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Setup Powered by HL Updates using DropBox...

I am going to try and cover how to setup Powered by HL updates using dropbox. This is useful for groups that have there own set of .user files they want to keep in sync across many players. Everything past step 1 is NOT needed if you are just trying to get a .hl file onto the iPad.

Step 1 - Making the .hl file
This step is covered in THIS LW web article. I know it talks about the iPad but making the .hl is what is needed. And all HL applications (Windows/Mac/iPad) can read a .hl file.

Step 2 - Dropbox
Put your newly created .hl file into your dropbox folder. Then log into Dropbox website and say you want to "Share" this file. Dropbox will give you a link like this:

Code:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/b577x0fq0bqxosg/shadowd20_v2.00.hl?dl=0

You have to modify the ?dl=0 part to be ?dl=1 or it will confuse HL.
You end up with:

Code:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/b577x0fq0bqxosg/shadowd20_v2.00.hl?dl=1

Step 3 - Updates XML
Now you have to create a updates.xml file which you do using a plan text editor. Inside this XML is where you tell HL about the version, game system folder and .hl file version number.

Here is an example XML to get you started. You can copy/paste this whole thing into a empty text file named "updates.xml".

Code:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<document signature="Lone Wolf Updates" version="1">



<update name="My Stuff" 

  date="2016/02/20:1300" size="2658" 

  description="My HL download" 

  uniqueid="222" filetype="3" platform="any" 

  download="https://www.dropbox.com/s/b577x0fq0bqxosg/shadowd20_v2.00.hl?dl=1" 

  website="" companyurl="" priority="99" 

  major="1" minor="15" patch="" folder="pathfinder" special="third-party id" 

  dynamic=""/>



</document>

I have highlighted the important things that have to be changed:

name - This is what is displayed in the Updates window.
date - Set this to the current date time to let HL know when the file was updated.
size - the size in bytes of the file.
download - is the modified URL link you got from dropbox.
major - The major part of your version number so if v1.15 you put in 1.
minor - The minor part of your version number so if v1.15 you put in 15.
folder - The folder name where to be installed (pathfinder or 5e) for example.
special - Your third party ID you entered when you made the .hl file. This must match "exactly" or HL will be unable to know when a "new" version is released.

Step 4 - Place updates.xml into dropbox
Place your updates.xml into the new folder where your .hl file is located. Do the same "Share" trick but this time change the end from ?dl=0 to ?dl=1. This gives you the URL that your players need to enter into the Powered By HL. For those instructions point them at THIS pdf file.

Example working URL from my dropbox is:

Code:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/wf7hdzvjp4ty267/updates.xml?dl=1

Note that the value after the "/s/" is different for each file.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pollution (Post 227436)

Very nice write up!

Thanks. I figured it was time to centralize the information as I keep getting asked. :)

So I updated the post as something in Dropbox changed and you have to have ?dl=1 at the end of all the URLs now.

In example:

Code:

download="https://www.dropbox.com/s/b577x0fq0bqxosg/shadowd20_v2.00.hl"

has to be

Code:

download="https://www.dropbox.com/s/b577x0fq0bqxosg/shadowd20_v2.00.hl?dl=1"

Dropbox won't let me change the link from 0 to 1.
How do I do that there?
I have a freebie account if that matters.

you do it after you copy the link, in the text file.

I still can't change the link from 0 to 1 on my Dropbox files.

I have them in my pathfinder folder (the same one the HL app uses for character portfolios).
I did the .xml file as follows.

Code:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<document signature="Lone Wolf Updates" version="1">



<update name="Jobe's Pathfinder Files" 

  date="2016/06/22:1700" size="127099" 

  description="Jobe's Pathfinder Files" 

  uniqueid="042" filetype="3" platform="any" 

  download="https://www.dropbox.com/s/2ai1um8kc8j2a4a/Jobe_Pathfinder_Files.hl?dl=1" 

  website="""" priority="99" 

  major="1" minor="11" patch="" folder="pathfinder" special="JOBE" 

  dynamic=""/>



</document>

I got the link from the hl file and changed the 0 to 1 as noted above in the .xml file.

I still cannot change the actual Dropbox links to 1 on either file. I can't find where I can edit the links there.

What am I doing wrong?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jobe00 (Post 233286)

I still can't change the link from 0 to 1 on my Dropbox files.

You don't change "DROPBOX" you change the URL you type into the updates.xml file.

I see you have changed it to a 1. That is telling Dropbox when its a 1 to download immediately do not present a friendly web page first.

Code:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<document signature="Lone Wolf Updates" version="1">



<update name="Jobe's Pathfinder Files" 

  date="2016/06/22:1700" size="127099" 

  description="Jobe's Pathfinder Files" 

  uniqueid="042" filetype="3" platform="any" 

  download="https://www.dropbox.com/s/2ai1um8kc8j2a4a/Jobe_Pathfinder_Files.hl?dl=1" 

  website="""" priority="99" 

  major="1" minor="11" patch="" folder="pathfinder" special="JOBE" 

  dynamic=""/>



</document>

Also FYI you are doing this setup because you want to let your gaming group get access to this .hl file right? Not just setting this up to get it to the iPad correct...

It's primarily to make updating my iPad easier...I hope.
Every time I use iTunes, I hit the update and I get an error that I need the most up to date version of HL...which I have.

Sharing with others is also why I'm setting it up.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jobe00 (Post 233307)

You can also just email the .hl file to yourself or use dropbox app to get the file to the iPad. Then click on the .hl file and tell it to open with the iPad app. HL App opens and installs the update. Just FYI...

If you are getting out of sync version issues check to make sure your desktop software is using the latest non-beta version of HL.

How do I use the Dropbox app to get .hl files on iPad?
This was the only way I was aware of.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jobe00 (Post 233319)

How do I use the Dropbox app to get .hl files on iPad?
This was the only way I was aware of.

Just open the dropbox app. Log in. Find the file and click on it to download to the iPad (ignore that it says no preview available). In the right top corner is three dots click on it to get choice of options. Click "Export" and in the new window select "Open In...". Then in the list of apps click on "Copy to Hero Lab" which will open the HL app and start the install process. :)

Note have not done this myself in awhile and the dropbox app has added an extra step now of "Export". Use to open right up with the list of apps.

That worked.
No error about my version of HL either.

Excellent.

Thank you.

EDIT: Nevermind, missed a step :)

"Unable to create export file. Verify that the filename specified is valid."

It doesn't seem to matter what filename variation I use, I'm always getting this error.

http://forums.wolflair.com/attachmen...1&d=1491137839
Hate to rez this thread but as I am attempting to do a updates.xml file I figured I bring it up here. Seems HeroLab's Updater isn't liking the the way I am doing this. I am using dropbox for it all and have done the ?dl=1. Any suggestions? :confused:

Your issue is this:

Code:

website="http://forums.wolflair.com/showthread.php?t=58005&goto=nextnewest"

XML can NOT have & characters unless used as an escape character. Google XML Escape characters for a full list.

But the above needs to become:

Code:

website="http://forums.wolflair.com/showthread.php?t=58005&goto=nextnewest"

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShadowChemosh (Post 247243)

Your issue is this:

Code:

website="http://forums.wolflair.com/showthread.php?t=58005&goto=nextnewest"

XML can NOT have & characters unless used as an escape character. Google XML Escape characters for a full list.

But the above needs to become:

Code:

website="http://forums.wolflair.com/showthread.php?t=58005&goto=nextnewest"

Perfect! Thanks Shadow!