tweaking winndow format. ( and the content inside it)

[hagrid70]

can any of you geniusess tell me how to change the layout inside a window from something that is screens and screens long, (the first image) into something much shorter with a few columns in it ( the second image)
i would GREATLY apprerciate this.
all the best.

PS: im told i cannot create a collumned window with working links, therefore, is it possible to create a window with "pages", like the 5e dnd spell lists?

[LordEntrails]

Not sure how the second example (2 columns) was done, but why not just make a story table with 2 (or 3) columns?

Otherwise you could probably do it in the xml file itself.

[hagrid70]

thanks man gona have to investigate what a story table is, may i ask your advice when im a little more clued up pls?

[LordEntrails]

See Formatted Text Fields; https://www.fantasygrounds.com/wiki/index.php/The_Basics#Formatted_Text_Fields

It basically allows you to create a table like you can in Word (but not as many formatting options.

[Zacchaeus]

Unfortunately you can't put links into a formatted table.

[hagrid70]

thanks man, may i pm you a question or two pls?
\

[Mortar]

that second frame looks like something from the author extension with the -frame- and -subchapter- selectors at the top.

[hagrid70]

correct yes it is.

[damned]

thanks man, may i pm you a question or two pls?
\

These questions are better as public questions rather than PMs.
If you ask a questions and its answered privately only 1 more person knows the answer.
Have it answered publicly and anyone can find the answer.

[hagrid70]

duely noted sir: ok then: my quandry is the following: i have several lists i need to compile in single windows. given that at least one of these contains about 80 items, id like to know how to do this in a way that doesnt produce a window many many screens long.
ive been told that i can have columns, but not columns with clickable links to images, ( and i assume this is accurate)
so now im wondering if i can build a shorter menu, which can click thru to another "page" or two inside the same window? similiar to the 5e dnd spell lists which are many many pages long, where you can click thru the pages?
is this doable pls people. im crap at this sort of thing and would greatly appreciate some guidance in this regard?


all the best
G

[Bidmaron]

Well, if you have a place that does what you want like the spells window, then you can go to that code in the CoreRPG (I think) or perhaps 5e ruleset and use that as the basis for your custom windowclass/windowlist. Now this is Lua and might make your head explode, but if you can't do what you want in Author, then this is probably the way to go (although you could probably do something that works by editing the xml of what Author produces, but then you'd have trouble maintaining it within Author later). To clarify, if a structure exists in the ruleset that will work for your application (and it is really hard to give you good advice without a pictorial and better description of exactly what you are trying to do), then, in theory, you can edit the xml in your module to use that windowclass and windowlist. This is hard to do for even experienced folks (because xml editing is so dang tedious), and would be much easier if you could look at a module that does this already. The problem is that those modules are probably all locked in the vault and you can't see them because they are encrypted.

Edited: And let me complement you on your courage leaping in to make things you want in your campaign. But you have dived into a really deep pool, and if there is a bottom to it, I haven't found it yet. FG is incredibly powerful, but with great power comes great challenge in learning to wield that power. Nothing great is ever easy....

[hagrid70]

can i fire you a couple of images sir?

[Bidmaron]

As someone has already observed, posting them here is better. I would be happy to help, but as soon as I'm finished my scan of new content here, I have to get to work and won't be back on again until late tonight. As you have seen, folks are happy to help, especially with someone who is going to the effort to dive into the deep end, but most of us (with the possible exception of the AI known as T.R.E.N.L.O.E.), have lives that keep us from the important stuff on FG. I haven't been able to do anything substantial for literally months because of the crazy task my job is in right now (Unmanned Underwater Vehicles), but I do my best to try to stay current and watch the boards and even chime in from time-to-time when the AI is off charging his batteries.

[hagrid70]

if i could use the authoring tool to create a menu, with a bunch of submenues, and then under a couple of THOSE parent menues, put further child menues.
apparently this function only goes down one lvl, and another layer underneath would be ideal.

[damned]

You can definitely have say 10 links going to 10 pages of 10 links going to 100 pages of 10 links going to...

[Trenloe]

Clarification please - are you creating a reference manual? (Because you’re showing the Author extension, which is used to create reference manuals). Or are you creating a set of data - similar to spells (which you mention as an example).

Maybe tell us more of the context of what you’re trying to do so we can better help/make suggestions. What data are you wanting to present, which ruleset are you working in, etc..

[hagrid70]

2765827660276592766127662

OKIES :D so ive uploaded images to show the catagories im using and the main menu.
Obviously this will have about ten catagories,
some of them are fairly large, so it would be good to have some way to have sub-sub-chapters of say..... 20-25 cards or concepts?

this will be working inside the dnd 5e platform.
frankly im open to any way of making this managable, becuase if its not super easy to use.... it will have no appeal. and the art is finnished and ready to go.

[Trenloe]

2765827660276592766127662

OKIES :D so ive uploaded images to show the catagories im using and the main menu.
Obviously this will have about ten catagories,
some of them are fairly large, so it would be good to have some way to have sub-sub-chapters of say..... 20-25 cards or concepts?

this will be working inside the dnd 5e platform.
frankly im open to any way of making this managable, becuase if its not super easy to use.... it will have no appeal. and the art is finnished and ready to go.
Have you considered using a table for each list? Not the table in a formattedtextcontrol that's been already mentioned, but a rollable table - accessed from the "Tables" sidebar button. Tables will allow you to have links, and maybe other columns in the table, and will also allow rolling for a random entry - maybe even linking tables together. You can have links to each of the tables - like you show in the 5th screenshot. You'll still have a big long list in each table, but I think the advantages of using a table (being able to roll on it, etc.) will outweigh the long list. And, to be honest, I think most FG GMs are used to big long lists.

If you also want link lists in the reference manual, you could consider creating a two column format in the page - I haven't used the Author extension, so I don't know exactly how to do that in the extension - but 2 columns is a standard format option in a reference manual page. Then you could put half the links in one column and half in the other. And then have a link to the rollable table at the top of the page, so the GM can decide how to use/access the material - through a FG table, or through the reference manual.

[hagrid70]

ILL INVESTIGATE THIS RIGHT AWAY SIR. thank you for your help in this regard.

certainly i need to be able to put the domt 22 card set into a rollable table, but the bulk of the cards, im not so sure.
wanna see some art? :D ( pick some if youre curious and ill fire them up here, publically)

[hagrid70]

this table format allows me to do exactly what i need trenloe, thank you so much man. is there anyway to remove the random roll guff and clean it up so its just a window full of words and links?

[LordEntrails]

this table format allows me to do exactly what i need trenloe, thank you so much man. is there anyway to remove the random roll guff and clean it up so its just a window full of words and links?
No. Not without writing an extension to make a new type of table.

[hagrid70]

thank you sir, for destroying my dreams. :D i hope youll understand if i battle on with the table format :D
( youve always been supportive so TY for weighing in, and yes im gona finnish it) i THINK i owe you a copy when its done