**Important Note: Community Packages**

[ShadowChemosh]

**Important Note: Community Packages***

So time flies by! Looking at my .user files notes I see many of my original Hero Lab files date back to 2009. This means it has been 6 years! In 6 years HL software has had many changes and many advancements including getting to the iPad.

The "ideas" behind my first simple .user files that where hosted by Chiefweasel have long ago been integrated into Hero Lab officially. What started as a simple forum post Paris.Crenshaw, Bodrin, ValaraukarU and myself had about adventure paths eventually turned into what everyone knows today as the Community Bestiary. It has been a long fun and interesting 6 years!

The problems is what these "community files" and "packages" started as and what they "need" to be to support the community today in 2015 is very different. So different that because of "future" enhancements to Hero Lab I am going to be making some very drastic changes to all the community packages. During this time of change I am sure new issues will come about and you will need to learn a new layout of "Packs" (new name). So please have patience with me and the community stuff during this time.

In the end this will make things easier to support and hopefully easier to use for the community. These new Packs will be designed to build upon each other as I have learned people "love" to install everything. I am hopeful that this new design will be more intuitive in what needs to be installed.

If anyone is interested in the full layout they are welcome to view it HERE on my evernote I have shared. Its still a work in progress but most of the ideas are present.

So currently this is a note to begin preparing people for the changes that are too come. When they do please watch this forum post for updates. But I will also have notices going out through LW's facebook, newsletters, and Paizo forums. Also new threads will appear and the old d20pfsrd threads will be locked down to consolidate everything into one place.

I understand that change sucks and that this is going to be causing some "waves" during the transition but in the end it will be better for everyone.

 

[shatterjack]

One way in particular that this should help is with content that draws from more than one source. For example, Path of War contains a couple of archetypes for the psionic classes that I was not able to implement, because I had to assume the package was being used by a user who did not also have Ultimate Psionics. Bringing it all together like this will allow us to do that kind of thing more cleanly, to name but one benefit.

Also, hooray for consistent filenaming conventions!

 

[ShadowChemosh]

FAQs for Community Package Changes:

1) Where and HOW do I get these new Packs?
A: See THIS post for full details. But the new Packs are downloaded from inside of HL and all start with the wording "Pathfinder XXXXX Pack". Where XXXX is the name of the specific pack.

2) HL Continues to tell me to update old/deprecated packages?
A: If you are still getting an Update Notice for a old deprecated community package (Ultimate Psionics, SGG, Path of War) you need to do a small step to make it stop. Start HL and Pathfinder and go to "Tools->Manage Third Party Updates" and find the old package and "delete it". The files are already converted over to the new pack so you will NOT lose anything. HL will then stop telling you about the update.

3) How do a do a simple "Fresh" install of the new community Packs?
A: To do a "fresh" install on Windows (idea is similar on Mac) is go to your "C:\ProgramData\HeroLab\data\Pathfinder" folder and rename it to "pathfinder_old". Then go to the "C:\programData\HeroLab\download\pathfinder.hl" file and run this to start a fresh install of the Pathfinder Game system. If you plan to use the Community Bestiary or Community Player Pack you must install them BEFORE you install any of the "new" packs you wish to use. You do NOT have to install the Community Bestiary or Community Player Pack if you don't plan to use them.

4) If I want the Pathfinder 3PP Pack do I need to first install the Pathfinder Basic Pack?
A: Currently no. The "Basic Pack" is now contained inside of each other Pack. So if you only download the Pathfinder 3PP Pack then Basic Pack will be installed also automatically.

5) The only error I'm still getting is "abDRCIrMag", which this post says is because of a change to Cold Iron DR a while ago.
A: This is a known-issue and will be fixed when I redo the Community Bestiary and deprecate the Community Player Pack.

6) I am getting an error that is causing HL to not load any addons. What can I try?
A: One option to try is to download the Pack again. Let it overwrite the download and install again. This "some" times works and does not take long to try. If still getting an error please RIGHT click on the error window and PASTE the error message into this thread.

7) I am getting an error how can I paste it into this thread?
A: If you are getting a error window you can always RIGHT mouse click and select COPY to copy all the errors. Then you can past them into an post to help others diagnose what is wrong.

8) Error: Attempt to access field 'sPrepCount' that does not exist for thing 'puDetPsi0'
Location: 'field calculate' script for Field 'sScrCost' near line 39
A: Its a bug in the background component script and not something I can fix. I have put in an official bug report with all the information so they can duplicate it. It should be fixed in the next official release. If you are playing the character you can suppress the error by going to "Develop->Enable Data File Debugging" and turning it OFF. Then you won't see the message every-time you make a change.

