> ## Knowledge Base Index
> Fetch the complete knowledge base index at: https://help.scriptation.com/sitemap.xml
> Use this file to discover available pages before exploring further.
> Pure-Markdown content can be obtained by appending a '.md' suffix to the content URLs listed in the sitemap (without the trailing slash).

# How do I lock or unlock a Sides file?

**Lock mode** tells Scriptation to treat a Sides file's pages as **Native** script pages instead of inserted ones. Locking is required for [Lining](https://help.scriptation.com/en/article/how-do-i-use-lining-tools-pzb2l3/), [Auto-Highlight](https://help.scriptation.com/en/article/what-is-auto-highlighting-17llf2q/), and [Note Transfer](https://help.scriptation.com/en/article/how-do-i-transfer-notes-from-sides-into-a-master-script-b3o14w/) to work on Sides.

|| 📝 NOTE: Lining and Auto-Highlight are [Industry Pro](https://help.scriptation.com/en/article/what-is-scriptation-industry-pro-1jfjecg/) features.

### Why Sides need to be locked

Scriptation handles two kinds of pages:

* **Native** — the official script pages from the imported PDF, in their imported order;
* **Inserted / Added** — pages added in the [Page Manager](https://help.scriptation.com/en/article/what-is-the-page-manager-k7edhm/), like [Sides](https://help.scriptation.com/en/article/how-do-i-create-script-sides-1rfarbu/), Facing Pages, and copy-pasted pages.

By default, a [Sides](https://help.scriptation.com/en/article/how-do-i-create-script-sides-1rfarbu/) file is recognized as entirely Inserted pages. This gives you maximum flexibility for reordering pages into shooting order. But several features — **Lining**, **Auto-Highlight**, and certain **Note Transfer** workflows — only read the text of **Native** pages.

**Locking** a Sides file flips that recognition so Scriptation treats every page as Native, unlocking those features.

### How to lock a Sides file

1. With your Sides file open, tap the [Page Manager](https://help.scriptation.com/en/article/what-is-the-page-manager-k7edhm/) icon on the Top Toolbar:

![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/6/0/8/1/60818aeea8717000/toptoolbarpagemanagerpng_1od3cia.png =800x88)

2. Tap **Edit**:

![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/6/0/8/1/60818aeea8717000/toptoolbarpagemanager-editpng_1w338n4.png =800x85)

3. Tap and drag each page to move them into the desired shooting order:

![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/60818aeea8717000/download-52_17frkf8.jpeg =700x355)

4. With pages in the correct order, tap **Lock**:

![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/6/0/8/1/60818aeea8717000/toptoolbarpagemanagersideslock_1oj3w9o.png =800x84)

5. Tap **Save**.

The Sides file is now locked. [Playback](https://help.scriptation.com/en/article/what-is-playback-mode-dg5uqr/), [Lining](https://help.scriptation.com/en/article/how-do-i-use-lining-tools-pzb2l3/), [Auto-Highlight](https://help.scriptation.com/en/article/what-is-auto-highlighting-17llf2q/), and Note Transfer will now recognize the pages as Native and work as expected.

### How to unlock a Sides file

To unlock a Sides file, repeat the process — tap **Page Manager** → **Edit** → **Unlock** → **Save**.

||| ⚠️ HEADS UP: Once Lining or Auto-Highlight has been created on Locked Sides, we don't recommend unlocking those pages. Unlocking after annotating may cause unexpected behavior with the existing notes.

| ✅ TIP: If you need to reorder a Sides file after locking, unlock just long enough to rearrange, then re-lock — but only if you haven't yet added Lining or Auto-Highlight to the file.

|| 📝 NOTE: In some cases, **Large Scene Numbers** may not display correctly on Sides even after locking. If you run into this, reach out to support for a workaround, and consider sending us your script and Sides PDFs so we can investigate further.

# What's Next

[How do I create script sides?](https://help.scriptation.com/en/article/how-do-i-create-script-sides-1rfarbu/)
[How do I get Lining to work on Sides? Lock mode.](https://help.scriptation.com/en/article/how-do-i-get-lining-to-work-on-sides-lock-mode-1h6nsce/)
[How do I use Auto-Highlight in sides?](https://help.scriptation.com/en/article/how-do-i-use-auto-highlight-in-sides-if0mi7/)