Scrivener complete junk?

Scrivener Scrivener for Windows
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I just can not get this Scrivener (on Win) usefully working at all. Nothing seems to work properly.

Each time I start my projects I am just working on I have to resize, re-adjust, re-open windows / panels of each single project again to get the state I left it. That’s so ennoying.

I tried to write screenplays with this crap, but it just is impossible for me. (Easyly, automatically) Assigning the formats does not work for me at all or only randomly. To edit dialogs, actions, characters or else in the screenplay is extremely inconvenient, not working as well, always the wrong formats are set. Even clicking the formats in that context menu, or whatever it is called, does not work properly here. The cursor resides BETWEEN to lines, not on a single line (as usual), what sense does that make?

To change or restructure a project, just to move folders, documents is just horror. So laborious, senseless. By default you even cannot copy a folder, document (lasts some time I got to know how to do it). Why not just provide the standard copy and paste options? Like it is used in Win everywhere. What sense does such make?! Why can’t you even copy a folder, document (by default)? Like it is standard with Win.

I tried and failed to get that Folder Sync or whatever it is called working. I wanted to use it because the crappy lists do not work in Scrivener at all. So with that function one should be able to open a doc, folder in an external (word processing) program to (usefully) use, write, edit it there. I e.g. use lists to structure stories and for much more all the time. But that crap simply does not work in this crappy Scrivener. A wörd processing program without (working) lists? I don’t understand at all. Even each free word processing program has (working) lists. I havve never seen one without that at least.

There are so many other problems using this program. And generally it runs quite slow on my system, there are so often hesitations, delays in many situations.

Am I the only one who absolutely cannot cope with that crap? For what kind of people is that program made, what is it good, made for? I am really interested if there is anybody here who writes an entire screenplay with that crap. So is there anybody? If yes, how? I somewhere once had read some slogan “write without distraction” or so. It is just the opposite for me. “Write with as much destraction as we can provide” would be meaningful. I saw so many good reviews, rankings. It seems as if everybody says, just use Scrivener, the best program for writers. I cannot understand that, how this can happen. Or am I missing anything? Making a basic mistake? If it was a free program I just would had already left it.

And to top it all off, this shitty forum software, which I can’t get along with either.

Apologies for the somewhat harsh sounding tone at times (it really just sounds like harsh), but having, wanting to cope with such a crap every day…somehow softens the brain.

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Feel better? Maybe Scrivener not for you. Other screenplay writing software exists.

(I’ve used the macOS and iOS version for years very successfully, technically and financially).

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Oh, hello.

I use Scrivener every day, on two different devices. I find it snappy, reliable and easy to use. I don’t write screenplays though, maybe its different.

Scrivener did have a learning curve when i first started for sure but once I spend some time figuring it out i was happy to use it. It allows me to stay far more organised than Word did for sure.

I cant say i have encountered any of the issues you have. I hope you get them sorted out.

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Write to the tech team, they are always helpful. Also start a brand new screenplay project in case the orginal project has some weird setting active. Make sure you do not save as but do backup to or automatic backup as well. Also look to see if you are manually picking a file to open, that you are opening your latest saved file. I find the best way to back up is as a zipped file so everything is in one place and the file is smaller in size. I love the product and use if for other things besides writing, like a fiqure out medicare project and learning scrivener project.
Best of luck. People will help as well and can even be willing to zoom with you. I would if you want.

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I write screenplays using Scrivener. I’m not a fan of Scrivener’s screenplay processing, so I type my pages in Final Draft and paste them back into Scrivener using Edit>Paste Plain Text As Screenplay. You have to do a little formatting touchup, but it only takes a minute.

If you don’t like Final Draft, you can do the same thing for free using WriterSolo.

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Create a Layout in Window > Layouts > Layout manager…

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In the Scrivener binder, you can right-click any item (folder or document) and select Duplicate. Super simple. Drag it to wherever you want the duplicate to be in the binder. If you have trouble with the drag function, add the Move buttons to your toolbar via View → Customize Toolbar.