9) Is there an order to loading the new Packs or the old Community Bestiary?
A: Temporally there is a specific order. The "Community Bestiary" or "Community Player Pack" MUST be installed before any of the new "Packs" get installed. If in example you loaded the "Basic Pack" first and then the Community Bestiary you will get errors like THESE. If so the fix is simple. Just download the "Basic Pack" again and install it. You should be good to go then.

 

[ShadowChemosh]

Pathfinder Campaign Pack

Installation Instructions
See THIS post for full details.

Where are the Encounter Files?

• The Forgotten Forge - Zip file for encounter files for the Eberron module The Forgotten Forge.

The Eberron Campaign setting addon has just become the new "Campaign Pack" and version 3.0 has been pushed out to everyone!

Version Notes
v3.0 January 1, 2015
Bug Fixes
-Fixed some Warforged Body Armor issues including Mithral body giving the wrong stats.
-Improved Action Point tracker. It now displays number of uses per level and includes the number and size of dice to roll.
-Action Point tracker is no longer reset with the new "Night's Rest" button.
-Misc script fixes. Including adding situational text to skills and saves.

New Features
-Added "Pathfinder" change notes that where missing from some of the Eberron Races.
-Added new check box in Configure Your Hero to "Hide all Non-Eberron Deities" if you wish. See "Data File Authoring" section below if this hides any "eberron" gods you have added.

Data File Authoring
-To have any custom gods NOT get hidden you need to open your .user file and for your "Deity" click the edit button next to "Deity Category" and check mark "Eberron Deities". Now your custom god will no longer get hidden.
-To make it easier to give bonus feats to the Artificer the BonusFor.S2Artifice tag was added. So any custom feats marked with this tag will be allowed to be chosen by the Artificer base class as a bonus feat.
-All files have been renamed to COM_CampaignPack_Eberron.

 

[Manalishi66]

Error loadng Basic Pack

The data files could not be loaded due to errors. Hero Lab will now attempt to load them in recovery mode. Once loaded, you can access the editor as normal to correct any errors.

The following errors occurred:

File: COM_BasicPack_ShadowChemosh - Classes.user (line 3) - Encountered unknown element tag 'loadonce'

Just wanted you to know this is what I ran into so you can hopefully fix it for me and others.

 

[ShadowChemosh]

The data files could not be loaded due to errors. Hero Lab will now attempt to load them in recovery mode. Once loaded, you can access the editor as normal to correct any errors.

The following errors occurred:

File: COM_BasicPack_ShadowChemosh - Classes.user (line 3) - Encountered unknown element tag 'loadonce'

Just wanted you to know this is what I ran into so you can hopefully fix it for me and others.

Download it again and let it over write. I accidentally left in a new XML element that only works with the next version of Hero Lab. Sorry...

 

[djdragon]

Shadow don't know why you are doing this on New Year's day. But cool. Just tried the 3.1 basic. Load errors exist. It keeps saying 3.1 is available and the file contents say 3.0 and the Data load error still happens. When you get a chance please look into this. And just want to say I love your stuff. Thanks so much enjoy whats left of the holiday!

 

[andrewm9]

I still keep getting a similar error and no many how many times I delete and retry it the file does not load. Also of note is that it continues to prompt me for Pathfinder Basic Pack (3.1)

The data files could not be loaded due to errors. Hero Lab will now attempt to load them in recovery mode. Once loaded, you can access the editor as normal to correct any errors.

The following errors occurred:

File: COM_BasicPack_ShadowChemosh - Feats.user (line 3) - Encountered unknown element tag 'loadonce'

 

[Kalladar]

I have loaded the pack about 20 times and it always fails with similar error messages to those experienced by Andrewm9. Also, with campaign 3.0 and basic 3.1 we need no other data sets for the same stuff we had about 10 of previously. Is that correct. It was unclear above.

 

[ShadowChemosh]

Shadow don't know why you are doing this on New Year's day. But cool.

Cause I am crazy! I had the whole week off so I had time.


Sorry All! Not a promising start. Left the new XML in another file. I really removed them all this time. So it will now load. Really!

So v3.2 is out! Which I loaded on to my laptop running HL v6.1 and it loaded! Hopefully I don't do that again.

