From dagorhir:
Yes, you can add whatever you like to the database files so long as you know xml. I have completely changed the databases to suite my own campaign world. But instead of changing the standard Autoharp database files, I created my own files that are in a separate file folder. In short, I created a new book.
--------------------------------------
Once you have a book created, how do you import it?
Also, in the "Manage Books" menu, there's a column labeled "Base Rules," with each option as a true/false choice. Most options in Martial Law and CoM are false, and a few are true. What is this selection supposed to represent? I'm sort of confused with that, and am not changing anything until I get clarification.
Ah yes... the manage rules tool. That seems to be a doosy and I really should make a tutorial on it. So here's a rough draft of what that does.
Importing a new book happens auto"magically". That is, if you have a folder in the HarpDatabase/Harp Fantasy/ folder or HarpSci-Fi folder, I believe it gets automatically recognized and you are asked if you want to include it. What happens then is the information is added to a file called config.xml which is located in that very folder. Once the book is installed you won't be asked again. This is how I keep track of installed books.
Now let's try a walkthrough. Let's say you just bought and installed Martial Law and/or College of Magics. When you first open the application you should be prompted to add the books to the database. Once you say yes, then open Manage Books from Tools on the menu bar. You will get a dialog. Select Database will select the database inside the HarpDatabases folder in the AutoHARP application folder. So in that folder there should be two databases: one for Harp Fantasy and one for Harp Sci-Fi. We are concerned with Harp Fantasy as the books we got are from that system. So we select that database.
You should now see a listing of all the books from the HarpDatabases/Harp Fantasy folder. Martial Law and/or College of Magics should be included as is the main database Harp Fantasy. Next to each book is a checkbox. Checking the book means that book will be used in the application. Unchecking it means the book is not used. You will notice that each book contains the same database files. Now the big question that came up when doing this is, okay, so I have Martial Law and Harp Fantasy both checked. Now which book do I use for Base Rules?
Base rules are any rules that are specific to that particular book. The biggest example here is the defenses database. If you are using Martial Law the odds are you want to use the defenses database that comes with the system since Martial Law uses its own set of rules. Harp Fantasy has it's own rules as well. Thus if you want to use Martial Law defenses then you say "true" for the base rules under Defenses under Martial Law and "false" for the base rules under Defenses for Harp Fantasy. Installed Martial Law should automatically have Defenses marked as Base Rules true. Items also use base rules for coins. There are also some standard definitions that are based on the book at the top of each database file. These are the base rules for that book and selecting true will use those rules over the same fields that are present in the other books. Notice that each book contains the same database files which contain the same xml node tree. The only thing that should be different between the books is the data that goes in the xml file. XML can be checked by passing the file through a template. Let's take the file DefensesForHarpFantasy.xml There is a complementary file in each book called DefensesFor<bookname> where <bookname> is the name of the book. The template for each of these files is exactly the same. Some fields are book specific so those fields are denoted in the base rules column.
Database Location is where the database is stored relatve to the HarpDatabases/HarpFantasy folder. You can change this field to whatever you want. Word of caution, you can break the database doing this. The EASIEST way to not break the database is to create a whole new folder, copy the Harp Fantasy database into it and work from there. That way you will not break the main books. I would highly recommend to anyone starting out customizing to start in this way. Once you understand the nuances then you might be ok with making direct changes to the main database files themselves. You can make as many books as you want. That's how I would create a customized database. In fact, take it from the programmer, I would "never" change the main database, if I want a custom database I would copy the database, call it, "Custom Harp Fantasy" and work in that database. That way you never lose the main rules of the game.
Spells Table is where the actual spells are. I had to create this field because there are two spells xml files that are related to each other but you really only need to concern yourself with the main spell database called SpellList. If you select SpellList the Spells Table field is filled with the location of the Spells that correspond with it. I suppose I could have put it all in the same table. I can't remember why I did it in this way.
I hope that helps. I hope that kinda clears up the dreaded Manage Books. It's actually not that bad, it's just daunting because, yeah... you are setting up how the database is going to work and it is important to understand what Base Rules are and why it is important to have them setup correctly.
Another note: I'm sorry I haven't been around checking on things, but I'm currently in school. I currently have slated some time in March to hopefully get a version 1.05 out there as I have a list of bugs and enhancements I want to add. Some enhancements might not make it as they would require a bit more work. As for the spell penalty idea, having AutoHARP be tweeked in that way is certainly part of the scope, but the problem lies in just how many of these fields are we talking about in making customizations?
Cheers
