Writer view presents your outline as a continuous document. It is designed for drafting and reading in a familiar writing flow while every line remains a structured Traverse node.
Writer is another view of the same outline rather than a separate document. Changes made in Writer appear immediately in Column and Outline views, with hierarchy, notes, attributes, Type, Fountain elements, tasks, and marks preserved.
Open Writer view
Choose Writer from the View control or View menu, or press Command-2. Writer view is available in Traverse Free and Pro.
Create lines and hierarchy
- Return: Create a sibling at the same outline level. If the insertion point is in the middle of a line, the text after it moves to the new sibling.
- Shift-Return: Create a child beneath the current line. Text after the insertion point moves to the new child.
- Tab: Indent the current line.
- Shift-Tab: Outdent the current line.
- Shift-Up / Shift-Down: Move the current node among its siblings.
The Add Child button in the toolbar also creates a child in Writer view.
Work with Type and Fountain
New lines inherit an appropriate Type or Fountain element so you can continue writing naturally. Press Backspace at the beginning of a newly created line to reset an inherited Type to Body or an inherited Fountain element to Action.
Traverse can also recognise familiar markers such as # for a Markdown Heading or . for a Fountain Scene Heading. See Smart typing with Type and Fountain for the complete reference.
Write Character and Dialogue quickly
In a Fountain outline, type @ followed by a character name to create a Character line. Press Shift-Return to create a child Dialogue line beneath it. This keeps screenplay structure intact without interrupting the writing flow.
Use Typewriter mode
Typewriter mode keeps the line being edited near the centre of the window, reducing the need to follow the insertion point toward the bottom of a long document.
- Choose View > Enable Typewriter Mode.
- Press Control-Command-T to toggle it.
The preference is remembered, but Typewriter mode only affects Writer view.
Show the shortcut bar
Choose View > Show Keyboard Shortcuts to display a floating reference bar at the bottom of the workspace. It shows the main commands for the active view, including adding siblings and children, indenting, outdenting, and moving nodes.
Switch views as you work
Writer is useful for drafting, but you can switch views at any time. Use Column view to explore a path through the hierarchy or Outline view to scan and reorganise a larger section. Your selection and structure remain part of the same outline.
More ideas
Visit Traverse tips and tricks for practical writing workflows and examples.
