Parts, chapters and scenes

A book in Septangular is made of scenes, grouped into chapters, and, if you like, chapters grouped into parts. Write in whatever order you like; the book keeps its own.

Adding and naming

The + at the top of the sidebar adds a scene, a chapter or a part. Right-click any of them (or click its ⋯) to add one after it, rename it, or move it. Names are typed straight into the sidebar: Return to accept, Esc to cancel. A new scene opens ready to write, and a new chapter comes with its first scene.

A book written without parts can be divided into them at any time: Divide into Parts… puts every chapter into a first part, and Start a Part Here… on a chapter begins a new part there. Chapter numbers run on across parts, so they don’t change.

Rearranging

Drag a scene onto another to put it before or after it, or onto a chapter to put it at the end. Drag chapters among chapters, or onto a part; drag parts among parts. While you drag a chapter, the scenes fold out of the way, so there’s always somewhere to drop it.

To move the scene you’re writing without reaching for the mouse, Manuscript → Move Scene Up or Down steps it through the book, across chapter boundaries, and the same with Shift moves its chapter.

Finding your way in a long book

As you scroll, the book’s title and the part and chapter you’re in stay at the top of the sidebar. Click a part or chapter to fold it away, or Option-click to fold them all. Each scene and chapter shows its live word count, unsaved writing included, and the status bar shows the book’s total against its target.

Every change to the book’s shape, like every edit, waits until you save, and then becomes part of the same version as the words.