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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 end up with: Code:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/b577x0fq0bqxosg/shadowd20_v2.00.hl?dl=1 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>
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 Hero Lab Resources: Pathfinder - d20pfsrd and Pathfinder Pack Setup 3.5 D&D (d20) - Community Server Setup 5E D&D - Community Server Setup Hero Lab Help - Hero Lab FAQ, Editor Tutorials and Videos, Editor & Scripting Resources. Created by the community for the community - Realm Works kickstarter backer (Alpha Wolf) and Beta tester.- d20 HL package volunteer editor. Last edited by ShadowChemosh; July 7th, 2017 at 04:42 PM. |
#1 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 345
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Very nice write up!
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#2 |
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Chicago, IL (USA)
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Thanks. I figured it was time to centralize the information as I keep getting asked.
Hero Lab Resources: Pathfinder - d20pfsrd and Pathfinder Pack Setup 3.5 D&D (d20) - Community Server Setup 5E D&D - Community Server Setup Hero Lab Help - Hero Lab FAQ, Editor Tutorials and Videos, Editor & Scripting Resources. Created by the community for the community - Realm Works kickstarter backer (Alpha Wolf) and Beta tester.- d20 HL package volunteer editor. |
#3 |
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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" Code:
download="https://www.dropbox.com/s/b577x0fq0bqxosg/shadowd20_v2.00.hl?dl=1" Hero Lab Resources: Pathfinder - d20pfsrd and Pathfinder Pack Setup 3.5 D&D (d20) - Community Server Setup 5E D&D - Community Server Setup Hero Lab Help - Hero Lab FAQ, Editor Tutorials and Videos, Editor & Scripting Resources. Created by the community for the community - Realm Works kickstarter backer (Alpha Wolf) and Beta tester.- d20 HL package volunteer editor. |
#4 |
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Jonesboro, Arkansas
Posts: 150
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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. |
#5 |
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Muskegon, MI
Posts: 2,975
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you do it after you copy the link, in the text file.
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#6 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Jonesboro, Arkansas
Posts: 150
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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 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? |
#7 |
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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> Hero Lab Resources: Pathfinder - d20pfsrd and Pathfinder Pack Setup 3.5 D&D (d20) - Community Server Setup 5E D&D - Community Server Setup Hero Lab Help - Hero Lab FAQ, Editor Tutorials and Videos, Editor & Scripting Resources. Created by the community for the community - Realm Works kickstarter backer (Alpha Wolf) and Beta tester.- d20 HL package volunteer editor. |
#8 |
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Jonesboro, Arkansas
Posts: 150
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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. |
#9 |
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Quote:
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. Hero Lab Resources: Pathfinder - d20pfsrd and Pathfinder Pack Setup 3.5 D&D (d20) - Community Server Setup 5E D&D - Community Server Setup Hero Lab Help - Hero Lab FAQ, Editor Tutorials and Videos, Editor & Scripting Resources. Created by the community for the community - Realm Works kickstarter backer (Alpha Wolf) and Beta tester.- d20 HL package volunteer editor. |
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#10 |
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