There are a variety of threads out there already discussing these topics, but I felt it would be best if I created a new one as a central place for me to respond and provide information and hopefully reduce some confusion.
For reference, these are the main threads I am aware of related to this (there may be some that I’m missing):
https://forums.wolflair.com/showthread.php?t=65903
https://forums.wolflair.com/showthread.php?t=64732
https://forums.wolflair.com/showthread.php?t=63665
https://forums.wolflair.com/showthread.php?t=63509
Based on reports from certain users regarding problems they have been experiencing with import/export in builds 255-256 that were not present in build 253, we have now updated the server to no longer require build 256 to access it. Build 253 is now the minimum required build for the time being.
In the coming days I’ll be working to gather some more information from the users who have reported import/export problems that didn’t exist in build 253 but emerged in builds 255-256. If you experienced these problems in builds 255-256, it would be most helpful if you could do a structure-only export of the realms you are having issues exporting and provide the .rwstructure file in a support ticket, and ideally post your support case number in this thread so I can find it quickly. (NOTE! Build 254 had a different import/export issue that was fixed in build 255, so please don’t do this if you experienced issues in build 254 only. Only issues that exist in builds 255-256 but were not present in build 253 are relevant).
Unfortunately, if you choose to not upgrade to build 256 and instead remain on builds 253-255, integration with Hero Lab Classic will not work correctly due to changes on the server that were made to work with build 256. Attempting to view or edit Hero Lab Classic portfolios externally will fail with an error message. There are some workarounds, however.
If you need to get a portfolio out of RW, you can launch the 32-bit version of Hero Lab Classic and activate it using your Hero Lab Classic device code/license number (you need activate the 32-bit version separately from the 64-bit version). Then within Realm Works, use the play button dropdown menu and choose the “Open Within Hero Lab” option, or use the “Click to integrate into running program” button. Realm Works will display an error message saying “Unable to integrate the external object.” However, in this case the error message is incorrect, and the portfolio will in fact be imported into Hero Lab Classic. So you can simply ignore the error message from Realm Works. In Hero Lab Classic, you can then save the portfolio as a file to your disk after making whatever changes you want to it.
If you need to get a portfolio back into RW, you can clear the existing portfolio data on the snippet (or create a new portfolio snippet), and use the “Load from File” option.
Build 253 can be downloaded from:
https://www.wolflair.com/download/rw/RealmWorks_253_install.exe
However, it will not work with a database that has been opened with builds 254-256. In that situation, if all your local data is synced with the server and you don’t have any local changes you want to keep, you can move or delete your local database file and then run the installer and sync everything back down from the server. If you need assistance doing this, please contact support at support@wolflair.com. Unfortunately, if you have local changes that have NOT been synced with the server that you are unable to sync with the server, there is no workaround currently available to go back to build 253 if you have already run with builds 254-256.
For reference, these are the main threads I am aware of related to this (there may be some that I’m missing):
https://forums.wolflair.com/showthread.php?t=65903
https://forums.wolflair.com/showthread.php?t=64732
https://forums.wolflair.com/showthread.php?t=63665
https://forums.wolflair.com/showthread.php?t=63509
Based on reports from certain users regarding problems they have been experiencing with import/export in builds 255-256 that were not present in build 253, we have now updated the server to no longer require build 256 to access it. Build 253 is now the minimum required build for the time being.
In the coming days I’ll be working to gather some more information from the users who have reported import/export problems that didn’t exist in build 253 but emerged in builds 255-256. If you experienced these problems in builds 255-256, it would be most helpful if you could do a structure-only export of the realms you are having issues exporting and provide the .rwstructure file in a support ticket, and ideally post your support case number in this thread so I can find it quickly. (NOTE! Build 254 had a different import/export issue that was fixed in build 255, so please don’t do this if you experienced issues in build 254 only. Only issues that exist in builds 255-256 but were not present in build 253 are relevant).
Unfortunately, if you choose to not upgrade to build 256 and instead remain on builds 253-255, integration with Hero Lab Classic will not work correctly due to changes on the server that were made to work with build 256. Attempting to view or edit Hero Lab Classic portfolios externally will fail with an error message. There are some workarounds, however.
If you need to get a portfolio out of RW, you can launch the 32-bit version of Hero Lab Classic and activate it using your Hero Lab Classic device code/license number (you need activate the 32-bit version separately from the 64-bit version). Then within Realm Works, use the play button dropdown menu and choose the “Open Within Hero Lab” option, or use the “Click to integrate into running program” button. Realm Works will display an error message saying “Unable to integrate the external object.” However, in this case the error message is incorrect, and the portfolio will in fact be imported into Hero Lab Classic. So you can simply ignore the error message from Realm Works. In Hero Lab Classic, you can then save the portfolio as a file to your disk after making whatever changes you want to it.
If you need to get a portfolio back into RW, you can clear the existing portfolio data on the snippet (or create a new portfolio snippet), and use the “Load from File” option.
Build 253 can be downloaded from:
https://www.wolflair.com/download/rw/RealmWorks_253_install.exe
However, it will not work with a database that has been opened with builds 254-256. In that situation, if all your local data is synced with the server and you don’t have any local changes you want to keep, you can move or delete your local database file and then run the installer and sync everything back down from the server. If you need assistance doing this, please contact support at support@wolflair.com. Unfortunately, if you have local changes that have NOT been synced with the server that you are unable to sync with the server, there is no workaround currently available to go back to build 253 if you have already run with builds 254-256.