In a business that's all about buzz, the latest version of Final Draft should enjoy plenty of the good kind. Final Draft 6.0 has kept what works, and added new features that guarantee this scriptwriting software will retain its spot in the limelight. It still handles the myriad technical details of scriptwriting automatically--character names are indented properly, scene headings are capitalized, and the default font is the industry standard 12-point Courier, a holdover from typewriter days. The entertainment industry is surprisingly stuffy when it comes to screenplay formatting and, when properly used, Final Draft can at least ensure your script will look great.

The latest version of Final Draft is designed for Windows XP and carbonized for Mac OS X, but it worked fine on the Windows 98 system we tested it on. A new touch freelancers will appreciate is the ability to save in Adobe PDF format, so scripts can be sent to folks who don't own this software. New cosmetics include a more colorful toolbar, darker font that matches Mac and Windows systems and looks better in print, and bigger windows for the ScriptNotes feature. System enhancements include a smart drag and drop, which automatically adds formatting elements when you move bits of your script. Our favorite new addition is Ask the Expert, a blackboard that writers can visit to refresh themselves on basics like characterization and story arc. It's like a screenwriting class without the has-been teacher and the "I'm better than Spielberg" classmates.

A couple of annoyances: you must "authorize" your system to use Final Draft 6.0 without the CD-ROM. Fortunately there are two authorizations, so you can, for example, use the program on both a desktop and laptop. Also, the much-touted script templates are nearly impossible to find (go to "File," click "New"--we just saved you 15 minutes), and they are not copies of actual scripts but two- to three-page parodies of TV shows, done in what we assume is the specific format for the show. They're worth reading just for laughs, but since theX-Filestemplate still had Mulder listed as a character, we don't think they're 100 percent up to date.--Anne Erickson