computer programs to write a screenplay when they already have the best option of all: Microsoft Word! There are several ways to produce a professional script with Word. You can use macros (small programs that record keystrokes and automate the most repetitive tasks for the user) or customize style and formatting options to start thinking about stories for TV, movies, or theater right away.

Steps

Method 1 of 5: Creating a Script from a Template

Step 1. Open a new document

With Word open, click on «File» in the menu bar in the upper left corner of the screen, and then on «New». Next, you’ll have several styling and layout options for the document.

Step 2. Find a script template

Type «roadmap» into the search bar. Microsoft offers a ready-made script template for the 2013 and 2016 versions of Word. Double click on it after doing the search to open.

The steps are pretty much the same in Word 2010: open a new document, choose templates, and run a search in Microsoft Word Online. Then choose one of the two options to download

Step 3. Make the necessary adjustments to the script template

There are no specific rules when it comes to writing a screenplay, although there are more general guidelines regarding style, vocabulary and other characteristics. Check with the studio you’re writing for to see if there’s anything to follow, and think about details like margins, font size and style, and line spacing.

Step 4. Create your own template

If you’ve already written a screenplay or have a file saved on your hard drive, open it in Word. In the 2013 and 2016 versions of the program, click on “File”, “Save As” and “This Computer”. Enter a name for the file and from the «Type» drop-down menu, click «Word Template.» If the document contains macros, click «Macro Enabled Word Template». Finally, click on “Save”.

If you want to change where the templates will be saved, click on «File», «Options» and «Save» and choose the folder where all the custom templates will stay

Method 2 of 5: Using Style and Formatting Options

Step 1. Use the style and formatting options to format a script

If you don’t like the template Word offers, you can modify the style and formatting of the document to create something more personalized. Then, just save the file to use it again in the future for other documents of the type. Choose how the layout will look as you go.

Step 2. Select a line of text

This line can contain a character’s name, part of the dialogue or scene instructions. Left-click on the left corner of the line to select it.

• You can also click the left mouse button to the right or left of the line of text you want to adjust to select everything.
• Finally, you can also place the cursor over the text and press the Shift key and a directional arrow to select the text. Use the left arrow to select what comes before and the right arrow to select what comes after.
• If there is more than one line, select each one separately and apply the formatting adjustments.

Step 3. Open the Style and Formatting panel

After selecting the text, click «Format» in the menu bar to access the drop-down menu with options. Click on «Styles and Formatting» to open the dashboard.

You can also click the “Styles and Formatting” button on the toolbar to open the dashboard. It is located in the left corner of the page, next to the script’s character drop-down menu, and is represented by two overlapping “A” letters in different colors

Step 4. Select parts of text with similar formatting

Right-click on the previously selected text to open a drop-down menu with various options. The last one is “Select Text with Similar Formatting”. Left-click on it to also highlight all parts of the script that are similar.

For example, if all character names are written in the same font and the same size and centered on the page, you can select just one of them and use the “Select Text with Similar Formatting” option to adjust everything at once

Step 5. Choose what format you want

After selecting the text and adjusting the style, choose a format from the “Styles and Formatting” panel on the right. Click the left mouse button when you decide.

Step 6. Create a new style

If the selected text does not match an existing style, click on the “New Style” button, which is near the top of the panel. Then come up with a name, align the text to the right or left, choose the font, and make the other adjustments.

Method 3 of 5: Creating a macro for the script scenes (in Word 2013 and 2016)

Step 1. Understand why you should describe the scenes

Most scripts have a main heading — a series of words that identify the content that follows. For example: the header can read “INT. OFFICE — DAY” (inside the office, by day) to guide the reader of the script in relation to the scene.

Scene headers must be written in capital letters and come two lines below the last line of dialogue or description of the previous scene

Step 2. Prepare to record the macro

Macros are sequences of saved commands that can be executed with a single keystroke. Adjust the margins to prepare the process. To do this, open the “Layout” tab and click on “Margins” and “Custom Margins”. The top, bottom and right margins should be 1 cm, while the left is 1.5 cm. Use Courier New font, size 12. These options are the most common in scripts, but you can also customize everything.

In Word 2007, adjust the margins to prepare for recording the macro. Click on the “Page Layout” tab and place the margins and font in the requirements listed above. Then, go to the “Developer” tab. To display it, click on the button in the upper left corner of the Word screen and access the options menu (at the end of the list); in “Popular”, check the option “Show Developer”

Step 3. Click “View”, “Macros” and “Record Macro”

Enter a name. Since you’re going to use the macro to organize the scenes, use something like “Scene header”. Finally, choose “All Documents” from the “Store Macro In” dropdown box.

In Word 2007, click «Record Macro» on the left side of the «Developer» tab. Store it in “Document 1” (not in “All Documents”, so you can save the file as a specific scripting template). Use the name “Scene” or “Header” and click on the keyboard icon to create a shortcut. Then press the shortcut buttons. For example: if you want to use F2, press the key with the cursor in the “Press New Shortcut Key” field. Finally, click on “Assign” and “Close”

Step 4. Click on the keyboard icon

Then assign the macro to the F2 key (or one of your choice) with the “Press New Shortcut Key” field. Click «Assign» and press Enter or click «Close.»

Step 5. Find the recorder icon next to the mouse

Press Enter on the keyboard twice to skip lines. Go back to the “Layout” tab (“Page Layout” in Word 2007) and reset both indents to zero. Open the “Home” tab and click on the lower right corner of the “Source” section to open the dialog box. Finally, in the “Effects” section, check the option “All in caps” and click “OK”.

Step 6. Finish the macro

Click on the «Preview» tab once more. Then click on “Macros” and “Stop Recording”. From that point on, the F2 key will always skip two lines on the page and capitalize the text for you to enter a header.

In Word 2007, go to the “Developer” tab and click on “Stop Burning”. From that moment on, the F2 key will always skip two lines on the page and capitalize the text

Method 4 of 5: Creating a Macro to Make Descriptions (in Word 2013 and 2016)

Step 1. Determine why you want to create a macro to make descriptions

The script descriptions provide more details than the header, such as the type of lighting, the weather and descriptions of the location where the scene takes place and the characters involved. The description is two lines below the header, with the first letter capitalized and a period. For example: under the heading “INT. OFFICE — DAY”, you can bring the description “The window is open and the lights are flashing”.

Step 2. Open the “Layout” tab (“Page Layout” in Word 2007) and adjust the margins

Click on the icon in the lower right corner of the “Paragraph” section to open the dialog box. Place 1 cm indents before the text and 1.5 cm after in the “Indent” section.

In Word 2007, access the “Developer” tab. Click on the button in the upper left corner of the Word screen and access the options menu (at the end of the list); in “Popular”, check the option “Show Developer”

Step 3. Click “View”, “Macros” and “Record Macro”

Enter a name. Since you are going to use the macro to make the descriptions, use something like “Description”. Finally, choose “All Documents” from the “Store Macro In” dropdown box.

Step 4. Click on the keyboard icon and link the macro to the F3 key (or another key of your choice) with the field “Press New Shortcut Key”

Click «Assign» and press Enter or click «Close.»

In Word 2007, click «Record Macro» on the right side of the ribbon. Store the macro in the same location where you stored the previous one and name it “Description”. Click on the keyboard icon and assign the macro to F3

Step 5. Find the recorder icon next to the mouse

Press Enter twice on the keyboard to skip two lines and go to the “Layout” tab (“Page Layout” in Word 2007) and change the two indents to zero. Then go to the “Home Page” and click on the icon located in the lower right corner of the “Source” section to open the dialog box. In the «Effects» section, uncheck «All caps» and click «OK.»

