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Exporting Your Work

BeatBandit offers multiple export options to share your screenplay in industry-standard formats and meet various professional needs.

Export Formats​

PDF Export​

  • Industry standard formatting
  • Professional appearance for submissions
  • Easy sharing via email or cloud storage
  • Print-ready for physical copies
  • Searchable text for digital review

Final Draft (FDX)​

  • Native Final Draft compatibility
  • Perfect for collaboration with Final Draft users
  • Preserves all formatting and metadata
  • Industry preferred format for many professionals
  • Maintains revision tracking information

Fountain Format​

  • Plain text screenplay format
  • Version control friendly for developers
  • Cross-platform compatibility
  • Lightweight and portable
  • Future-proof format

Treatment Export​

  • Narrative format for story outlines
  • Executive summary style
  • Pitch document preparation
  • Story overview for development
  • Marketing material creation

Export Options​

Quick Export​

Fast export for immediate sharing.

  1. Click Export in the top menu
  2. Select format (PDF, FDX, etc.)
  3. Choose Quick Export
  4. Download your file instantly

Custom Export​

Detailed export with specific options.

  1. Access Export settings
  2. Configure options:
    • Page formatting
    • Cover page inclusion
    • Revision marks
    • Scene numbers
    • Note inclusion
  3. Generate export
  4. Download customized file

Batch Export​

Export multiple formats simultaneously.

  1. Select Batch Export
  2. Choose multiple formats
  3. Set common options
  4. Generate all exports
  5. Download as zip file

Export Customization​

Page Formatting​

  • Margins - Standard industry margins or custom
  • Font - Courier New (standard) or alternatives
  • Page size - US Letter, A4, or custom
  • Line spacing - Standard or adjusted
  • Page numbers - Include or exclude

Content Selection​

  • Full screenplay - Complete formatted script
  • Specific scenes - Export selected scenes only
  • Character pages - Character descriptions and arcs
  • Beat sheet - Story structure outline
  • Treatment - Narrative story overview

Professional Options​

  • Title page - Automatic generation with project details
  • Scene numbers - Include for production drafts
  • Revision marks - Show changes between versions
  • Notes and comments - Include or exclude annotations
  • Watermarks - Add copyright or draft markings

Export Quality​

Industry Standards​

All exports follow industry formatting guidelines:

  • 12-point Courier New font
  • Standard margins (1.5" left, 1" right, top, bottom)
  • Proper spacing between elements
  • Correct capitalization for scene headers
  • Standard abbreviations (INT./EXT., CONT'D, etc.)

Quality Checks​

Before exporting, BeatBandit performs:

  • Formatting validation - Ensures proper screenplay format
  • Character consistency - Checks character name uniformity
  • Scene continuity - Verifies scene flow and transitions
  • Page break optimization - Prevents awkward breaks
  • Dialogue formatting - Ensures proper dialogue presentation

Sharing and Distribution​

Direct Sharing​

  • Email integration - Send exports directly from BeatBandit
  • Cloud storage - Upload to Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.
  • Link sharing - Generate shareable links for collaborators
  • Social media - Share excerpts or announcements

Professional Submission​

  • Contest preparation - Format for screenplay competitions
  • Agent/manager submission - Professional presentation
  • Production company - Industry-standard formatting
  • Peer review - Easy sharing with writing groups

Version Control​

  • Draft numbers - Automatic version tracking
  • Revision dates - Timestamp each export
  • Change summaries - Include revision notes
  • Archive management - Organize export history

Export Troubleshooting​

Common Issues​

Export Taking Too Long​

  • Large projects may take 30-60 seconds
  • Check internet connection for stability
  • Try smaller sections first
  • Contact support if consistently slow

Formatting Problems​

  • Review project settings for correct template
  • Check character names for consistency
  • Verify scene headings use standard format
  • Update project if using older template

Missing Content​

  • Ensure all stages have saved content
  • Check locked cards are properly configured
  • Verify export settings include desired content
  • Review stage completion status

Quality Issues​

  • Inconsistent formatting - Check project template settings
  • Character name variations - Standardize character names
  • Scene numbering errors - Verify scene sequence
  • Page count discrepancies - Check content and formatting

Export Best Practices​

Before Exporting​

  • Complete a final review of all content
  • Check for typos and grammatical errors
  • Verify character names are consistent
  • Ensure scene flow makes sense
  • Update project information (title, genre, etc.)

Export Strategy​

  • Start with PDF for initial reviews
  • Use FDX for professional submissions
  • Create treatment for pitches
  • Generate multiple formats for different purposes
  • Keep version history of all exports

File Management​

  • Use clear naming conventions (Title_Draft_Date)
  • Organize by version or purpose
  • Backup important exports to cloud storage
  • Track submission history for contests/agents
  • Archive old versions systematically

Professional Tips​

For Submissions​

  • Include title page with your contact information
  • Use standard formatting without fancy fonts
  • Number pages appropriately
  • Include revision date on title page
  • Print on white paper with black ink

For Collaboration​

  • Export with scene numbers for production teams
  • Include revision marks for draft comparisons
  • Share via cloud storage for real-time access
  • Use consistent naming across team members
  • Track changes between versions

For Development​

  • Export treatments for story discussions
  • Create character sheets for development
  • Generate beat sheets for structure analysis
  • Share partial drafts for feedback
  • Maintain version control throughout process

Advanced Export Features​

Batch Processing​

  • Multiple projects - Export several projects at once
  • Format variations - Create multiple formats simultaneously
  • Automated scheduling - Set up regular exports
  • Custom templates - Use personalized export settings

Integration Options​

  • API access - Programmatic export control
  • Webhook notifications - Automated distribution
  • Third-party connections - Direct integration with other tools
  • Custom workflows - Personalized export processes

Export Credits​

Some export features may consume credits:

  • Standard exports (PDF, FDX) - No credits required
  • Enhanced formatting - 1 credit per export
  • Batch processing - 1 credit per additional format
  • Custom templates - 2 credits per use
  • Advanced features - Variable credit usage

Ready to share your work? Choose the export format that best fits your needs and start distributing your screenplay professionally!