Frequently Asked Questions
Where does my data live?
Section titled “Where does my data live?”In files you own. Every project is a .thrl file saved wherever you choose, with its autosaves in a folder right next to it. There’s no account and no Throughline cloud. See Projects & Files for the full picture.
Does Throughline sync between devices?
Section titled “Does Throughline sync between devices?”No. Throughline has no cloud sync and no account to sign into. Each project is an ordinary .thrl file, so you can save, move, and copy it like any other document, and open it on any computer with Throughline installed.
Does Throughline work without an internet connection?
Section titled “Does Throughline work without an internet connection?”Yes, fully, as soon as your License Key is activated. Nothing about writing, planning, or exporting a project needs a connection at any point. When you’re online, Throughline checks for a new version after it starts. Offline, it simply skips that check.
How does the card system work?
Section titled “How does the card system work?”Your story’s spine is a row of Beat Cards. Characters and Settings sit above it, and you drag those down onto a Beat to cast it. Deal a Structure Card onto the board and stack your own Beats on top of it. A Beat can hold your actual prose or screenplay text, or just notes if you’re writing somewhere else. See Beat Cards.
Is Throughline for screenwriters or novelists?
Section titled “Is Throughline for screenwriters or novelists?”Both. The Cards, Arcs, and Characters work the same regardless of what you’re writing, and the Write Workspace toggles between prose and screenplay formatting on the same document, with nothing to convert or re-import.
Can I write and format a screenplay in Throughline?
Section titled “Can I write and format a screenplay in Throughline?”Yes; see Formatting & Elements for the full rundown. You can even important standard Screenplay formats like Fountain and .fdx!
What file formats does Throughline support?
Section titled “What file formats does Throughline support?”Throughline projects are .thrl files, which you open directly. Import: Fountain, Final Draft (.fdx), PDF, and Plain Text. Document export: Markdown, PDF, Plain Text, Word. Screenplay export: PDF and Fountain, plus .thrl project files. See Importing and Exporting for the details on each.
Can I test the Throughline App?
Section titled “Can I test the Throughline App?”There are two ways to get the full version of the Throughline App for free: as a customer of the Curious Refuge AI Animation 2.0 course or the Curious Refuge All-Access Membership, through a discount code in the course portal. Otherwise, the app is a one-time purchase: no subscription, you buy it once and it’s yours. See Can I Test the Throughline App? for how to claim it, and for the best ways to look at every feature before you buy.
Where do I find my license key?
Section titled “Where do I find my license key?”At the top of your Throughline purchase page on Gumroad, which you reach from getthroughline.com/access, and in your receipt email. See License Keys for activation and troubleshooting.
How do I update Throughline?
Section titled “How do I update Throughline?”When a new version is out, Throughline tells you on launch. Download the latest build from getthroughline.com/access and install it over the old one. Your projects are not affected. See Updating Throughline.
Gumroad says it can’t find my account
Section titled “Gumroad says it can’t find my account”You probably bought as a Gumroad guest, without creating an account. Open your Gumroad receipt email and click View content to reach your download and license key. To get a Gumroad library for next time, sign up at Gumroad with the same email address you bought with. See If Gumroad can’t find your account, including what to do if the receipt is gone.
Does Throughline use AI?
Section titled “Does Throughline use AI?”Not by itself. Throughline contains no AI model and has no built-in AI features. If you already use an AI app such as Claude Desktop, you can connect it to the running app, so it can read and edit your open project. That connection is off by default: see MCP: Connect AI Apps. Throughline and AI gives the full picture.
Is there a Throughline community?
Section titled “Is there a Throughline community?”Yes, there’s a Discord for owners of the software. The invite lives in the app: open Settings and click Join the community at the bottom. See Community & Feedback for that and the other ways to reach the team.
Every word is underlined in red
Section titled “Every word is underlined in red”Check the Project language in Project Details (Cmd/Ctrl+P). Spell check uses that language’s dictionary, so an English script set to German looks misspelled almost everywhere. On Windows, the new dictionary takes effect after a restart: Throughline offers one when the languages don’t match. Prefer no underlines at all? Turn off Settings → General → Spell check.
Do I need to know story structure theory?
Section titled “Do I need to know story structure theory?”No. The most common structures and beat sheets are built in as Structure Decks, ready to drag onto the board. Build your own or import someone else’s if you outgrow the defaults.
I’m running an alpha or beta build of Throughline. Is that safe to write in?
Section titled “I’m running an alpha or beta build of Throughline. Is that safe to write in?”Betas are close to release quality: your projects are .thrl files in a folder you choose, saved as you write, and autosaves run as always. Alphas are rougher. They keep their own settings and list of recent projects, but they open and save your real .thrl files, so try an alpha on copies of anything important (Duplicate…).
One thing to know before going back to an older stable version: older versions keep projects inside the app rather than in files. To bring a project over, import its .thrl file there.