CB export format - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

CB export format

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Blakey
Dec 20, 2010 4:33:59 Did Trevor mention exactly what format the new Exports will be in? I seem to recall him saying they would be "CB format". Does that mean exactly the same format as the old classic CB? I hope so as I need this for my TokenMaker program - and I also think iPlay4e needs this format too.

Really hope they get this right...

Blakey
#2
pruano
Dec 21, 2010 6:43:39 I will have to side with WotC on this, i guess.

They never gave any guarantees that they would stick with the same format, nor do they have any obligation to accommodate the needs of 3rd party parsers (that is the job of the programmers of those tools).

All i think they should do is make it compatible (as much as possible) with the CBC, which is their own product, and even then, they may not, since its discontinued, but would be a gesture of good will to do so, which WotC DOES need IMHO, given the problems with the OCB.
#3
DarkSir23
Dec 21, 2010 8:14:18 The fomat changed considerably once before, but it still contained the DETAIL that's needed for 3rd party parsers. I'm sincerely hoping that, regardless of what format they use, they'll continue to provide the details that are currently missing. The main details that I've noticed missing (in the current workaround) are the PowerStats block, that includes what the power usage frequency and action type are. (At Will, Encounter, Daily, Standard, Minor, Move, Free, Etc) That also includes the Attack Bonus, and Damage stats for each weapon.

Without those, most third party programs that deal with .dnd4e character builder files provide useless information.

I understand that WotC has no obligation to cater to those third party developers, but it would certainly be nice, considering they are NOT competing products, but complimentary ones.
#4
drnick
Dec 21, 2010 10:31:06
I'm probably sticking my foot in my mouth but the vecna workaround is expressly debug data. It's quite possible that the export output will be more detailed.

This is just a guess though. We won't know for sure for a few hours yet.
#5
nightwalker450
Dec 21, 2010 10:49:41 For those asking about iPlay4e, Andrew posted on twitter last night that he had received a sample dd4e file from the new export and there should be no problems with it working.
#6
DarkSir23
Dec 21, 2010 10:49:55 And that's what I'm sincerely hoping for. I'm just bracing myself, in case the news is bad.
#7
DarkSir23
Dec 21, 2010 10:50:37
For those asking about iPlay4e, Andrew posted on twitter last night that he had received a sample dd4e file from the new export and there should be no problems with it working.

If only I had his connections
#8
DarkSir23
Dec 21, 2010 11:30:55 Note, you DO need to open the character and resave it before exporting it, for everything to come across. But at a glance, it looks good. Will see how it does in the Combat Manager in a moment.
#9
pruano
Dec 21, 2010 17:20:22
I understand that WotC has no obligation to cater to those third party developers, but it would certainly be nice, considering they are NOT competing products, but complimentary ones.

Considering that they do the same things, and there were so many cry-outs and ppl threathening to cancel their subscription of DDI just because the CB wasnt working properly, even though the subscription also give acess to the Compendium, Monster Builder and Dungeon/Dragon, it sure seems like they ARE competing products.

Edit: however, there are some exceptions that, due to the choice of platform (silverlight), can indeed be considered good complementary tools (thinking tablets and smartphones).
#10
pruano
Dec 21, 2010 18:29:22 Based on a quick test with several types of PCs, KSheet for Android seem to handle the new export file quite well.
#11
TheGimper
Dec 21, 2010 20:20:58 So now I can export my character, and it exports in the CB format. But it's an Essentials character, so I'm not sure what good that does me.
#12
wiggi
Dec 22, 2010 7:59:21 Great so now I can export my fancy new online only file to the CB format. I open that cute little file in CB and guess what- everything is house ruled. And even better, the house ruled powers, chosen from legal powers in the online builder, get no text in the offline version.
With this great export feature I'm sure everyone will be thrilled.
#13
thespaceinvader
Dec 22, 2010 8:03:08 Quite clearly, that's not what it's for. There's no surprise at all that the CBC displays such behaviour with an OCB file - the names of the powers and features are stored in the XML, the mechanics are stored in the builder - except the CBC doesn't have the mechanics in its database. This is exactly the same thing that happened if you tried to open a character with information from a newer update in the classic CB.

