Hero Lab Editor: Source
 

I am created some custom content and I created a new source but I dont like the name how do I remove it once its been added, or edit it and rename it. Is there an option for that

You have a few options. First one is you could create a .1st file outside of the editor and in XML to set the name which will override whats in the .user file.

The other way is to open the .user file with "note" pad or another simple text program (ie TextPad or Notepad++). Then do a simple "Find/Replace" of the text in the user file for all instances of the text. Do this without HL running.

two questions:

1. what is a .1st file?
2. What if I already have a compiled user file in HL and that name is now stuck in the list, is there a way to remove it?

1st File - A .1st file is a special type of XML file that is made for HL and is the very first set of files loaded into memory. Most of the time the larger community created addons use this file to setup the Sources. Especially if you would like to have "Parent" sources that can not be checked mark and have "Child" sources below them. This can only be done using a .1st file. HERE is a info how to create a .1st file.

From Shadows FAQ link.

http://forums.wolflair.com/showthread.php?t=15524

What about the second question, I have already compiled user file for testing and the data remains including is contents. How do I remove it and its source from within HL

Do you want to remove it or change it? What I listed above is how you change it.

If you want to remove it you must find every Thing that is source marked and uncheck it. Then next time you load HL the source will not exist and it will go away.

I was looking to find out how to both, so thank you for the explanations. I am having trouble locating the files so for example I am using 5e SRD and looking in the following folder and I dont see any files with .1st extension or do I see any HL files either.

Looking in:
C:\ProgramData\Hero Lab\data\5e

Becuase I cant find them its hard to follow along

i feel like I need to explain a little more. So this is actually a new quesiton but it was sparked by what I originally asked.

I have created a simple user file that added a class, that class was set to a custom source, I have since compiled it and seems to be permanently include as an option to add that to my portfolio file for newly created hero's how do I remove that added content from HL.

You really should be posting in the 5e forums then. I "assumed" you where talking about Pathfinder and had more experience with HL editor. :(

.1st files are files you "create" new they do not come with Hero Lab. So you will not find them. In the 5e folder is a .user file which is simple "text" file or XML and you can open and edit it with a Text program.

To prevent the "new" content from showing in HL you will need to delete the .user file or remove it from the 5e data folder. Otherwise every time HL loads it will load up the information in the .user files.


I am a little lost now what you are trying to accomplish:
1) You want to change the source "name" that appears in the Configure Your Hero window?
2) You want to remove the source "name" that appears in the Configure Your Hero window?
3) You want to remove ALL the custom stuff you have done and put 5e back to the way it was?

yes sorry for being so all over the place, I just started using the editor and I was jumping around to different things.

I started creating some custom classes, then I found out how to add a source so that it was an option to select.

Then I got curious as to how to modify the compiled source name as I didn't like what I had put.

Then I was wondering how to remove all the custom compiled content all together for that.

I was just playing around with different things as I am new to all that HL has to offer. Again really sorry to jump around, just a lot of ideas all at once.

I tried what you suggested and removed the user file from the data directory. I made an assumption that when you compiled it was something that was permanently added to HL. Removing the file and restarting HL I can see that my custom stuff is now gone.

What does the compile actually do then from within the editor?

The compile is converting the "text" based information into binary form which is 100 times faster for a computer to deal with. This then allows scripts to work and to be able to quickly access Picks that are in memory.

In short it takes the text and makes it machine usable. Sense .user files can constantly be changed or new ones added it does this "each" time you start HL.

Hope that makes sense. :)

Ok, so the compile part of the editor just does the same thing as if I restarted HL, thats what it sounds like your saying. So if I remove the .user file it just removes that compiled file on restart.

Is that right?

Yes. The only content that is permanently compiled is the official content released by LWD. All user created content, whether created in the editor or with the authoring kit, is re-compiled every time you reload the game system.

This is why one of the earlier comments suggested you make your changes with Hero Lab closed, but you don't even have to do that. When I make changes, I go to the File menu and select "Switch game system", then just reload the same game to see the changes I've made.

Just as FYI this is not really correct. Even the content that LWD does is compiled each time on load. The only difference is that the official stuff for "most" game systems is encrypted actually so it can't be easily seen.

Yeah I just say that to make sure the person "restarts". But you are correct you can change the XML all day with HL running and it won't care until you do a restart.

Doing "CTRL-R" is faster than switching games as then HL has to tear down the UI and rebuild it from scratch. :) Note this will also work 90% of the time even when doing Authoring kit stuff.

Thanks everyone I think I have a good handle on these files now, I was really getting tripped up around the "Compile option", but now I get it.

Thanks again.

There are even plenty of things that will be accessible without doing anything special after you make an editor change and just save the .user file. Its just a bit unpredictable.

Nope that is not true. Without doing a "Test Now!" or CTRL-R no change in the .user file will actually affect HL.

Well, I think he meant "Once you restart Hero Lab".

Ok. Totally could have read that opposite. Its 4 days to V-Day and I am SO overworked!!!! :eek: :p

ShadowChemosh -

This is what I need to do. I created a source with a name I do not like. Unfortunately I have created a number of items all using that name as the source.

You will need to open the .user file in a text editor. Then do a find/replace all of the name to your fixed name to change it. That's the simple method.

Be careful not to use any special character like & or " or ' in the new text.

Ok that worked but the name in the .user file was not exactly as it was listed in the Source list. There were some extra characters in the name.
I finally found it with the entry parent="UserParent" name="Name of file"
Once I changed it there, the new name took hold.
Thanks for the help.