Utility: FG Print Tool (Print campaigns or character sheets)

[ddavison]

I've made some updates to the FG Universal Character Print Tool to allow printing of a 5E campaign and to clean up a few items on the 5E character sheet.

Download Link:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/727h3741n7ls7nm/FGPrintTool.zip?dl=0

Video Walkthrough:
https://youtu.be/fJBLruikePc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJBLruikePc

The included PrintCampaign5E.xsl sheet will print out the story, encounters, random encounters, images, NPCs, items and treasure parcels for a 5E campaign. This should be fairly easy to modify to support other rulesets.

The 5E character sheet has been modified to use a javascript script called textFit. This makes text shrink or grow to fill a specified width and height. It can be used with character sheets and other areas where the length of text is unknown but it must fit in a specific area.

The output from this can be used to publish to DMs Guild as long as you include the Fantasy Grounds mod file and mark it as a Fantasy Grounds product. You must have legal rights to distribute all the content included. This tool does not grant you rights to any content that you don't already own the copyright for.

If you modify and create alternate versions of the XSL sheets to support other game systems or you make any significant improvements, please consider sharing those back here and granting us permission to incorporate those into the default installation.

Installation Instructions:
1. Download the zip file
2. Unzip it to a folder on your computer
3. Run FGPrintTool.exe


UPDATES
2019-02-19 Table of Contents style story items work in the HTML to provide hyperlinks within the document (not shown in video)
2019-02-22 Added ability to skip content by placing NPCs, items and stories into a new group called Ignore
2022-11-30 New file browser

Other XSL sheets
Thete's WFRP sheets.
https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=27876&d=1562848757

[Zacchaeus]

I've stickied this here (https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/showthread.php?27298-Extensions-Modules-Pregens-and-other-5E-resources&p=244141#post244141), but if you want to put it somewhere else, Doug, Just move it along.

[LordEntrails]

Thank you so much. This means a great deal to me.



The output from this can be used to publish to DMs Guild as long as you include the Fantasy Grounds mod file and mark it as a Fantasy Grounds product. You must have legal rights to distribute all the content included. This tool does not grant you rights to any content that you don't already own the copyright for.

Does the print version have to be included in the same product as the FG version or can two separate DMsG product be done? i.e. one FG module and one PDF module.

[ddavison]

Thank you so much. This means a great deal to me.


Does the print version have to be included in the same product as the FG version or can two separate DMsG product be done? i.e. one FG module and one PDF module.

I believe they need to be paired together -- otherwise we don't get any portion of the proceeds. Normal DMsGuild is split 50/30/20 (author/OBS/Wotc) and items with FG modules that are properly flagged are split as 50/30/10/10 (author/OBS/Wotc/Smiteworks).

[LordEntrails]

I believe they need to be paired together -- otherwise we don't get any portion of the proceeds. Normal DMsGuild is split 50/30/20 (author/OBS/Wotc) and items with FG modules that are properly flagged are split as 50/20/10/10 (author/OBS/Wotc/Smiteworks).
Ah, I had forgotten about that! Certainly want you to get any proceeds as appropriate.

[Trenloe]

...and items with FG modules that are properly flagged are split as 50/20/10/10 (author/OBS/Wotc/Smiteworks).
Where does the other 10% go?!? ;)

[ddavison]

Where does the other 10% go?!? ;)

Sorry, that was a typo. 50/30/10/10

[Zacchaeus]

Where does the other 10% go?!? ;)

Always on the ball :)

[Thete]

I have a question, (newb tinkering with the 5ed xsl to print WFRPv3 ruleset) so please forgive the ignorant phrasing of my question.
<snip>
I looked at the file a little longer, and I think I see how the PrintCampaign_5E.xsl answers my original question.

[Sgain]

any chance you could do this for Savage Worlds?

[CthulhuRol]

Try using other template. I have used it with CoC modules nad campaigns and results are very good instead of use a different game template.

