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Final Draft 7

Final Draft 7

List Price: $289.99
Your Price: $189.99
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 1 stars
Summary: "let the buyer beware..."
Review: I just bought the upgrade on March 31st and was very disappointed. Perhaps the worst thing about it is the fact that using the "go to" feature to jump from one page to another causes the application to "unexpectedly quit". This happens EVERY time I do so, which makes the act of writing a screenplay on it totally impossible for users of mac OS X. Hopefully there will be an update coming down the pike soon, but how long it will take is anybody's guess. I'm back to using Final Draft 6. So a word of warning before jumping in too soon (like me), wait until the update before you purchase if you're a mac user.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: "let the buyer beware..."
Review: I just bought the upgrade on March 31st and was very disappointed. Perhaps the worst thing about it is the fact that using the "go to" feature to jump from one page to another causes the application to "unexpectedly quit". This happens EVERY time I do so, which makes the act of writing a screenplay on it totally impossible for users of mac OS X. Hopefully there will be an update coming down the pike soon, but how long it will take is anybody's guess. I'm back to using Final Draft 6. So a word of warning before jumping in too soon (like me), wait until the update before you purchase if you're a mac user.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Buggy software
Review: I like and have used FD for years (versions 3 through 6) both on Windows and Mac (5 & 6 Windows only). It has the best layout of any of the major script softwares on the market (I've tried 5 top ones). Having said that, I always found it somewhat buggy, but I put up with it for the sake of the layout. But version 7 is just a disgrace. I would much rather they focused on getting the bugs out than adding more useless features I'll never use. It is now just bloatware, and extremely buggy. I'm boycotting FD until they get the COUNTLESS bugs out (spellcheking that won't "take" after my correction are a particular bugaboo). I guess the FD people find themselves in a bind - they need to generate sales, but unfortunately have no idea how to improve the software - guess what: most of us just need the basics, so unless you really deliver something useful, it is easy to ignore the "new versions". My advice to them: start with taking the COUNTLESS bugs out.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Buggy software
Review: I like and have used FD for years (versions 3 through 6) both on Windows and Mac (5 & 6 Windows only). It has the best layout of any of the major script softwares on the market (I've tried 5 top ones). Having said that, I always found it somewhat buggy, but I put up with it for the sake of the layout. But version 7 is just a disgrace. I would much rather they focused on getting the bugs out than adding more useless features I'll never use. It is now just bloatware, and extremely buggy. I'm boycotting FD until they get the COUNTLESS bugs out (spellcheking that won't "take" after my correction are a particular bugaboo). I guess the FD people find themselves in a bind - they need to generate sales, but unfortunately have no idea how to improve the software - guess what: most of us just need the basics, so unless you really deliver something useful, it is easy to ignore the "new versions". My advice to them: start with taking the COUNTLESS bugs out.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A great Tool that's Easy to Use
Review: I understand that there are a couple glitches with this software (what software package doesn't?)- and both times I had to get customer support from Final Draft, they were of immense help - patient and walked mr through the issues I had.

That being said, the Final Draft tools are straightforward, easy to use, and industry standard.

It's my favorite screenwriting software and I think the best out there.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: I had a COMPLETELY different experience than Max
Review: I updated to Final Draft 7 early on and have been downloading updates as soon as they are released. Initially, I did have problems with the program but now feel it is as stable (or more stable) than version 6. I have emailed Final Draft Tech Support a number times over the years and have always received prompt, courteous answers. I have been to a few Final Draft demos at a Apple Stores and met some of their people and found them to be OK folks that listen to their users. I find Max's experience hard to believe. It seems totally out of character that the response he said he got came from Final Draft (or any software company). Could someone be hijacking their server? Anyway, I think they did a good job quickly fixing version 7.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A New Way Of Writing
Review: I was forced to switch to Final Draft by the studio that hired me, and I switched, kicking and screaming from my old stand by. Now I could never go back. Take the plunge - it totally changed the speed in which I crank out a script. I'm much faster now. Believe me, Hollywood is going to want you to use Final Draft, anyway. I am doing re-writes and the process has been streamlined with the new multiple window features. I just did it - I re-worked a setup on page 13 of the script and its payoff on page 86 - onscreen, at the same time! I have been waiting for this. I had a problem with priinting when I first got it, but I bought it when it was just released and Final Draft fixed it in a patch. I had more problems with XP when it first came out. After shopping online, I found it on amazon!

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Seriously Buggy
Review: I've been using FD for years, and haven't had any serious problems, but this version is a disaster. I can only select text from bottom to top, and even that is totally unpredictable. The new version crashes endlessly if you have an older version installed, but uninstalling the previous version deletes the custom Final Draft fonts. Since the 'upgrade' to version seven I've spent more time wrestling the software than I have writing.

The only new feature that interested me was the outline view, but in practise it's stupid. Most of the time it's impossible to navigate a script by sluglines alone, and the result is more wasted time.

Steer clear of this product.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Aren't Newer Versions Supposed To Be Better?
Review: I've been using Final Draft for a number of years now, back to version 4.X, and always liked it. Version 6 has been a real winner, with a few annoying quirks. When given an opportunity to upgrade to version 7, I thought, "Great, I'll do it." I'm sorry I did. FD7 may turn out to be a good update to a good program, but as it is now it shouldn't have been released. Just a couple examples -- when I switch to the index card view, I get a screen full of blank index cards, even though I'm many pages into my script. What gives? It's much less convenient to access Scene Navigator and Index Cards in FD7, and as another reviewer wrote, the Go To function doesn't work properly. What a disappointment. So now I'm back to using FD6, which is so much better. I'll be on the lookout for updates that might make FD7 at least usable, but until then I'll stick with FD6. You should do the same.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Warning: Wait Until They Fix It
Review: I've used Final Draft for Macintosh since Version 5. It's always been a touch cranky but well worth the trouble. This is no longer the case with version 7.0 (and the upgrade to 7.0.0.33 seems to have made things worse). Cursor position is unstable, that is you probably aren't entering text where you think you are. Randomly, selected text refuses to unselect. Parentheticals won't allow you to move the cursor to the next block of dialog. Smart type "forgets" character names and locations, et cetera. As is, this program is unusable and repeated e-mails to the publisher have gone unanswered.

I hope they fix the problems, until they do I've gone back to version 6, and I'm out the cost of the upgrade.


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