In Word 2007, after unchecking the “All caps” option, go back to the “Developer” tab and press “Stop Recording” before continuing

Step 6. Access the “Preview” tab once more

Then click on “Macros” and “Stop Recording”. From that moment on, the F3 key will always skip two lines and put the letters in lowercase. If you don’t assign the macro to the key, F3 won’t be helpful in building your script.

In Word 2007, go back to the «Developer» tab and press «Stop Recording» instead of clicking «Macros» and «Stop Recording»

Method 5 of 5: Creating a Macro for Dialogs (in Word 2013 and 2016)

Step 1. Create a macro for character names

Characters and dialogue or actions usually come right after the presentation and description of the scene. Names are in capital letters, followed by lines on the next line.

• To create a macro for character names after the scene description, repeat the same steps you took to create the description macro in Word 2013 or 2016, but:

  • a) After changing the indentation to zero during recording, press Space 22 times, check “All caps” and
  • b) Name the macro “Character” and assign it to F4. Skip two lines right after recording.
• After you click “Stop Recording”, F4 will always skip two lines (and move the cursor to the correct position) in addition to capitalizing characters.
• In Word 2007, follow the instructions in the description macro, but place the parameters specified in the substeps above.

Step 2. Go to the “Layout” tab (“Page Layout” in Word 2007) and adjust the margins

Click on the icon in the lower right corner of the “Paragraph” section to open a dialog box. Place 1 cm indents before the text and 1.5 cm after in the “Indent” section.

In Word 2007, access the “Developer” tab. Click the Office button in the upper left corner of the window to access the Word Options menu (at the bottom of the list). Finally, under “Popular”, check the option “Show Developer”

Step 3. Click “View”, “Macros” and “Record Macro”

Enter a name. Since you are going to use the macro to make the lines, use something like “Dialogue”. Finally, choose “All Documents” from the “Store Macro In” dropdown box.

• Click on the keyboard icon and assign the macro to F3. Click «Assign» and press Enter or click «Close.»
• In Word 2007, click «Record Macro» on the left side of the ribbon. Store the macro in the same location where you stored the previous one and name it “Description”. Click on the keyboard icon and assign the macro to the key of your choice. For example: click “Press New Hotkey” and press F5 to assign it to the macro.

Step 4. Find the recorder icon next to the mouse

Press Enter once on your keyboard to skip a line and go to the “Layout” tab (“Page Layout” in Word 2007) to change the two indents to zero. Then go to the “Home Page” and click on the icon located in the lower right corner of the “Source” section to open the dialog box. In the “Effects” section, check “All caps” and click “OK”.

• Go to the “Preview” tab once more. Then click on “Macros” and “Stop Recording”. From that moment on, F5 will always skip a line, put characters in lowercase and prepare the script for dialogue.
• In Word 2007, press «Stop Recording» in the «Developer» tab instead of clicking «Macros» and «Stop Recording».

Tips

• You can manually enter typical script terms that are used less frequently, such as “FADE IN:”.
• To insert numbers on the pages, go to the “Insert” tab and click on “Page number”, “Start of page” and “Number 3 without formatting”. In the “Design” tab, place the header 5 cm from the top. Uncheck the option “Different first page” and delete the first one, which should not contain any number.
• Make sure all pages have the right number of lines. In Word, click «Format», «Paragraph», «Line Spacing» and «Exactly» with «12 pt». This is the standard for movie scripts, like those used in Hollywood.
• Check spelling and grammar. Word has an automatic proofreading function in addition to making more limited grammar corrections.
• There are no specific rules for formatting a document. Follow the conventions stipulated by the studio or theater company that contracted your services.

Notices

• Before recording the macro, limit or disable any adjustments you want to make.
• Disable the autocorrection function while writing the script in Word.

You don’t have to shell out hundreds of dollars for script writing software when you already have the most powerful program: Microsoft Word! Writing a professional script with MS Word can be done in several ways. Whether you use macros (small programs that record your keystrokes and automate repetitive tasks) or just create custom styling and formatting options on your own, your script will be TV, movie or theater ready in in no time.

Steps

Part 1 of 5: Create a scenario with a template

Step 1. Open a new document

After opening MS Word, select File in the menu bar in the upper left corner of the screen. Then choose New. This will give you a choice as to the style and layout in which you want to create the document.

Step 2. Find a template for scenarios

In the search bar, enter the word «scenario». Currently Microsoft offers a scenario template configured for MS Word 2013/2016. Double-click on it after the search is complete. This will launch the document formatted for writing a script.

In MS Word 2010, the steps are basically the same. Open a new document, then select Templates and search for Microsoft Office Online. Choose one of the two available, then download it

Step 3. Adjust the scenario template as desired

There is no set rule governing the style in which scripts are written, although there are general guidelines, vocabulary, and common functionality. Check with the studio you’re writing for to find out how they want you to personalize your document. Determine how to adjust the margins, font size, font type, and line spacing.

Step 4. Create your own template

If you have already written or have a screenplay saved on your hard drive, open it in MS Word. In Word 2013/2016, click File> Save As> Computer. Type the name of your model in the box File name. Then, in the drop-down menu, click Save as just below the area File name, select Word Template. If the document contains macros, select the Word Macro Template, and then click Save.

• If you want to change the location where your model will be saved, click File> Options> Save and type the path of the folder you want to use in the Default personal templates location box.

Part 2 of 5: Use style and formatting

Step 1. Consider using style and formatting templates

If you are not satisfied with the layout provided by Word, you can change the style and formatting of your document to create new formatting templates. These templates can be used again if you save them, or you can create a new document-based template that uses these style and formatting rules. You can think of formatting as a way to create your own template.

Step 2. Select a line of text

The text can be a character name, a piece of dialogue, or acting instructions. Select the text line by clicking your left mouse button with your cursor on the left edge of the text line.

• Alternatively, you can highlight the text by clicking your left mouse button to the right or left of the line of text you want to format.
• Finally, you can highlight the text by putting a blinking cursor over the text you wrote and holding down the Shift key and an arrow key to highlight the text you want to format. To highlight text to the left of where your cursor is, hold down the Shift key and the left directional arrow. To highlight text to the right of where your cursor is, hold down the Shift key and the right directional arrow.
• If you want to select multiple lines of text, you can do so at the same time and apply the formatting changes you want to all the highlighted lines.

Step 3. Open the Styles and Formatting panel

When your text is highlighted, click Format in the menu bar. The drop-down menu will display several options. Click on Styles and formatting.

• Otherwise, you can open the panel Styles and formatting by clicking on the button Styles and formatting from the toolbar. Just click the button Styles and formatting located next to the script font drop-down menu to open the panel. The button is located at the top left of the toolbar. It contains two letters «A», each of a different color, next to each other.

Step 4. Select the text with similar formatting

Right-click on the highlighted text you initially selected. A drop-down menu should open with a number of options. The lowest option normally indicates Select text with similar formatting. Click on this option with your left mouse button. All text with a format similar to what you originally highlighted will be highlighted.

• For example, if you have all the character names in a certain font and size, centered exactly above a line of text, you can highlight a single line of any character name and then use the ‘option Select text with similar formatting and thus adjust all the character names in your scenario at the same time.

Step 5. Select the desired format

After you’ve highlighted all the text you want to assign to a given style, choose the style from the right panel. The panel Styles and formatting should always be open to the right of the screen. Choose the style you want to apply to the highlighted text by left clicking.

Step 6. Create a new style

If your highlighted text does not conform to an existing style, you can assign the formatting and style of the highlighted text a name by clicking the button near the top of the panel. New style. You can then give it a name, align the text left or right, choose your font, and make any other adjustments you want.

