Problems with iPad App -- Getting My User Content in Without Errors

[lortondm]

I get a whole bunch of errors when I try to use the portfolio of my PCs, with the user file of things I've created exported out of the desktop version and with the ShadowChemosh GM Pack installed. (I have V11.5 of the Pathfinder RP Game installed on my iPad).

The error messages are as follows:

Thing 'rBehold' - Bootstrap thing 'raPercep8' does not exist
Thing 'rDBTest' - Bootstrap thing 'raStealth8' does not exist
Thing 'rDigest' - Bootstrap thing 'raStealth4' does not exist
Thing 'rMFlay' - Bootstrap thing 'puPlanTra3' does not exist
Thing 'rMFlay' - Bootstrap thing 'puReadTho2' does not exist
Thing 'rMFlay' - Bootstrap thing 'stPsionic' does not exist
Thing 'rMFlay' - Bootstrap thing 'puDefyGrv2' does not exist
Thing 'rMnDw' - Bootstrap thing 'stDwaMul' does not exist
Thing 'rSFWSSol' - Bootstrap thing 'stPUHalfCo' does not exist
Thing 'rSFWSSol' - Bootstrap thing 'raDarkV30f' does not exist
Thing 'rSalNob' - Bootstrap thing 'spSumMon6D' does not exist
Thing 'rSimSol' - Bootstrap thing 'fArmFocsM' does not exist
Thing 'rSimSol' - Bootstrap thing 'stPUHalfCo' does not exist
Thing 'rSimSol' - Bootstrap thing 'fArmFocsH' does not exist
Thing 'rZSSSol' - Bootstrap thing 'stPUHalfCo' does not exist
Thing 'rZSSSol' - Bootstrap thing 'raDarkV30f' does not exist

I recognize these as things I've created and that are stored in my Pathfinder user file. But they work fine in the desktop version.

I can't attach the full portfolio of PCs I'm trying to load that gives me the error messages because that portfolio exceeds the upload limit. But I've attached 2 of the relevant PCs in a .por file. Also, I've attached the "Jeff Game" file that I exported from the desktop version and then installed in the iPad program per the instructions at

http://www.wolflair.com/index.php?context=hero_lab&page=custom_content_on_the_ipad#importfile

Hopefully someone can help me to solve these errors as I'd like to use the iPad version of the program.

Thanks!

 

[ShadowChemosh]

So my guess is your missing another .user file that you didn't add into the .hl file. So in example raPercep8 is NOT in the .user file above. I checked all of LW and the Community files and it does not exist in them either. So I am taking it you have another .user file where you are storing Racial Specials. That file must also be in the .hl file you create.

 

[lortondm]

Follow-Up

Thanks. That's the only user file I know of that I've created.

But when I go into editor with that user file and go to Race tab, Racial Special subtab, I can go to the New (copy) blue button and find raPercep8.

But how do I find out what user file raPercep8 is in?

 

[ShadowChemosh]

Thanks. That's the only user file I know of that I've created.

But when I go into editor with that user file and go to Race tab, Racial Special subtab, I can go to the New (copy) blue button and find raPercep8.

But how do I find out what user file raPercep8 is in?

I use TextPad to search all the files. But other software exists that can do the same thing (Notepad++ cas). You need to search all .user files in the programdata\herolab\data\pathfinder folder.

Opps my bad. So I just found this in the 3PP Pack I accidentally only searched the GM Pack not expecting such racial specials to be in the 3PP. Something else to fix.

So its coming from the COM_3PPPack_UltimatePsionics - Races Monster.user file. So do you have the 3PP Pack loaded onto the iPad?

 

[lortondm]

Follow-Up 2

Yes, I do. Does that imply a particular fix?

 

[ShadowChemosh]

Yes, I do. Does that imply a particular fix?

Are you sure? The error message above is saying you don't. Its saying that it tried to load your race rBehold "TBeholder" but the racial special from the 3PP Pack could not be found.

Can you post a screen shot of the Packages loaded on the iPad?

 

[lortondm]

Follow-Up 3

Here are the error messages. About to send screen capture.

Thing 'rMnDw' - Bootstrap thing 'stDwaMul' does not exist
Thing 'rSFWSSol' - Bootstrap thing 'raDarkV30f' does not exist
Thing 'rSalNob' - Bootstrap thing 'spSumMon6D' does not exist
Thing 'rZSSSol' - Bootstrap thing 'raDarkV30f' does not exist

 

[lortondm]

Screen Shot of Ipad

See attached. Sorry it took a while. I had to downgrade the quality of the image to fit within the upload constraints.

 

[lortondm]

Forgot ...

