Errors Saving Documents: Why your Permissions Might not be Set Right -- and How to Repair Them

Have you encountered a situation where you get errors while saving a document?  While it is rare, it is often connected to accidental restrictions placed on files and folders.

You can't easily see or change some of those restrictions from your Finder's view.  But if a file or folder was previously restricted on an older Mac and was improperly migrated to your new Mac, Screenwriter might get errors attempting to save, move, rename or delete that file.

Fortunately, we have just produced a tool that can scan for these issues and safely correct them for you.  If you want to understand more about the problem, and how your computer might have gotten into this state, read below.  Otherwise, skip ahead and download our tool for fixing your permissions.

If You Want To Understand the Problem:

MacOS has increasingly added many new layers of security.  There are traditional "BSD/unix" permissions you see in the Finder's Get Info box, and hidden ACL ("Access Control List") permissions that are often associated with networks and Internet-mountable drives (like iCloud and Dropbox).  And -- there are "TCC" (Transparency, Consent, and Control) permissions, which you see when you are asked if a specific application is allowed to access a particular folder.

Sometimes when we upgrade to new Macs by using Time Machine or by manually copying files and folders, the permissions or ownership on those folders can become accidentally restricted.  Those restrictions can prevent Screenwriter from properly creating and saving files, moving backups, and deleting temporary files.

To be very clear: this isn't a "Screenwriter problem."  The fact that a file or folder has excessively restrictive permissions affects almost any Mac program -- you just might not realize it.

The Easy Solution:

We have created a new free utility, Screenwriter Permissions Repair.  Download it, open it, and run it -- it doesn't need to be installed.

When you press DIAGNOSE, this repair utility will scan for those overly-restrictive permissions, and report if there are problems.  If it finds repairable problems, pressing REPAIR will correct them -- safely.

You may be requested to enable background services, or to authenticate with an administrator account/password.  If asked, you MUST APPROVE these requests for us to make the repairs.

Fear not -- this tool takes the most conservative approach possible, and we do not allow you to repair certain protected locations like your Home folder, system locations, actual applications, and paths outside your Desktop, Documents, or Downloads.  This tool will NEVER DELETE FILES OR FOLDERS.

When you are done, you may want to send Write Brothers a copy of your Operational Log, and you can do that with the Copy All to Clipboard button, or Reveal Report, or Save Report.

Instructions to Download and Run the Screenwriter Permissions Repair App:

Quick overview: you download the permission fixer app, open the downloaded .dmg, launch the program (no install needed).  Select "Screenwriter's Document folder" and press DIAGNOSE.  If there are problems, press REPAIR.  Along the way, you may be asked to grant permissions, to enter your computer password, or to grant background app access.  You must do that if asked.  We also suggest running the Diagnose/Repair on your Desktop folder.

Here's the step by step:

1:  If you don't already have it, DOWNLOAD the disk image of the Screenwriter Permissions Repair app from this link:  https://we.tl/t-DgTBU4RCERHA4gWq

2:  Double-click to open the downloaded .dmg:

3:  Double-click the Screenwriter Permissions Repair.app.  You'll get this question:

4:  PRESS Open:

4:  PRESS Diagnose button.  If there are issues that can be fixed, the Repair button will be enabled.  Press Repair.

5:  You MIGHT be asked to enter your computer password, or Allow App Background Activity.  Make sure to confirm any requests for access.

6:  Once you've Diagnosed and Repaired Screenwriter's Documents folder, Select the Desktop button, and press Diagnose.   If there are issues that can be fixed, the Repair button will be enabled.  Press Repair.

7:  If there are special areas that require custom access to fix, you will be asked to confirm that location:

8:  If you have a problem with script documents in a specific folder, click on Choose Another Folder, then press Diagnose.

9:  When you're done, you can copy the log (or logs) by pressing "Reveal Report", and send them to us as an email attachment:

10:  Eject the .dmg you opened by clicking on its window and pressing CMD+E.

11:  Run Screenwriter again.  If you had problems saving a document, try that again.

If you still encounter problems saving:

Normally it is sufficient to diagnose and repair just the Screenwriter Documents folder ("Movie Magic Screenwriter," and the Desktop folder.  

But, if you have other folders with scripts you'll want to make sure to run a diagnose on those folders.  For example, you might have your own "My Scripts" folder inside Documents.  Click the Choose Other Folder radio button, then select the "My Scripts" folder, then pressing Diagnose.  If there are errors, press Repair.