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Trelby is a free, open-source screenwriting program built to handle screenplay formatting while you write. It offers useful script-editing, reporting, and export features, but its published Mac support is inconsistent, its script characters are limited to Latin-1, and it lacks some production tools. It is a good fit if you want focused screenplay drafting; check platform and workflow compatibility before relying on it for a production pipeline.
What Trelby does for screenwriters
Trelby is designed to apply screenplay formatting rules automatically. The project FAQ explains that screenwriting programs handle those guidelines so writers can focus on the script rather than formatting each element by hand. Trelby also provides multiple writing modes, including a fullscreen view, and lets users customize keyboard behavior, printed elements, fonts, and interface colors. These capabilities are described by the project; they are not independent performance test results.
Drafting and script checks
The project lists spell-checking, a character-name database, and checks for formatting errors. These can help catch common issues during drafting, though they do not replace an editorial or production review.
Reports and revisions
Trelby can produce reports on characters, scenes, dialogue and action, character activity, and overall script statistics. It can also compare script revisions. Those features are useful for reviewing a draft, but the FAQ says the program does not include some production-oriented controls, such as page or scene locking and colored revisions.
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Which screenplay formats can Trelby import and export?
The project’s feature page says Trelby saves in its own open file format, imports formatted TXT and Final Draft XML (.fdx), and exports PDF, TXT, RTF, HTML, and Final Draft. The project repository additionally lists Celtx (.celtx) import. These are published compatibility claims, not a guarantee that every script will transfer perfectly.
If you are moving a script from another program, keep the original untouched and import a copy first. Check scene headings, dialogue, character names, special characters, and page breaks in the resulting script before making Trelby your only working copy.
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Does Trelby work on Windows, Linux, and Mac?
Trelby’s official pages disagree about Mac support. The download page, accessed October 4, 2026, labels version 2.4 for Windows/MacOS and lists Linux distribution routes. The FAQ says Trelby currently runs on Windows and Linux, and describes Mac support as possible but requiring development work. Because those statements conflict, do not assume a listed Mac package will work on your particular Mac: verify the current package and test it on the target macOS version before depending on it.
The download page also lists a separate version 2.2 section for Windows and Linux. It does not establish a recent release date, so the presence of a version number should not be treated as evidence of a particular release cadence.
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What language and production limits should you consider?
Script characters are limited to Latin-1
The FAQ says screenplay characters are restricted to ISO-8859-1 (Latin-1). That covers many Western European characters but excludes writing systems and characters outside that encoding. If your script relies on such characters, test them in a sample file before adopting Trelby.
The interface is English-only
Trelby’s menus and dialogs are available in English only, according to the FAQ. This is separate from the character encoding limit: an English interface does not mean a script can represent every language.
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Some production tools are not planned
The FAQ says dual dialogue and certain production functions, including page or scene locking and colored revisions, are unlikely to be implemented. If those tools are essential to your workflow, Trelby may be too limited even if its drafting and reporting features meet your needs.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is Trelby free, and where can you get help?
Trelby is presented by its project as free and open-source software. The FAQ identifies its license as GPL, and the repository links a GPL-2.0 license. The project’s download page lists available platform packages and Linux distribution routes. It recommends Courier 10 pitch for screenplay rendering and links free getting-started material and full documentation.
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The project’s About page says Trelby began as Blyte, was written from 2003 to 2006, and was open-sourced in 2006. It describes a revival in late 2011 and says Gwyn Ciesla converted the program to Python 3 in 2018; the current About page names her as maintainer. This project history does not by itself establish how frequently the software is maintained today.
Quick Recap
Who should choose Trelby?
- Consider it if you want a free, focused program that automates screenplay formatting and offers reports, revision comparison, and several common import and export formats.
- Check it carefully first if you use a Mac, need characters outside Latin-1, or are migrating a complex script from another application.
- Look for a different workflow if you depend on dual dialogue, page or scene locking, or colored revision tools.
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