Forgot to add thanks since it looks like it's making progress. The original set of errors I generated -- the first list I posted -- was with all or virtually all of your packs installed and RavenX's and my Jeff Game pack. The number of errors now smaller with the packs installed as in the screen shot. I was playing with different combinations of packs loaded before I posted this help request.

 

[ShadowChemosh]

Here are the error messages. About to send screen capture.

Thing 'rMnDw' - Bootstrap thing 'stDwaMul' does not exist
Thing 'rSFWSSol' - Bootstrap thing 'raDarkV30f' does not exist
Thing 'rSalNob' - Bootstrap thing 'spSumMon6D' does not exist
Thing 'rZSSSol' - Bootstrap thing 'raDarkV30f' does not exist

Ok these look different. stDwaMul looks like Sub-type Dwarf Mule which is a Darksun race. I see you have a list for RavenX stuff which has Darksun. Do you have Darksun loaded on your desktop and you boostrapped stuff from that Package? If so you need to load that package on the iPad also.

So every package you have on your Desktop needs to be on the iPad. To check on the Desktop start HL/Pathfinder and go to "Tools->Manage Third Party Updates". Then make sure those are all loaded onto the iPad.

Keep in mind the more Packages you install the slower the iPad will run up to including when you just see the app close. If the app suddenly ends and puts you at you at the home screen then it has run out of memory. This can happen if the .por file you try to open contains multiple characters also. Just an FYI is all....

See if loading the darksun stuff works...

 

[lortondm]

I had that loaded when I generated the long list of errors. OK, after adding back RavenX Dark Sun, I am now getting only 1 error:

Thin 'rSalNob' -- Bootstrap thing 'spSumMon6D' does not exist.

 

[ShadowChemosh]

I had that loaded when I generated the long list of errors. OK, after adding back RavenX Dark Sun, I am now getting only 1 error:

Thin 'rSalNob' -- Bootstrap thing 'spSumMon6D' does not exist.

I find that in an archived version of Forgotten Realms.

So I would recommend you do this:

So every package you have on your Desktop needs to be on the iPad. To check on the Desktop start HL/Pathfinder and go to "Tools->Manage Third Party Updates". Then make sure those are all loaded onto the iPad.

 

[lortondm]

Thanks, I'll play with it some more. That's how I started out. I loaded onto the ipad all of the packs I have on my desktop. It generated the large series of errors. Somehow by loading only some of them we've gotten down to one error.

 

[ShadowChemosh]

Thanks, I'll play with it some more. That's how I started out. I loaded onto the ipad all of the packs I have on my desktop. It generated the large series of errors. Somehow by loading only some of them we've gotten down to one error.

My "guess" would be that the FR and Darksun files are not playing well on the iPad then (ie they crash with duplicate Thing errors). Packages that work on the desktop do NOT always play nicely on the iPad. This was one of the reasons for the big change to the Community files I did. They where re-structured from the ground up to play nicely on the iPad and the Desktop.

If they do "clash" then the iPad like the Desktop falls into "Safe Mode" and does not load any of the .user files. Causing huge list of errors on the .por file when opened.

 

[RavenX]

Make sure you're using the most up to date version of Forgotten Realms, Dragonlance, Ravenloft, and Dark Sun on both your ipad and computer.

Although I do not post updates frequently because of time issues, I have made significant changes to the data files in the updates I have done. If you are using the ipad make sure you have downloaded into the ipad all of the same data files you've loaded into your desktop. I know it might take time to go through all of them, but typically these kinds of errors mean you are missing a data package somewhere or you are using an out of date package on the PC and not the ipad.

Unlike what Tim Shadow is saying about things not playing well, this hasn't been an issue in the past as all of the data files I created were built using Hero Lab's editor files (which update automatically with each new iteration of Hero Lab released). Since the editor is updated with the software package these errors are likely being caused by you not having all the same data packages downloaded to the ipad. Check all of your 3rd party product as some of Tim's archived files are out of date currently (forgotten realms specifically is obsolete in his archives). Due to conflicts with unique ids in the official files and 3PP official files I have had to change many unique ids as well, which is why I recommend making sure you've updated to the latest iterations.

 

[ShadowChemosh]

Unlike what Tim Shadow is saying about things not playing well, this hasn't been an issue in the past as all of the data files I created were built using Hero Lab's editor files (which update automatically with each new iteration of Hero Lab released).

If your not sure what I am saying its ok to "ask". Cause this statement has nothing to do with what I am saying. Using the Editor or Not has no bearing on how the Packages are put together.

The iPad works totally different in how it works with files than the desktop. The Desktop at some point in the future will work like the iPad which is VERY different than how the desktop works.

