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ShadowChemosh
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Old March 31st, 2016, 03:50 PM
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.

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.
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Pollution
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Old April 5th, 2016, 04:13 AM
Very nice write up!
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ShadowChemosh
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Old April 5th, 2016, 10:41 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pollution View Post
Very nice write up!
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.
ShadowChemosh is offline   #3 Reply With Quote
ShadowChemosh
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Old April 27th, 2016, 02:27 PM
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"

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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Jobe00
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Jonesboro, Arkansas
Posts: 150

Old August 10th, 2016, 02:08 PM
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.
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AndrewD2
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Old August 10th, 2016, 02:49 PM
you do it after you copy the link, in the text file.
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Jobe00
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Location: Jonesboro, Arkansas
Posts: 150

Old August 10th, 2016, 11:22 PM
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?
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ShadowChemosh
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Old August 11th, 2016, 10:28 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jobe00 View Post
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...

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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Jobe00
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Jonesboro, Arkansas
Posts: 150

Old August 11th, 2016, 10:56 AM
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.
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ShadowChemosh
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Old August 11th, 2016, 11:10 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jobe00 View Post
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.
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.

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.
ShadowChemosh is offline   #10 Reply With Quote
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