Celtx 0.98 Release!!

[spick]

Celtx - Express Yourself

Download it here!

Our Objective

Tapping in to the insatiable demand for access to back stories, casting details, production notes and ‘How to’s, Creators can use the new and innovative publishing feature introduced in this latest release of Celtx to enhance their published projects with any information generated during or after the pre-production process, enabling them to produce a more compelling viewing experience to help drive interest and demand.

This new technology will also help search engines index your projects, making it easier for consumers to find media that appeals to their personal tastes.

If your finished Media Project is the visible part of the iceberg, then the work that went in to making that media is the other 7/8ths. Until now, until 098, there was no tool that enabled you to re-purpose that work product.

We use our own version of Wizard of Oz to show how Project Central can be used to create an online version of the increasingly popular 'Bonus Disc', complete with background details on key characters, wardrobe items and props. However, the same tools could be used to augment any published media project, whether to supplement an educational video with problem sheets and reading lists or to create a fan-fanatic opus to a favorite film or TV show.

We will be rolling out new features on Project Central – like a general search tool and mechanism for providing feedback - on an almost weekly basis.

Details

What can I publish?
Any data in your Celtx Project can now be published to Project Central. This includes any:

• Script(s) - and number of scripts can be published, including spec versus shooting scripts, serials, and alternative endings
• Text Docs - supporting research, treatments and synopsis, related background material, and song lyrics;
• Forms - Any details on Characters, Scenes, Location and Actors can be published;
• Department Items - any items gleaned from any one of the over 30 different production departments that Celtx supports can be published, providing consumers with deep access to details on anything from Animals to Weapons;
• External Files - any external file, including pictures, sound files, video clips, budget docs or storyboard shots can be published as part of your Celtx Project. Files that can't display in a web browser will be available as a download.
• Video Embeds - support is included for video embeds so you can continue to place your videos and other Media projects on sites like Yahoo!Video™ or Google Video™ or YouTube™.

What will it look like?
Projects published to Project Central will in most cases appear much like they do in the Celtx client.

Folders in Celtx will appear as headers in Project Central. Any file, including the text data and media in a Celtx Form (eg. Location Details) will be displayed in Project Central as it pretty much appears in the Celtx client (with some tweaking for presentation).

We've published our Sample 'Oz' project to Project Central so you can see what one Project looks like.

In the future, we hope to introduce tools that will allow you to publish your project to your own Blog or web site.

How do I do this?
We have added a new "Upload Options" dialogue under 'File' that can be used to add information to your project for publishing to Project Central. This includes a:
• Project Title
• Tag Line
• Description
• Project Picture; and
• Video Embed

All of which will appear as part of your published project. If you don't have video embed, Project Central will display the Project Picture on your main page.

We've posted a new flash tutorial to help explain the process.

We will be eventually introducing an editing tool in Project Central so that you can polish your published project directly from the web site (similar to how a blogging tool works). In the meantime, to facilitate the publishing process we've implemented a new "Copy Project" feature accessible under the 'File' menu.

'Copy Project' will create a unique copy of your Media Project that you can use to edit and polish your Media Project before publishing it to Project Central. This will enable you to simultaneously maintain two Project Folders – one for pre-production and one for publishing.

Will you be adding new features to Project Central?
Absolutely, and often.

Since Project Central is delivered by a server, we can add new features without needing to release new versions of the Celtx client.

Speaking of which…

Celtx Client

We have added a slew of new tools to help improve workflow, enable customization, to refine the data model and generally improve the software's usefulness.

Splash Page
The Celtx Splash Page has been re-sized to accommodate a new "Inbox" tab. The Inbox tab consolidates the feeds from the Forum and Project Central.

Once a User is logged in to the Celtx Server, the "Inbox" will also provide real-time updates on changes made to any of your shared or private projects.

Upload Dialogue
We added a new "Upload Comment" text box in the Upload dialogue. These comments will appear in the Inbox feed.

The addition of an "Upload Comment" together with the new Inbox feed will help facilitate collaboration by providing immediate notification whenever a project has been updated, and how.

Upload Options
We have added a new 'Upload Options' feature under the 'File' menu that can be used to add a Tag Line, Project description, Project picture or video embed, all of which will then display alongside your project on Project Central.