Part 3 of 5: Create a macro for configuring scenes (Word 2013/2016)

Step 1. Think about why you want to create a scene

Typically in a script, the main scene header is a series of words that largely identifies the content that follows. For example, scene headers may say “INT. OFFICE — DAY”(inside the office during the day). This will make it easier to understand the scene when reading the scenario.

Scene titles should, as in the example mentioned above, be written in capitals, two lines after the last line of dialogue or description of the previous scene

Step 2. Prepare to record the macro

A macro is a sequence of recorded commands that can be executed immediately by assigning them to a single keystroke. To prepare your macro, set your margins. Change the page margins by clicking on the tab Layout, then Margins, then Custom Margins. The top, bottom and right margins should be set to 1 point. The left margin should be set to 1.5 points. Choose the Courier New font in 12 format. These are standard choices in screenwriting. If you want to work with a different layout, set your margins accordingly.

• In Word 2007, prepare to record the macro by setting your margins. Change the page margins by clicking on the tab Layout, then set the margins and font as described above. Then open the Developer tab. Display the Developer tab by clicking on the button Office (the top left button), Word Options (bottom), under Popular, check Show Developer in the toolbar.

Step 3. Click View> Macros> Record Macro

Choose a name for the macro. Since this macro is used to configure scenes, assigning the name «Scene header» is a logical choice. Make sure you have selected All the documents at the bottom of the drop-down menu indicating Save macro in.

• In Word 2007, click Record Macro. This button is on the left side of the Developer tab. Keep the macro in Document 1 (instead of Normal, so you can save it as a separate scenario template). Name the macro «Scene» or «Title». Click the keyboard icon to assign the macro to a keyboard shortcut. You can then press the key on the keyboard that you want to assign to the macro. For example, maybe you can use the F2 key for your macro. In the zone Press New shortcut key, press F2 to associate it with the macro. Click on Affect, then on To close.

Step 4. Click on the keyboard icon

Then assign the macro to the F2 key (or whatever key you want to assign your macro to) using the checkbox Press New shortcut key. Click on Affect or the Enter key, then click To close.

Step 5. Look for a tape recorder icon next to your mouse

Press Enter twice on your keyboard to skip two lines. Return to the tab Layout (Format in Word 2007) and change both indentations to 0 points. Open the Home tab. Click on the lower right corner of the section Police to open the dialog box. Then, in the Effects section, check Uppercase and click OK.

Step 6. Finish the macro

Click the tab again Display. Click Macros> Stop Recording. F2 (your hotkey) will now automatically skip two lines on the page and capitalize the text, preparing you to write a scene title.

• In Word 2007, return to the Developer tab. Click on Stop recording. F2 (your hotkey) will now skip two lines on the page and capitalize the text.

Part 4 of 5: Create a macro for describing a scene (Word 2013/2016)

Step 1. Decide why you want to create a macro for the description

The description in a scenario offers more information than just the title. It can give details of the type of lighting, weather conditions, or other descriptions of the physical location of the scene and its characters. The description can be found two lines below the scene title, in standard sentence format, with the first letter in uppercase and a period at the end. For example, under a scene title like “INT. OFFICE — DAY”, you can indicate the following descriptive information: the window is open and the lights flash and go out.

Step 2. Open the Layout tab (Format in Word 2007) and set your margins

In the lower right corner of the section Paragraph, click on the small icon opening the dialog box. Choose a point for the indents before the text and 1.5 point after the text in the section Withdrawal.

• In Word 2007, view the tab Developer. Click on the button Office at the top left, then navigate to Word options (at the bottom), then under Popular, check the box Show Developer tab in toolbar.

Step 3. Click View> Macros> Record Macro

Give the macro a name. Since this macro is for descriptions, assigning the name «Description» is a logical choice. Make sure you have selected All the documents at the bottom of the drop-down menu named Save macro in.

Step 4. Click on the keyboard icon

Then assign the macro to the F3 key (or the button you want to assign it to) using the checkbox Press the New shortcut key. Click on Affect or press Enter before clicking To close.

• In Word 2007, click Record macro on the left side of the toolbar. Place the macro in the same location where you saved the other macro you created and name it «Description.» Click the keyboard icon and assign the macro to the F3 key.

Step 5. Look for a tape recorder icon next to your mouse

Press Enter twice on your keyboard to skip two lines, then go to the tab Layout (Format in Word 2007) and set both indents to 0. Then click on the Home tab. In the lower right corner of the section Police, select the small icon that opens the dialog box. Look under the section Effects, then deselect all caps. Click on OK.

• In Word 2007, after deselecting all caps, go back to the Developer tab and press Stop recording before continuing with the instructions above.

Step 6. Click the View tab again

Click on Macros> Stop recording. F3 will now automatically skip two lines on the page and write lowercase. If you do not bind the macro to the F3 key, it will not be the shortcut to configure descriptive passages in your scenario.

• In Word 2007, go back to the Developer tab and press Stop recording instead of clicking Macros> Stop Recording.

Part 5 of 5: Create a macro for the dialog (Word 2013/2016)

Step 1. Create a macro for the character names

The characters and their dialogue or actions usually follow the title and description of a scene. They should be centered in upper case on the page with dialogue on the next line.

• To create a macro before entering character names after writing the scene description, repeat the same steps as for creating a macro for the description in MS Word 2013/2016.

  • a) After reconfiguring the indent to 0 while recording, press the space bar twice, then select Shift.
  • b) Name the macro “Character” and assign it to the F4 key. Make sure that the first thing you do when recording is to skip two lines.
• After pressing Stop recording, the F4 key will allow you to automatically skip two lines in the page (which will place the cursor on the correct position to write the name of the character) and to write capital letters.
• To create a dialog macro in Word 2007, follow the instructions for the description macro in Word 2007, but enter the settings described in the substeps above.

Step 2. Open the Layout tab

This is the Format tab in Word 2007 to set your margins. In the lower right corner of the section Paragraph, there is a small icon. Click on it and a dialog box will open. Set the indent before the text to 1 point and the indent after the text to 1.5 point in the Indent section.

• In Word 2007, view the Developer tab. At the top left of the Word window, there is a multicolored button known as the Office button. Click on it and go to Word options (bottom). Under Popular, check the box Show Developer tab in toolbar.

Step 3. Click View> Macros> Record Macro

Give the macro a name. Since this macro is for dialogue, assigning the name «Dialogue» is a logical choice. Make sure you have selected All the documents at the bottom of the drop-down menu indicating Record macro.

• Click on the keyboard icon and assign the macro to the F5 key. Click on Affect or press Enter, then click To close.
• In Word 2007, click Record macro. The button to record the macro is on the left side of the toolbar. Place the macro in the same location where you saved the other macro you created and name it «Description.» Click on the keyboard icon and assign a key of your choice to the macro. For example, you can use the F5 key. Click on the button Press New shortcut key, then press F5 to assign this macro to it.

Step 4. Look for the tape recorder icon next to your mouse

Press on Entrance once on your keyboard to skip a line, then go to the Layout tab and set both indents to 0. Then click on the tab Home. In the lower right corner of the Font section, select the small icon that opens the dialog box. Look under the section Effects, then select Uppercase. Then click on OK.

• Click the tab again Display, then on Macros> Stop recording. F5 will now allow you to automatically skip a line, write lowercase, and prepare you to enter dialogue.
• In Word 2007, instead of clicking Macros> Stop Recording, click Stop recording in the Developer tab.