[Thete]

Can anyone help point me to what I'm doing wrong here:
The ruleset I'm modifying the print xsl file for groups NPCs into a larger category eg:
npcgroups/0001
npc1
npc2
npcgroups/0002
npc1
npc2

My problem is that when I call the template to print each npcgroup, it prints all the nps regrdless of which group they belong to. Can anyone point to what the following lines need to be?




<xsl:template match="//npcgroups/category">
<div class="npcgroupsclass">
<xsl:for-each select="./*">
<div class="npcgroupssubclass">
<a>
<xsl:attribute name="name">
<xsl:value-of select="name()" />
</xsl:attribute>
</a>
<h1><xsl:value-of select="./name" /></h1>
<div class="npctype"><xsl:value-of select="name" /><xsl:text> </xsl:text><xsl:value-of select="notes" /></div>

<xsl:if test="npcs/*">
<xsl:for-each select="/*">
<xsl:apply-templates select="//npcs" />
</xsl:for-each>
</xsl:if>
<xsl:apply-templates select="text" />
</div>
</xsl:for-each>
</div>
</xsl:template>

I'm not specifying the npc sub category correctly here but can't figure out what it should be instead of "/*"


<xsl:if test="npcs/*">
<xsl:for-each select="/*">

[ddavison]

I think the problem is with <xsl:apply-templates select="//npcs" />

Try something like
<xsl:apply-templates select="." />

[Thete]

Cheers, will give it a go.

..Thanks DD. I had named my template //npcs. Changed it to just npcs without the slashes.
'//' is apparently a too powerful a wildcard and was calling all the instances in the file instead of just the specific context.

[Teybor]

I bought Legacy of the Crystal Shard from Fantasy Grounds and after I did I find it hard for me to read it through on the computer. I followed all the steps given (I think) from the video above but all I get it a cover page. Have I missed a step where I load all the content in order to print it? Yes I am new and this is my first module.

[Trenloe]

I bought Legacy of the Crystal Shard from Fantasy Grounds and after I did I find it hard for me to read it through on the computer. I followed all the steps given (I think) from the video above but all I get it a cover page. Have I missed a step where I load all the content in order to print it? Yes I am new and this is my first module.
The process described in this thread is to print out a FG character sheet or a FG campaign - not a purchased FG module.

[Thete]

It's a great tool, I had great fun trying to learn to print campaigns for the WFRPv3 ruleset. Unfortunately I ran out of time so I'll just post my progress. The ruleset uses custom font characters to represent icons like custom dice results, so I created a ttf font to sit in the folder alongside the printed html file, this font has icons for the custom dice and some of the iconography from the game's Action Cards.

Here is the kind of result I could generate from just css and a ttf file.
2787427875

The very messy xml file and font if anyone was curious 27876

[Teybor]

The process described in this thread is to print out a FG character sheet or a FG campaign - not a purchased FG module.

What's the difference? It's paid for so it isn't like I'm trying to steal anything.

[Thete]

I assume the license allows you to use a product in the form it was purchased, PDF as PDF, printed book as physical copy, FG module as FG Module. So converting it may be a licensing issue.

Wizards provides impressive free PDFs of resources for that module that you can download and print here https://dnd.wizards.com/products/tabletop-games/rpg-products/legacy-crystal-shard

And the entire PDF is currently under half price on drivethru RPG https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/166079/Legacy-of-the-Crystal-Shard-Next

[Trenloe]

What's the difference? It's paid for so it isn't like I'm trying to steal anything.
There's a big difference - the FG character sheet or data from your FG campaign is something the GM and players have created for their game. As @Thete explains - there's a big difference between using a purchased module in FG (which is where it is licensed to be used) and then adding in additional functionality (allowing printouts) which is usually beyond the usage of the commercial FG module.

[ddavison]

Hey Teybor,

Allowing a print option for encrypted modules is currently one of our limitations. It has more to do with our license with our publishers than it does with your abilities to do something for personal use. I realize that the end result ends up affecting what users can do with content, bu that's the current limitation. You can print your own creations with the print tool and the appropriate XSL sheet -- just not content purchased from the store (with a few exceptions).

