Getting Started

Salad is a free (and soon to be open-source) screenwriting app that helps you write screenplays in standard screenplay format. Your work is saved locally in your browser and can be exported to industry-standard formats.

File Management

New Script: Start fresh (prompts to save unsaved changes)

Open: Load a .salad file or import .fdx (Final Draft) files

Save: Press Cmd+S (Mac) / Ctrl+S (Windows) to download a .salad file

Export PDF: Create a print-ready PDF

Export .fdx: Export to Final Draft format

Element Types

Use toolbar buttons to change element types:

• Scene Heading: INT./EXT. locations
• Action: Describes what happens on screen
• Character: Character name (auto-uppercase)
• Dialogue: What the character says
• Parenthetical: Acting directions
• Transition: Scene transitions (CUT TO:, FADE OUT, etc.)

Tab: Cycle forward through types | Shift+Tab: Cycle backward

Scene Heading Shortcuts

In an empty Scene Heading element:

• Press I for "INT. "
• Press E for "EXT. "
• Press / for "I/E. "
• Press Right Arrow at the end to add " - " and open time picker

Character Features

Character Picker: Shows previously used names when typing

Autocomplete: Press Tab to accept suggestions

Modifiers: Press Right Arrow after a name for (V.O.), (O.S.), (CONT'D), etc.

Auto (CONT'D): Added automatically when same character speaks twice

Notes

Add Note: Click "Notes" button or press Control+N

Close Note: Press Tab or click anywhere outside the popup

🥕 Icon: Appears on lines with notes (not in PDF exports)

Navigate: Use < > arrows in popup or click numbers in Notes dropdown

Delete: Click "chop" in the popup

Empty notes are automatically removed when you close the popup.

Selecting Multiple Elements

Click and drag across multiple elements to select them (standard blue highlight).

Bulk Actions: Delete, change color, or clear revisions on all selected at once.

Note: Text selection within a single element works normally.

Revision Mode

Press Control+R to toggle revision mode on/off. Modified lines show an asterisk (*).

Select revised elements and click "Clear Revisions" to remove marks.

Keyboard Shortcuts

File Operations:

• Cmd/Ctrl+S: Save script
• Shift+Cmd/Ctrl+S: Save As (choose location)
• Cmd/Ctrl+I: Open file
• Cmd/Ctrl+E: Export .fdx
• Control+H: Open this help window
• Control+T: Open text color menu
• Control+A: Open act menu (New/End)
• Control+P: Insert page break

Editing:

• Cmd/Ctrl+Z: Undo
• Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+Z: Redo
• Enter: Create new element below
• Delete/Backspace: Delete selected elements
• Backspace (empty element): Delete and merge with previous

Element Type Switching:

• Cmd/Ctrl+1: Scene Heading
• Cmd/Ctrl+2: Action
• Cmd/Ctrl+3: Character
• Cmd/Ctrl+4: Dialogue
• Cmd/Ctrl+5: Parenthetical
• Cmd/Ctrl+6: Transition
• Tab: Cycle forward through types
• Shift+Tab: Cycle backward

Scene Heading (in empty scene heading):

• I: Insert "INT. "
• E: Insert "EXT. "
• /: Insert "I/E. "
• Right Arrow (at end): Add " - " and open time picker

Character:

• Arrow Down: Open character picker
• Tab: Accept autocomplete suggestion
• Right Arrow (after completed name): Open modifier picker

Pickers (Character, Transition, Time, Modifier):

• Arrow Down/Up: Navigate options
• Enter: Select highlighted option
• Escape: Close picker

Element Selection:

• Click and drag: Select multiple elements
• Delete/Backspace: Delete selected elements

Auto-Save

Work is automatically saved to your browser every few seconds. If you close the tab accidentally, you'll be prompted to restore on next visit (persists 72 hours).

⚠️ Always save to a .salad file for permanent storage!

Tips

• Use Scene Headings to organize your script
• Save frequently with Cmd/Ctrl+S
• Use Notes for reminders (they don't appear in exports)
• Drag to select multiple elements for bulk changes
• Enable Revision Mode when rewriting

Salad was created by rubarb (IB) in 2026