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Workflow guide · Plot

Import a Final Draft screenplay

Bring a Final Draft (.fdx) script into Inkwell Plot — scene headings, character cues, and dialogue carry over through the editor Import / Export menu.

About 3 minutes in Plot

Switching cost

Formatting preserved on import

Final Draft XML becomes Fountain-native structure — scenes, characters, and dialogue carry over before you write another line.

Step by step

Follow along in Plot

Each step matches visible UI in the editor.

  1. Sign in to Inkwell Plot

    Create a free account or sign in, then open Plot from your dashboard. Start a new screenplay or open an existing project you want to replace or update.

    Plot dashboardStart

    Open Plot — new script or existing project

    Sign in to Inkwell Plot

  2. Open Import / Export in the toolbar

    In the screenplay editor, open the Import / Export menu from the toolbar (download icon on desktop). This is the same menu used for Fountain and PDF export.

    Editor toolbarImport

    Same menu for import and export round-trip

    Open Import / Export in the toolbar

  3. Choose Fountain or Final Draft (.fdx)

    Under Import, select Fountain or Final Draft (.fdx). Inkwell opens your system file picker for .fdx or .fountain files.

    File picker.fdx

    Accepted formats listed before you browse

    Choose Fountain or Final Draft (.fdx)

  4. Select your .fdx file

    Pick the Final Draft export from disk. Inkwell parses scene headings, character cues, dialogue, and transitions into the structured screenplay editor.

    Screenplay editorParsed

    Screenplay grammar preserved in the draft

    Select your .fdx file

  5. Confirm if you have unsaved changes

    If you already edited the open draft, Inkwell asks before replacing it. Confirm to load the imported script.

    Replace dialogSafety

    No silent overwrite of in-progress work

    Confirm if you have unsaved changes

  6. Review import warnings

    After import, check any warning notification and review the resulting screenplay. If details did not carry across, keep the original Final Draft file for reference.

    Import warningsReview

    Edge cases named — not hidden in a log

    Review import warnings

  7. Keep writing — export back to FDX anytime

    After import, continue in Plot with save points and draft lines. When you need Final Draft again, use Import / Export → Export FDX from the same menu.

    Export menuRound-trip

    Return to Final Draft from the same toolbar menu

    Keep writing — export back to FDX anytime

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