Nevalor Screenplay — User Guide
❮ Screenplay Home • 📆 Updated: 2026•10•11 | v2.3
Nevalor Screenplay User Guide
A simple guide to creating, writing, organising, reviewing and exporting screenplays with Nevalor Screenplay.
1. Getting Started
Nevalor Screenplay is a structured screenplay writing environment designed for creating, organising, editing, reviewing and forming screenplays into PDF.
To begin a new screenplay:
- Select + New Screenplay.
- Enter the screenplay title.
- Enter the author name if required.
- Select the option to create the screenplay.
- The new screenplay opens as the active project in the editor.
Each screenplay is kept as a separate project, with its own content, screenplay elements and settings.
2. Projects
The Projects panel is where you manage your screenplays.
Create a screenplay
Select + New Screenplay and give the project a title.
Open a screenplay
Select a project from the project list to open it in the editor.
Rename a screenplay
Select RENAME beside a project to change its title. Renaming a project does not change the screenplay content.
Export a project
Use EXPORT or the project backup controls to create a JSON backup of the screenplay.
Delete a screenplay
Select DELETE to remove a screenplay from the local project list. Keep a JSON backup of important work before deleting a project.
Project independence
Each screenplay has its own content and settings. Importing a backup creates a separate project rather than replacing an existing screenplay.
3. Author Profile
The Author Profile is available from the author area in the application header.
The profile can contain:
Profile photo
Profile photos must be JPG or PNG images up to 2 MB. The application processes the image and stores it locally as a square 256 × 256 JPEG.
Using the profile
The saved author name can be used when creating a screenplay. Author information is also available to the PDF title-page system.
The profile photo is stored locally and is not used as the title-page portrait.
Saving the profile
Select Save Profile after entering or changing information. Select Cancel if you do not want to save the changes.
4. The Screenplay Editor
Nevalor Screenplay uses a structured editor. Instead of treating the screenplay as one large text document, it stores individual screenplay elements such as Scene Heading, Action, Character and Dialogue.
The main editor controls include:
Additional tools provide Script Settings, Revision History, Script Insights, Find & Replace and PDF export.
5. Screenplay Elements
Nevalor Screenplay currently supports the following structured elements:
On Windows and Linux use Ctrl. On macOS use Command (Cmd).
6. Smart Writing
Nevalor Screenplay uses a structured writing flow to reduce the amount of manual element switching required during normal screenplay writing.
Smart Enter
Pressing Enter normally creates the next appropriate screenplay element.
Dialogue flow
Character, optional Parenthetical and Dialogue form a connected dialogue sequence. After a completed Dialogue element, pressing Enter moves to a new Character element.
Empty dialogue elements
Unused Character, Parenthetical or Dialogue elements can be removed by the editor where appropriate as you continue writing.
Automatic transition recognition
Recognised transition lines such as CUT TO:, SMASH CUT TO:, FADE OUT, FADE TO BLACK and DISSOLVE TO: can be converted into Transition elements automatically.
7. Text Formatting
The formatting toolbar provides three inline text-formatting commands:
How to format text
- Select the text inside an editor element.
- Select B, I or U.
- The selected text receives the chosen formatting.
- The formatting is saved with the screenplay element.
Supported inline formatting is preserved when the screenplay is saved and when a JSON backup is exported and later imported.
8. Keyboard Shortcuts
9. Scene Headings and Scene Assist
Scene Headings follow the standard screenplay pattern:
Scene Heading assistance
When creating a Scene Heading, Nevalor Screenplay can provide prefix choices:
Time-of-day suggestions include:
Scene numbers
Scene numbers are generated automatically for Scene Heading elements. They update as scenes are added or removed.
Remembered places
Places previously used in Scene Headings can be remembered and offered as smart suggestions while you continue writing.
10. Transitions and Shots
Transition and Shot elements provide choice palettes containing commonly used screenplay entries.
Transitions
Shots
11. Undo and Redo
Nevalor Screenplay maintains an editor history for structured screenplay operations.