'New Project' Dialogue
We have simplified the 'New Project' dialogue by removing the document check list. You can change the settings for the types of documents created with each New Project by accessing "Tools ->Options".

If you make a change to the default setting (which initially includes only a script and text doc) your new list will apply to all New Projects until you change it again.

Login Dialogue
We've added the option to automatically log-in on start-up ("Tools -> Options").

Once logged in, Users will receive their Inbox feed, notifying them of any new changes to Projects.

Copy Project
We have added a "Copy Project' feature under 'File'. Your entire Project Folder is copied in the process, and renamed "Copy of [original name of your Project]. The Project Title and the Celtx launch file (located inside the Project Folder) will also change to "Copy of...".

The copy is given its own unique ID. This will enable you to maintain multiple versions of the same project to facilitate publishing to Project Central.

Expanded Add Item Dialogue
Celtx now supports every department that exists for making Media – from Animals to Weapons. Each has its own unique icon to make it easier to spot a specific department item in a Project

Seeing how 30 or more departments makes for a long list (and scroll) we decided to also add a way for users to manage the list to suit there own unique preferences. Again, this is accessed under "Tools -> Options".

New Data Model
There is now a 1:1 ratio between items in the sidebar and items in your Project Folder.

Items added or removed via the Project Navigator are added to or removed from the sidebar. And vice versa, Items added or removed via the sidebar are added to or removed from the Project Nav.

Items added via the sidebar are automatically placed inside the highlighted folder in the Project Navigator. The Sidebar and associated Form will share the same Media and Description content.

Project Navigator
We added a new top-level folder that has the Project title.

A Right-Click (or Control click) on a folder or file, or the Project Navigator itself, will provide access to contextual options, like changing the name of a file or folder, or adding and removing either.

Pick-lists in Forms
Characters in Pick-lists are now pulled from the data model as opposed to the Script, so the Character name, once it appears in either the Project Navigator (eg. Character Form) or Sidebar will appear in the Pick-list.

Reports
All reports now display the Project Title and the Script Title in the header.

Reports now pull their Description and Media data from a Form and/or the Sidebar. We have also added the ability to select individual items in the Reports.

Conversion of 0972 Projects
The improvements made to the data model means that projects created in version 0972 or earlier will need to be converted to the 098 data model.

The conversion is automatic on opening your 0972 project in 098. A back-up of your 097 project is made automatically and stored in your Project Folder should you want to revert back to version 0972.

Existing sidebar items are converted to Project Navigator items and marked "Sidebar Items".

Bullets
• Project Central - Any data and media in your Celtx Project can be published to Project Central. Project Central now supports all files, forms, folders, and embeds.
• Splash Page - The Celtx Splash Page has been re-sized to accommodate a new "Inbox" tab. The Inbox tab consolidates the feeds from the Forum and Project Central.
• New Project Dialogue - We've simplified the "New Project Dialogue" by moving the option to change the selection of items to be created in New Projects. This option is now located under "Tools -> Options".
• Upload Dialogue - We added a new "Upload Comment" text box in the Upload dialogue. These comments will appear in the Inbox feed.
• Upload Options - A new 'Upload Options' feature was added under the 'File' menu to facilitate the adding of Taglines, detailed project descriptions, project cover pictures and video embeds.
• Login Dialogue - We've simplified the login process by adding the option to "Login on Start-up"
• Copy Project - 'Copy Project' has been added under 'File'. Your copied project will be named "Copy of [original name]" and be given its own unique ID to enable simultaneous use of multiple versions of the same project.
• Add Item Dialogue - Celtx now supports every department that exists for making Media – from Animals to Weapons. Each has its own unique icon to make it easier to spot a specific department item in a Project. This list can be customized through 'Tools ->Options'.
• Sidebar Categories List - We've improved the data model so that Items created in the Sidebar (eg. a 'Character' mark-up) will create a corresponding item in the Project Navigator (eg. Character Form)). Accordingly, there is now a one to one ratio between items in the sidebar and items in your Project Folder.
• Project Navigator - We added a new top-level folder that has the Project title. You can change the name of your Media Project using a right click (Control click on the Mac of course).
• Pick-lists in Forms - Characters and Scenes in Pick-lists are now pulled from the data model as opposed to the Script, so the character name or Scene must appear in either the Celtx Project Navigator or Sidebar to show up in a Pick-list.
• Reports - All reports now display the Project Title and the Script Title in the header.
• Conversion of 0972 Projects - Since we changed the data model, projects created in version 0972 or earlier will need to be converted after you download and install 098. The conversion is automatic on opening your 0972 project in 098.

