OS | DubScript User Guide

Feature	Description
Customizable Workspace	Resize, rearrange, and minimize panes; adjust font size; swap reference columns and choose different event layouts.
Improved Source Column	Display only the references available for your project and access them more easily.
Character Library	Consistent character updates across episodes.
Timeline	Dialogue is now split by character for easier review.
Spelling & Grammar Check	In-app checks for 20+ languages, with more on the way.
KNP & Sensitive Terms	Visual indicators with hover pop-ups linking to the Terminology tool.
Issue Navigator	Faster detection and resolution of errors.
Conformance	Automatically resyncs timecodes when a new Dialog List arrives and guides you through reviewing any new, changed, or removed events.
Snapshots	Easy version saving and recovery.
Sandbox Environment	Isolated practice environment with no impact on production.

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INDEX

What is OS?	Workspace	Video Player	Events Overview	Conformance
Access	Info & Navigation	Timeline	Formatting	Help & Feedback
Sandbox	Keyboard Shortcuts	Events Panel	Assistive Tools
Authoring workflow	General Settings	Snapshots	Issue Navigator

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Access & Onboarding

How to Access a Task

Tasks can be opened in two ways:

Option 1 - Email Notification

Once assigned, you’ll receive an email with a link to your task. Click to open in Originator Studio.

Option 2 - Linguist Dashboard

1. Find your request in the Linguist Dashboard and select the 3 dot button on the task 
2. Select “Open in” 
3. Select "Open in Originator Studio."

Important: You can only open the task when the status says Ready to Author/Proofread.

To learn more,  review this  5-minute course on the Linguist Dashboard.

User Roles

Each user must have the correct role assigned via Starship (Netflix's permissions management tool). 

To get access to Originator Studio, reach out to your Project Manager.

A user can hold both Dub Script Author and Dub Script Proofreader roles simultaneously.

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INDEX

What is OS?	Workspace	Video Player	Events Overview	Conformance
Access	Info & Navigation	Timeline	Formatting	Help & Feedback
Sandbox	Keyboard Shortcuts	Events Panel	Assistive Tools
Authoring workflow	General Settings	Snapshots	Issue Navigator

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Sandbox: Practice Environment 

Before working on live content, linguists can practice in the Sandbox, a safe, isolated environment with no impact on production.

Sandbox URL: https://originatorstudio.netflixstudios.com/sandbox

How to create a sandbox task:

1. Go to the Sandbox URL.
2. In the Asset Type dropdown, select Dubscript.
3. In the title search field, search for a title by name.
4. In the Assignee(s) field, click the person icon, write your email.
5. Click Create.
6. Open the link generated below the form.

For more information regarding how to create a sandbox project consult this article.

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INDEX

What is OS?	Workspace	Video Player	Events Overview	Conformance
Access	Info & Navigation	Timeline	Formatting	Help & Feedback
Sandbox	Keyboard Shortcuts	Events Panel	Assistive Tools
Authoring workflow	General Settings	Snapshots	Issue Navigator

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Authoring Workflow

The Authoring workflow is for DubScript Authors (translators/adapters). Follow these steps to complete an authoring task.

1. Open Your Task

Open the task via the direct link shared by your PM or through the Linguist Dashboard.

2. Review Before Starting

The document is in read-only mode before you click Start. Use this time to review request details, timecodes, the Character Library, and available reference materials.

3. Start the Task

Click Start (top-right). The document becomes editable and the task moves to In Progress status.

4. Work on the Script

The Events Panel contains all dialogue events, pre-populated with characters already assigned. The Dialogue List appears as a side-by-side source column as your primary reference. Fill in the events, ensuring the text syncs with lip movement and fits within the available segment time. Use the On/Off Screen toggle to indicate character visibility for each event.

5. Use Reference Materials

Use the source column, Cut Selector, Character Library, and Show Guide (if available) to stay accurate and consistent throughout.