- Undo reverses a recent editor change.
- Redo restores an undone change.
- Ctrl/Cmd + Z performs Undo.
- Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + Z or Ctrl/Cmd + Y performs Redo.
Undo and Redo are separate from Revision History. Undo and Redo are intended for immediate editing, while Revision History stores earlier screenplay snapshots.
12. Focus Mode
Focus Mode provides a cleaner writing environment by hiding the main application header, project panel and editor heading area.
Select the Focus Mode icon in the editor toolbar to enter Focus Mode.
To leave Focus Mode:
- Select the Focus Mode control again, or
- Press Escape.
Focus Mode uses its own scrolling area so that long screenplays remain practical to edit.
13. Script Settings
Script Settings contains screenplay formatting and pagination-related preferences. Settings are saved with the individual screenplay.
Page Numbers
Show Page Numbers controls whether page numbers appear in the screenplay PDF.
Page Size
You can choose:
Line Spacing
You can choose:
Page Breaks
Before Act controls whether an Act begins on a new page.
Character Continuations
Character continuation settings manage continuation conventions for dialogue, including:
- Across Page Breaks
- Within a Page
- Custom (MORE) text
- Custom (CONT'D) text
The application can also recognise when the same character continues speaking within the same scene and display an appropriate (CONT'D) marker.
Scene Continuation
Scene continuation settings include:
- Across Page Breaks
- Number of Continued Pages
- Custom continuation text such as (CONTINUED)
- Custom continuation footer text such as CONTINUED:
Widows and Orphans
These settings help manage isolated screenplay elements at page boundaries, including:
- Scene Heading
- Character
- Character and Parenthetical
Select Save after changing settings. Select Cancel to close the settings without saving the changes.
14. Revision History
Revision History stores earlier structured versions of the active screenplay locally in the browser.
Automatic revisions
After editing activity stops for approximately 3.5 seconds, the application can create an automatic revision when the screenplay has changed.
View a revision
Select View beside a revision to inspect the stored screenplay structure.
Restore a revision
Select Restore to return the active screenplay to an earlier revision. The application keeps a Before Restore revision so the previous state can also be retained.
Revision limit
Up to 50 revisions can be kept for a screenplay. Older revisions beyond that limit are removed automatically.
Revision History is stored locally and should not replace regular JSON backups.
15. Script Insights
Script Insights provides a live summary of the structured screenplay.
The current Insights view includes:
Insights can also show:
- Action blocks versus Dialogue blocks
- Interior versus Exterior scenes
- Dialogue word count
- Characters by scene
Use the actual PDF Preview when checking the formed pagination of a screenplay.
16. Find & Replace
Find & Replace searches screenplay text while preserving the structured screenplay elements.
Search Scope
You can search:
Available actions
- Find Next — locate the next matching text.
- Replace — replace one matching occurrence.
- Replace All — replace all matching occurrences within the selected scope.
- Match Case — make the search case-sensitive.
Find & Replace can also be opened with Ctrl/Cmd + F while an editor field is active.
17. PDF Preview and Export
Nevalor Screenplay includes a dedicated PDF formation and preview system. It does not use the browser's normal Print command to create the screenplay PDF.
Opening the PDF system
- Select Export PDF.
- The current screenplay is saved before PDF formation begins.
- Nevalor Screenplay forms the pages and opens its PDF Preview.
PDF Options
The PDF panel provides:
PDF Preview
Use Previous and Next to move through the formed pages. The page indicator shows the current preview page and total formed pages.
Downloading the PDF
When the preview is ready, select Download PDF. The application creates the screenplay as an actual PDF file.
Title Page
The PDF system includes a dedicated screenplay title page using the screenplay title, author information and selected screenplay version.
Always inspect the PDF Preview before downloading the final screenplay, particularly after changing page size, line spacing or pagination settings.
18. Backup and Restore
Nevalor Screenplay provides JSON project backups so that screenplays can be moved, copied or restored.
