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What is the format for an update site?

H

Hedrik

Member
I have a (single file) Pathfinder data file (*.user) that I want to have available from a custom update site (I actually want it available to the iPad version of HL since I can't play properly without the data file...)

How does one set up such an update site? I cannot find anything in the manual or Wiki that discusses this topic... Am I just missing it? :o
 
OK, I gotten that working - one issue though: a URL is not a filename, as a general rule. It may contain a filename - though that filename may not be the one desired for the .hl file stored locally.

The URL filename may even be different depending on who is using it (if authentication is included in the URL) - or it could be a database table index ID, or it could include parameters that are not part of the name...

For example, you could have a URL such as:
https://my.cool.site.com/HL/search.hl?game=pathfinder&world=BobsGame
and the resultant file that is downloaded might be "BobsHLCustomContent.hl"

Unfortunately, as it stands now it appears that there is no way to have that URL be used and have the filename be "BobsHLCustomContent.hl" on the local system...

Another example might be a shared file repository (Git, or SourceForge, or DropBox) such as URLs like:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/rlubl2gisl4kqjx/EotW.hl?dl=1

Where without the '?dl=1' part, it returns an HTML page rather than just the file contents.

Is this something that you could address in the next version of HL perhaps? I realize that it would require a change in the DTD for the Updates Configuration file to address these issues fully...
 
As an alternative if you've already got your iPad set up to get its portfolios with dropbox, you should be able to drop the .hl file in that same folder, and the iPad app will offer you the option to use it as an update. You'll have to manually update the .hl file in dropbox whenever you update the .user file in it, though.
 
Nope - that does not work. I have to manually load it into the HL storage via iTunes. Only portforlios seem to work via DropBox
 
Hedrik said:
Nope - that does not work. I have to manually load it into the HL storage via iTunes. Only portforlios seem to work via DropBox
Click to expand...
I have loaded .hl through both dropbox and emails. So unless something changed in the last few versions that seems weird.

Ok just did it and it loaded it. After you download the file in dropbox click the "UP ARROW" and select "OPEN IN..." then select HL. dropbox does not natively support this file type is all.
 
?? I don't understand. I thought that once the file was located in the 'Apps/Hero Lab/' folder that Hero Lab on iPad would see it automatically and have it available for importing - just as it handles portfolios as soon as they are uploaded to that folder on DropBox.

Where would I need to 'download' the file - and why do I need to tell DropBox what to open it in? Do I need to do this using the DropBox App on the iPad, or through the DropBox web site interface, or...?

Off to try to figure out what you are saying...
 
OK, I am able to 'Open in...' and select HL on the iPad through the DropBox App. This does allow me to import the .hl file. Is this now going to be 'permanent' in that when the .hl file is updated on DropBox, HL on iPad will automatically 'see' the update?
 
Hedrik said:
OK, I am able to 'Open in...' and select HL on the iPad through the DropBox App. This does allow me to import the .hl file. Is this now going to be 'permanent' in that when the .hl file is updated on DropBox, HL on iPad will automatically 'see' the update?
Click to expand...
Nope. Its just one of the ways to get the .hl file on to the iPad.

Are you trying to setup the a situation like the Community Servers have? Then HL will tell a person on iPad or desktop that a new version of a community Pack is available.

That is a little more work as you need to setup a Update URL (see link above) that HL will look for and that file needs to be in specific XML format/layout. I think I saw one person using dropbox with this method. But note every so often I think the dropbox URL

You will also need to create a "unique id" for each "package" (ie .hl) file you generate and keep a rolling version number.

I don't know if LW has any good documentation on the above. I know I don't. But you maybe able to look at the above updates.xml file and figure out allot of it. :) If you have a specific question I am happy to help.
 
Thanks ShadowChemosh - I already set up the update.xml - and that is why I explained that there needs to be a way to specify the 'local' file name in the update.xml rather than relying on the file's URL. (see above in this thread)

As for the file being in the Apps/Hero Lab/ directory on DropBox - it was indicated that placing it in that directory would allow HL on iPad to have access to it and that HL would automatically read it and make it available for import - however the 'Open in...' method (using the DropBox App) would seem to allow the use of an .hl file located in any directory, and does not appear to provide any automation. Thus I asked for confirmation of that conclusion.

In any case, thank again for offering to help!
 
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