6. Use Assistive Tools

Use KNP and Sensitive Terms hover-over tooltips for terminology guidance, Tags to mark events that need special attention, and Snapshots to save named checkpoints of your progress.

7. Check for Issues

Before submitting, use the Issue Navigator (top-left) to review and resolve any blockers, warnings, or recommendations. The Done button will remain disabled until all blockers are resolved.

8. Submit the Task

Click Done when authoring is complete. The task moves to the assigned Proofreader.

Important: Once you click Done, you will permanently lose editing access. Make sure your work is final before submitting.

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INDEX

What is OS?	Workspace	Video Player	Events Overview	Conformance
Access	Info & Navigation	Timeline	Formatting	Help & Feedback
Sandbox	Keyboard Shortcuts	Events Panel	Assistive Tools
Authoring workflow	General Settings	Snapshots	Issue Navigator

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Workspace Overview 

When you open a task in Originator Studio, your workspace is divided into four main areas:

Customize Your Workspace

To resize your workspace, select and drag the edge between two panels: 

• Video Player and Timeline 
• Video Player and Events.

You can also open the Video Player in a separate tab using Open Second Tab for dual-screen workflows.

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INDEX

What is OS?	Workspace	Video Player	Events Overview	Conformance
Access	Info & Navigation	Timeline	Formatting	Help & Feedback
Sandbox	Keyboard Shortcuts	Events Panel	Assistive Tools
Authoring workflow	General Settings	Snapshots	Issue Navigator

---

Info and Navigation 

References 

Select the book icon (top right) to open the Reference panel. From here you can:

• Download the Show Guide (if available for the title)
• Open the Localization Reference Tool
• Open the Terminology tool

Character Library

The Character Library (top right) is where you view and manage the characters assigned to your project. Characters are pre-loaded from the title. Use the search bar to quickly find a specific character.

Adding characters

If a character is missing, use the Add Character button (bottom left corner) to create one.

Deleting characters

Characters that already have events assigned cannot be deleted.

Editing characters

Select the pencil icon next to a character to edit. From there you can:

• Color: Change the character's color. This will update the color on events and in the timeline.
• Localized name: Add or edit the localized name. Always edit the localized name, not the original name.
• Image: Add a screenshot to help identify the character visually (see steps below).
• Notes: Add notes about the character to make them easier to identify.

How to add a character image

1. In the video player, navigate to a frame where the character appears.
2. Open the Character Library and select the character.
3. Select Edit (pencil icon).
4. In the image section, select Add Screenshot.
5. The system will capture the current video frame. Zoom in or out to adjust.
   • Important: Always edit the localized name, not the original name.
6. When you finish editing, select Done to save your changes.

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INDEX

What is OS?	Workspace	Video Player	Events Overview	Conformance
Access	Info & Navigation	Timeline	Formatting	Help & Feedback
Sandbox	Keyboard Shortcuts	Events Panel	Assistive Tools
Authoring workflow	General Settings	Snapshots	Issue Navigator

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Keyboard Shortcuts

Watch this video for a walkthrough on finding shortcuts, editing them, and importing or exporting your configuration

Select the Settings wheel (gear icon) at the top-right of the page to access keyboard shortcuts and general settings.

Use the Search bar (top-right) to find specific shortcuts.

Customize settings, clear changes, or reset everything to default values.

Conflicting Keyboard Shortcuts

If duplicate shortcuts exist, an error message appears. To fix:

1. To see which shortcut is causing the conflict, select the highlighted shortcut in the error message.
2. Update the shortcut.
3. Select Save.

Import & Export Keyboard Shortcuts

You can share a custom shortcut configuration across your team by exporting and importing the settings file.

Export

1. Go to Settings → Keyboard Shortcuts tab.
2. Click Export.
3. A .json file will be downloaded to your computer.
4. Share this file with your team.

Import

1. Go to Settings → Keyboard Shortcuts tab.
2. Click Import.
3. Select the .json file shared by your Vendor Manager.
4. Click Save to apply the imported shortcuts.

