PCGen Output Sheets for FG2

[Moon Wizard]

OK, I've finally managed to get the PCGen output sheets I've been working on into usable shape. Please post any comments, bugs or requests to this thread.

There are 2 output sheets in the attached ZIP file. One for PCs and one for NPCs (i.e. Personalities).

BIG NOTE: Please be aware that changes to the campaign database could cause your database to be wiped when you load FG2, so always make a copy of your entire campaign folder before you make any manual changes to your campaign database file.

The output from these sheets is XML that can be copied and pasted into the FG2 campaign database file. (located at C:\AppData\Roaming\Fantasy Grounds II\campaigns\<campaign name>\db.xml

You need to make an id entry in the appropriate section for each PC or NPC you are adding. The section tags are charsheet and npc, respectively. If you are having trouble, try making some examples in FG2, so that you can see how one looks when saved by FG2.

If anybody has an import script in the works, let me know and I can help make a PCGen output sheet to match.

Cheers,
JPG

[Nylanfs]

Just a note, there should be another tab at the beginning of each line so it follows standard xml formating. I'm testing it right now. :)

[Nylanfs]

Works like a charm! Even using my character using the WotC data sets from CMP. :)

Has anyone responded about the spell list's?

[Moon Wizard]

I posted a query on the PCGen mailing list looking for help.

I got one direct response (Boomer70) with an idea I had already tried. I sent him my dev sheets where I tried to get the spells working using that approach to see if he could figure it out. It's been about a week with no response, so not sure.

I'll attach my dev sheet in case others want to take a crack.

JPG

[Nylanfs]

You also might want to post on the ListFileHelp group, there's less traffic and most of the OS monkey's hang out there also.

[NineShadowEyes]

I put these in this folder:
C:\Program Files\PCGen\PCGen5121\outputsheets\d20\fantasy\htm lxml

They don't show up as options in the Export selection list in PCGEN. Am I missing something?

[Moon Wizard]

No, that's the folder where I have mine. Make sure you select Export...Standard.

JPG

[NineShadowEyes]

Yeah, I do Export...Standard - I get nothing. Please see screen caps attached.

I'm using PCGEN 5.12. What version are you using?

I only see the Fantasy Grounds XML file that comes with PCGEN. That's for FG1.5, yes?

Thanks for the help.

[Moon Wizard]

I'm using PCGen v5.12.1, and the one that currently comes with PCGen is for FG1.

Not sure why you don't see them. Maybe double-check that you don't have multiple PCGen installs. Otherwise, you might need to ask the PCGen guys on their mailing list.

Cheers,
JPG

[NineShadowEyes]

Only the one install. I'll uninstall, redownload, and try again tomorrow. Thanks again!

[NineShadowEyes]

It's working now. Just one of those weird things, I guess...

Now I'm trying to figure out what to do with the xml output.

[Moon Wizard]

Because Fantasy Grounds does not allow direct file access from within the program, there is no mechanism to import the XML files directly.

Therefore, the only way to add the PC/NPC data is to copy and paste the XML data into the db.xml file of your campaign manually. The best way to do this is to create some sample PCs and NPCs, so that you can see how the XML data needs to be added.

Note: I highly recommend that you create a backup of your campaign prior to any db.xml changes, since mistakes in the XML changes can erase your campaign data.

Regards,
JPG

[NineShadowEyes]

Figured it out. And, yes, I made backups before hand (I'm in IT, I know this lesson well).

Thanks for making this, it's been a real help.

[Moon Wizard]

Great. I'm glad someone else can use it too.

Still trying to get some help from PCGen guys to get the spell output working, but no luck so far.

Cheers,
JPG

[NineShadowEyes]

Maybe this isn't a bug, but I noticed something... some of the skills come out of PCGEN as, for example, 'Move Silently', but the FGII version is 'Move silently'. That leaves both 'Move Silently' and 'Move silently' in the FGII skill list, but the FGII version will have no ranks. Can that be fixed on the export?

Also, it would be handy if the various Knowledge, Craft, Profession (etc) skill that PCGEN has would NOT be exported if they don't have any ranks. They cause an awful clutter in the FGII skill sheet and you have to go in and delete them individually. There's a lot of them.

Beers!

[Moon Wizard]

Yes, unfortunately, there is no way to format the capitalization of the output from PCGen in that specific a manner. Therefore, my solution has been to modify the ruleset to change the case of the skills to match PCGen output.

I think that the skills output is based on the PCGen character setting (All skills, ranked skills only, or ranked skills plus untrained). When I export a character, I only get ranked skills plus untrained. Thus, I only get Craft, Profession, etc. if they have ranks. I'd like to put code in to break out sub-skills like Profession and Craft, but the string manipulation functions are limited in the output sheet language.

I've asked for a feature in FG2 that would allow importing these PCGen exports directly (without having to cut and paste into db.xml). If they implement, the scripting in FG2 is a much stronger language, so some final data cleanup can be done.

Cheers.
JPG

[NineShadowEyes]

Cool, thx for the 411.