This is not normal. Unless your computer is low on RAM or hard drive space, Scrivener should run pretty snappily. I’d email support to get help on this one.

Have you tried working through any support documentation, such as the Interactive Tutorial?

As others have mentioned here, there are other programs. You don’t have to use Scrivener if it’s not working for you. We do offer a 30 day free trial so you can make sure you like it before purchasing. There’s also a 30 day return policy, so if you are within that time period, email support to pursue a refund if you’re not wanting to actually troubleshoot and get the program working properly for you.

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I use Scrivener every day and I’m thrilled with it. Even more importantly, I find the staff and the community to be responsive and helpful. That’s very rare in today’s software world. Fant, please do select another software package if you are unsatisfied.

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I have to say that I fail to see the point.
Either the software ain’t for you ; or a little tech support from satisfied users would clear things up for you as a new user.
But why then the attempt at antagonizing those very people ?
There are better ways in life to get from A to B than publicly bursting a frustration bubble.
Especially since :

  1. the software is only a ridiculous +/- 60$
  2. refundable
  3. offers a very very user friendly fully functional trial version.
  4. so many writers of all horizons (myself obviously included) tend to think otherwise.

Ok yes, the windows version has a few bugs here and there, but the software is so packed with features (+the ability to import/export/have third party software as part of one’s toolbox) that there is almost always a way around them while the dev team fixes them up.

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Thank you very much!

So it seems what here looks like total crap does not look like that elsewhere.

Hello hexdsl. Many thanks!

Thank you GoalieDad for the nice offer. Would love to come back to this if I continue to use Scrivener, which I don’t think I will.

so I type my pages in Final Draft and paste them back into Scrivener using Edit>Paste Plain Text As Screenplay.

What for?

If you don’t like Final Draft, you can do the same thing for free using WriterSolo 4.

Many thanks for the link, look good, but it seems to be an online program, I some times need to write without Internet connection.

Create a Layout in Window > Layouts > Layout manager…

That does not help here, thanks.

In the Scrivener binder, you can right-click any item (folder or document) and select Duplicate. Super simple. Drag it to wherever you want the duplicate to be in the binder. If you have trouble with the drag function, add the Move buttons to your toolbar via View → Customize Toolbar.

Sorry, I omitted to add: By default you even cannot copy a folder, document with the mouse.

Have you tried working through any support documentation, such as the Interactive Tutorial?

Yes, I did.

Either the software ain’t for you ; or a little tech support from satisfied users would clear things up for you as a new user.

Well, but the support from enthusiastic, happy users unfortunately didn’t help. And if these problems were bugs that support couldn’t help.

But why then the attempt at antagonizing those very people ?

Sorry, I didn’t at all.

Especially since :

the software is only a ridiculous +/- 60$
refundable
offers a very very user friendly fully functional trial version.
so many writers of all horizons (myself obviously included) tend to think otherwise.

Yes yes, of course, but that does not seem to be unusual, may be one should also mention the time vainly spent on such crap. And it is a pity to even spend 60 $ on crap, I would think.

Ok yes, the windows version has a few bugs here and there, but the software is so packed with features

Yes, perhaps it would be better to primarily provide working (basic) features than a lot of restricted / not working features.

Thank you very much again.

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So I get the best of both worlds - Scrivener’s outstanding organizational tools, plus a better script typing experience.

Nope. WriterSolo has zero online/cloud functionality. WriterDuet, the for-pay big brother of WS is a web app with cloud storage. You can write offline for free using WriterSolo.

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9 posts were split to a new topic: Poor Scrivener performance

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I will post the problem to tech support, and try to be optimistic. If and when there’s a solution, I will post an update on this thread.

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12 posts were merged into an existing topic: Activation Issue Again

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You’re not the only one, but tens (or hundreds?) of thousands of people use it with no complaints.

If you’d like some one-on-one via Zoom, I’m usually available. I’m not a scriptwriter guru, but we could probably get you going more smoothly.

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