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INDEX

What is OS?	Workspace	Video Player	Events Overview	Conformance
Access	Info & Navigation	Timeline	Formatting	Help & Feedback
Sandbox	Keyboard Shortcuts	Events Panel	Assistive Tools
Authoring workflow	General Settings	Snapshots	Issue Navigator

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General Settings

Select General (second tab) to customize your settings for optimal use. General settings are divided into three sections: Display, Timeline, and Events.

Display

Timeline

Events

To learn more about keyboard shortcuts and general settings visit this article

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INDEX

What is OS?	Workspace	Video Player	Events Overview	Conformance
Access	Info & Navigation	Timeline	Formatting	Help & Feedback
Sandbox	Keyboard Shortcuts	Events Panel	Assistive Tools
Authoring workflow	General Settings	Snapshots	Issue Navigator

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Video Player 

Keyboard Shortcuts for Video Player

Play/Pause (Default Shortcuts):

• ALT + Space Bar (WINDOWS) 
• CTRL + Space Bar (MAC)

Scrub the video at half speed (Default Shortcuts):

• .5x Playback → F8 + F9 
• -.5x Playback → F8 + F7

Settings for Video Player

Activate the general setting: “Add background to video text overlay”, this will improve readability for text overlay.

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INDEX

What is OS?	Workspace	Video Player	Events Overview	Conformance
Access	Info & Navigation	Timeline	Formatting	Help & Feedback
Sandbox	Keyboard Shortcuts	Events Panel	Assistive Tools
Authoring workflow	General Settings	Snapshots	Issue Navigator

---

Timeline

Use the Timeline to sync events to audio waveforms. Select and drag events to move or re-time

Character Tracks

The Timeline displays the dialogue of each character separated by individual tracks, making it easy to identify who is speaking and how events are distributed across speakers.

To view each speaker's dialogue on a separate track in the Timeline, follow these steps:

1. Select the Settings gear icon in the top-right corner of the screen.
2. Go to the General tab.
3. Scroll to the Timeline section.
4. Enable Separate timeline by character.

Editing Events

Select and drag an event to move it, or drag its edges to adjust the start or end timecode.

 

Timeline General Settings 

• Enable Separate timeline by character (Settings → General → Timeline) to view each speaker on their own track.
• Enable Hide shot changes on the timeline (Settings → General → Timeline) to remove the green shot change lines for a cleaner view.

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INDEX

What is OS?	Workspace	Video Player	Events Overview	Conformance
Access	Info & Navigation	Timeline	Formatting	Help & Feedback
Sandbox	Keyboard Shortcuts	Events Panel	Assistive Tools
Authoring workflow	General Settings	Snapshots	Issue Navigator

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Events Panel

You'll do most of your authoring or proofreading work in the Events panel. This is where you create, edit, and review dub script events.

It has two panels:

• (Default left) Source: Reference available assets such as the Dialog List or Template (hideable menu). 
• (Default right) Target: Your dub script events, this is where you enter and edit dialogue. 

Change Events Layout

Hide Source Events

1. Select Change Layout (three cubes icon above Events).
2. Select the option under Single Column.

Swap Columns

• Option 1: Select the Swap icon on the Events panel.

• Option 2: Select Change Layout (three cubes icon above Events) → choose an option under Two Column.

Note: After you change the layout, it will automatically apply to all other requests.

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INDEX

What is OS?	Workspace	Video Player	Events Overview	Conformance
Access	Info & Navigation	Timeline	Formatting	Help & Feedback
Sandbox	Keyboard Shortcuts	Events Panel	Assistive Tools
Authoring workflow	General Settings	Snapshots	Issue Navigator

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Snapshots

Snapshots allow you to manually save a version of your dub script at any point during authoring. They are easier to manage in Originator Studio and can also be loaded as a reference alongside your current work.

Create a Snapshot

Use this to manually save your progress at any point during authoring.

