tkScenarist - screenwriting made simpler

# App by tabs

## 'Characters' tab

## Summary

- Screenshot
- Introduction
- Usage
  - Characters' name list
    - Adding a new character name
    - Renaming a character name
    - Deleting a character name
    - List purge
  - Character's history log
  - Relationships canvas
    - Adding a new character name
    - Renaming a character name
    - Deleting a character name
    - Adding a new relationship
    - Renaming a relationship
    - Deleting a relationship
- Finally
- Quick nav

## Screenshot

Return to summary.

## Introduction

This app tab manages with movie characters, their names, history logs and relationships.

It is composed of:

1. characters' name list, at top-left side;
2. character's history log, on bottom-left side;
3. characters relationships canvas, right side.

All section panes are resizable: put mouse pointer between each pane, then click and drag sash to get desired size.

Return to summary.

## Usage

### Characters' name list

#### Adding a new character name

Click on `+` button to add a new character name.

Character names are automatically set to uppercase: this is a script writing policy.

Character names must be unique.

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#### Renaming a character name

First, select a character name into the list, then click on `Rename` button.

Please, note it is NOT possible to rename a character name once it is mentioned into 'Scenario' tab's text editor contents.

New character name must be as unique as any other one.

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#### Deleting a character name

First, select a character name into the list, then click on `-` button.

A confirmation dialog will popup before deleting definitely.

Please, note it is NOT possible to delete a character name once it is mentioned into 'Scenario' tab's text editor contents.

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#### List purge

One may need to clean up characters' name list in order to keep only scenario's mentioned names.

Click on `Purge` button to delete all unmentioned names.

A confirmation dialog will popup before deleting definitely.

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### Character's history log

First, select a character name into the list, then click into character's history log text zone.

The big white zone is called a plain text editor.

This object allows multiple line editing with carriage return, undo/redo stack and many other features.

Pressing on the carriage return key will insert a new paragraph.

Double-clicking on a word will select this word only.

Triple-clicking on a word will select the whole paragraph.

You may select all text by using `Edit > Select all` menu option or with `<Ctrl-A>` keyboard shortcut.

Any selection band is likely to be replaced by the next keystroke on the keyboard.

To undo last operation, either use `Edit > Undo` menu option or try `<Ctrl-Z>` keyboard shortcut.

To redo last cancelled operation, either use `Edit > Redo` menu option or try `<Ctrl-Shift-Z>` keyboard shortcut.

Please, note this text editor manages with automatic backup feature: anything you enter into this object will be automatically saved into software's memory. However, this does not exempt you from saving your project file regularly.

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### Relationships canvas

#### Adding a new character name

Simply double-click on a canvas empty zone (grey zone).

Character names are automatically set to uppercase: this is a script writing policy.

Character names must be unique.

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#### Renaming a character name

Double-click onto desired character name label on the canvas.

Please, note it is NOT possible to rename a character name once it is mentioned into 'Scenario' tab's text editor contents.

New character name must be as unique as any other one.

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#### Deleting a character name

Do a `<Ctrl-Click>` onto desired character name label on the canvas.

This may be obtained by clicking on target while pressing `<Ctrl>` key down on your keyboard.

A confirmation dialog will popup before deleting definitely.

Please, note it is NOT possible to delete a character name once it is mentioned into 'Scenario' tab's text editor contents.

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#### Adding a new relationship

Press `<Shift>` key on your keyboard while clicking onto start character name label on the canvas and dragging link to a destination character name label. Release then mouse click and `<Shift>` key.

Please, note adding a new relationship must respect the followings:

1. a relationship link CANNOT be drawn from a character name label to itself;
2. a relationship link CANNOT be drawn from a character name label to nowhere;
3. only ONE relationship link between two same character name labels, no duplex links.

A relationship is made of a black drawn line with its associated black relationship text label.

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#### Renaming a relationship

Double-click onto desired relationship text label on the canvas.

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#### Deleting a relationship

Do a `<Ctrl-Click>` onto desired relationship text label on the canvas.

This may be obtained by clicking on target while pressing `<Ctrl>` key on your keyboard.

A confirmation dialog will popup before deleting definitely.

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## Finally

Clicking onto a character name label on the canvas will also select this name into characters' name list, on top-left side.

Conversely, clicking on a list item will try to show up the name label on the canvas, especially if it is out of viewport bounds.

Character name labels on the canvas do support `Drag'n'Drop` feature: click on desired character name label, drag it to another location and then release mouse click to drop it there.

One may browse easily into relationships canvas by clicking onto an empty zone (grey zone), moving mouse to the desired direction and then releasing mouse click when arrived.

IMPORTANT: don't forget to save your project regularly, either with `Project > Save` menu option or with `<Ctrl-S>` keyboard shortcut.

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#### Quick nav

- App by tabs
  - 'Title/Data' tab
  - 'Draft/Notes' tab
  - 'Pitch/Concept' tab
  - 'Characters' tab
  - 'Scenario' tab
  - 'Storyboard' tab
  - 'Resources' tab
- Extra tools
  - Name database
  - Story/pitch templates
  - Scenario Elements Editor (SEE)

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