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How do I edit the data files?

C

cryptoknight

Well-known member
I could fix a lot of problems (esp the language issues) if I could edit the races in the data files.

When I try to, I'm told they're read only and that editing them could wreck the system so I won't be allowed to save. Ummm Why? I just want to add languages to the various races missing them. At least I can fix that problem this way.

And adjust the number of bonus skills that Hybrid rogues get, etc.
 
What I've found when I've been tinkering is that the best way of handling this isn't to change anything in the files generated from DDI [1]. What I've done instead is recreate the element I want to change in a user data file, give it the same ID as the thing I'm changing and tick the magic checkbox that allows you user file to override the DDI data.

The big advantage of this way is that you'll still have all your changes if you want to scrape the compendium again for a new set of ddi_* files.

Cheers,

Ash

[1] Although the XML is fairly easy to maul with a text editor. I tried that first and it seemed to work although after finding out how to override I decided it was more pain than I wanted.
 
That might work for something small. But does that mean I have to recreate say the hybrid rogue in order to give it two bonus skills that the ddi scrape didn't?
 
Not sure to be honest - I haven't looked at how skills are assigned to classes yet. So far I've been able to solve most problems by replacing one element of the class so if there's something like a class feature for the skills allowed then just changing that should be enough.

Cheers,

Ash
 
cryptoknight said:
I could fix a lot of problems (esp the language issues) if I could edit the races in the data files.

When I try to, I'm told they're read only and that editing them could wreck the system so I won't be allowed to save. Ummm Why? I just want to add languages to the various races missing them. At least I can fix that problem this way.

And adjust the number of bonus skills that Hybrid rogues get, etc.
Click to expand...

The reason for the error is so that you don't change the files generated by the download. If you do that, the next time you run the download, you will LOSE all your changes - they will be overwritten. We're assuming that would be bad, so we stop you from doing it.

The way to do this is to create a new thing as a COPY of the original one, then tell Hero Lab to use it in place of the old one. This is done as follows:

1. Launch the Editor and create a NEW data file.
2. Go to the appropriate tab (e.g. Race).
3. In the lower left, click the button entitled "New (Copy)".
4. From the list presented, select the thing you want to make changes on. While you're here, make sure you write down the unique id of that thing - which is shown next to its name.
5. A new record is created, so give it a new unique id and tweak the name (e.g. change "Elven" to "Test Elven").
6. Go to the "Replaces Id" field and enter the unique id of the original thing you copied. Doing this tells Hero Lab to use your new thing anywhere that the original thing is referenced. For example, if you replace a standard language, all races that automatically grant that language will now grant your replacement instead.
7. Save your thing.
8. Save your new content in a separate file from the generated content.
9. Click the "Test Now" button.

At this point, Hero Lab will compile your changes in and add the new thing into the run-time database. If you created a replacement race, try to select a race for your character. Your new race should appear and the old one should now be gone - Hero Lab replaced it with the new one you created.

You can now go back and make further changes to the new thing you created. For example, you can change the languages automatically conferred. All the other behaviors of the race were duplicated when you used "New (Copy)", so you don't have to recreate any of those behaviors.

Hope this helps!
 
Ok that makes sense... and it let me fix races... but changing the number of skills on the Hybrid Rogue didn't do anything... any tips?
 
I believe that Hybrid classes are limited to a fixed number of skills - that is, every Hybrid character can take 3 trained skills, regardless of how many are added by his classes. Because of that, Hybrid characters are limited to 3 skills. (I think that's how it works, anyway - if not, someone please correct me. :)

Do you want to add extra skills specifically to the hybrid rogue? Or to hybrid characters as a whole?
 
Just remember that those bonus skills are only from the list of skills that the Hybrid Rogue has access to, for instance a Hybrid Rogue/Fighter couldn't use a bonus skill to learn a skill that is learn-able because he or she is a fighter.
 
Thanks. I looked in the Hybrid Rogue details in the Compendium and I don't see any of that listed there - are those rules specified somewhere special?
 
They're in Character Builder. Hmmm.they're also in my printed PHB3

After the class skills there's

Extra Trained Skills: Choose two extra trained skills from the class skills list above.
 
I just went through the errata and there's no mention of removing it. My character builder is as up to date as it can be.

Hybrid bards get 1,
Hybrid Rangers get 1

Just flipped through the compiled rules updates and they never took it away... it's just not in the compendium.

That being the case, my question returns. How do I fix it in this case?
 
Weird. The best way to change it right now is to use an adjustment on the In-Play tab - just add a +5 skill adjustment for the extra skills you want to train.
 
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