[Ceazor]

Have you got a version compatible with Win 10 Pro?
Seems it's not compatible for me

[ddavison]

Have you got a version compatible with Win 10 Pro?
Seems it's not compatible for me

That's what I use. You may need to Unblock it in the Properties for Windows.

[Ceazor]

That's what I use. You may need to Unblock it in the Properties for Windows.

Did you encounter this issue?

I have did a google search for "this app can’t run on your pc, to find a version for your pc, check with the software publisher" can followed a few guide. I am still getting the same error.

[ddavison]

No, but I've seen that sort of thing when trying to open Word docs or Excel docs that I recently downloaded. For those, Windows says it is a corrrupt or invalid file (something like that) unless your right-click on it and choose Properties and then Unblock. The app runs on Windows 10 fine, so there must be something "protecting" your computer from an unknown program. If it isn't blocked in Windows properties, then I would check you anti-virus software to see if it flagged it.

[Ceazor]

No, but I've seen that sort of thing when trying to open Word docs or Excel docs that I recently downloaded. For those, Windows says it is a corrrupt or invalid file (something like that) unless your right-click on it and choose Properties and then Unblock. The app runs on Windows 10 fine, so there must be something "protecting" your computer from an unknown program. If it isn't blocked in Windows properties, then I would check you anti-virus software to see if it flagged it.

I got it to work at home. It's my office PC.

[ddavison]

That points even more strongly to some sort of software protection, security policy or insufficient rights to install executable programs on your work system.

[Ceazor]

That points even more strongly to some sort of software protection, security policy or insufficient rights to install executable programs on your work system.

yes youre right. I might just give up on the office and do my job.

Chris

[Avalastrius]

Ι am stuck at the initial setup, third option, about the campaign xml. I have tried the path and renamed the campaign, I have also picked the campaign I am running (it said if I want to replace it, that doesn't appear at the tutorial) but nothing is working.

When I try to generate the campaign I only get code. Granted, I only have a couple of characters at the moment. Does that play a difference?

[ddavison]

Ι am stuck at the initial setup, third option, about the campaign xml. I have tried the path and renamed the campaign, I have also picked the campaign I am running (it said if I want to replace it, that doesn't appear at the tutorial) but nothing is working.

When I try to generate the campaign I only get code. Granted, I only have a couple of characters at the moment. Does that play a difference?

Can you post a screenshot of what your entries look like and another of what you get as a result?

[Avalastrius]

Can you post a screenshot of what your entries look like and another of what you get as a result?

I will do so when I get home, even though I am not sure how this module is actually working. I am quite new at this.

Is there a way to simply print a character sheet with this? I just can't find out how.

[Bonny Bella]

Is this available for Mac?

[mdjames0001]

I noticed that when it prints actions, the attack doesn't take into account weapon proficiency. The +2 attack bonus is not added in.

[LordEntrails]

I noticed that when it prints actions, the attack doesn't take into account weapon proficiency. The +2 attack bonus is not added in.
Please post both the xml exported from FG and the PDF created. Not sure how they could be different, but someone will have to look at both to see what's going on.

[mshall]

Is there any work to integrate Character Sheet printing directly within FG / FGU? (I did add my vote to the wishlist at idea.informer and it has a lot of votes there, but it is just listed as "under consideration" with no real indication if it really will be worked on). I understand the lack of a general print option for the purchased modules that have license restrictions but a general ability to print non-locked-down content would be a great enhancement, and IMO is especially needed for Character sheets. I have used the FGPrint utility posted here, and it is helpful, but it only is extracting part of the information in the Character -- for example I've printed various character classes that have spellcasting abilities and I don't see anywhere where the spell list is showing up. I have also used the adventuring log online tool and that prints more of some things (spells, some more detail of some of the abilities) but it also doesn't do everything well. I usually end up printing both the output from FGPrint tool and the alonlinetools.net and keeping both printouts together. My son sometimes uses FG to create a character and then print it for use at in-person real-world tabletop group -- I like being able to use FG to build the character with all the tools and rulebook content I purchased, but I do wish there was a way to print all the character information.

