What is the format for an update site?

[Hedrik]

I have a (single file) Pathfinder data file (*.user) that I want to have available from a custom update site (I actually want it available to the iPad version of HL since I can't play properly without the data file...)

How does one set up such an update site? I cannot find anything in the manual or Wiki that discusses this topic... Am I just missing it?

[Mathias]

To read the instructions, in the Help menu, choose "Hero Lab Manual" and then "Distributing Data Files".

They're also available on our website: http://www.wolflair.com/index.php?co...nt_on_the_ipad

[Hedrik]

Thank you - I have no idea how I missed that.

[Hedrik]

OK, I gotten that working - one issue though: a URL is not a filename, as a general rule. It may contain a filename - though that filename may not be the one desired for the .hl file stored locally.

The URL filename may even be different depending on who is using it (if authentication is included in the URL) - or it could be a database table index ID, or it could include parameters that are not part of the name...

For example, you could have a URL such as:
https://my.cool.site.com/HL/search.h...world=BobsGame
and the resultant file that is downloaded might be "BobsHLCustomContent.hl"

Unfortunately, as it stands now it appears that there is no way to have that URL be used and have the filename be "BobsHLCustomContent.hl" on the local system...

Another example might be a shared file repository (Git, or SourceForge, or DropBox) such as URLs like:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/rlubl2gisl4kqjx/EotW.hl?dl=1

Where without the '?dl=1' part, it returns an HTML page rather than just the file contents.

Is this something that you could address in the next version of HL perhaps? I realize that it would require a change in the DTD for the Updates Configuration file to address these issues fully...

[Mathias]

As an alternative if you've already got your iPad set up to get its portfolios with dropbox, you should be able to drop the .hl file in that same folder, and the iPad app will offer you the option to use it as an update. You'll have to manually update the .hl file in dropbox whenever you update the .user file in it, though.

[Hedrik]

Hmmm... I'll try that.

[Hedrik]

Nope - that does not work. I have to manually load it into the HL storage via iTunes. Only portforlios seem to work via DropBox

[ShadowChemosh]

Originally Posted by Hedrik

Nope - that does not work. I have to manually load it into the HL storage via iTunes. Only portforlios seem to work via DropBox

I have loaded .hl through both dropbox and emails. So unless something changed in the last few versions that seems weird.

Ok just did it and it loaded it. After you download the file in dropbox click the "UP ARROW" and select "OPEN IN..." then select HL. dropbox does not natively support this file type is all.

[Hedrik]

?? I don't understand. I thought that once the file was located in the 'Apps/Hero Lab/' folder that Hero Lab on iPad would see it automatically and have it available for importing - just as it handles portfolios as soon as they are uploaded to that folder on DropBox.

Where would I need to 'download' the file - and why do I need to tell DropBox what to open it in? Do I need to do this using the DropBox App on the iPad, or through the DropBox web site interface, or...?

Off to try to figure out what you are saying...

[Hedrik]

OK, I am able to 'Open in...' and select HL on the iPad through the DropBox App. This does allow me to import the .hl file. Is this now going to be 'permanent' in that when the .hl file is updated on DropBox, HL on iPad will automatically 'see' the update?