Creating a Project from Final Draft

1. From the top menu, select File > New From Final Draft Script.

The Import from Final Draft dialog opens.

2. Click on the Browse button.

3. In the file browser, locate and select your Final Draft script, then click on Open.

Once your script is loaded, the types of tags contained in your script will appear in the list to the left. You will have to indicate to Storyboard Pro what to do with each of these tags when generating your project.

4. If your script has a structure that is comprised of scene headings, but not shots, do the following:
   1. In the list to the left, select Scene Heading.
   2. In the Action drop-down, select New Scene (animation terminology) or New Shot (live action terminology).
   3. In the Destination caption field drop-down, select Notes.

   Your storyboard will have one scene (or shot) for every scene heading in your script, and the scene's description will be added to the Notes caption of every first panel of every scene.

   If your script has a structure comprised of scenes and shots, do the following:

   1. In the list to the left, select Scene Heading.
   2. In the Action drop-down, select New Sequence (animation terminology) or New Scene (live action terminology).
   3. In the Destination caption field drop-down, select Notes.
   4. In the list to the left, select Shot.
   5. In the Action drop-down, select New Scene (animation terminology) or New Shot (live action terminology)
   6. In the Destination caption field drop-down, select Notes.

   Your storyboard will have one sequence (or scene) for every scene heading in your script, and one scene (or shot) for every shot in your script. Their description will be added to the Notes caption of every first panel of their corresponding scene or sequence.

5. In the list to the left, select the Action tag.
   1. If you want one panel to be created for each action, select New Panel in the Action drop-down.
   2. If you want consecutive actions to be combined in the same panel, check the Combine successive elements option.
   3. In the Destination caption field drop-down, select Action Notes. This will store the content of the action tag into the Action Notes caption of each panel.
6. In the list to the left, select the Character tag, if any:
   1. If you want one panel to be created for each dialogue, select New Panel in the Action drop-down.
   2. In the Destination caption field drop-down, select Dialogue.
7. In the list to the left, select the Parenthetical tag, if any:
   1. In the Destination caption field drop-down, select Dialogue.
8. In the list to the left, select the Dialogue tag, if any:
   1. In the Destination caption field drop-down, select Dialogue.
9. In the list to the left, select the Transition tag, if any:
   1. In the action drop-down, select New Transition.

Overall, the following settings are suggested:

	Action	Destination caption field
Action	New Panel or None	Action Notes
Character	New Panel or None	Dialogue
Dialogue	None	Dialogue
Parenthetical	None	Dialogue
Scene Heading	New Scene (or New Shot)	Notes
Transition	New Transition	None

Depending on the way your script is structured and on how much the action or dialogue drive the pace, you might have to try creating a project with your script using different options to get the best storyboard structure for your needs. In the end, it is likely that you will have to split or combine some of the automatically generated panels.

10. If you want to make the currently selected parameters default, check the Save as default rules checkbox.

11. Click Import.

12. In the New Project dialog, enter the name, location, title and resolution for your project.
13. If the currently opened project was not saved, confirm whether you want to save it.

Your new project is created, with scenes and panels automatically created and their captions filled with excerpts from your script, based on the settings you selected.