Creating a Module Template
 

Im attempting to create a module template. Using the free content that has been released I made a template with dummy entries. My goal is to create a template that I could import in, change the details and add the story, characters, encounters, items,etc.

After finishing I could export just that one module.

I did some testing trying to change the names and import the template a second time to see if it would keep both sets of data (Both having their own unique source and names to reflect the module they belong to.) The second import overwrites the first. I tried a second time without preserving the author and that didnt make a difference.

My end goal is to be able to have modules that are parts of a greater story or campaign arc but could be published as they are written.

Names are irrelevant to a topic. There is a hidden "ID" that identifies a unique topic. Importing recognizes the topic ID as the same topic and over-writes the existing one. Import also preserves the topic ID in order to allow you to perform updates with new versions of the topic.

It sounds like what you want is to COPY the template to a new Realm instead of Export/Import. Copying will give you a new realm with the same generic placeholder topics with new IDs, as I understand the difference between COPY and IMPORT/EXPORT functions.

So to make and use a template it sounds like I would need to make a realm that is the template. Copy that realm, fill in my module, Then export it to be imported to someone's realm.

It's an extra step but understandable. Thanks for the understanding.

Finally got around to testing this theory.

Mixed results to say the least.

I created a realm (Module Template), created a template I would use for a Module.
Then created an export of that realm.
I imported that into my test realm.

Copied the template realm
In the new copy, I added a module name in all the places that made sense. Mostly in header containers that had repeating data underneath. As an example, Equipment for Test, in the mechanic's area.
Then I exported the realm.

Back in the test realm, I imported this new export from the copied realm.

Result:
Anything I changed, came in as a new item.
Anything I didn't change, stayed the same, or shows as a duplicate.
As an example, Under the world almanac, The Container that was Campaign Name is there with all of its sub-containers. Also, any sub-container or item that didn't get changed. The Container that was changed is separate with only one sub-container that oddly wasn't changed. Thus breaking the structure of what was under the new and the old module by mixing the data.

Another example:
Under Things, I had a container for Creatures of (Name of Module). Under that is Creature 1 and Creature 2. After both imports, I now have only a container for Creatures of Test but I have 2 sets of Creature 1 and Creature 2. The other Container is gone. I can only assume it was overwritten since that was the settings on the import.

In that last example, if I look at the tags, I see both tags for both imports added to the Creatures of Test Container. but the Creature 1 items are either from the first import or the second, but not both.

After this result, I decided to see how my other imports would play. Since they share some Tags and Categories.
Tags came over without challenge.
Categories came over without challenge.
Under the Mechanics References Tab, My Adversaries (Monsters) came up in the correct area under Dangers, but the container they came into is one from another import. So now there is a container called Adversaries and another called Adversaries for Test. Under Test, the Actual monsters showed up in the sub-containers I have there.

So I am not sure what is happening since the logic isnt completely solid on what happened other than if something changed it was safe.

So I am back to the drawing board to find a way to make something as simple as a template for creating the same type of things over and over.

Does anyone have thoughts on what to try next?

It sounds like you are trying to import back into the original realm some changes you made in a copied realm.

In general this is a bad idea.

The original realm from which the export is made should never have exports from "child" realms copied back into it. This will cause problems later on when trying to export from the original realm again.

It is best to only export from some realms and import into others.

I am importing into a new realm.

I was going by what was described in an earlier post. Since I cant use the same import as a template due to ID numbers, I copied the realm in which the template exists, then created a new export. The test was to see if the copied realm creates new IDs for all items within the realm. My guess is that is doesn't.

A copied realm is just an imported one. Topic ID's do not change in the import process.

I'm not really sure you're trying to accomplish.

If you just want a standard way to format modules you enter yourself, then just work out the layout and manually create it every time you do the data entry, if it's just a few container topics that shouldn't be all that time consuming, probably less than doing the import.

I think I would approach this by creating a structure only realm to create topics laid out the way you prefer, then import that structure when you want to enter a new module.

This was the goal, but it isn't working. I don't just have 1-10 items I am trying to copy, I have set up a common structure that I want to use for each module I bring into Realm Works.

I have gone through the World and Mechanics sections and created the structure I would want to use.

What gave me the idea was the use of having a master realm that you can use for your general rules and information and then importing that into a new realm that you actually run your campaign out of. Thus only having to update one place if you have multiple campaigns that are in the same area.

The challenge so far is that IDs in the background don't change so I can't use the same realm, or import if I ever have these modules later combined into the same realm.

Based on prior comments made by LWD, as I mentioned in an earlier response, the difference between Copying and Import/Export is the preservation of IDs.

Copying a Realm creates a new Realm with the same Topics/Articles, but they have new IDs. Exporting and Importing preserves the existing IDs so the Topics/Articles can be updated with future re-Exports and re-Imports. As Farling mentioned, I do not think it is particularly wise to Export and Import back and forth in both directions between two (or more) Realms.. having one master Realm that you export from and import into others seems more stable (less prone to accidental errors).

A template Realm for modules sounds like the appropriate place for using Copy. Make a Realm that has the structure you want, then Copy it to create a new Realm for each module (assuming module is one Adventure) and then populate the Topics/Articles as needed.

If you want to propagate content (rules or story elements), you have two choices.

1) If each is to be a stand-alone version for running a group through them independently, you can Copy the Realm to create that stand-alone version. Updates to the original will NOT propagate to the copy, and later exporting elements from the original can create duplicates if imported into the copied Realm.

2) If they are somehow not meant to be stand-alone, or you want to apply further updates from the original to the spin-off Realm(s), then Export and Import seems more appropriate. Again, bi-directional Exporting and Importing increases the chances of messing up the original, so I don't recommend it (even if, in theory, it should work).

Once you have a Realm for each module (or for rules and background setting information), to *combine* them for actual play, that's limited to Exporting from the source and Importing into the destination, where the destination is most likely a new, empty Realm for that purpose.

I think I can help here. I currently have 4 realm templates.

1. Blank - Completely empty. ALL default categories/tags are disabled or deleted.
2. Structure - This contains all the categories/tags all my realms use. I don't use any of the defaults.
3. Gamesystem - This contains all the game specific categories/tags my realms use, PLUS the import from Structure.
4. World - This contains all the world lore etc. that all my realms use, PLUS the import from Structure.

When I want to create a new realm, I first COPY the blank realm.
Next I open that realm, and import a STRUCTURE-ONLY export from the Structure realm.
Then I import a FULL export from the World and/or PF2 realms.

ALL imports require using advanced options and checking the boxes for OVERWRITE conflicts.

ALL exports have "preserve ownership" checked. This is super important.

If you try to create any topics in the totally blank realm RW WILL CRASH. Make sure you have some sort of category for every possible section.

If I make a change to any of the template realms and re-export, all my changes easily import to my active realm.

Example:
Partway through creating a realm, I realized I needed another snippet in a category. I saved and synced my current realm, switch to the Structure realm, and made my change. Exported preserving ownership, imported to my current realm overwriting conflicts, and the category now has the additional snippet. Any previously created topics require a resync or manual add to get the new snippet, but all newly created topics afterwards have it.

It took quite a bit of trial and error to get this all to work, but it was well worth the effort.

This is extremely helpful, nightpanda. I've been struggling with the best approach to this myself - thank you for your input.

Thank you Silveras/Nightpanda! Your help is appreciated!

Thanks you guys for the detailed procedure.

What will be even more helpful is if LW will publish a truly empty template.
One that has nothing to turn off, that can be used as a base.

Oo! Not a bad idea. I'll pass that along!