1. Open the Actions menu.
2. Select Load Snapshot.

3. Enter a name for your snapshot.
4. Select Create to save.

View a Snapshot

Use this to review a previously saved version as a reference without affecting your current work.

1. Open the dropdown in the Reference column.
2. Select Load Snapshot.

3. Choose the version you would like to review.

Tip: Snapshots are different from auto-save. The tool auto-saves every ~5 seconds, but snapshots give you a named, retrievable checkpoint you can come back to or compare against at any time.

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INDEX

What is OS?	Workspace	Video Player	Events Overview	Conformance
Access	Info & Navigation	Timeline	Formatting	Help & Feedback
Sandbox	Keyboard Shortcuts	Events Panel	Assistive Tools
Authoring workflow	General Settings	Snapshots	Issue Navigator

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Understanding Events

Each event is made up of several parts. The letters in the image match the descriptions in the table below.

Event Menu 

Select the three-dot menu (⋮) on any event to access the following options:

• Play from beginning: Play the video from the start of the event.
• Merge with previous / next: Combine with the adjacent event into a single event.
• Split by text position: Split the event into two at the text cursor position.
• Split by text position and playhead: Split the event where the playhead is placed on the timeline.
• Insert new event above / below: Insert a new event before or after the current one.
• Set as FN: Mark the event as a Forced Narrative.
• Delete event: Permanently delete the event.

Common Actions in the Events Panel

Select Range

1. Select the Actions button.
2. Select Select Range.
3. Enter the range of events (example 1 to 5), or select Select All to include all events.
4. Select Select Range to confirm.

Clone an event

1. In the Source column, select the first event.
2. Hold Shift and select the remaining events.
3. A bar will appear at the bottom of the screen.
4. To clone with text and timecodes, check Include Source Text. To clone timecodes only, leave it unchecked.
5. Select Clone Events.

Merge multiple events

1. Select the events you want to merge:
   1. Option 1: In the Target column, hold Shift and select the events.
   2. Option 2: Use the Actions button → Select Range and enter the event numbers.
2. A bar will appear at the bottom of the screen.
3. Open the Select Option menu.
4. Select Merge Events.
5. Select Update All to apply the changes.

Note: To merge the current event with the previous or next one, use the three-dot menu (⋮) directly on the event. See the Event Menu section for more details.

Clear event text

1. Select the events you want to clear:
   1. Option 1: In the Target column, hold Shift and select the events.
   2. Option 2: Use the Actions button → Select Range and enter the event numbers.
2. A bar will appear at the bottom of the screen.
3. Open the Select Option menu.
4. Select Clear Events Text.
5. Select Update All to apply the changes.

Change Characters in Bulk 

1. Select the events you want to update by holding Shift or using Actions → Select Range.
2. Select the character name on any of the selected events, a dropdown will appear with the list of characters.
3. Search using the search bar or scroll to find the character.
4. Select the character, the change will be applied to all selected events.

How to link annotations

1. In an event, highlight the word(s) you want to link.
2. Use the keyboard shortcut:
   1. Alt + A (Windows)
   2. Ctrl + A (Mac)
3. Write the annotation.
4. Press Enter to save.

Tip: Use Filters to narrow down the events with annotations.

Add Tags

1. Select the event you want to tag.
2. Select the # icon or use the keyboard shortcut:
   1. Ctrl + T (Mac)
   2. Alt + T (Windows)
3. A menu will appear, select the tag type.
4. The tag will appear on the event.

Tip: Use Filters to search for events by tag type.

Set as Forced Narrative (FN)

1. Select the event you want to mark as a Forced Narrative.
2. Open the three-dot menu (⋮) on the event and select Set as FN, or use the keyboard shortcut:
   1. Cmd + 8 (Mac)
   2. Alt + 8 (Windows)
3. A tag labeled "FN - Forced Narrative" will appear on the event.