[Zacchaeus]

There hasn't been any work done on anything like this AFAIK. The main issue would be licensing and whether you could just print out characters and nothing else. I'd suggest that at present anything like this would be near the bottom of the pile in terms of the order of things that need to be worked on.

[Smoltok]

Hi,

I have a blank page in the result.
I've checked, it's is the good db.xml file.

EDIT : Working for campaign not for character Sheet

[solomani]

Hi team, I just tested this out. Works nicely. Much faster than me cutting and pasting and reformatting in and out of FG. Thank you. I did notice that some monster stat blocks are missing. What does the print utility look at when deciding what NPCs to include in the output?

[ddavison]

Hi team, I just tested this out. Works nicely. Much faster than me cutting and pasting and reformatting in and out of FG. Thank you. I did notice that some monster stat blocks are missing. What does the print utility look at when deciding what NPCs to include in the output?

The monster needs to be in your campaign. It won't output monsters that are in official content.

[solomani]

The monster needs to be in your campaign. It won't output monsters that are in official content.

Yes, it is. It printed out the hoard golem but not the void dragon though it did capture the encounter info :
34130

If I click (or scroll down to the NPC section) the hoard golem pops up, but the void dragon is not there though it does have a link - link to the
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Rdn_3DBF6XZrRpCBKZSsbx7VxnQikwFn

[nildik]

Hello! I am trying to print a custom campaign that I made, but the program generate the print with the story entries unsorted. For example the adventure starts with "0.01 Introduction" but the print starts in "1.04 Goblins watchers" and this isn't the only wrong entry order. Anybody notice that or know a solution?

[solomani]

Yes, it is. It printed out the hoard golem but not the void dragon though it did capture the encounter info :
34130

If I click (or scroll down to the NPC section) the hoard golem pops up, but the void dragon is not there though it does have a link - link to the
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Rdn_3DBF6XZrRpCBKZSsbx7VxnQikwFn

Any help? Being able to print saves me a lot of time since I tend to publish this on my blog and eventually get them published. Thanks.

[solomani]

Any help? Being able to print saves me a lot of time since I tend to publish this on my blog and eventually get them published. Thanks.

Figured it out. The missing mobs were "uncategorised" once I fixed that, all worked.

[Milmoor]

Trying to use this, it sounds very interesting. But I get a short FG logo with an exclamation mark when I start this and nothing more. So I'm overlooking something. I do have FGC and FGU on this computer and the logo I see i the FGU logo. Tried uninstalling FGU, but that's not the issue. What am I missing?

[ddavison]

Trying to use this, it sounds very interesting. But I get a short FG logo with an exclamation mark when I start this and nothing more. So I'm overlooking something. I do have FGC and FGU on this computer and the logo I see i the FGU logo. Tried uninstalling FGU, but that's not the issue. What am I missing?

Right click on the program and make sure it is not Blocked by Windows. Double check any anti-virus programs to make sure it isn't blocked there either.

[Milmoor]

Right click on the program and make sure it is not Blocked by Windows. Double check any anti-virus programs to make sure it isn't blocked there either.

Already accepted a pop-up from Windows if I wanted to run a program from an unknown publisher and checked the viruskiller. But chances are it somehow still got blocked by Windows indeed. It’s for my own good ;). Will check.

[Milmoor]

Checked, (un)fortunately it was not blocked. Tried a different PC with a different setup and different virus killer. Tried another unzip tool since the Windows version sometimes corrupts files. It just stops after the splash screen and some loading progress.

Could someone download and check the current version? I would like to be certain the problem is at my end. Thanks.

[ddavison]

Checked, (un)fortunately it was not blocked. Tried a different PC with a different setup and different virus killer. Tried another unzip tool since the Windows version sometimes corrupts files. It just stops after the splash screen and some loading progress.

Could someone download and check the current version? I would like to be certain the problem is at my end. Thanks.

