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Universal Pathfinder character sheet export plugin

O

Obi Wan

Member
Hello everyone!

Since I'm a software developer, I figured that working on an xml in - pdf out plugin should be easy, and I set myself to the task. The project is at a point where I'd like to share my progress with you guys, so here's the status:

Edit:
  • 12 12 2018 - added multi page support
  • 26/12/2018
    - added support for image(s) file as source​
    - revamped application menu​

What works:
Multi page character sheet support NEW!!
Load and work with images instead of pdf files NEW!!
Display existing form fields (text and checkbox)
Add, delete, resize, move form fields
Dynamic font size in text fields
Save as pdf with editable form fields


What partially works:
Assign value to field ( incomplete menu, only a couple options do something)


What will be added:
Save form fields position, size, and character sheet attribute as a template
Pdf fields recognition (with naming convention) to allow autofill
Unrecognized fields hint (different color highlight)
Options to bind unrecognized fields to character sheet attributes


How it looks like:

Cattura.png


GitHub project page:

You can look at the source code here
 
Last edited:
So, if I understand correctly, you're planning to read the XML document that is embedded inside the portfolio file (i.e., a ZIP file), or perhaps using the File -> Save Custom Output... menu option and choosing XML, and produce a PDF with editable form fields as the output? Using XML:FO, I presume?

That's pretty ambitious, but I'd love to see something like that working. The current approach of using the Ancient One's character sheet (which uses JavaScript to parse the XML data) is quite usable and I like how it executes within the browser and thus doesn't require any other pieces, but the necessary information regarding containers and what are inside them is missing from the XML. Which makes inventory management a PITN.

But anything that encourages people to file bug reports on how the XML output of HL doesn't include necessary information is a win in my book, because we're more likely to see it corrected...

In any case, thanks for your effort!
 
Azhrei said:
using the File -> Save Custom Output... menu option and choosing XML
Click to expand...

That's what I'm planning! And it's rather simple to parse the xml.. once you finish mapping the bazillions of tags that are in there :D

Azhrei said:
In any case, thanks for your effort!
Click to expand...

You're welcome bro, it's becoming quite the journey but it's also fun!!

Dwayne said:
Will the final sheet be in English or multiple languages?
Click to expand...

As of now it's only in English, but multilanguage support is definitely doable, maybe with a little community effort - so that translations are accurate. What can't really be done is translating the xml output though, as that would mean translating the whole HL content .. something I really wish Lone Wolf would do in the future ;)
 
Heya all, quick status update from your friendly neighborhood Jedi:

I've made one major change in how you assign values to the fields: I've switched from a context menu to a side panel with an option tree. This way you don't have to navigate many levels every time you want to assign a deeply nested property, say weapons->melee->dagger->attack type->ranged

Also, the side panel is collapsible via the handy push-pin button on the upper right.

I also made a bunch of improvements to the code, but that's nerdy under-the-hood stuff that's not relevant for you folks :P

As always, the source code is available ahere

I intend to release something that you all can try, but no ETA for now ;)

 
Farling said:
Do these appear in the XML output as distinct sections?
Click to expand...

From a test export I can find something like:

<special name="Alteration: Dragon Transformation" shortname="Dragon Transformation">
<description>Sphere: Alteration

You may grant the form of a dragon with your shapeshift. The target gains a head, 4 legs with all the benefits of being a quadruped, a 40 ft move speed and a tail. The target gains a +2 natural armor bonus which increases by 1 per 5 caster levels, Darkvision 60 ft, a bite attack (Primary, 1d6, 1d4 small) and a breath weapon. This breath weapon is either a 60 ft line or a 30 ft cone, and deals either fire, electricity, acid, or cold damage as chosen at the time it is gained. The breath weapon deals 1d8 damage per 2 caster levels, and allows a Reflex save for half damage. The target must wait at least 1d4 rounds between uses of their breath weapon. A target may only possess one breath weapon at a time.

In addition, you may grant the following traits to your forms:

• A breath weapon, as that given by the dragon base form.
• Double the size of a breath weapon (must possess a breath weapon to gain this trait).</description>
</special>
Click to expand...

Not sure if there needs to be additional support from package author to add maybe some tags.
 
Hello everyone! There are some updates, but first I'll answer your comments ^^

ANSWERS

Stormrider said:
I can help if you need a german translation of the sheet
Click to expand...

Your help is greatly appreciated, man. I'll let you know as soon as I start tackling multilanguage support :cool:

EldritchWeaver said:
Any plans to support Spheres of Power/Spheres of Might (once the latter is released coming year) as well?
Click to expand...

This mainly depends on two things:

1) where are these placed in the XML, if it's a new section I'll have to alter my code, if not support is built in

2) their node type, if it's a new one or not, same logic as point 1


Your question also gives me the occasion to ask for everyone's help! Could you please send me your character XML (PM is preferred) so I can add support for the various Pathfinder classes\races? This would greatly help me ^^



UPDATES

  • Image support! Now you can import or more images as the source of your character sheet, and they will be saved as one pdf document. Each image will become a separate page, and image names will determine page order


  • Revamped menu UI! We finally have a decent top menu bar. Feast your eyes! :D
 
Re-reading the thread I think I need to better explain how the plugin works and clear some confusion, since people asked if "the sheet" will be in English and even offered to translate "it" ..

There's no included sheet, you'll need to provide one, either in the form of a pdf or image. What my plugin allows you to do is to place content straight from HeroLab's XML wherever in the pdf\image you want..

This is why I ambitiously called this plugin universal, because you can use whatever pdf or custom image you've found online or created in Photoshop\GIMP\etc as a source for your sheet!

I hope I've not mislead anyone, and if I did I'm really sorry, it wasn't intentional :D
 
QUICK UPDATE & HELP REQUEST

Quick update: project is not dead, quite the contrary actually! I'm almost done, I have to finish mapping HeroLab's xml output to my app menu. About that, if you could send me your xmls for the various Pathfinder classes, it would help immensely!

Thanks a bunch and a very late Happy New Year!
 
Quick update about spheres of power:

EldritchWeaver said:
Any plans to support Spheres of Power/Spheres of Might (once the latter is released coming year) as well?
Click to expand...

Sooo apparently they fall under a very generic "otherspecials" category in the xml, each sphere being a "special" with no specific attributes. So I can and will include them, but they will be under a character tree option called "Special" together with anything else HL devs will categorize the same way :/ Not ideal, but better than no support I guess
 
Obi Wan said:
Quick update about spheres of power:



Sooo apparently they fall under a very generic "otherspecials" category in the xml, each sphere being a "special" with no specific attributes. So I can and will include them, but they will be under a character tree option called "Special" together with anything else HL devs will categorize the same way :/ Not ideal, but better than no support I guess
Click to expand...

One of these days, I'm going to have to take the time to learn how HL generates character sheets, and see if there's anything I can do to make sphere abilities easier to organize in that context.
 
There probably isn't. I've brought it up before, but the raw XML doesn't have enough information in it to build a proper character sheet. Clearly, this "special" category is one such area, but there is no way to figure out which containers hold which items, either. (That's the one I looked at previously, because I wanted TheAncientOne's sheet to support it. Sadly, it's not possible.)

I've filed a bug report for the latter issue, but people who are interested should file their own bug reports. The more people that file a bug report, the more likely it is to be corrected.
 
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