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INDEX

What is OS?	Workspace	Video Player	Events Overview	Conformance
Access	Info & Navigation	Timeline	Formatting	Help & Feedback
Sandbox	Keyboard Shortcuts	Events Panel	Assistive Tools
Authoring workflow	General Settings	Snapshots	Issue Navigator

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Formatting and Assistive Tools 

Use this section to understand formatting and assistive tools. Each letter in the image corresponds to a description in the table below.

Actions Menu 

Above the events, you’ll see an Action menu that has several options:

• Select Range:  apply actions in bulk.
• Go to event: jump to a specific event by number or timecode.
• Seek to time: jump to a timecode in the video only.
• Load Snapshot: Use Snapshots to view or restore past versions, including autosaved and manual saves.
• Open File 
• Import and Export: TTAL, SRT, XLSX, etc.

Import & Export Options

To access import and export options:

1. Select Actions (top of the Events panel).
2. A menu will appear with Import and Export options.
3. Select the format you need.

Here is the list of available file types: 

File Types: 

• TTAL: Netflix's proprietary timed text format. The recommended format for importing and exporting dub scripts within Originator Studio.
• XLSX: Microsoft Excel format. Useful for reviewing or editing events in a spreadsheet.
• DFXP: Distribution Format Exchange Profile. A standard XML-based timed text format used for subtitle and caption exchange.
• SRT: SubRip format. A widely supported subtitle format containing timecodes and text only.
• Reference Audio: An audio file used as a listening reference while authoring. It does not affect the final deliverable.

Find

How to find a word

1. Select Find in the toolbar.
2. Type the word(s) you want to search for.
3. Use the up and down arrows to navigate between matches.
4. By default, results include both Source and Target events. To search in Target events only, uncheck Include Source. To search across both, make sure it is checked.

Replace

1. Type the replacement term in the Replace with field.
2. Select:
   1. Replace: to change one match at a time.
   2. Replace All: to change every match at once.

Advanced Options

• Match case:  Search for the exact upper and lower case letters in the term.
• Regular expression: Use a search pattern to find specific text strings.

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INDEX

What is OS?	Workspace	Video Player	Events Overview	Conformance
Access	Info & Navigation	Timeline	Formatting	Help & Feedback
Sandbox	Keyboard Shortcuts	Events Panel	Assistive Tools
Authoring workflow	General Settings	Snapshots	Issue Navigator

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Assistive Features

Spellcheck

Use spellcheck to find typos and grammar errors before you submit your work.

1. Turn on spellcheck by selecting the "A" icon (top-right).
2. Select Filter: Spellcheck Warnings.
3. Select highlighted words to view spelling (red) or grammar (green) suggestions.
4. If correct, choose a suggestion.
5. If incorrect, select Ignore All to ignore this suggestion for the rest of this task.

Spellcheck languages: sv,ja,fr,es,de,it,nl,nl-BE,en,en-GB,en-AU,en-CA,en-NZ,en-ZA,pt,pt-BR,ro,el,pl,da

KNP & Sensitive Terms 

Use the KNP and Sensitive Terms pop-ups to quickly find glossary matches while authoring. As you type or select text, the pop-up automatically searches for matches and suggests the correct approved terminology.

When translating, it helps you find the right KNP translations based on the terms in the corresponding template event, keeping your work consistent with approved terminology across episodes and titles.

Color indicators:

• Teal:KNP term
• Yellow: Sensitive term

Assistive Translation

Assistive Translation provides real-time translation suggestions as you work. It's optional and designed to help you move faster, suggestions appear at the bottom of each event while editing and always require your review. 

Press Tab to highlight a suggestion and Enter to insert it (or click it directly); once inserted it becomes regular editable text. If a suggestion is poor quality, click the flag icon and select Report poor quality.

To enable it, go to Settings → General → Events and check Enable assistive translation. Note this feature is only available in select regions — if the option doesn't appear in Settings, it's not yet available in your region.

 

Issue Navigator

The Issue Navigator is located at the top left of the workspace. It helps you identify and resolve quality issues before submitting your work. It displays three icon types corresponding to the severity of the issue:

• Blockers: Must be resolved before submitting. Done button is disabled while any remain.
• Warnings: Issues worth reviewing. Submission is possible but review is recommended.
• Recommendations: Informational suggestions for quality improvement.

