Free screenplay converter
Celtx to FDX Converter
Move a Celtx script to Final Draft
Convert a Celtx desktop project (.celtx) into a Final Draft .fdx file, with every scene heading, cue, parenthetical, line of dialogue and transition typed. Also works from a PDF exported by Celtx online. Free, in your browser, no upload.
- Private: your script never leaves this browser tab.
- Free, no signup, no watermark.
- Industry layout kept: scene headings, cues, dialogue, (MORE) and (CONT'D).
Drop your Celtx file here
Final Draft, Fountain, PDF, Word, Fade In, Highland, Celtx, WriterDuet, Trelby or plain text. Any of them converts to any output.
Private by design: the conversion runs in this tab and nothing is uploaded.
How it works
A .celtx file from the desktop app is a zip archive holding the script as HTML, with one class per element (sceneheading, action, character, dialog, parenthetical, transition, shot). The converter opens the archive in your browser, reads the script and the project title, and writes a typed Final Draft file. For scripts in the current online Celtx, export a PDF from Celtx and drop that PDF here: the elements are recognized from the page layout.
Every screenplay format, both ways
Any format in the left column converts to PDF, Final Draft, Fountain, Word or plain text. Apps without a writable format here all open FDX or Fountain.
| Format | Reads | Writes |
|---|---|---|
| Final Draft (.fdx) | ||
| Fountain (.fountain) | ||
| Word (.docx) | ||
| Fade In (.fadein) | Use FDX, which it opens | |
| Highland (.highland) | Use Fountain, which it opens | |
| Celtx (.celtx) | Use FDX, which it opens | |
| WriterDuet (.wdz, .json) | Use FDX, which it opens | |
| Trelby (.trelby) | Use FDX, which it opens | |
| Text (.txt) |
Leaving Celtx without losing your scripts
Celtx moved from a free desktop app to an online subscription, and many writers still have projects in the old .celtx format that nothing else opens. Others want to leave the online version for Final Draft, Fade In or WriterDuet. Either way the script needs to come out with its elements intact.
This converter reads the old desktop format directly, and reads Celtx PDF exports by layout. The FDX it writes opens in Final Draft, Fade In, WriterDuet, Arc Studio and ScreenWeaver, so it works as the bridge to whichever app you choose next.
Your project is unzipped and converted inside the browser tab. No account, no upload, no watermark.
Who uses it
- Writers with old Celtx projects: rescue .celtx files from the desktop era into a format current apps open.
- Writers leaving Celtx online: export a PDF, convert it to FDX here, and keep working in Final Draft or Fade In.
- Schools and film programs: convert a batch of student scripts written in Celtx into one common format.
Stop fixing margins.Formatting is built in.
ScreenWeaver handles industry-standard formatting and exports to PDF and Final Draft (.fdx). Free, with unlimited pages.
- $0, does not expire
- PDF and Final Draft export
- Mac, Windows, Linux, iPad
Celtx to FDX Converter: the complete guide
It unzips the .celtx project in the browser, reads the HTML script with its element classes and the project title, and writes a typed .fdx. Celtx PDF exports are read by layout.
For this workflow, the central problem is clear: old .celtx projects no longer open anywhere, and leaving the online version means getting the scripts out with their elements intact. Left unresolved, this creates downstream friction and slower decisions. The practical target is a typed Final Draft file from a .celtx project or a Celtx PDF, ready for Final Draft, Fade In, WriterDuet or ScreenWeaver.
Limitation to keep in mind: Celtx project extras (catalog, storyboard, schedule) are not converted; scripts from Celtx online must be exported as PDF first.
Advanced workflow: Film schools convert a semester of student .celtx files to FDX in one sitting and archive them in a format every current app reads.
Step-by-Step Workflow
- Drop the .celtx file, or a PDF exported from Celtx.
- Check the detected scenes and characters.
- Pick FDX (or PDF, Fountain, Word).
- Download and open the file in your new app.
Use Cases By Profile
- Writer: rescue desktop-era .celtx projects.
- Writer leaving Celtx online: export PDF, convert to FDX, keep working.
- School: move student scripts to one common format.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Renaming a .celtx file to .zip and copying text out of the HTML by hand.
- Retyping a script that a Celtx PDF export can rebuild.
- Forgetting to check the element view after converting a PDF.
Professional Best Practices
- Keep the original .celtx alongside the new FDX.
- For Celtx online, export the script as PDF with the default layout.
- Convert to Fountain if you want a plain text archive copy too.
Treat this tool output as a decision support layer, not a replacement for authorship. Great scripts are remembered for specific choices, emotional precision, and clarity of dramatic movement. Tools help by removing noise so your energy can go where it matters: character, conflict, escalation, and payoff. If you review outcomes after each pass and keep an explicit log of accepted changes, your workflow becomes faster and more predictable from draft to draft. That consistency is exactly what professional collaborators value: fewer surprises, clearer rationale, and a script that evolves with intent.
Extended FAQ
Can I open a .celtx file without Celtx?
Yes. Drop it here: the project is unzipped and the script read in your browser, then saved as FDX, PDF, Fountain or Word.
Does it work with Celtx online?
Export the script from Celtx as PDF, then drop the PDF here: elements are recognized from the layout.
Which app should I open the FDX in?
Final Draft, Fade In, WriterDuet, Arc Studio, Highland or ScreenWeaver all open it.
Is the storyboard or catalog converted?
No. Only the screenplay and its title are converted.
Is my project uploaded?
No. It is unzipped and converted inside your browser tab.