GETTING
STARTED
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I downloaded
filmmakersoftware from the web but it won't open. I
have Stuffit Expander, but it won't work. What is
the deal?
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Please make sure you are
using Aladdin Expander 5.0 (or later) to decompress
your downloaded file. Also...check to see how big
the filmmakr.sit file is to make sure it all
downloaded fully (it should be approximately
10MB).
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Do I need to register my
copy of filmmakersoftware?
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You do not need to register
your copy of filmmakersoftware. Just purchase, download and
start using. However, you must agree to our
included license agreement.
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When I attempt to create a
"new strip" on my production board, the strip entry
dialog box does not open. Instead, my computer
keeps reporting a macro error. What is the
matter?
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If you are using a
non-English version of Microsoft Excel, you may
encounter this problem. Unfortunately, there is no
solution for this problem (at least at this time).
Some of the macros in PrdBoard.XLS do not work with
the non-English versions of Excel. Apologies for
this. For what it's worth...the budgeting/managing
module (FilmMakr.FP3) should work okay.
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IMPORT/EXPORT
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When I attempt to export
my data from the Production Board I get a macro
error. What do I do?
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Have you changed the file
name of the production board? If the file is named
anything other than "PrdBoard.XLS", then your
exports will not work.
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Once I've completed the
data entry of all the records in the budget module,
can I export the whole thing to excel and create an
excel based budget template?
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You can export practically
everything from the filmmakersoftware files (from
the main menu, click on the orange Exp/Imp button
in the bottom left hand corner of your screen).
However, it may take some effort to sort out the
exported fields.
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When I export data from
the Production Board, the budget program does not
come up as indicated in the instructions. What
could be the problem?
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Once your data is exported,
you must open up the budget program yourself. To
import the data...From the Main Menu click on one
of the orange "Import" buttons at the bottom of the
screen.
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I've read all the
instructions. My file is the correct name
PrdBoard.XLS. I seem to export OK. File saves fine.
But when I open the budget software and click on
import prod board elements, nothing happens. What
am I doing wrong ?
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Try this: Open up your
PrdBoard. Then, use the [`] key to delete
the Xs from the entire Export Column (Column D).
Then try exporting and importing your elements once
again.
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In some dedicated
scripting word processors, like Final Draft, it is
possible to put out a list of scene headings, i.e.
EXT. MOBILE HOME. DAY, as a text file. It's easy to
convert it into a comma, or whatever, delimited
file that should go into spreadsheets fairly
easily. I tried it with filmmakersoftware and it
sort of worked but was fairly funky. Can it be
done? It would really be a useful feature to
have.
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We've never tried importing
data from Final Draft into our software. If you (or
anyone who reads this) comes up with a solution,
please let us know. If it isn't too complicated, we
would love to include it in our download.
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COMPATIBILITY
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IMPORTANT
NOTE FOR USERS OF NON-ENGLISH VERSIONS OF MICROSOFT
EXCEL: Macros in the
filmmakersoftware Production Board may not work. In
some versions of Excel they seem to work fine.
Others, not at all.
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How can I change/select
another currency?
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Unfortunately, in the current
version of filmmakersoftware, the currency symbol
can not be changed from "$". We do hope to address
this issue in a later version.
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Do you have a French
version of this program? It would be fantastic if
you did, for the English version is
fantastic.
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Unfortunately, no. Not
yet.
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Can I budget and schedule
more than one film at a time? It seems as though I
have to name the file something very particular,
which means it probably can't be an individual
name.
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You can have multiple budgets
by duplicating the whole "FilmMakr" folder, and
simply renaming the "FilmMakr" folder for each new
project. However, we do not recommend running two
different projects on your computer at the same
time.
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Does filmmakersoftware
work with Linux?
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User
Submitted Answer: It
works flawlessly with a properly configured WINE
(Windows compatability layer, see www.winehq.org)
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MULTIPLE
PROJECTS
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Can I share a budget's
details with the next project. For example, if I
use the same crew and cast for my next project, can
I somehow get those details from Project A to
Project B without getting all the other budget
items in?
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I would recommend using the
export/import functions available in the File menu
(they can be a little challenging to figure out at
first, but they are pretty good)...or simply
duplicate the "FilmMakr" folder that you have
already entered information into, rename it, and
then delete from the duplicate the records that do
not apply to the new project.
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LIMITATIONS
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Help! We have come to the
250th scene and can go no farther. Is there any way
for us to add more columns in Excel? We tried
inserting columns but that doesn't work.
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I regret to say, it looks
like Excel limits its spreadsheets to a maximum of
255 columns. Because of this limitation, it seems
that would be all the scenes our program will allow
you to enter. There may be workarounds, but I can't
imagine any that would be that simple.
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When creating the Shooting
schedule, I enter all the scenes for each day on
the call sheets. We are shooting many scenes on
each day. When I go to print out the shooting
schedule, I can only see the first 9 scenes...the
rest are hidden in the scroll. What can I do to
make all scenes visible?
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While you're in reports,
looking at the callsheet you want to print, click
on the SCENE tab.
Next to each scene you have
entered for that callsheet, there is a gray button.
When you click on any gray button in that section,
a printable list of all the scenes you need to
shoot for that day will appear on your screen.
Simply print the list, and
staple it to your callsheet, and write a big "see
next page" over the Scene section on your
callsheet.
BTW, this can also be done
for all the other lists on your callsheet as well.
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