What is the FDX file format?
An .fdx file is a screenplay or script document created by Final Draft, the industry-standard screenwriting application. Introduced with Final Draft 8 in 2009, the FDX format replaced the proprietary binary .fdr format used by Final Draft versions 1 through 7 with a human-readable XML structure.
The file is standard XML with a root element <FinalDraft DocumentType="Script" Version="N">. Script content is organized into <Paragraph> elements typed by their role: SceneHeading, Action, Character, Dialogue, Parenthetical, and so on. Metadata - title page, scene properties, revision marks - is stored in sibling XML elements. The current schema version is 6, introduced with Final Draft 12 (2022).
Because .fdx is well-documented XML, competing screenwriting tools import and export it natively, including Fade In, WriterDuet, Movie Magic Screenwriter, Highland 2, and Celtx. The related .fdxt extension is used for Final Draft templates. Final Draft is available on Windows, macOS, and iOS via Final Draft Go.
A feature-length screenplay is typically 90-120 pages and produces an .fdx file in the range of 100-200 KB. The file is readable in any text editor, though meaningful editing requires a screenwriting application that understands the paragraph-type schema.
Security & safety
RISK: LOWPure XML text file; cannot contain executable code. Safe to open in a text editor. No known attack vectors.
Format details
in a nutshellPrograms that open FDX files
Windows4 apps
macOS3 apps
Highland 2
Freemium Open the .fdx file directly; Highland imports and displays it as Fountain markup. Technical details
deep spec| Developer | Final Draft, Inc. (Cast & Crew Entertainment Services) |
| Container | Plain XML (UTF-8) |
| Root element | <FinalDraft DocumentType="Script" Version="N"> |
| Paragraph types | SceneHeading, Action, Character, Dialogue, Parenthetical, Transition |
| Current schema version | Version 6 (Final Draft 12, 2022) |
| Version history | V1-3 = FD 8-9; V4-5 = FD 10-11; V6 = FD 12 |
| Encoding | UTF-8 text |
| Typical size | 50 KB - 2 MB (feature-length script ~100-200 KB) |
| Introduced | 2009, with Final Draft 8 (replaced binary .fdr format) |
| Associated OS | Windows, macOS, iOS |
| Interoperability | Natively supported by Fade In, WriterDuet, Highland 2, Movie Magic Screenwriter, Celtx |
| Template format | .fdxt (Final Draft XML Template, same XML structure) |
| Released | 2009 (Final Draft 8) |
| Latest version | Version 6 schema (as of Final Draft 12, 2022) |
| Open standard | Yes · royalty-free |
| Specification | kb.finaldraft.com |
FDX conversions
Community Q&A
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