The export feature seems to be for two reasons: firstly, to get around the save slot limit, and make sure they don't have to raise it. Secondly, to allow files that work with 3rd party gaming aids such as iPlay4e - these reportedly are supported.

Shame the export doesn't produce a file the VT can use at the moment.
#14
Darkfeld01
Dec 22, 2010 11:22:19 i tired uploading an exported character to iplay4e and it did not work, am i doing something wrong here?
#15
thespaceinvader
Dec 22, 2010 11:28:34 I believe I saw it stated that you need to make sure that if you created the character before the update, you need to save it again before trying to upload it to iplay4e. Can't say I've personally checked though, since I don't use iplay4e.
#16
drnick
Dec 22, 2010 11:30:21 I heard similar. Though I'm pretty much in the same boat as thespaceinvader above (I don't use it).
#17
blastphemy
Dec 22, 2010 11:30:47
Great so now I can export my fancy new online only file to the CB format. I open that cute little file in CB and guess what- everything is house ruled. And even better, the house ruled powers, chosen from legal powers in the online builder, get no text in the offline version.
With this great export feature I'm sure everyone will be thrilled.

I'm pretty sure WotC intended the export feature to be used for one player using the online CB to export his character to another player using the online CB. The fact that it also (sort of) can be imported into the offline CB is just a bonus. (Not that I'm at all happy about being unable to properly view my characters offline without them appearing to be houseruled, or missing items from new content only available online.)
#18
Darkfeld01
Dec 22, 2010 11:32:14 your right all you have to do is save the character again and it uploads fine.
#19
drnick
Dec 22, 2010 11:33:07 WotC has been pretty clear that they are no longer supporting any offline CB usage. I'm not sure how anybody could construe an export feature to mean it will work flawlessly with the old builder (wishful thinking, I guess).
#20
DarkSir23
Dec 22, 2010 11:51:16 It would be nice for them to update the Character Sheet Viewer, which probably wouldn't work, unless they started putting more information into the .dnd4e file.

#21
Blakey
Dec 23, 2010 2:48:22 I'm happy because the export function generates a save file that my TokenMaker program understands - so I can now make MapTool tokens from the online CB as well as offline CB. Perfect.

