Refer to a character in a stage direction

When a stage direction describes what a character does, you can insert their name as a character reference. For example, you want to write Robin opens the door.

Insert a reference

1. Place the cursor in a Stage direction block where the character’s name should go.
2. Type @ to start entering a character reference.
3. Type Robin. To use a suggested name, click it, or select it with ↓ Arrow down or ↑ Arrow up and press ⏎ Enter.
4. Press ⏎ Enter or ⇥ Tab to finish the reference and return to ordinary text. If you used ⏎ Enter to select a suggestion, press it once more, or use ⇥ Tab.
5. Continue with opens the door. as ordinary text after the reference.

Finishing the reference leaves you in the same stage direction, ready to continue the sentence. It does not create a new block.

Change a reference

Click an inserted character reference to edit its name. Finish the edit with ⏎ Enter or ⇥ Tab to return to ordinary text.

To rename a confirmed character across the script, use its Name field in the attribute manager. Editing the text of one reference is a local change and may stop it from matching that confirmed character.

Cancel before finishing

Press Esc while entering a reference to remove the unfinished reference.

Does a reference confirm the character?

Completing the text and confirming a character are separate actions. If you enter a new name, you can confirm it from the Characters sidebar.

Related tasks

• Put the speaker’s name above a speech.
• Work with music and lyrics for music references in stage directions.