 

[andrewm9]

Works like a charm now. Thanks for fixing it so fast. You are the man. Thanks to all who make these data packages work so well for us

 

[psych777]

so before i grab the new renamed package...do i need to delete the old package user files?
will por files that are currently using items from the old files need to remove and reselect?

 

[ShadowChemosh]

so before i grab the new renamed package...do i need to delete the old package user files?
will por files that are currently using items from the old files need to remove and reselect?

This install does a rename of the files so no need to delete old ones. Also this uses existing sources (or adds new) so .por files should notice no difference.

This is been the fun of trying to figure out this move. How to do it in ways that will have little to small impact on the community.

If something like this required it will be announced here and on the install message.

 

[ShadowChemosh]

The new 3PP Pack (which will hold all Third Party Publishing rules) including Path of War and Ultimate Psionics is going to require more official packages. To have this load you will be required to have official licenses for: Advanced Players Guide, Ultimate Magic, and Ultimate Combat.

To many Things pull spells or feats from these books and they have been out for years. I am also not spending the time to make sure these 3PP products only load with a "CORE" license anymore. Which often included duplicating "Things" from these packages which just added more time.

Just an FYI is all...

 

[ShadowChemosh]

Another "FYI" for those wondering. The Basic Pack and Campaign Pack are not "currently" linked together. So you could still load without the other. I need to get more "information" out to everyone before I truly link them. LW has agreed to let me add info across their social media and newsletters.

So most likely the next release will link the packages and loading it without the "Basic Pack" will cause it to fail.

 

[borsniel]

ever since i installed the basic pack ive been getting the following error:

Hero Lab was forced to stop compilation after the following errors were detected:

Syntax error in script for Procedure 'DiseaseTxt' on line 100
-> Error in right-side expression of assignment

ive tried removing all the data packs and redownloading them, and i have also completley uninstalled and reinstalled hero lab

im running the following packs:

pathfinder basic 3.2
pathfinder campaign 3.0
community bestiary 2.25
path of war 1.3
ultimate psionics 2.6
SGG 1.8
mythic add on 1.2

and im running version 10.11 of the pathfinder role playing game

ive narrowed it down to the bestiary causing the issue but don't know where to go from here. help wold be very appreciated.

 

[psych777]

excellent shadow, thanks!

 

[ShadowChemosh]

ever since i installed the basic pack ive been getting the following error:

Hero Lab was forced to stop compilation after the following errors were detected:

Syntax error in script for Procedure 'DiseaseTxt' on line 100
-> Error in right-side expression of assignment

ive tried removing all the data packs and redownloading them, and i have also completley uninstalled and reinstalled hero lab

So first "FYI" you should never reinstall "HL" itself unless LW support tells you to. Because 99.8% of the time it never helps.

In this case I admit to being unable to "duplicate" the issue. I even rolled HL back to 6.1a. Are you running a Mac? Because that would be the only thing I can't duplicate as I am on Windows 7. It makes no logical sense why this would suddenly pop up as the new Packs do not touch anything yet in the Community Bestiary or this Disease Procedure.

I can "make" a guess based on other issues that for some reason your HL does not like the "Smart" dash that is in this script. So instead of "-" its a "—" which has been in this file sense 5/13/2014. But HL v6.1a change the way it interprets these type of characters and it has caused some strange issues.

For now I changed the dash to a simple dash to see what it will do for you. So attached to this post is a .user file you should download to your desktop. Then start HL and go into Pathfinder. Press "OK" on the error message and then go to "Tools->Explore Folders->Game System Data Folder". A new window will open showing the location for all the files in your game system. Take the .user file from your desktop and place it in the the folder and let it overwrite the existing file. Close HL and restart.

See if that fixes your issue and let me know please. Also let me know which operating system you are running.

 

[ShadowChemosh]

For all the 3PP editors we have a new Github repository that should be setup. I would advise against doing any pulls until I get the v1 out the door.

Also this will REQUIRE the Basic Pack to be loaded into the same game folder. The github repository is designed to ignore any files from the Basic pack so they won't load back to github.

So you will also need to keep a link to the Basic Pack repository into its own game folder. Then depending on the updates you may need to manually copy the Basic Pack into the 3PP Pack game folder to get it to load.

So in example. I have moved some of the Psionics stuff into the Basic pack. So to currently get the 3PP pack to load you will need both the latest Basic Pack and 3PP Pack merged together into a single game folder.

 

[psych777]

other than the page showing open and closed issues, the rest of github just confuses me