Salad is a free (and soon to be open-source) screenwriting app that helps you write screenplays in standard screenplay format. Your work is saved locally in your browser and can be exported to industry-standard formats.
New Script: Start fresh (prompts to save unsaved changes)
Open: Load a .salad file or import .fdx (Final Draft) files
Save: Press Cmd+S (Mac) / Ctrl+S (Windows) to download a .salad file
Export PDF: Create a print-ready PDF
Export .fdx: Export to Final Draft format
Use toolbar buttons to change element types:
Tab: Cycle forward through types | Shift+Tab: Cycle backward
In an empty Scene Heading element:
Character Picker: Shows previously used names when typing
Autocomplete: Press Tab to accept suggestions
Modifiers: Press Right Arrow after a name for (V.O.), (O.S.), (CONT'D), etc.
Auto (CONT'D): Added automatically when same character speaks twice
Add Note: Click "Notes" button or press Control+N
Close Note: Press Tab or click anywhere outside the popup
🥕 Icon: Appears on lines with notes (not in PDF exports)
Navigate: Use < > arrows in popup or click numbers in Notes dropdown
Delete: Click "chop" in the popup
Empty notes are automatically removed when you close the popup.
Cmd/Ctrl+Click: Select individual elements
Shift+Click: Select a range
Bulk Actions: Delete, change type, or color all selected at once
Check "Revision Mode" to track changes. Modified lines show an asterisk (*).
Select revised elements and click "Clear Revisions" to remove marks.
File Operations:
Editing:
Element Type Switching:
Scene Heading (in empty scene heading):
Character:
Pickers (Character, Transition, Time, Modifier):
Multi-Select:
Work is automatically saved to your browser every few seconds. If you close the tab accidentally, you'll be prompted to restore on next visit (persists 72 hours).
⚠️ Always save to a .salad file for permanent storage!