How to use the Issue Navigator

To learn more about the steps to use the issue navigator watch the following video:

1. Click the Issue Navigator icon above the video player
2. Use the dropdown to filter by Blockers, Errors, or Recommendations.
3. Select an issue to jump directly to the event in question.
4. Review the description and make the required fix.
5. Continue navigating through issues one at a time, the counter updates automatically as you resolve each one.

Done button and submission

If blockers are present, the Done button will be disabled. Hover over it to see what is preventing submission, then use the Issue Navigator to resolve each blocker.

Important: Once you click Done, you will permanently lose editing access to the project. Make sure all your work is final before submitting.

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INDEX

What is OS?	Workspace	Video Player	Events Overview	Conformance
Access	Info & Navigation	Timeline	Formatting	Help & Feedback
Sandbox	Keyboard Shortcuts	Events Panel	Assistive Tools
Authoring workflow	General Settings	Snapshots	Issue Navigator

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Conformance 

For a detailed step-by-step walkthrough of the Conformance flow, watch this video:

Conformance is the process of re-aligning an existing dub script's timecodes and events to match an updated Dialogue List. It is a two-stage process: first you align events, then you review and finalize content changes.

When a new Dialogue List is available, a banner will appear at the top of the page inviting you to realign your events. Select Retime and Adjust to open the conformance view.

Stage 1: Alignment

Your only goal in Stage 1 is to get your events aligned so they can be re-timed. Text edits, splits, and merges are handled in Stage 2. When you first enter this view, the system has already automatically pre-matched any events with 100% text matches between the new and old Dialogue List.

Event Tags

Each event is tagged to indicate its relationship between the old and new Dialogue List. Tags will change as you move events, this is expected.

Navigation & Keyboard Controls

Auto-Resync

Auto-resync is on by default. When enabled, moving one event automatically keeps other matched events aligned. It is recommended to keep auto-resync on unless you have a specific reason to disable it.

When auto-resync is off, events with a purple indicator can be manually realigned by clicking the indicator. 

If auto-resync is on and an event already has a confirmed match, you will not be able to shift it, this is by design to preserve alignment.

Important: Once you click Done, you cannot return to Stage 1. The only option available is Revert to Original, which removes all your changes. Proceed carefully.

Stage 2: Review & Finalize

After clicking Done, use the Issue Navigator to move through each tag type: New, Content Updated, and Removed. For each:

• New events: Fill in the dub script text for the placeholder.
• Changed events: Review the updated source text and adjust your dub script accordingly.
• Removed events: Review the context and decide whether to delete the event, merge it with an adjacent one, or leave it as is. 

When you are satisfied with all changes, select Finish Conformance to complete the process.

Important: After clicking Finish Conformance, there is no way to return to this step. Conformance is complete and cannot be undone.

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INDEX

What is OS?	Workspace	Video Player	Events Overview	Conformance
Access	Info & Navigation	Timeline	Formatting	Help & Feedback
Sandbox	Keyboard Shortcuts	Events Panel	Assistive Tools
Authoring workflow	General Settings	Snapshots	Issue Navigator

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Help & Feedback 

Select the Support Menu (? icon at the top right) to access learning resources, see feature updates, submit a ticket for technical assistance, or submit feedback on the tool.

Report a Problem

Submit a ticket for tool-related issues only (bugs, outages, page errors). When possible, submit the ticket yourself so support can follow up directly with you.

Please include:

• Summary of the issue
• Steps taken before the issue occurred
• Urgency (is it blocking your work?)

Tutorials and Resources

Helpful guides, videos, and resources to support your work in Originator Studio.

What's New

Read updates about new features. A red dot on the icon indicates a new update is available.

Feedback

This will direct you to the User Voice Forum. There you can submit and vote on feature ideas and improvements. When submitting, include the problem your idea solves.