Advice

• Scriptwriters that are used less frequently can be configured manually.
• Page numbers can be inserted by selecting the tab Insertion, then Page numbers, then the top of the page and the single number 3. In the Creation tab that appears, make sure that the header at the top is 0, 5. Deselect the first page, then delete # 1, because the first page must not include a page number.
• Make sure you have enough lines per page. In Word, select Format, then Paragraph, Line spacing and finally, select Exactly and 12 points. You will now have 12 points per row, the Hollywood standard for screenplays. This will allow you to adopt the correct number of lines on each page.
• Check your spelling and grammar. MS Word has a built-in spell checker function. It also provides limited grammar correction.
• Remember that there is no hard and fast rule when it comes to formatting a storyline. Follow the conventions requested by the studio or theater for which you are writing.

Warnings

• Before recording the macro, any settings you want to accomplish should be reversed or turned off.
• Turn off the auto-correction feature during the writing process in Word.

There is no need to spend hundreds of dollars on a script-specific word processor if you already own one of the most powerful software on the market: Microsoft Word! You can make a professional script thanks to this tool, following different techniques. Whether you decide to use macros (small programs that record the sequence with which you press the keys and allow you to easily perform repetitive operations while writing) or to create a custom format with options of your choice, know that your script it will be ready for television, cinema or theater in no time.

Steps

Method 1 of 5: Create a Screenplay with a Template

Step 1. Open a new document

When the MS Word program is running, choose «File» from the main menu in the upper left corner of the screen. Then, select «New». This way, you can choose the style and layout of the document you want to create.

Step 2. Find the template dedicated to the script

Type the word «script» in the search bar. Microsoft currently offers pre-built templates for MS Word 2013/2016. Select the model of your interest with a double click. This way, you open a document that respects the formatting of a script.

If you are using MS Word 2010, the steps are essentially the same. Open a new document, select templates and search with Microsoft Office Online. Choose one of the two models available and download it

Step 3. Edit the script template according to your needs

There are no rigid rules that dictate the style of the scripts, although there are guidelines, vocabulary choices and some common characteristics. Ask the firm you are writing about about their preferences to understand how to customize the specific document. Think about how to change the margins, font size and line spacing.

Step 4. Create your model

If you have already written a text or the script is already saved on your hard drive, open it with MS Word. If you are using the 2013/2016 version, click on «File»> «Save As»> «Computer». Type the model name in the box assigned to the file name. Then, select the «Word Template» option in the drop-down menu next to «Save as». If your document contains macros, then choose the «Macro-Enabled Word Template» option. Finally, save the document.

If you want to change the folder where to save the template, click on «File»> «Options»> «Save» and type the folder path you want to use as the default destination, to save your personal templates

Method 2 of 5: Using Styles and Format

Step 1. Consider using the style and format feature to create your script

If you are not satisfied with the templates provided by the program, you can change the style and formatting of the document to create new templates. These can be used for other projects, if you save them, or you can create a new document-based template that uses these formatting and styling rules. You may be thinking about how to create new formatting as you build your custom template.

Step 2. Select a line of text

The text could be the name of a character, a fragment of dialogue or stage directions. Select the line by clicking with the left mouse button after moving the cursor to the left edge of the line.

• Alternatively, you can highlight the text by clicking the left mouse button, to the left or right of the line you want to change.
• Finally, you can highlight the text by placing the blinking cursor between the words of the text you have written, pressing the «shift» key and operating the arrow keys according to what you want to select. If you want to highlight the text that is to the right of the cursor, press the «shift» key and the right directional key.
• If you need to work with multiple lines of text, you can select them all at once and apply the format changes to them.

Step 3. Open the «Styles and Format» menu

Once you have highlighted the part of the text you are interested in, click on the word «Format» located in the menu bar. At this point, a drop down submenu will open with different options. Choose the one identified with the word «Styles and Format», and the corresponding window will open.

Alternatively, you can directly select the «Styles and Format» button from the toolbar. Just click on the button next to the drop-down menu where you can choose the font. This key is usually located at the far left edge of the toolbar and contains two letters «A» of different colors and slightly overlapping

Step 4. Select a text with similar formatting

Right-click the portion of text that is still highlighted and that you chose at the beginning. By doing so, you activate a drop-down menu with a series of options. The last button should say «Select text with similar formatting». Choose this option with the left mouse button. Any text that has similar formatting to what you highlighted at the beginning will be highlighted as well.

So, for example, if all the character names have been written with a specific font and size centered exactly above the line of text, you can highlight just one and then use the «Select text with similar formatting» feature to change them all into one. single shot

Step 5. Choose the format you want

After highlighting the text you want to assign a certain style to, choose the one you prefer from the window on the right. The «Styles and Format» screen should be open and located on the right side of the monitor. Choose the style you want to assign to the highlighted text by selecting it with the left mouse button.

Step 6. Create a new style

If the formatting of the selected text does not conform to an already existing style, you can assign it a new name by clicking the button located near the top of the window and which bears the words «New style». Later, you can rename it, align it left or right, choose the font, and make any changes that seem appropriate.

Method 3 of 5: Create a Macro to Set Up Scenes (Word 2013/2016)

Step 1. Think about why you want to create a scene

In a script, the title of the main scene (also called setting or references) is generally composed of a series of words that largely recall the content that follows. For example, some scene titles may say «INT. OFFICE — DAY» (the scene takes place inside an office during the day). This way, the person reading the script can orient themselves better.

Scene titles should be capitalized, just like the previous example, and be two lines below the last line of dialogue or description of the previous scene

Step 2. Prepare to record the macro

The macro is a sequence of saved commands that can be activated immediately by associating them with a single key. To prepare the macro, define the margins. To do this, you need to click on the «Page Layout» label, then on the «Margins» function and finally on the «Custom Margins» option. The top, bottom and right margin should be at 2.5cm, while the left at 3.8cm. Choose 12-point Courier New as your font. These are the standard settings for a script. If you prefer to work with a different layout, adjust the margins accordingly.

If you are using Word 2007, be prepared to record the macro by setting the margins. To do this, you need to select the «Page Layout» label and then change the margins and font following the specifications described above. Finally, open the «Development» tab. Click on the «Office» button located in the upper left corner of the screen, select «Options» at the bottom of the menu, and finally «Ribbon Customizations»

Step 3. At this point, click on «View»> «Macro»> «Record Macro»

Type the name you want to assign to the macro; since you will want to use it to set up scenes, it makes sense to use the name «Scene Header». Make sure you have selected the «All documents» option at the bottom of the drop-down menu that says «Store macro in».

If you are using the 2007 version of the software, click on «Record Macro». This button is located on the left side of the «Development» tab. Save the macro in «Document 1» (instead of «Normal»; this way, you can save it in different script templates). Rename the macro as «Scene» or «Header». Click on the keyboard icon to assign a «shortcut» for activating the keys to the macro. You can press the key you prefer to associate it with the execution of the macro. For example, you can decide that the F2 key activates the macro. In the «New combination» box, press F2 to make the association. Click on «Assign» and finally on «Close»

Step 4. Click on the keyboard icon

Next, relate the macro to the F2 key (or whatever you prefer) using the «New combination» interactive box. Click on «Assign» or press «Enter» and finally «Close».

Step 5. Look for the icon that looks like a music cassette and is located next to the mouse cursor

Press the «Enter» key on your keyboard twice to skip two lines of text. Return to the «Layout» tab (which in Word 2007 is «Page Layout») and change the indents to 0. Open the «Home» tab, click on the lower right corner of the «Font» section to open a window of dialogue. Then, in the «Effects» section, check the «All caps» box. When finished, click on the «OK» button.

Step 6. Finish the macro

Click on the «View» tab again, then choose «Macro» and «Stop Recording». At this point, by pressing the F2 key (or whatever you have decided to assign), the text will drop down by two lines and the letters will all be capitalized; in this way, you will be able to type the header of the scene.

