Quick start guide

Option 2 is to read from a second window deployed on an external monitor mounted above, below or even beside the camera. (Obviously, the external monitor needs to be connected to the computer where PromptDog is installed).

Prompter monitor mounted over camera via articulated arm

We call this DUAL SCREEN MODE. Deployment is a quick 3-step operation:

Step 1

Click the OPEN TALENT WINDOW button in the sidebar and drag the new window to the second monitor.

Step 2

Click the TALENT WINDOW FULLSCREEN button.

Step 3

Minimize the Talent Window left/right margins

To ensure proper synchronization, the margins in the Talent Window are determined by the width of the Operator Window.

3.1 First maximize the Operator Window

3.2 Then collapse the sidebar by clicking the blue icon at the top of the Operator Window

Extend not duplicate

If you connect an external or second monitor, ensure your computer is set to extend your desktop to that external monitor, not to duplicate the primary display.

Your third option is to display the talent window on a display housed in purpose-built teleprompter hardware. We call this through-the-lens prompting.

Through-the-lens style teleprompter setup

This setup relies on specially manufactured beam-splitter glass mounted in front of the camera lens which reflects the PromptDog output back to the talent. For this to work as intended, you will need to use our Mirror Talent Window feature:

Reverse the Talent Window text

Click the Mirror Talent Window button in the operator sidebar

This requires the dual screen setup described above.

Reverse the Talent Window text

Click the Mirror Talent Window button in the operator sidebar

This requires the dual screen setup described above.

Ready to roll

Once you decide on your hardware configuration, getting started with PromptDog is easy:

Step 1: Load your script

Import your script by clicking the Import File button in the operator window sidebar or simply drag the file into the operator window. PromptDog currently supports plain text (.txt) and rich text format (.rtf) files.

Step 2: Start the scroller

Click the Start Prompting button in the sidebar to start/stop scrolling the script (keyboard shortcut: spacebar).

Step 3: Control the speed

Rotate your mouse scroll wheel to increase the scroll speed. Rotate it in the opposite direction to slow the scroll speed (shortcut: up/down direction keys).

That's it . . . you're off and running!

Mouse wheel sensitivity

If the mouse wheel scroll speed is not to your liking, try changing the settings at system level using these instructions for MacOS or these instructions for Windows.

Alternatives to using a mouse

If you don't have a mouse to control the scroll speed, your keyboard up/down direction keys or two fingers on a laptop trackpad will work as well. For more, see the tips about compatible remote controls in the free training provided via email when you start a trial or purchase a license.

Script navigation and shortcuts

The operator sidebar includes several controls that can also accessed via keyboard shortcuts:

Use this button to return to the beginning of the script. (Shortcut key: T)

This button will rewind the script 5 lines. (Shortcut key: R)

This button will reverse the mouse wheel scroll action. See note below. (Shortcut key: Y)

This button reverses the text on the Talent Window for use with through-the-lens style hardware. (Shortcut key: M)

Cue points

Bookmark a point in your script by adding an asterisk (*), then press the asterisk key while prompting and the script will rewind to that point. Press asterisk again and the script will rewind to any previous cue point also you added.

Importing your script

Load your script by clicking the Import File button in the operator window sidebar or simply drag the file into the operator window.

Import from word processor

If you use a word processor like Microsoft Word to compose your script, save the file as plain text (.txt) or in rich text format (.rtf) and close the file in Word before attempting to open it in PromptDog.

Onboard script editor

After importing your script, you can edit it by clicking the Edit Text button in the operator sidebar.

The font size you set here is for the editor only. It does not affect the scroll window font size.
Try highlighting important sections of your script with color. This is often useful when you have more than one presenter. Note that scripts imported as Rich Text Format (.rtf) files will retain any color information.

Save your script changes

Changes made in the onboard editor are saved when you click the Apply Changes in Prompter button.

Save As

Use the Save As button to save your script as a new file with a different name. This can be useful where you have multiple people using the program in a busy studio.

PromptDog currently supports saving in .html format. Reload the new file (e.g. at a later date) in the same way that you load plain text (.txt) and rich text format (.rtf) scripts . . . simply drag the html file into the main operator window.

Last script loads automatically

Scripts are handled independently of PromptDog settings. You don't have to save a profile in order to save your script between sessions. PromptDog will load whichever script was currently in use the last time the app was closed.

Save your settings

When you start the app for the first time, PromptDog will load with default settings. Once you've got things setup the way you like you can save your settings as a profile if you wish.

Next time you open PromptDog it will load whichever profile was selected when it was last closed. If no profile was selected, it will load the default settings.

No auto-save

Changes you make to the settings remain for the current session only. If you wish to keep your changes, save them to a custom profile using the controls described below.

Click the down arrow to select an existing profile.

Use this button to save your current settings as a custom profile.

This button will save your settings as a new profile when you already have a custom profile loaded.

Use this button to manage existing profiles.

Settings that will be saved

Background color
Eyeline marker options
Font, font size and line height
Talent Window size and location

Open Talent Window from saved profile

If the Talent Window is open when you save a custom profile, the size and location of the window will be saved to the profile. The window won't open automatically on startup but (providing the profile is selected) it will remember those saved coordinates when you open it manually, including multi-monitor setups.

Default script

In a future release we will make the default settings a selectable profile and tie the 'getting started' instructions you currently see on first use to that default profile.

For now, you can download those instructions here. Simply unzip the download and drag the html file inside into the operator window like you would with a regular .txt or .rtf script. (Yes, PromptDog can read html files as well!)

Other quick tips

The trial version of PromptDog is fully functional and includes all features in the paid version. The download page here includes instructions for both.
Check the FAQs here for answers not found on this page.

That's it . . .

That’s really all you need to know to get started with PromptDog. If you have any further questions don't hesitate to reach out to our support team via our contact form.

Thanks for being a PromptDog user!