Files on the iPad can get duplicated causing issues even if the exact same issues does not happen on the desktop. So you have to build the Packages with this in mind. If each of your packages are 100% unique then that is great.

The community servers have not held your stuff in A VERY long time. Which has been posted to the forums when it was taken down. So its not possible to have gotten an outdated copy of the files from my servers.

 

[lortondm]

Thanks to both of you. Re the one error I was down to (the internal link to the thing spSumMon6D), I downloaded the text app and found the Forgotten Realms file that was in. Handy to know about that. But what I wound up doing that at least is a successful jury-rigged fix is that the thing referencing that was a noble salamander race I created. They have summon monster 6 1/day. So when I created that I just picked one of the summon monster VI spell-like abilities I saw as an option and linked to that. Turns out that was to the apparently obsolete Forgotten Realms summon monster VI thing. So tonight I went into editor, edited that race to select a different summon monster VI thing as a spell-like ability. Then saved, exported that user file, etc., etc.

But that raises an issue: (A) When I'm creating new races and stuff and I call up a spell-like ability and I see multiple choices, how do I know which one to choose to avoid problems like pointing to obsolete things in obsolete files and creating problems (either in the desktop version of the program or, it seems, more likely in the iPad app? (B) Is there a thing naming convention? One of ShadowChemosh's earliest responses in this thread seemed to indicate there was or at least a set of best practices there. Can you guys enlighten me as to what that convention or set of best practices is?

Thanks again.

 

[RavenX]

But that raises an issue: (A) When I'm creating new races and stuff and I call up a spell-like ability and I see multiple choices, how do I know which one to choose to avoid problems like pointing to obsolete things in obsolete files and creating problems (either in the desktop version of the program or, it seems, more likely in the iPad app? (B) Is there a thing naming convention? One of ShadowChemosh's earliest responses in this thread seemed to indicate there was or at least a set of best practices there. Can you guys enlighten me as to what that convention or set of best practices is?

Thanks again.

The simple method for this is to just create a New Copy of the existing one, and create a new one from that, rather than just bootstrapping existing ones. You can save this new version in a .user file of your own naming. If you do this, make sure you pick an appropriate unique id for the item in question. This should avoid problems of unique id changes in the future (which are currently unavoidable on my end).

I know with Forgotten Realms, if you haven't been updating from my personal files and were relying on the community files instead when they were deprecated, the files would be obsolete by now. There were no unique id naming conventions at the time the files were created well over six years ago. I may actually end up changing many unique ids in the future when conflicts with new official product occur. This will end up affecting bootstrapped items so until I get done with that process of adding FR to all the unique ids I'd recommend not bootstrapping FR stuff. You can check a new copy's source at the bottom as well to see if it's an FR item. If it is, and it doesn't currently have FR in it's id, then will be getting it's id changed when I have time to get around to doing it.

For my files, the naming convention is to start items I code with either an RX for personal stuff, or two letters representing the setting used.
FR - Forgotten Realms
RV - Ravenloft
DL - Dragonlance
DS - Dark Sun
are examples of what I use when I create files now.

 

[lortondm]

Thanks. Re one of your suggestions, one problem, right, is that some things can't be copied because they're made un-copyable? That's a really annoying thing done with the official files. I wish that was removed. I guess that's done to create an incentive to buy the files, but I buy them anyway. It's just that the utility of the new material goes down if I can link to stuff when I create my own things.

 

[RavenX]

Thanks. Re one of your suggestions, one problem, right, is that some things can't be copied because they're made un-copyable? That's a really annoying thing done with the official files. I wish that was removed. I guess that's done to create an incentive to buy the files, but I buy them anyway. It's just that the utility of the new material goes down if I can link to stuff when I create my own things.

Lortondm,

As one of the data entry code monkeys that adds official data, what I have to do is make a copy of the existing thing I need to reference and then build a new item concurrently using the reference example and saving as I go. While I can't save the copy because hero lab stops me from doing so, I can still reference everything on it while building my own version of the same thing. Which is what I do. For example, Bardic Masterpieces are all pretty much supplemental material to Hero Lab, they were not in the base files and were added in a later book release. So whenever I have to make a new one, I still copy an existing one and use that as a reference for building my own scripts and make sure that it works the same way as the copied item. Yes it's a bit of work to do, but sometimes I have no choice doing this in the editor. As for Forgotten Realms and other things I've released, since these are not official release products you should still be able to make the copies you need out of those files if one exists that is savable. Using the New Copy feature in hero lab is where I learned a lot of coding tricks and just how much of hero lab actually works.