When using Word 2007, go back to the «Development» tab and click on «Stop Recording». The F2 key will execute the commands you assigned to it

Method 4 of 5: Create a Macro for the Description (Word 2013/2016)

Step 1. Think about why you want to create a description macro

In a script, this part of the text offers more information than the simple header. For example, it describes the type of light, the weather conditions or defines the setting of the scene and the characters. In standard formatting, the description is placed two lines below the header, has the first capital letter and ends with a period. For example, under the scene header «OFFICE INT — DAY», you can enter a description such as: «The window is open and the lights are flickering».

Step 2. Open the «Layout» tab (which in Word 2007 is called «Page Layout») and set the margins

In the lower right corner of the «Paragraph» section you will find a small icon that you must click on to open a dialog box. At this point, set the previous spacing to 2, 5 cm and the next one to 3, 7 cm using the appropriate boxes in the «Spacing» section.

In Word 2007 you have to activate the «Development» tab. Click on the «Office» button located at the top left of the screen, select «Options» at the bottom of the menu and activate «Ribbon Customizations»

Step 3. Click on «View»> «Macros»> «Record Macro»

Type the name you want to give it; since the command list acts on the scene description, you should use the name «Description». Make sure you have selected the «All documents» option in the «Store macro in» drop-down menu.

Step 4. Click on the keyboard icon and assign the F3 key (or the one you prefer to use) to the macro thanks to the «New combination» box

Click on «Assign» and finally on «Close».

If you are using Word 2007, click on «Record Macro» located on the left side of the window. Save it in the same destination you chose for the previous macros and rename it as «Description». Click on the keyboard icon and assign the F3 key to the command set

Step 5. Look for a music cassette icon next to the mouse cursor

Press the «Enter» key twice, then activate the «Page Layout» tab to bring the spacing to zero. Next, click on the «Home» tab and the icon at the bottom right of the «Font» section to open the dialog box. In the «Effects» section, uncheck the «All caps» box and finally click «OK».

In Word 2007, after unchecking «All Caps», return to the «Development» tab and press «Stop Recording» before continuing with the instructions described above

Step 6. Click on the «View» tab again

Select «Macro»> «Stop Recording». At this point, the F3 key allows you to bring the text two lines below where you are and to write the text in lowercase. If you don’t link the macro to the F3 key, this won’t help you set the descriptive steps of your script.

If you are using Word 2007, go back to the «Development» tab and press «Stop Recording», instead of choosing the path «Macro»> «Stop Recording»

Method 5 of 5: Create a Macro for a Dialog (Word 2013/2016)

Step 1. Create a macro for the names of the characters

These and their dialogues or actions generally follow an introduction and a descriptive paragraph that provide information about the scene. Names should be centered on the page and completely capitalized, while the dialogue assigned to them should be on the next line.

• To create a macro that allows you to enter the names of the characters after writing the description of the scene, repeat the same steps listed in the previous section with a few small differences:

  • a) After changing the indents and setting them to 0, press the space bar 22 times and then select «All caps»;
  • b) Assign the name «Characters» to the macro and link it to the F4 key. Remember that the first thing to do when recording the macro is to bring the cursor two lines down.
• After pressing the «Stop Recording» key, the F4 key allows you to go down two lines of text (at the same time bringing the cursor to the right position to type the name of the character) and to write the words with capital letters.
• To create a dialogue macro in Word 2007, follow the instructions from the previous section, but enter the same parameters as described in the sub-step you just read.

Step 2. Open the «Layout» tab (which is called «Page Layout» in Word 2007) to set the margins

In the lower right corner of the «Paragraph» section there is a small icon; click on it to open a dialog box. Set the spacing to 2.5cm in the «Before» box and to 3.7cm in the «After» box, which you find in the «Spacing» section.

If you are using Word 2007, display the «Development» tab. In the upper left corner of the screen is a multicolored key, known as the «Office» key. Click on it and select «Options» (found at the bottom). At this point, select «Ribbon Customizations»

Step 3. Click on «View»> «Macro»> «Record Macro»

Type the name of the macro. Since this is a dialogue management function, it is worth naming it «Dialogue». Make sure you have selected the «All documents» option, found in the drop-down menu labeled «Store macro in».

• Click on the keyboard icon and assign the F5 key to the macro. Then click on «Assign» and «Close».
• If you are using Word 2007, click on «Record Macro». The appropriate key is located on the left side of the screen. Store the macro in the same place where you saved the others and name it «Dialog». Finally, click on the keyboard icon and link the commands to a key of your choice. For example, you can use the F5 key. Click inside the «New Combination» box and press F5 to complete the link.

Step 4. Look for a music cassette icon next to the mouse cursor

Press the «Enter» key to skip a line and then activate the «Page Layout» tab to bring the spacing to zero. Next, click on the «Home» tab and the icon at the bottom right of the «Font» section to open the dialog box. In the «Effects» section, uncheck the «All caps» box and then click «OK».

• Activate the «View» tab again. Click on «Macro»> «Stop Recording». At this point, the F5 key allows you to skip a line, write everything in lowercase and get ready to write the dialogue.
• In Word 2007, instead of clicking «Macro» and «Stop Recording», select «Stop Recording» from the «Development» tab.

Advice

• Stage effects that are used less frequently can be entered manually (such as fade in).
• Page numbers can be added by selecting the «Insert» tab followed by «Number of pages», «Top» and finally «Normal number 3». At this point, a section «Header and Footer Tools» is highlighted, in which you must indicate that the title is 12 mm from the top. Remember to uncheck the «Different for first page» box and delete the number 1, because the first page does not have to be numbered.
• Make sure there are enough lines on each page. When you open Word, select «Format» and finally «Paragraph»; next, open the «Leading and paragraph spacing» function and select 12 points. You now have exactly 12 points in each line, the standard format for Hollywood screenplays. This allows you to have the correct number of lines on each page.
• Check your grammar and spelling. Microsoft Word has a spelling correction feature and limited grammar checking.
• Remember that there are no absolute rules when it comes to formatting a script. Follow the criteria required by the film studio or theater company you work for.

Warnings

• Before recording a macro, you need to reverse or turn off any settings you want it to perform.
• When writing with the Word program, turn off the auto-correct function.

Как добавить скрипты в документы Word — Вокруг-Дом — 2021

Table of Contents:

Сценарии — это язык программирования, в котором созданные программы представляют собой набор команд, которые выводятся и затем выполняются одна за другой. Чтобы добавить сценарии в Microsoft Word, необходимо использовать дополнение Microsoft Script Editor (MSE). Коллекция Scripts в MSE содержит объекты Script в документе Office. Объект Script представляет пару тегов, ее настройки и весь текст, который находится между парой тегов.Документ Word может содержать множество блоков скриптов, и каждый блок может иметь любое количество процедур.

Вещи, которые вам понадобятся

• Microsoft Script Editor
• Microsoft Word

Шаг 1

Откройте Word и откройте редактор скриптов. Это часть Office и включена в Word. Откройте редактор сценариев в Office 2000 или 2003, открыв меню «Сервис», укажите макросы и выберите «Редактор сценариев». Если вы используете Office 2007, нажмите кнопку «Офис» и нажмите «Параметры Excel». Перейдите на вкладку «Популярные» и выберите «Показать вкладку разработчика» на ленте.

