Who can do this?
Owners and co-authors with export permission on the target book import. If a co-author is restricted to certain books, they can only import into the books assigned to them.
Importing a manuscript
The manuscript import splits a file into chapters and scenes and shows them as a preview before you apply them.
What is it for?
With “Import manuscript”, you bring existing text into your project: from Word (.docx), Markdown (.md) or plain text (.txt). Illumentis splits the file automatically. It recognizes chapters by headings and scenes by scene dividers (***).
The result is a preview that you can edit freely before anything is written to your book. Each chapter has a “Chapter title” field, and scenes can be edited freely. With “+ Add scene” and “Remove”, you adjust the structure.
Finally, you choose the target book and apply the import. The new chapters are placed at the end of the book. Illumentis may simplify elaborate formatting from Word, so check the preview.
How it works
-
Open “Export & Import” and choose “Import manuscript”.
What you see afterwards: The page accepts a file.
-
Choose the file (.docx, .md or .txt).
What you see afterwards: The preview shows the detected chapters and scenes.
-
Check the chapter titles and scenes and adjust them, if needed with “+ Add scene” or “Remove”.
What you see afterwards: The structure is right.
-
Choose the “Target book” and then “Apply”.
What you see afterwards: A message confirms that the import has finished. With “Import another manuscript”, you start over.
Your data
For the preview, the file is cached on the server and written into your book when you apply it. The preview stays available only briefly, about 15 minutes.
Limits
A file may be at most 20 MB. The text is read in; elaborate Word formatting may be simplified. Import only goes into an existing book of your project, and the chapters land at the end.
Frequently asked questions
How does Illumentis recognize chapters and scenes?
Chapters by headings, scenes by scene dividers (***). You adjust both in the preview before you apply them.
How large can my file be?
Up to 20 MB. Illumentis rejects larger files.
Where do the imported chapters go?
Into the target book that you choose in the preview, each at the end of the existing chapter list.