Can you post a screenshot of what you see when you launch FGPrintTool.exe? Maybe something will jump out at us from that.

[Milmoor]

Can you post a screenshot of what you see when you launch FGPrintTool.exe? Maybe something will jump out at us from that.

Sure:
35338

The bar below fills with green and the screen just disappears before it gets to the end of the bar.

[ddavison]

I see a similar issue reported for a different Unity app where there is a conflict with a Citrix driver. Uninstalling the Citrix driver supposedly corrects it and newer versions of Unity allow a re-build which avoids the conflict as well. Do you happen to have Citrix installed on your system?


https://steamcommunity.com/app/535930/discussions/1/3393916911746879022/

[Milmoor]

I see a similar issue reported for a different Unity app where there is a conflict with a Citrix driver. Uninstalling the Citrix driver supposedly corrects it and newer versions of Unity allow a re-build which avoids the conflict as well. Do you happen to have Citrix installed on your system?


https://steamcommunity.com/app/535930/discussions/1/3393916911746879022/

I use Citrix on all three computers I tried this. I use it for work. Removing it solved this indeed. Thanks, that would have taken ages to find, if at all. I am using another Unity app on these systems which does work (FlowScape, very recommended), so it’s not an issue with every Unity app.

[Milmoor]

It works, /cheer. I'm happy with the campaign export result. That saves me a lot of hassle. The character export needs some work for me. I get better results with https://www.alonlinetools.net/FGCharacterSheet.aspx. Only the first page is filled. Will take a look at the XLS file.

A minor niggle: the output folder selection did not work for me. Somehow it defaults to a non existing folder at my system and I couldn't change this in the file browser. Typing over it worked though.

[Ceazor]

Has anyone added to the template library at all?

Was hoping for cards to print items.

[Milmoor]

Tried to edit today, but I lack proper tooling. XSL transformations by hand is doable, but no fun at all. And tooling is either paid, or geared to programmers. I'd like a drag and drop interface, without paying lots and/or installing a bunch of tools which in the end only work well on a unix platform.

[Radalpho]

Does this tool still work? I recently downloaded it and tried following the video. No content, just some header information in the file. Perhaps I am using it wrong.

I am looking to print out some module information as I prepare for my next game. Does this tool work on information contained in a module? I like to have some story and npc information printed from a module while I am DMing.

[LordEntrails]

Does this tool still work? I recently downloaded it and tried following the video. No content, just some header information in the file. Perhaps I am using it wrong.

I am looking to print out some module information as I prepare for my next game. Does this tool work on information contained in a module? I like to have some story and npc information printed from a module while I am DMing.
By module do you mean like content purchased from the FG Store? No, it will not print anything from the vault, otherwise it would circumvent copyright protections and enable illegal distribution.

Its designed to print campaign data, so stuff you created yourself. i.e. it allows someone to create an FG module and to print it to PDF so both can be sold on the DMsGuild.

[webdove]

Hi, I downloaded the zip, opened the exe and opened a player created exported character.
41463
When I click the generate button it pushes in, but no chrome window pops up. I disabled all extensions and that did not help. Is there an option that I need to set for what browser gets opened? Is the html saved in some location that I can reach?
Thanks, Web

[ddavison]

Yes, you need to fill in the other two boxes. You need a source file and an output file. The output file will tell you the path of the HTML.

[webdove]

Yes, sorry about that. I just reread the titles in those boxes more carefully (duh).
4146441465

[webdove]

Thank you!

[HomeBrewDM]

I used this a couple weeks ago to try and print our characters. It did print something but there was a lot of missing data. Like all my actions/spells were missing and also my weapon attack/damage bonuses were missing. I have not checked what else is missing but those were kind of big ones for us to use the characters. We have been playing online with FGU for all of the pandemic but now we are all vaccinated, so we were trying to convert to in person play.

