My Script Upload Failed — What to Do
script-upload-failed
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Why This Happens
Script upload errors are most commonly caused by:
Most common: The PDF script is not in a standard script formatting. AI-generated scripts are usually not sufficiently well-formatted.
Second most common: The PDF file is not a script. We cannot break down news articles, narrative stories, loose ideas, and concept documents.
Third most common: The PDF file is an audiovisual script for a commercial. We strongly recommend the Copy/Paste workflow instead.
The file is unusually large — you should get an error message.
The PDF is password-protected or has copy restrictions enabled.
A temporary server issue.
Things to Try
1. Make sure you are uploading a narrative script in PDF.
See a sample with a standard screenplay format.
2. Try the Copy/Paste workflow as a fallback.
If upload keeps failing, you can paste your script text directly into ShotKraft without uploading a file at all. See: How to Use the Copy/Paste Workflow
3. Make sure your file is a real PDF — not a scanned image.
ShotKraft reads the actual text in your script. If your PDF is a scan (a photo of pages), there's no readable text and upload will fail. Export directly from your screenwriting software instead.
4. Wait a few minutes and try again.
If the error seems intermittent, it may be a temporary service issue. Wait 5 minutes and retry.
5. Check if your PDF is locked or password-protected.
Open the file in a PDF viewer and try to select and copy some text. If you can't, the script is copy-protected. Export a fresh copy directly from Final Draft, WriterDuet, or your screenwriting app.
Still Not Working?
Email us at support@shotkraft.com and include:
The email address associated with your account
Which browser and device you're using
Attaching the file is helpful
We typically respond within 24 hours.
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