Export JSON
Select EXPORT JSON in the Projects panel. The backup contains the screenplay project information, structured screenplay elements, screenplay settings and saved Author Profile.
Supported inline formatting is also preserved.
Import Backup
- Select IMPORT BACKUP.
- Choose a valid Nevalor Screenplay JSON backup file.
- The backup is validated before import.
- The imported screenplay becomes a separate project.
- The imported screenplay opens automatically.
Importing a backup does not intentionally overwrite an existing screenplay. It creates an independent project copy.
Recommended backup practice
For important screenplays, export a JSON backup regularly and keep copies outside the browser environment.
19. Saving and Local Storage
Nevalor Screenplay uses the browser's IndexedDB storage system for local screenplay data.
The application stores:
Local saving
As you edit, the screenplay is saved locally after a short delay. The editor can display Saved locally when the save completes.
What local storage means
Your screenplay is associated with the browser storage used by Nevalor Screenplay. It is not the same as a cloud document service with automatic account-wide synchronisation.
For this reason, JSON backups are important for valuable work.
Changing browsers or devices
If you move to another browser or device, export a JSON backup from the original environment and import it into the new one.
20. Using Nevalor Screenplay on Mobile
Nevalor Screenplay includes responsive layouts for smaller screens.
On mobile:
- The Projects panel adapts to the mobile layout.
- The screenplay page uses narrower margins.
- Character, Parenthetical and Dialogue elements adapt to the available width.
- The editor toolbar and tool controls adapt to smaller screens.
- Long tool rows can scroll horizontally where necessary.
- Focus Mode remains available.
A larger screen provides more room for long-form writing, while the mobile layout keeps the editor usable when working away from a desktop.
21. A Suggested Writing Workflow
Step 1 — Create the project
Create a new screenplay and give it a clear title.
Step 2 — Set up your Author Profile
Save your author name and optional contact details. Add a profile photo if you want one associated with your profile.
Step 3 — Build the screenplay structure
Use the element selector or keyboard shortcuts to create Acts, Scene Headings, Action, Characters and Dialogue.
Step 4 — Use Smart Enter
Use Enter to move through the normal screenplay sequence. For example, Character leads into Parenthetical and Dialogue, while Dialogue leads to the next Character.
Step 5 — Use Scene Assist
Use Scene Heading prefixes and time-of-day choices when useful. Previously used places can also appear as smart suggestions.
Step 6 — Format selected text
Select text and use B, I or U when inline formatting is required.
Step 7 — Review the screenplay
Use Find & Replace for textual corrections, Script Insights for a structural overview and Revision History to review earlier versions.
Step 8 — Configure Script Settings
Adjust page size, page numbering, line spacing, continuation conventions and widow/orphan preferences through Script Settings.
Step 9 — Preview the PDF
Use Export PDF and inspect the formed pages before downloading the final PDF.
Step 10 — Keep a backup
Export the screenplay as JSON and keep the backup in a safe location, especially before major revisions or moving to another device.
22. Important Notes
Structured editing
Nevalor Screenplay is based on structured screenplay elements rather than conventional free-form word processing. Using the correct element type allows Smart Enter, scene numbering, Insights, Find & Replace and PDF formation to work together.
Character continuation
The (CONT'D) marker is generated as a visual continuation marker. It is not ordinary editable text in the Character field.
PDF pagination
PDF pages are formed by Nevalor Screenplay's dedicated PDF system. Script Insights does not currently provide an authoritative page count. Use PDF Preview to inspect the actual formed pages.
Dual Dialogue
The Dual Dialogue control is present in the current toolbar, but its dedicated editing behaviour is not yet part of the current structured editor workflow.
Browser data
Because screenplay projects and revisions are stored locally in the browser, clearing browser site data or using another browser or device can affect access to locally stored projects.
Maintain JSON backups of important work.
Internet connection
The application can use an external service health check to indicate that the associated API is responding. The health check is not used to upload screenplay content, project data or personal data. Core screenplay project storage remains local to the browser.