Шаг 2

Добавьте скрипт в документ Word. Сделайте это, используя метод «Добавить» из коллекции Scripts. Этот метод использует выборные аргументы, которые могут указывать атрибут идентификатора скрипта, язык, местоположение, дополнительные атрибуты тега и скрипт, который будет содержать себя в «

Создание макросов для упрощения работы с Microsoft Word

Макрос — это набор определенных действий, команд и/или инструкций, которые сгруппированы в одну целостную команду, обеспечивающую автоматическое выполнение той или иной задачи. Если вы активный пользователь MS Word, вы тоже можете автоматизировать часто выполняемые задачи, создав для них соответствующие макросы.

Именно о том, как включить макросы в Ворд, как их создавать и использовать для упрощения, ускорения рабочего процесса и пойдет речь в этой статье. И все же, для начала не лишним будет более подробно разобраться в том, зачем вообще они нужны.

Области использования макросов:

1. Ускорение часто выполняемых операций. В числе таковых форматирование и редактирование.

2. Объединение нескольких команд в целостное действие “от и до”. Например, с помощью макроса можно вставить таблицу заданного размера с необходимым количеством строк и столбцов.

3. Упрощение доступа к некоторым параметрам и инструментам, расположенным в различных диалоговых окнах программы.

4. Автоматизация сложных последовательностей действий.

Последовательность макросов может быть записана или создана с нуля путем введения кода в редактор Visual Basic на одноименном языке программирования.

Включение макросов

По умолчанию макросы доступны не во всех версиях MS Word, точнее, они просто не включены. Чтобы активировать их необходимо включить средства разработчика. После этого на панели управления программы появится вкладка “Разработчик”. О том, как это сделать, читайте ниже.

Примечание: В версиях программы, в которых макросы доступны изначально (например, Ворд 2016), средства для работы с ними находятся во вкладке “Вид” в группе “Макросы”.

1. Откройте меню “Файл” (кнопка “Microsoft Office” ранее).

2. Выберите пункт “Параметры” (ранее “Параметры Word”).

3. Откройте в окне “Параметры” категорию “Основные” и перейдите в группе “Основные параметры работы”.

4. Установите галочку напротив пункта “Показывать вкладку “Разработчик” на ленте”.

5. На панели управления появится вкладка “Разработчик”, в которой и будет находиться пункт “Макросы”.

Запись макросов

1. Во вкладке “Разработчик” или, в зависимости от используемой версии Ворда, во вкладке “Вид”, нажмите кнопку “Макросы” и выберите пункт “Запись макроса”.

2. Задайте имя для создаваемого макроса.

Примечание: Если вы, создавая новый макрос, даете ему точно такое же имя, как у встроенного в программу, действия, записанные вами в новый макрос, будут выполняться взамен стандартным. Для просмотра макросов, доступных в MS Word по умолчанию, в меню кнопки “Макросы” выберите “Команды Word”.

3. В пункте “Макрос доступен для” выберите то, для чего он будет доступен: шаблон или документ, в который его следует сохранить.

Совет: Если вы хотите, чтобы создаваемый макрос был доступен во всех документах, с которыми вы работаете в дальнейшем, выберите параметр “Normal.dotm”.

4. В поле “Описание” введите описание для создаваемого макроса.

5. Выполните одно из действий, указанных ниже:

Начните запись — чтобы приступить к началу записи макроса, не связывая его при этом с кнопкой на панели управления или комбинацией клавиш, нажмите “ОК”.

Создайте кнопку — чтобы связать создаваемый макрос с кнопкой, расположенной на панели управления, выполните следующее:

Нажмите “кнопке”;

• Выберите документ или документы, в которых требуется добавить создаваемый макрос на панель быстрого доступа (раздел “Настройка панели быстрого доступа”);

Совет: Чтобы создаваемый макрос был доступен для всех документов, выберите параметр “Normal.dotm”.

В окне “Макрос из” (ранее “Выбрать команды из”) выберите макрос, который следует записать, нажмите “Добавить”.

• Если вы хотите настроить эту кнопку, нажмите “Изменить”;

• Выберите подходящий символ для создаваемой кнопки в поле “Символ”;

• Введите имя макроса, которое будет отображаться в дальнейшем в поле “Отображаемое имя”;

• Для начала записи макроса дважды кликните по кнопке “ОК”.

Символ, который вы выбрали, будет отображаться на панели быстрого доступа. При наведении указателя курсора на этот символ, будет отображаться его имя.

Назначьте сочетание клавиш — Для того, чтобы назначить комбинацию клавиш для создаваемого макроса, выполните следующие действия:

Кликните по кнопке “Клавишами” (ранее “Клавиатура”);

• В разделе “Команды” выберите макрос, который необходимо записать;

• В разделе “Новое сочетание клавиш” введите любую удобную для вас комбинацию, после чего нажмите кнопку “Назначить”;

• Для начала записи макроса нажмите “Закрыть”.

6. Выполните поочередно все те действия, которые необходимо включить в макрос.

Примечание: Во время записи макроса нельзя использовать мышь для выделения текста, а вот для выбора команд и параметров нужно использовать именно ее. При необходимости, выделить текст можно с помощью клавиатуры.

7. Для остановки записи макроса нажмите “Остановить запись”, эта команда расположена в меню кнопки “Макросы” на панели управления.

Изменение комбинаций клавиш для макроса

1. Откройте окно “Параметры” (меню “Файл” или кнопка “MS Office”).

2. Выберите пункт “Настройка”.

3. Нажмите на кнопку “Настройка”, расположенную рядом с полем “Сочетание клавиш”.

4. В разделе “Категории” выберите “Макросы”.

5. В открывшемся списке выберите макрос, который необходимо изменить.

6. Кликните по полю “Новое сочетание клавиш” и нажмите клавиши или комбинацию клавиш, которые вы хотите назначить для конкретного макроса.

7. Убедитесь, что назначенное вами сочетание клавиш не используется для выполнения другой задачи (поле “Текущее сочетание”).

8. В разделе “Сохранить изменения” выберите подходящий вариант (место) для сохранения места, где макрос будет запускаться.

Совет: Если вы хотите, чтобы макрос был доступен к использованию во всех документах, выберите параметр “Normal.dotm”.

9. Нажмите “Закрыть”.

Запуск макроса

1. Нажмите на кнопку “Макросы” (вкладка “Вид” или “Разработчик”, в зависимости от используемой версии программы).

2. Выберите макрос, который хотите запустить (список “Имя макроса”).

3. Нажмите “Выполнить”.

Создание нового макроса

1. Нажмите кнопку “Макросы”.

2. Задайте имя для нового макроса в соответствующем поле.

3. В разделе “Макросы из” выберите шаблон или документ, для которого будет сохранен создаваемый макрос.

Совет: Если вы хотите, чтобы макрос стал доступен во всех документах, выберите параметр “Normal.dotm”.

4. Нажмите “Создать”. Будет открыт редактор Visual Basic, в котором и можно будет создать новый макрос на языке Visual Basic.

На этом все, теперь вы знаете, что такое макросы в MS Word, зачем они нужны, как их создавать и как с ними работать. Надеемся, информация из этой статьи будет полезной для вас и действительно поможет упростить, ускорить работу со столь продвинутой офисной программой.

Мы рады, что смогли помочь Вам в решении проблемы.

Помимо этой статьи, на сайте еще 11902 инструкций.
Добавьте сайт Lumpics.ru в закладки (CTRL+D) и мы точно еще пригодимся вам.

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Как написать скрипт в ворде

Помогите пожалуйста со скриптом/макросом для MS Word.
Есть часто приходящие списки клиентов, которые необходимо пере-форматировать для удобочитаемости:
Формат исходных списков: пример:

1Иванов/Кирилл какой-то комментарий
.продолжение комментария
1Петров/Иван снова какой-то комментарий
.снова продолжение коментария
.может быть длинный коментарий
1Сидоров/Максим опять комментарий
.и тут тоже продолжение..

