Skip to main content

Documentation Index

Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.inkwell.app/llms.txt

Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

Inkwell includes powerful navigation tools to help you move through long scripts quickly and write more efficiently. This guide covers typewriter scrolling, the ScrollMap, the Navigation panel outline, and navigation shortcuts.

​
Typewriter scrolling

Typewriter scrolling keeps your cursor vertically centered while you write, eliminating the need to look at the bottom of the screen as you type.

​
Enable typewriter scrolling

1

Open View menu

Select View → Typewriter Scrolling from the macOS menu bar.
2

Start writing

As you type, the page scrolls automatically to keep your cursor in the center of the window. Your eyes stay in one place—no more looking down at the bottom of the screen.
3

Toggle off (optional)

Select View → Typewriter Scrolling again to disable typewriter scrolling and return to standard scrolling behavior.

​
Benefits

  • Reduces eye strain: No more scanning up and down the page.
  • Maintains focus: Your active writing line always stays in the center of your vision.
  • Faster writing: Less visual distraction means more words per session.
Many professional screenwriters enable typewriter scrolling permanently. Try it for a writing session—you may never go back!

​
The ScrollMap (Navigation Minimap)

The ScrollMap on the right edge of the editor is one of Inkwell’s signature navigation features. It provides a visual, interactive overview of your entire script with intelligent highlighting.

​
What the ScrollMap shows

  • Script structure: Compressed visualization of all pages as a vertical canvas.
  • Viewport indicator: A transparent bar showing your current visible pages.
  • Cursor position: A thin line indicating where your typing cursor is.
  • Current scene length: The left side highlights the full extent of the active scene.
  • Character distribution: The middle section highlights all pages where a selected character speaks.
  • Unsaved changes: The right side shows green lines representing modified, unsaved changes.
  • Search results: Blue highlights show all instances of your active search term.
  • Revision indicators: Shows where edits have been made in revision mode.

​
How to use the ScrollMap

​
Jump to any location

Click anywhere on the ScrollMap to instantly jump to that part of your script. This is the fastest way to navigate long screenplays.

​
Balance scene lengths

The left side of the ScrollMap highlights the bounds of the current scene. If a scene block is exceptionally long (e.g., more than 10 pages), it’s a visual cue that the scene might need splitting or pacing adjustments.

​
Find character distribution

Select a character in the Characters tab of the Project Panel. The ScrollMap will highlight every scene where that character appears. Click on any highlighted bar to jump directly to that character’s scene.

​
Track unsaved changes

The right side of the ScrollMap shows unsaved edits as green lines. This helps you visually verify what parts of the script have changed before you save.

​
View search results

When you search (Cmd+F), the ScrollMap displays blue highlights for all matching instances, showing how a word, prop, or character is distributed across your story.
Toggle the ScrollMap visibility by pressing Cmd+Opt+M or selecting View → Scroll Gutter Map.
The Navigation panel (Project Panel → Navigation tab) displays a hierarchical outline of your script’s structure.

​
What it includes

  • Sections: Acts, sequences, or scene groups (marked with #, ##, ###).
  • Scene headings: Every INT. and EXT. scene in your script.
  • Notes: Inline developer notes marked with [[ note ]].
  • Synopses: Scene summaries prefixed with =.

​
Collapse and expand sections

Click the arrow icon next to any section to collapse or expand its contents, allowing you to hide completed acts and focus on what’s active.

​
Drag and drop outline items to reorder

You can click and drag any scene or section in the Navigation outline and drop it to reorder scenes. Dragging a scene moves it and its nested dialogue and action blocks automatically in your script document.

​
Filter by element type

Use the filter menu at the top of the Navigation panel to filter what’s visible:
  • All: Everything (sections, scenes, notes, synopses).
  • Scenes: Just scene headings.
  • Notes: Only inline notes.
  • Synopses: Only scene summaries.

​
Search and find

Inkwell provides native macOS search tools to locate text, character names, or dialogue.
  1. Press Cmd+F to open the Find bar at the top of the editor.
  2. Enter your search term.
  3. Press Enter to jump to the next match, or Shift+Enter to jump to the previous match.
  4. Press Esc to close the Find bar.

​
Find and replace

  1. Press Cmd+Opt+F or go to Edit → Find and Replace.
  2. Enter the Find and Replace terms.
  3. Use Replace to confirm single changes, or Replace All to replace every match in the document.
Use “Replace All” carefully. Always preview replacements to avoid unintended changes.

​
Go to scene or page

  • Go to Page… (Cmd+L): Opens a quick dialog. Type a page number and press Enter to jump to it.
  • Go to Scene… (Cmd+J): Opens a scene jump window. Type a scene number or search terms to jump to a scene heading.
  • Previous / Next Change (Opt+J / Opt+K): Walk through your recent edit points.

​
Keyboard shortcuts for navigation

Master these shortcuts to move through your script lightning-fast:
ActionShortcut
Go to PageCmd+L
Go to SceneCmd+J
FindCmd+F
Find and ReplaceCmd+Opt+F
Scroll Gutter Map (ScrollMap)Cmd+Opt+M
Previous / Next ChangeOpt+J / Opt+K
Jump to top of scriptCmd+Home (or Cmd+Up)
Jump to end of scriptCmd+End (or Cmd+Down)
Scroll one page up / downPage Up / Page Down
Toggle Project PanelCmd+[
Toggle Quill PanelCmd+]
See complete keyboard shortcuts →

​
Productivity tips

​
Use sections for outlining

Before writing, create a rough structure with sections: 
# ACT ONE - ORDINARY WORLD
## Opening Image
## Introduction of Characters
## Inciting Incident

# ACT TWO - UPSIDE-DOWN WORLD
## Rising Action
## Midpoint Reversal

# ACT THREE - RESOLUTION
## Climax
## Resolution

​
Leverage synopses as beat sheets

Add synopses above scenes to track your story structure: 
= Alice discovers Bob's secret and confronts him

INT. COFFEE SHOP - DAY

​
Use notes for revision reminders

During first drafts, add inline notes for things to fix later: 
[[ TODO: Add more tension to Bob's response ]]
Filter the Navigation panel to “Notes” to see all your TODOs in one view.

​
Scene numbering

Scene numbers help productions coordinate script changes, track shots, and ensure everyone is referencing the same version.

​
Add scene numbers

Go to Screenplay → Number Scenes to add scene numbers sequentially. They appear on both sides of scene headings: 
1  INT. COFFEE SHOP - DAY  1

​
Clear scene numbers

Go to Screenplay → Clear Scene Numbers to remove all numbers. The scenes themselves remain unchanged.

​
Common navigation questions

Go to Screenplay → Number Scenes to add scene numbers. Remove them with Screenplay → Clear Scene Numbers.
Yes! Drag and drop scenes directly within the Navigation outline to reorder the script content dynamically.
Click the character’s name in the Characters tab. Their scenes will highlight on the ScrollMap. Click a highlight bar on the ScrollMap to jump there instantly.

​
Next steps

Beat Board

Arrange scenes visually using index cards

Revisions

Track changes with revision marks and colors

Formatting basics

Master all Fountain elements and syntax

Keyboard shortcuts

Complete list of navigation and editing shortcuts