SCREENWRITING with Pages: Are there any keys that shift through Styles?

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Level 1

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SCREENWRITING with Pages: Are there any keys that shift through Styles?

Hello everyone,

Pages allows you to use a 'Screenplay' template, located in the Creative category of the template options. Though screenwriting is not a viable option if you aren't allowed to shift through the styles, such as Scene Heading, Character and Dialogue. Pages would actually be really excellent for screenwriting if this was possible and a viable alternative to industry-leader Final Draft 7.

Does anyone know how to shift through the styles in the Styles Drawer using only the keyboard. If only certain keys could be assigned these actions - is this possible?

Any help would be greatly appreciated,

Many thanks,
C.

24" iMac Core2Duo 2.16Ghz, 1GB RAM, Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Posted on Oct 21, 2006 10:39 AM

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Answer 1

DennisG

Level 5

6,520 points

Oct 21, 2006 3:21 PM in response to CGHayes

CG,

So far as I know, no one has come up with a way to assign keyboard commands to styles. OS X allows assigning commands to menu items, but styles don't qualify.

If money isn't a big issue, I'd use either Final Draft or Screenwriter anyway. The Pages template isn't going to give you "more" or "continued" notations in your script, and those have got to be there in order for your script to be taken seriously. Seems like a small thing, but I've heard of agents and producers tossing a script because the writer filled all three holes with brads when industry standard is to leave the middle one empty. It's a sad, shallow industry.

-Dennis

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Answer 2

CGHayes Author

Level 1

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Oct 21, 2006 9:19 PM in response to DennisG

I am aware that other applications have important features specific to screenwriting but in some ways I find Pages a lot more stable than Final Draft. I think little details like assigning keyboard commands to styles would really help it on its way towards being an option for screenwriters. Work can then easily be pasted back into Final Draft for the added formatting details.

Thanks for you help, Dennis.

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Answer 3

FrankBe

Level 4

1,605 points

Oct 22, 2006 3:32 AM in response to CGHayes

Hello CGHayes,

the more people write a feedback the bigger the chance to see the wishes come true some day in Pages. Give the developers a note about what you need for your work: http://www.apple.com/feedback/pages.html.

User uploaded file

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Answer 4

DennisG

Level 5

6,520 points

Oct 22, 2006 7:57 AM in response to CGHayes

CG,

I don't disagree with you at all: keyboard commands assigned to styles would be a very good thing. I've wanted this feature from the very beginning. Maybe if enough people request it, we'll see it in Pages 3.

-Dennis

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Answer 5

CGHayes Author

Level 1

0 points

Oct 22, 2006 9:18 AM in response to DennisG

It would be great to see it in Pages 3. I have added my comments to Apple's feedback. I just hope they take notice!

Thank you both for your comments and help.

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