на выходе после обработке такого списка хотелось бы получить:

1Иванов/Кирилл какой-то комментарий .продолжение комментария
1Петров/Иван снова какой-то комментарий .снова продолжение коментария .может быть длинный коментарий
1Сидоров/Максим опять комментарий .и тут тоже продолжение..

то есть, скрипт должен: проверять если первый символ в строчке 1 — ничего не делать,
на следующей строчке если первый символ . — то стирать «перенос строки» и «лепить» к предыдущей строке.

В скриптах не понимаю ничего. =)

Заранее спасибо за помощь,
С уважением,
Виктор Бу.

Can I write a script in Word? Or  can I use Google docs? There are sometimes the basic questions of beginner screenwriters. Once they know the format of screenwriting perfectly, they start using a free software like Kit Scenarist or Causality or trial versions of Final Draft & Celtx. 

Writing in Google Docs or Word can take time. Because you’ll have to do the formatting and indenting manually.  I don’t prefer this myself as it does not offer a lot of things like storyboarding and cards. But if you still prefer to write a small scene, here’s how to write it.

Let’s look into the basics in the screenshot below.

Related: Is the Screenwriting MasterClass Really Worth it?

1. Writing in Google Docs

Open Google Docs and then format it like the script format below: 

Font: 12- point Courier

Top and Bottom margins: 1 inch

Left Margin: 1.5 inch

Right Margin: 1 inch

Characters: Centre of the Page

Dialogue: 3 inches from left

Parentheticals: 3.5 inches from the left. They are never at the centre.

• Scene headings INT. / EXT. should start from 1.5 inches from the left.
• Characters should always be in CAPS
• Parenthetical should always be in small letters and not more than 3-4 words. 
• Transition should be to the right.

Related: 7 Best Udemy Courses to Learn Screenwriting Online(2020)

2. Writing in Word

There is obviously no difference in the screenplay format. In Word, first make the font to 12 – point Courier. You can use the Styles to save the scene heading format, character format etc. Take a look below:

Here’s how you can do the characters:

Do this for Transitions and the rest. Start typing and apply the headings to those lines.

Related: 10 Best Writing Courses on Coursera (Screenwriting Included)

Conclusion 

My advice is to download a software and start writing. Read more scripts, practice writing and then start applying to screenwriting contests to get feedback to improve. If you have a good story and format is perfect, may be you can win too.

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There’s no need to drop hundreds of dollars for script writing software when you already own the most powerful program out there: Microsoft Word! Producing a professional screenplay with MS Word can be done in a number of ways. Whether you use macros (small programs which record your keystrokes and automate repetitive tasks later) or just create some custom style and formatting options for yourself, your script will be ready for TV, film, or theatre in no time.

Steps

Create a Screenplay With a Template

1. Open a new document. With MS Word running, select File from the menu bar in the top left corner of the screen. Then, choose New. This will give you a choice as to which style and layout you want the document to be created in.
2. Locate a screenplay template. In the search bar, type the word “screenplay.” Currently, Microsoft offers one premade screenplay template for MS Word 2013/2016. Double click on it after the search is completed. This will launch the screenplay-formatted document.
   • In MS Word 2010, the steps are essentially the same. Open a new document, then select templates, and search Microsoft Office Online. Choose one of the two available, then download it.
3. Adjust the screenplay template as desired. There are no hard and fast rules governing the style in which screenplays are produced, though there are general guidelines, vocabulary, and common features. Check with the specific studio you’re writing for to find out how to customize your specific document. Think about how to adjust margins, font size, fonts, and line spacing.
4. Create your own template. If you’ve already written or have a screenplay saved on your hard drive, open it in MS Word. In Word 2013/2016, click File > Save As > Computer. Type a name for your template in the file name box. Then, in the drop-down “save as type” menu just below the file name box, select Word Template. If the document contains macros, select Word Macro-Enable Template. Click save.^[1]
   • If you want to change the location where your template will be saved, click File > Options > Save and type the folder path you want to use in the default personal templates location box.

Using Style and Formatting

1. Consider using style and formatting patterns to format a screenplay. If you’re unhappy with the template layout provided by Word, you can modify the style and formatting of your document in order to create new formatting patterns. These patterns could be used again if you save them, or you can create a new template based on a document which uses these style and formatting rules. You could think of formatting as creating your own template.
2. Select a line of text. The text might be a character name, a piece of dialogue, or some stage directions. Select the line of text by clicking the left button on your mouse with your cursor at the left edge of the line of text.^[2]
   • Alternately, you could highlight the text by clicking the left button of your mouse to the right or left of the line of text you want to adjust.
   • Finally, you could highlight text by bringing up a blinking cursor within the text you’ve written and holding down the shift key and an arrow key to highlight the text you want to format. To highlight text to the left of the place your cursor is, hold the shift key and the left directional button. To highlight text to the right of the place your cursor is, hold the shift key and the right directional arrow.
   • If you have multiple lines of text, you can select them at one time and apply the formatting changes you desire to all highlighted lines.
3. Open the Styles and Formatting pane. With your text highlighted, click on the word “Format” on the menu bar. The drop down menu will display several options. Click on the words “Styles and Formatting.” This will open the Styles and Formatting pane.
   • Alternately, you can open the Styles and Formatting pane by clicking the Styles and Formatting button on the toolbar. Just click the Styles and Formatting button located next to the script character drop-down menu to open the pane. The button is found at the far left edge of the toolbar. It contains two letter “A”s, each of a different color, with one positioned above and to the left of the other.
4. Select text with similar formatting. Right click on the still-highlighted text you selected initially. A drop-down menu will open with a number of options. The bottom-most option reads “Select Text with Similar Formatting.” Click on this option with the left button of your mouse. All text with formatting similar to that which you highlighted originally will become highlighted.
   • So, for instance, if you have all character names in a certain font and size centered exactly above a line of text, you can highlight a single instance of any character’s name, then use the “Select text with similar formatting” option to adjust all character names in your screenplay at once.
5. Select the format you want. After you’ve highlighted all the text you want to assign a given style, choose a style from the pane on the right. The Styles and Formatting pane should still be open on the right of the screen. Choose the style format you want to change the highlighted text to by left-clicking on it.
6. Create a new style. If your highlighted text does not conform to an extant style, you can assign the formatting and style within the highlighted text a name by clicking the button near the top of the pane which reads “New Style.” You can then assign a name, align the text to left or right, choose your font, and make other adjustments as you see fit.

