a way to write the dialogue in excel or a text editor

[Yob]

Hello, Tony, How are you? The game I'm working on involves a lot of text, and it takes too much time to create and connect nodes for each line of dialogue. Is there a way to write the dialogue in Excel or a text editor and easily transfer it to the dialogue window of the dialogue system? Or perhaps a way to work with the branching nodes after writing all the dialogue at once? If not, please suggest the closest possible solution. Honestly, even after watching YouTube videos, I'm still not sure. Thanks!!

[Tony Li]

Hi,

You can write linear dialogue in Excel. (Excel is not good for branching dialogue.) To import Excel, see: Excel Import.

You can also write your dialogue in a simple text format called "JLC", for example in Google Docs. See: JLC Import.

If you prefer to write in screenplay format, you can use Backlight Gem. See: Backlight (formerly Celtx) Gem import.

The Dialogue System also support Yarn text format and Ink text format.

[DeKlined]

Another option for writing in screenplay format is Scripto , which also has API access and Ink support. In all transparency, I work there. Happy to answer any questions you have about how we power video game dialog authoring.

Josh@scripto.live
https://scripto.live

[Tony Li]

Can Scripto export to Ink format that Dialogue System users could then use with the Dialogue System's Ink integration?

[DeKlined]

Scripto can export to Ink format so the answer is...probably. But I don’t know that for a FACT.

Would you be open to testing this with me? How about if I share an Ink script exported from Scripto and you can try it out and then we'll know for sure?

[Tony Li]

Sure, I'd be happy to. Feel free to send it to tony (at) pixelcrushers.com.

[DeKlined]

I just emailed you an Ink file that was exported from Scripto. I look forward to hearing how this works on your end.

Best/Josh
josh@scripto.live

[Tony Li]

Thanks! I received it. I'll take a look in the morning.

[Tony Li]

I had a bit of time to test it, and it works fine.

The Dialogue System's Ink integration has some special conventions to handle Dialogue System features that Ink doesn't have. They're explained in the Special Content In Ink Files section of the integration manual page. It would be great if Scripto could support them, too.