Giving Screenwriter 6.7 Permissions on Catalina, Big Sur, Monterey, & Ventura

If you run into problems running, opening, or saving documents in Catalina or Big Sur, the likely problem is that Screenwriter has not been granted the proper disk access permissions.  OR, if you have already granted Screenwriter permissions, sometimes an update to a newer version of Catalina or Big Sur can remove those permissions.  We're working with Apple to eliminate this inconvenience.

The easiest thing to do is to reinstall Screenwriter 6.7 and grant the permissions it asks for. 

If that doesn't work, here are two different techniques to give Screenwriter the proper read and write permissions.

"SEMI-AUTOMATED" APPROACH

WHILE IN THE FINDER:

1. With Caps Lock turned on, and COMMAND + OPTION held down, double click the Screenwriter app or single clicking the app alias in the dock. 
2. Quite Screenwriter
3. Relaunch Screenwriter -- the second launch then DOESN'T need to have any of those key held down
4. You will be asked​ the following on launch:
   
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5. When you press OK, you get this folder-choosing window:
   
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6. Press Confirm and you should be good to go.

MANUAL APPROACH for VENTURA

Alternatively, you can manually grant Screenwriter to have "Full Disk Access" by doing the following.

1. Quit out of Screenwriter if it is running
2. Launch the System Preferences utility by clicking on the Apple menu located in the top left corner of the screen and select the System Preferences... menu option
3. Open the Security & Privacy Preferences pane
4. Scroll the list on the left until you see the Full Disk Access and Files and Folders options
5. Click Full Disk Access in the right column
6. Click on the on/off lock to turn on access for Screenwriter
7. Apple opens a window for you to grant access
8. Enter your Password  -- this is the password you use to unlock your computer
9. Click on the Unlock or Modify Settings button
10. IF SCREENWRITER IS OPEN & RUNNING, a window will popup and ask you to Quit & Reopen Screenwriter or do it later -- click on the Quit & Reopen button
11. Screenwriter will close and reopen
12. If you want, go back to the System Preferences app and close it
13. Screenwriter should have full permissions now

MANUAL APPROACH for MONTEREY

Alternatively, you can manually grant Screenwriter to have "Full Disk Access" by doing the following.

1. Quit out of Screenwriter if it is running
2. Launch the System Preferences utility by clicking on the Apple menu located in the top left corner of the screen and select the System Preferences... menu option
3. Open the Security & Privacy Preferences pane
4. Select the Privacy tab
5. Scroll the list on the left until you see the Full Disk Access and Files and Folders options
6. Click Full Disk Access in the left column
7. Click the 🔒 lock icon:
8. Enter your Password and select Unlock
9. Scroll the list on the right to look for the Screenwriter app
   1. If you see the Screenwriter app, click on the checkbox to give it the proper permissions, SKIP to step 12.
   2. If you don't see Screenwriter in the list...
10. Click the '+' button
11. Navigate to the Applications > Screenwriter 6.7 folder and select Screenwriter:
    • You should find yourself in the Applications folder
    • Find and double-click the Screenwriter 6.7 Folder in the list of applications to open the folder
    • Select the  Screenwriter app
    • Click the Open button
12. Click on the Files and Folders option
    
    • Scroll through the list of apps on the right to find Screenwriter
    • The Screenwriter app should be greyed out and it should say "Full Disk Access" below it.
    • If it doesn't have full disk access, check the boxes beneath Screenwriter for Documents folder and Desktop folder
13. We recommend that you relock the preferences by clicking on the lock icon and close the Systems Preferences window
14. Screenwriter should have full permissions now

MANUAL APPROACH for Big Sur and Catalina

Alternatively, you can manually grant Screenwriter to have "Full Disk Access" by doing the following.

1. Open the Security & Privacy Preferences pane
2. Select the Privacy tab
3. Click Full Disk Access in the left column
4. Click the 🔒 lock icon:
5. Enter your Password and select Unlock
6. Click the '+' button
7. Navigate to the Applications > Screenwriter 6.7 folder and select Screenwriter:
   • Select Applications
   • Find and click the Screenwriter 6.7 Folder in the list of applications
   • Select Screenwriter
   • Click the Open button
8. If Screenwriter is running, click Quit Now and Screenwriter should now have Full Disk Access to run on your Mac