Creating a Macro for Setting Up Scenes (Word 2013/2016)

1. Think about why you want to set up a scene. Typically in a screenplay, the master scene heading (also known as a slug line) is the series of words which broadly identify the content which follows. For instance, scene headings might read “INT. OFFICE — DAY” (interior office during the day). This helps orient the screenplay’s reader to the scene.^[3]
   • Scene headings should, as in the aforementioned example, be in all caps, two lines down from the last line of dialogue or description in the previous scene.
2. Prepare to record the macro. A macro is a sequence of saved commands which can be executed immediately by assigning them to a single keystroke. To prepare your macro, set your margins. Format page margins by clicking on the Layout tab, then Margins, then Custom Margins. The top, bottom and right margins should be set at 1″. The left margin should be set to 1.5″. Set font to Courier New, 12 point. These choices are standard in screenplays. If you’d like to work with a different layout, set your margins accordingly.
   • In Word 2007, prepare to record the macro by setting your margins. Format page margins by clicking on the Page Layout tab, then set the margins and font to the designations listed above. Then open the Developer tab. Display the Developer tab by opening the office button (the top left button), Word Options (at the bottom), under Popular check Show Developer tab in the Ribbon.^[4]
3. Click View > Macros > Record Macro. Type a name for the macro. Since this macro is for setting up scenes, assigning the name “Scene heading” to this macro is a logical choice. Ensure you’ve selected “All documents” at the bottom of the drop-down menu reading “Store macro in.”
   • In Word 2007, click Record Macro. This button is located on the left side of the developer tab.^[5] Store the macro in Document 1 (instead of Normal, so that you can save it as a distinct screenplay template). Name the macro ‘Scene’ or ‘Heading’. Click the keyboard icon to assign the macro to a keyboard shortcut. You can then press the keyboard button you wish to assign to the macro. For example, perhaps you want to bind F2 to your macro. In the “Press New Shortcut Key” box, press F2 to bind it. Click Assign, then Close.
4. Click the keyboard icon. Then assign the macro to F2 (or whatever button you want to assign it to) using the “Press New Shortcut Key” clickable box. Click “Assign” or press Enter, then click “Close.”
5. Look for a tape recorder icon next to your mouse. Press Enter on your keyboard twice to skip two lines. Go back into Page Layout tab (Layout tab in Word 2007)and change both indentations back to 0. Open the Home tab. Click on the bottom right corner of the Font section to open the dialog box. Then in the Effects section, check All Caps and click OK.
6. Finish the macro. Click the View tab again. Click Macros > Stop Recording. F2 (your shortcut key) will now skip two lines down the page and capitalize text, preparing you to enter a scene heading.
   • In Word 2007, go back to the Developer tab. Click Stop Recording. F2 (your shortcut key) will now skip two lines down and capitalize the text.

Create a Macro for Description (Word 2013/2016)

1. Think about why you want to create a macro for description. Description in a screenplay offers more info than does the simple scene heading. It might offer details about the type of lighting, weather conditions, or other descriptions of the physical location of the scene and its characters.^[3] Description is located two lines below the scene heading in a standard sentence format, with the first letter capitalized and a period at the end. For instance, below a scene heading like “INT. OFFICE — DAY” we might read descriptive info such as “The window is open and the lights are flickering on and off.”
2. Open the Layout tab (Page Layout tab in Word 2007) and set your margins. In the bottom right corner of the Paragraph section, click the little icon that opens the dialog box. Set 1’’ indents before text and 1.5’’ after text under the Indentation section.
   • In Word 2007, display the Developer tab. Click the Office button at the top left, then go to Word Options (at the bottom), then under Popular, check “Show Developer tab in the Ribbon.”^[4]
3. Click View > Macros > Record Macro. Type a name for the macro. Since this macro is for description, assigning the name “Description” to this macro is a logical choice. Ensure you’ve selected “All documents” at the bottom of the drop-down menu reading “Store macro in.”
4. Click the keyboard icon and assign the macro to F3 (or whatever button you want to assign it to) using the “Press New Shortcut Key” clickable box. Click “Assign” or press Enter, then click “Close.”
   • In Word 2007, click Record Macro on the left side of the ribbon. Store the macro in the same place you stored the other macro you created, and name it “Description.” Click the keyboard icon and assign the macro to F3.
5. Look for a tape recorder icon next to your mouse. Hit Enter twice on your keyboard to skip a couple lines, then go to the Layout tab (Page Layout tab in Word 2007) and move both indentations to 0. Next, click on the Home tab. In the bottom right corner of the Font section, select the little icon which opens the dialog box to open it. Look under the Effects section, then deselect All Caps. Click OK.
   • In word 2007, after deselecting All Caps, return to the Developer tab and press Stop Recording before continuing with the rest of the above directions.
6. Click the View tab again. Click Macros > Stop Recording. F3 will now skip two lines down the page and be lowercase. If you do not bind the macro to the F3 key, F3 will not be useful as a hotkey to setup descriptive passages in your screenplay.
   • In Word 2007, return to the Developer tab and press Stop Recording instead of clicking Macros > Stop Recording.

Create a Macro for Dialogue (Word 2013/2016)

1. Create a macro for character names. Characters and their dialogue or actions typically follow the introduction and descriptive info which sets a scene. They should be centered in all caps on the page with dialogue following on the line below.
   • To create a macro which will prepare you to input character names after writing scene description, repeat the same steps used to create a macro for description in MS Word 2013/2016, but:
     • a) after changing the indentation back to 0 during recording, press the space bar 22 times, then select the All Caps and
     • b) name the macro ‘Character’ and assign it to F4. Be sure that the first thing done during recording is to skip down two lines.
   • After pressing Stop Recording, F4 will skip two lines down the page (thus bringing the cursor to the correct character name position) and capitalize.
   • To create a dialogue macro for Word 2007, follow the directions for the description macro in Word 2007 but input the parameters outlined in the sub-steps above.
2. Open the Layout tab (Page Layout tab in Word 2007) to set your margins. In the bottom right corner of the Paragraph section, there’s a little icon. Click it and a dialog box will open. Set 1’’ indents before text and 1.5’’ after text under the Indentation section.
   • In Word 2007, display the Developer tab. At the top left of the Word window, there’s a multicolored button known as the Office button. Click it and go to Word Options (at the bottom). Under Popular, check “Show Developer tab in the Ribbon.”^[4]
3. Click View > Macros > Record Macro. Type a name for the macro. Since this macro is for dialogue, assigning the name “Dialogue” to this macro is a logical choice. Ensure you’ve selected “All documents” at the bottom of the drop-down menu reading “Store macro in.”
   • Click the keyboard icon and assign the macro to F5. Click “Assign” or press Enter, then click “Close.”
   • In Word 2007, click Record Macro. The button to record the macro is on the left side of the ribbon. Store the Macro in the same place you stored the other macro you created, and name it “Description.” Click the keyboard icon and assign the macro a button of your choice. For example, maybe you want to use F5. Click within the “Press New Shortcut Key” and then press the F5 button to assign this macro to F5.
4. Look for a tape recorder icon next to your mouse. Hit Enter once on your keyboard to skip a line, then go into the Page Layout tab and move both indentations to 0. Next, click on the Home tab. In the bottom right corner of the Font section, select the little icon which opens the dialog box to open it. Look under the Effects section, then select All Caps. Click OK.
   • Click the View tab again. Click Macros > Stop Recording. F5 will now skip one line, utilize lowercase text, and prepare you to enter dialogue.
   • In Word 2007, instead of clicking Macros > Stop Recording, press Stop Recording in the Developer tab.

Video

Template:Video:Write Screenplays Using Microsoft Word

Tips

• Screenwriting devices which are used less frequently can be punched in manually (such as FADE IN:).
• Page numbers can be inserted by selecting the Insert tab, then Page numbers, then Top of Page, and Plain Number 3. In the Design tab that pops up, make sure the Header from top is .5″. Deselect Different First Page, and then delete #1 because the first page should not include a page number.
• Ensure you have enough lines per page. In Word, select Format, then Paragraph, Liner Spacing, and finally, select Exactly and 12 point. You’ll now have 12 points per line, the Hollywood standard for screenplays.^[6] This will enable you to fit the correct number of lines on each page.
• Check your spelling and grammar. MS Word comes with a built-in spellchecker function.^[7] It also provides limited grammatical correction.
• Remember, there are no absolute rules regarding the formatting of a screenplay. Follow the conventions requested by the studio or theatre company you’re writing for.

Warnings

• Before recording the macro, all the settings that you want it to accomplish should be reversed or off.
• Disable the auto-correct function during the writing process in Word.

Related Articles

• Set Margins in Microsoft Publisher
• Use Macros
• Set Tabs in a Word Document

Sources and Citations