[FAQ] Electronic Prompt Copies

[Mac Calder]

OCR in word is rubbish. If you are going to do OCR, I would get a scanner with a auto document feeder and a decent OCR application. The document feeder means that if your script is in good condition, it will scan each page in straight, which will give you a much higher accuracy rate

[dramabrit58]

Thank you Mac, that makes perfect sense.  I would have to purchase that myself and unless I could find one under $100 it's out of the question at the moment.  Thanks for all the advice I have been getting on this site.

[SummerShakespeare]

Just another question...

Am currently trying the comment/ reviewing way on MS Word way which is working really well BUT the does anyone know how to change the colour of the comment box so I can use different colors for Standbys and Gos?!

I would really like to know the answer to this!!! Please and thank you :-P

[KMC]

Just another question...

Am currently trying the comment/ reviewing way on MS Word way which is working really well BUT the does anyone know how to change the colour of the comment box so I can use different colors for Standbys and Gos?!

I would really like to know the answer to this!!! Please and thank you :-P

I don't know that there's a way to change the color.  I believe different colors are reserved for different authors, i.e. if you had 3 people collaborating on a document each of their comments would be a different color.  One option would be to print it in black and white and use color highlighters.  I know.. not nearly as cool, but same effect.

[SummerShakespeare]

Sounds good thank you!!!

[stagemngrjb]

Every stage manager that visits this site needs to get the trial version of a program called one note. It is microsofts gift to SM's. This is a program that will let you copy and past from website or word, or excel, or anywhere. You can format the size of the page anyway you like and to type all you have to do is click where you want to type and instant text box. It also has numerous highlighting features. If have been able to produce electronic, clean typed scripts from the start, no pencil copies. I'm almost fast enough with the program now to take blocking notes with it. The coolest part is moving cues. All you have to do is click and drag. I list all cues and stand-by's w/ descriptions in the left hand margin and then list a place holder (example: S1, or D6) in the text itself and color coded as to type of cue. It is very cool. I highly recommend it.

[SummerShakespeare]

do you have an example?

[stagemngrjb]

I can post an example of a finished page of cues, but the real benefits come in the small amount of time it takes to produce it. Please feel free to ask any other questions.

[MatthewShiner]

My two concerns about this system, which looks cool, is 1) without the lines, I would find it had to glance down and see exactly where the cue is . . . i spend a lot of time watching the stage and just glance down to get the cue number and placement when I get close  and 2) i always worry about color coding things that I read under dim or blued light. 

It's just one stepped removed from the sort of standard that I am afraid I would have hard time calling form a script like that.

But if it works for you, then more power to you.

[jempage]

I feel like such a twit for having not thought of using OneNote like that =D

Looking forward to my next tech opportunity so I can try it out.

I don't see there being anything stopping you putting in a line (ie: drawing object) to link the Cue text to the Script...

[snowie86]

I just typed up all my cues for The Philadelphia Story.

Converted it to PDF, and then put book marks in for all my warnings.

Attached a sample

[megf]

For Mac users - and interested PC users:

I just discovered a beta program called FormulatePro (available thru Google Code) that allows you to lay text over PDF. Still very basic, but it's a free alternative to PDF filler (PC-only, that one) and very easy to use. Has anyone used this for prompt/blocking work? Are you interested in trying?

At present, I'm using it to fill in start paperwork and other company-wide items that can be filled in before re-PDFing and sending out, and won't have an opportunity to play with prompt work for a while. Any takers?

[verschleierung]

I am using MS Visio for the first time tomorrow in Paper tech for my prompt book.  I would be interested in a screen shot of your book to see a visual of your ideas.  I too am hoping to save time and money in this tedious process.

Justin

[kiwitechgirl]

I've just found a pretty good free OCR program called TopOCR - I've yet to try it with a script but it's looking pretty good so far and I've been playing with it all morning.  Once our IT guy gets the photocopier sorted so that I can send scanned documents from it to my e-mail (which is do-able, it's just taking him a while to sort out!) I'll have a crack at a script and let you all know how I get on...

[verschleierung]

I have had extreme success with a program called Microsoft Visio.  It is a fairly expensive program that is used to substitute paper templates/stencils in engineering, cartography, hvac, etc.. I built my own stencils and used them for cues with different shapes for different kinds of cues and different colors to distinguish cue type.  The stencils have a text function so that each cue can be labeled with the cue number ..I scanned the script as jpgs and just dragged them into the program.  The fullscreen option allows you to call the show like a real book, using the left and right arrow keys to turn the pages. 
   Ms Word allows similar functions with dragging scanned pages into the document and gives you the ability to resize and enter in shapes and text boxes and lines that to indicate location in script that can be moved around for paper tech and filled with different colors.