format-export

name	format-export
wtfbId	wtfb:format-export
description	This skill provides screenplay export procedures for PDF, FDX, and HTML. Covers Better Fountain VS Code extension, afterwriting CLI, and Highland for converting Fountain files to industry-standard delivery formats. Use when: exporting screenplay to PDF, converting to Final Draft (FDX), generating HTML preview, or preparing scripts for delivery.

Format Export Skill

Invocation Triggers

Apply this skill when:

• Exporting screenplay to PDF
• Converting to Final Draft (FDX)
• Generating HTML preview
• Preparing scripts for delivery

Recommended: Better Fountain Extension

The simplest export method uses the Better Fountain VS Code extension:

Format	Command Palette Action
PDF	Fountain: Export to PDF
FDX	Fountain: Export to FDX
HTML	Fountain: Export to HTML

Steps:

1. Open .fountain file in VS Code
2. Press Ctrl+Shift+P (or Cmd+Shift+P on macOS)
3. Type the export command
4. Choose output location

Extension: Better Fountain on VS Code Marketplace

Export Formats Overview

Format	Extension	Purpose	Tools
PDF	.pdf	Industry standard delivery	Better Fountain, afterwriting, Highland
FDX	.fdx	Final Draft import	Better Fountain, screenplain, Highland
HTML	.html	Web preview/sharing	Better Fountain, afterwriting
Plain Text	.txt	Accessibility, archival	direct copy

PDF Export

Industry Standard Format

• Font: Courier 12pt
• Margins: 1.5" left, 1" right, 1" top/bottom
• Page Size: US Letter (8.5" x 11")
• Page Numbers: Top right, starting page 2

Better Fountain (Recommended)

In VS Code: Ctrl+Shift+P → "Fountain: Export to PDF"

CLI: afterwriting (for automation)

# Install
npm install -g afterwriting

# Basic PDF export
afterwriting --source screenplay.fountain --pdf

# With configuration
afterwriting --source screenplay.fountain --pdf --config pdf-config.json

# Output to specific file
afterwriting --source screenplay.fountain --pdf --output script.pdf

PDF Configuration (pdf-config.json)

{
  "print_title_page": true,
  "print_profile": "default",
  "print_header": "",
  "print_footer": "",
  "print_watermark": "",
  "print_dialogue_numbers": false,
  "print_notes": false,
  "print_sections": false,
  "print_synopses": false,
  "scenes_numbers": "none",
  "each_scene_on_new_page": false
}

Highland (macOS)

1. Open .fountain file in Highland
2. File → Export → PDF
3. Configure options in preferences

Wrap (macOS)

1. Open .fountain file
2. File → Export → PDF

FDX Export (Final Draft XML)

Purpose

• Import into Final Draft software
• Collaboration with Final Draft users
• Industry compatibility

Better Fountain (Recommended)

In VS Code: Ctrl+Shift+P → "Fountain: Export to FDX"

CLI: screenplain (for automation)

# One-time installation (requires Python 3.8+ and pipx)
pipx install screenplain

# Export to FDX
screenplain --format fdx screenplay.fountain output.fdx

Note: afterwriting does NOT support FDX export. Use Better Fountain, screenplain, or Highland.

Highland Export (macOS)

Highland 2 offers native FDX export:

1. Open .fountain file in Highland 2
2. File → Export → Final Draft

Compatibility Notes

• Basic Fountain elements export cleanly
• Notes, sections, synopses may not transfer
• Review formatting after import to Final Draft
• Scene numbers transfer if present

HTML Export

Purpose

• Web-based reading
• Easy sharing via URL
• Print from browser

Better Fountain (Recommended)

In VS Code: Ctrl+Shift+P → "Fountain: Export to HTML"

CLI: afterwriting (for automation)

afterwriting --source screenplay.fountain --html

HTML Configuration

{
  "html_use_paper_size": true,
  "html_scenes_numbers": "none",
  "html_print_dialogue_numbers": false
}

Custom HTML Template

For custom styling, process Fountain to JSON then apply template:

afterwriting --source screenplay.fountain --fountain --output screenplay.json
# Then apply custom HTML template to JSON

Export Workflow

Pre-Export Checklist

• Script Supervisor approval
• Standards Reviewer approval
• All [[notes]] resolved or intentional
• Title page complete and current
• Fountain syntax validated

Export Process

1. Validate Fountain file
2. Run export command
3. Verify output file created
4. Open and review output
5. Check page count
6. Verify title page
7. Sample check formatting
8. Package for delivery

Post-Export Verification

• File opens without errors
• Page count as expected
• Title page correct
• Character names format correctly
• Dialogue layout proper
• Transitions right-aligned
• No orphaned elements

Version Naming

Convention

[Title]_v[Major].[Minor]_[YYYYMMDD].[ext]

Examples

Seoul_Identity_v1.0_20251227.pdf
Seoul_Identity_v1.1_20251228.pdf
Seoul_Identity_v2.0_20260115.pdf
Seoul_Identity_v2.0_20260115.fdx

Major vs. Minor

• Major (1.0 → 2.0): Significant rewrite
• Minor (1.0 → 1.1): Polish, small changes

Platform-Specific Notes

macOS

• Highland: Best native Fountain support
• Wrap: Simple, clean interface
• Slugline: Also available

Windows/Linux

• afterwriting CLI: Cross-platform
• Trelby: Open source screenwriting
• WriterSolo: Online option

Online Tools

• afterwriting.com: Web-based export
• WriterSolo: Cloud-based option

Troubleshooting

PDF Issues

Problem	Solution
Wrong fonts	Check PDF config, ensure Courier
Bad margins	Verify config matches standards
Missing title page	Enable in config
Notes appearing	Disable print_notes

FDX Issues

Problem	Solution
Elements misformatted	Review in Final Draft, adjust
Notes missing	Expected - FDX doesn't support all
Dual dialogue broken	May need manual fix in FD

HTML Issues

Problem	Solution
Print looks wrong	Use paper size option
Styling off	Use default CSS or customize

Export Scripts

Note: For manual exports, use the Better Fountain extension. The scripts below are for CI/CD automation.

Bash Export All Formats

#!/bin/bash
SCRIPT="screenplay.fountain"
NAME="Seoul_Identity"
DATE=$(date +%Y%m%d)
VERSION="1.0"

# PDF export (afterwriting)
afterwriting --source $SCRIPT --pdf --output "${NAME}_v${VERSION}_${DATE}.pdf"

# FDX export (screenplain - requires pipx install screenplain)
screenplain --format fdx $SCRIPT "${NAME}_v${VERSION}_${DATE}.fdx"

# HTML export (afterwriting)
afterwriting --source $SCRIPT --html --output "${NAME}_v${VERSION}_${DATE}.html"

echo "Export complete:"
ls -la ${NAME}_v${VERSION}_${DATE}.*

Export Checklist

PDF Delivery

• Page count within target
• Title page per standards
• No scene numbers (spec)
• No WGA numbers (spec)
• Filename follows convention
• File under 10MB

FDX Delivery

• Opens in Final Draft
• Elements formatted correctly
• Scene headings intact
• Dialogue blocks correct

Competition Submission

• Format matches guidelines
• Page count within limits
• Anonymous if required
• Filename as specified