Thanks very much for using Celtx. We hope you like it.

Download it here!

Celtx Team

[Keith Loh]

Woohoo! I have been really busy but as I have to write another draft of my screenplay this month this is good timing.

[ntay]

Nice.

I really like this, and I'll have to play around with it for awhile.


Also, is the new Celtx based on Firefox 2? It looks a lot like it.
~Nick

[spick]

Hey Nick,

Yes indeedy, we have upped the core to Firefox 2.0.

Cheers,

Steve

[jeffkantoku]

Looks awesome... just playing around with it, trying to learn all the new features.

Good work, guys!

Here's to the onward development and evolution of CeltX!

Cheers!

-Jeff

[Comitar Studios]

Yay, glad to see import is finished!

Congrats on the release Celtx Team. Like I've said before, awesome job.

Chris

[MikeThorn]

Looks very slick, love the new features - congrats Steve & co! This is excellent timing - just perfect to take the new version down to the San Antonio Independent Christian Film Fest with me!

Can't wait to get back to active writing now. Too many new features too play with!

[magnus]

I recently made all manner of fuss about the .972 being frightening to work on. That it felt unstable and the likes.

.98 feels tighter than any of the previous iterations you guys have published. I download the .dmg - run it and install Celtx. Open the app and 'boom' open up my largest 100 odd page script and smiles and laughs as I scroll and type and moves text about trying crashing Celtx. Happily, Celtx doesn't crash. It copes with what I throw at it and works. It is a perfect world when 'things just work'.

Cheers guys for a strong update that seems to have resolved some stability issues and makes for an even tighter experience than before.

magnus

[Sheila]

On behalf of all of us, magnus...
THANK YOU!


Sheila, Steve, Michelle, Greg, Tony, Chad and Mark.

[ralphhogaboom]

Celtx is simply awesome. Thanks for the update and new features! The attention to simplifying the UI and streamlining workflow is not unnoticed. Congratulations! You've made something of which you should be proud.

[Shky]

Hey, it's me. I used to be around here a lot, but then, not so much. It's been, like, a LONG time since I've used Celtx. A couple of versions, surely, but I downloaded the new version the other day, and I have to say that I'm pretty amazed.

I'd stopped using Celtx (and writing in general) after starting a new job that was taking basically all my time, and leaving me drained at the end of the day. But I eventually found out that one of my coworkers does a lot of writing, and is interested in making some short films. So I whipped up a short script yesterday and we'll probably be shooting next weekend.

I just wanted to thank you guys for making the transition into writing again so easy. I'm very impressed with where Celtx has gone, and I'm very pleased to see that all the new features don't make the program seem overly bloated. It still feels tight and fast to use, and that's great to see.

Anyway, I probably won't have time to be on the forums very much, so I thought I'd say Hello again, and thanks.

[Sheila]

Hey Shky!
I wondered what happened to you.

Glad you like the changes to Celtx, and delighted to hear you're writing again cause you're good at it.
We have many more features and changes in store for the next version so as always, it will be good to get your input.

Great to hear from you again, Shky.
Good luck with the shoot.

Sheila

[longplay]

Am I right in thinking the installer doesn't now have the option to change the location of where Celtx is installed? I have previously installed the software on a different partition to my C drive, now it just goes right ahead and puts it in my Program Files folder, not overwriting the existing software and taking up space on a drive primarily reserved for my OS (I split OS, Apps and Data files for easier backups/maintenance and ease should I need to reinstall everything).

Also, a useful feature request would be incremental updates instead of having to download a new package and install from scratch each time.

Cheers

LP

[Mina]

I dont know if this will work but you shuold try...

First, install program in default directory (like you probably already did...) and then try to move the folder to wherever u want it. Ie... E:/programs/celtx. Make a shortcut from E:/programs/celtx to C:/programfiles/ (Remove the "shortcut to" in the filename)

I haven't tried this on celtx but it has worked fine on other apps... (With windows os that is...) In theory this should work fine.

Thanks to celtx for an excellent program!