[dredcobar]

I used this a couple weeks ago to try and print our characters. It did print something but there was a lot of missing data. Like all my actions/spells were missing and also my weapon attack/damage bonuses were missing. I have not checked what else is missing but those were kind of big ones for us to use the characters. We have been playing online with FGU for all of the pandemic but now we are all vaccinated, so we were trying to convert to in person play.

I noticed this as well with the Deadlands character I exported.
Just curious if I dig into the XSL form and the XML export and edit the Deadlands myself will the executable read and layout properly from my edits?
Also if I create a Traveller (1st edition) from a edited XSL and export to an XML will it be able to read and layout for those properties as well.
I don't mind making my home "homebrew" character sheet and doing the pixel measurements and things to setup those up if the FG Print Tool will just read and interpret what I setup.
If it doesn't do that purely but has some limiters within the tool please let me know now before I put any work into an attempt to add, edit, or create anything. Please.

[ddavison]

The XSL sheets are editable. I would recommend making a copy and working from that. You really can’t mess up with it if you are okay with a little trial and error. Just look at the exported XML file to find the info you want to include and then modify where you want it displayed in the XSL file.

[Philip Poe]

Thanks in advance. I was able to print the campaign, but could not find the source file for our characters. I tried inserting the character name at the end of the campaign file, that didn't work. Does any one have any input.

[ddavison]

You need to open the campaign, go to the character window, edit, and then export the characters you want first. This will allow you to save an XML file with the info for that character.

[Reg]

Still no word on if this will be done for MacOS anytime soon?

[Leafdancer1]

I'm not good with all the programimg stuff so is there any way you could add in DnD2e xml stuff so we can print up charactors and champains? sorry for spelling errors

[ddavison]

I just uploaded a new version (link in first post should still take you there). I slightly redid the UI and replaced the file browser with a newer version.

[joltblaster]

Any chance we can get a Pathfinder for Savage Worlds XML Source File?

[JohnFintch]

Hi thanks for this useful tool. No matter how hard I try, unfortunately I can't make the maps appear in the html file and I can't understand why. The images are of my own creation and are inserted in the campaign images folder and linked to the story 1 to 1 as shown in the video. Yet they are still not shown in the final document. What am I doing wrong?

[ddavison]

What is the format of the images? Are they JPG, PNG, or webp?

[JohnFintch]

What is the format of the images? Are they JPG, PNG, or webp?
I tried in jpg, jpeg as of now. Sorry for the Italian but i put some image to make it easy to understand.
592045920559204

[ddavison]

I tried in jpg, jpeg as of now. Sorry for the Italian but i put some image to make it easy to understand.
592045920559204

Hey John,

It's nothing you are doing wrong. I think the format changed since this was originally written and the paths no longer line up to pull the image records. The output HTML does not appear to link to the image at all. I looked at this for a while yesterday and wasn't able to resolve it yet. I will see if I can get it working and post an update if I do. In the meantime, you should still have access to all your images from your campaign image folder and you can manually insert them in using a simple HTML editor.

Both brackets and notepad++ are great text editors with syntax highlighting for HTML files. I would recommend any of those.

The image records would look like this:

<img src="FILENAME WITH PATH" style="width: 100%;" />

[LordEntrails]

Thanks for looking at this Doug. I was just coming here to get up to speed to start learning how this works. I've got my Ultimate Undermountain I need to get ready to export.

[JohnFintch]

Hey John,

It's nothing you are doing wrong. I think the format changed since this was originally written and the paths no longer line up to pull the image records. The output HTML does not appear to link to the image at all. I looked at this for a while yesterday and wasn't able to resolve it yet. I will see if I can get it working and post an update if I do. In the meantime, you should still have access to all your images from your campaign image folder and you can manually insert them in using a simple HTML editor.

Both brackets and notepad++ are great text editors with syntax highlighting for HTML files. I would recommend any of those.

The image records would look like this:

<img src="FILENAME WITH PATH" style="width: 100%;" />
Thank you 😊 very much for the time you spend on this amazing work you have done I really appreciate your work around to give me a solution. I'll keep look for update meanwhile I'll do what you suggest. 😉 Have nice day.