Blakey

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Blakey Dec 20, 2010 4:33:59	Did Trevor mention exactly what format the new Exports will be in? I seem to recall him saying they would be "CB format". Does that mean exactly the same format as the old classic CB? I hope so as I need this for my TokenMaker program - and I also think iPlay4e needs this format too. Really hope they get this right... Blakey
#2 pruano Dec 21, 2010 6:43:39	I will have to side with WotC on this, i guess. They never gave any guarantees that they would stick with the same format, nor do they have any obligation to accommodate the needs of 3rd party parsers (that is the job of the programmers of those tools). All i think they should do is make it compatible (as much as possible) with the CBC, which is their own product, and even then, they may not, since its discontinued, but would be a gesture of good will to do so, which WotC DOES need IMHO, given the problems with the OCB.
#3 DarkSir23 Dec 21, 2010 8:14:18	The fomat changed considerably once before, but it still contained the DETAIL that's needed for 3rd party parsers. I'm sincerely hoping that, regardless of what format they use, they'll continue to provide the details that are currently missing. The main details that I've noticed missing (in the current workaround) are the PowerStats block, that includes what the power usage frequency and action type are. (At Will, Encounter, Daily, Standard, Minor, Move, Free, Etc) That also includes the Attack Bonus, and Damage stats for each weapon. Without those, most third party programs that deal with .dnd4e character builder files provide useless information. I understand that WotC has no obligation to cater to those third party developers, but it would certainly be nice, considering they are NOT competing products, but complimentary ones.
#4 drnick Dec 21, 2010 10:31:06	I'm probably sticking my foot in my mouth but the vecna workaround is expressly debug data. It's quite possible that the export output will be more detailed. This is just a guess though. We won't know for sure for a few hours yet.
#5 nightwalker450 Dec 21, 2010 10:49:41	For those asking about iPlay4e, Andrew posted on twitter last night that he had received a sample dd4e file from the new export and there should be no problems with it working.
#6 DarkSir23 Dec 21, 2010 10:49:55	And that's what I'm sincerely hoping for. I'm just bracing myself, in case the news is bad.
#7 DarkSir23 Dec 21, 2010 10:50:37	For those asking about iPlay4e, Andrew posted on twitter last night that he had received a sample dd4e file from the new export and there should be no problems with it working. If only I had his connections
#8 DarkSir23 Dec 21, 2010 11:30:55	Note, you DO need to open the character and resave it before exporting it, for everything to come across. But at a glance, it looks good. Will see how it does in the Combat Manager in a moment.
#9 pruano Dec 21, 2010 17:20:22	I understand that WotC has no obligation to cater to those third party developers, but it would certainly be nice, considering they are NOT competing products, but complimentary ones. Considering that they do the same things, and there were so many cry-outs and ppl threathening to cancel their subscription of DDI just because the CB wasnt working properly, even though the subscription also give acess to the Compendium, Monster Builder and Dungeon/Dragon, it sure seems like they ARE competing products. Edit: however, there are some exceptions that, due to the choice of platform (silverlight), can indeed be considered good complementary tools (thinking tablets and smartphones).
#10 pruano Dec 21, 2010 18:29:22	Based on a quick test with several types of PCs, KSheet for Android seem to handle the new export file quite well.
#11 TheGimper Dec 21, 2010 20:20:58	So now I can export my character, and it exports in the CB format. But it's an Essentials character, so I'm not sure what good that does me.
#12 wiggi Dec 22, 2010 7:59:21	Great so now I can export my fancy new online only file to the CB format. I open that cute little file in CB and guess what- everything is house ruled. And even better, the house ruled powers, chosen from legal powers in the online builder, get no text in the offline version. With this great export feature I'm sure everyone will be thrilled.
#13 thespaceinvader Dec 22, 2010 8:03:08	Quite clearly, that's not what it's for. There's no surprise at all that the CBC displays such behaviour with an OCB file - the names of the powers and features are stored in the XML, the mechanics are stored in the builder - except the CBC doesn't have the mechanics in its database. This is exactly the same thing that happened if you tried to open a character with information from a newer update in the classic CB. The export feature seems to be for two reasons: firstly, to get around the save slot limit, and make sure they don't have to raise it. Secondly, to allow files that work with 3rd party gaming aids such as iPlay4e - these reportedly are supported. Shame the export doesn't produce a file the VT can use at the moment.
#14 Darkfeld01 Dec 22, 2010 11:22:19	i tired uploading an exported character to iplay4e and it did not work, am i doing something wrong here?
#15 thespaceinvader Dec 22, 2010 11:28:34	I believe I saw it stated that you need to make sure that if you created the character before the update, you need to save it again before trying to upload it to iplay4e. Can't say I've personally checked though, since I don't use iplay4e.
#16 drnick Dec 22, 2010 11:30:21	I heard similar. Though I'm pretty much in the same boat as thespaceinvader above (I don't use it).
#17 blastphemy Dec 22, 2010 11:30:47	Great so now I can export my fancy new online only file to the CB format. I open that cute little file in CB and guess what- everything is house ruled. And even better, the house ruled powers, chosen from legal powers in the online builder, get no text in the offline version. With this great export feature I'm sure everyone will be thrilled. I'm pretty sure WotC intended the export feature to be used for one player using the online CB to export his character to another player using the online CB. The fact that it also (sort of) can be imported into the offline CB is just a bonus. (Not that I'm at all happy about being unable to properly view my characters offline without them appearing to be houseruled, or missing items from new content only available online.)
#18 Darkfeld01 Dec 22, 2010 11:32:14	your right all you have to do is save the character again and it uploads fine.
#19 drnick Dec 22, 2010 11:33:07	WotC has been pretty clear that they are no longer supporting any offline CB usage. I'm not sure how anybody could construe an export feature to mean it will work flawlessly with the old builder (wishful thinking, I guess).
#20 DarkSir23 Dec 22, 2010 11:51:16	It would be nice for them to update the Character Sheet Viewer, which probably wouldn't work, unless they started putting more information into the .dnd4e file.
#21 Blakey Dec 23, 2010 2:48:22	I'm happy because the export function generates a save file that my TokenMaker program understands - so I can now make MapTool tokens from the online CB as well as offline CB. Perfect. Blakey