04. The Main Screen

Exploring the Main Screen

Changing Project Title or Author Name

(As of yWriter 5.0.4.0 these items have been moved to the Project Settings form)

Resizing the Main Screen (or Scene Editor Window)

1.Move your cursor to the bottom right hand corner so it becomes a double sided arrow (as shown right). 2.Click, drag and drop to make the window larger or smaller.

To make the window full screen size, press the maximise button in the top right hand corner of the window (as shown left). To return the window to its previous size, press this button

Chapter List

In the Chapter List you can see the following columns, from left to right:

The Title of each chapter
The W column shows the number of Words in each chapter
The S column shows the number of Scenes in each chapter
The P column shows the Progressive (running total) word count up to that point.

All word counts in the chapter list exclude content in scenes marked as unused.

At the bottom is a box where the selected chapter's description is shown (if one is entered).

Resizing Chapter List in the Main Screen

Follow this procedure if you have already resized your Main Screen and are still unable to see the chapter title or other details.

1.Move your cursor to the border between the Chapter and Scene box in the Main Screen until the cross with arrows (as shown below) appears. 2.Click and drag the border over as far as necessary to see the Chapter names and details.

Opening the chapter details box

1.Double-click on the chapter you wish to open.

2.You can then change the chapter's 'Title' and 'Description'.

3.When you have finished, press 'OK' to save your changes and close the box. Please Note: if you press 'Exit' your changes will not be saved.

Scene List

Meaning of columns in Scene List Area

'Viewpoint' indicates from which character's perspective the scene is written this can be toggled in the Viewpoint Selector in the Content Tab of the Scene Editor Window.
'Words' displays how many words are in the scene.
'Scene' displays the scene title.
'Status' indicates whether you have set the status to 'Outline', 'Draft', '1st Edit', '2nd Edit' or 'Done' in the Details Tab of the Scene Editor Window.
'A/R' indicates whether you have set the type of scene to 'Action' or 'Reaction' in the Details Tab (step 2 of page 18) of the Scene Editor Window.
'Filename' displays the filename for the scene.
'Letters' displays the number of letters present in the scene.
'Characters' displays the characters you have set as present in the scene in the Scene Information Area
'Locations' displays the locations you have set for the scene.
'Items' displays the items you have set as present in the scene.

Resizing columns in Scene List Area:

1.Move your cursor between two columns until it becomes a cross with left and right arrows (as shown). 2.Hold down your mouse button and move left to make the left column smaller or

right to make the left column bigger.

Opening scene to begin editing:

Find a scene in the Scene List Area and double-click it or select 'Edit selected scene' from 'Scene' menu. The icon next to the open scene will change from

to to indicate the scene is being edited.

Rearranging scenes:

Click, drag and drop scenes into the position you want them. You can also drag one or more scenes onto chapter titles, which will move the scenes to the end of those already present in that chapter.

Scene Information Area

Viewing scene information:

Under the Scene List area, all information entered for the selected scene (except scene ratings) is shown. Click between the tabs to view the information.

Meaning of icons in the Scene Information Area:

Minor Character

Major Character

Location

Item

Editing scene information:

You can edit the 'Name', 'Description', 'Content', 'Scene Notes' and 'Goals' fields directly on the main screen, as long as you're not already editing the scene in the Scene Editor.

Adding characters, locations or items to a scene:

If you wish to add existing Characters, Items or Locations to the selected scene:

1.Click on the appropriate tab (Characters, Items or Locations)

2.Click, drag and drop the desired object from the 'All Characters/Locations/Items' list

to the 'In this scene' list.

Right click-the desired object and select 'Add to all selected scenes' (you can select multiple scenes by holding down the 'Ctrl' button on your keyboard and clicking the scenes in the Scene List Area.)

Editing character, location or item details:

Click on the appropriate tab and double-click the desired object to open that object's editor box.

When you save your changes, the object's details will be updated on the main screen and in every open scene editor window.

Resizing Scene Information Area in Main Screen:

1.Move your cursor to the border between the Scene Name Box and th

e Scene Information Area until it becomes a cross with up and down arrows (as shown right). 2.Click and drag the border as far as you need to view your information.

Project Notes Tab

Viewing notes:

Click the 'Projects Notes' tab (this is next to 'Scenes' and underneath 'Author' in the Main Screen). When you have written a note for the project, it will appear in the Project Note List Area and can be read in the text box at the bottom of the screen (as shown below). Click the 'Scenes' tab next to the 'Notes' tab to get back to the Scene List Area.

Resizing notes:

1.Move your cursor to the border between the Notes Name Box and the Notes

Content Box until it becomes a cross with up and down arrows (as shown). 2.Click, drag and drop the border as far as necessary to view your notes.

Creating a new note:

1.Click the 'Projects Notes' tab (as shown).

2.Press the 'New' button.

3.Replace the words 'New Note' (default title) in the narrow text box with your own note title (eg. 'Low

Note' as shown).

4.Write your notes in the larger text box.

5.Press 'Save' to save your note.

Editing a note:

1.Click on a note and its information will appear in the Notes Editor box.

2.Press 'Edit'.

3.Make your changes and press 'Save'.