Sigh. Probably another dumb Creator to HD question...

[oconnellmd]

Sorry.

Just can't seem to figure out what I'm doing wrong to convert characters.

I'm running Creator, version 1.5. I just got Hero Designer (and got the 1.47 update). Following the steps on page 8 of the documentation and posts I've seen on here, here's what I'm trying and how it's not working.

1) First, I found hd.flt in my Designer directory. I copied it and pasted in in my Creator install directory.
2) I opened Creator, and opened a character
3) I selected "Save As"
4) It then gives me the option to save as character sheet, character template, or filtered text. Just these three.
5) I'm selecting "filtered text" as I think I'm supposed to. I'm then taking off the "chr" extention as it seems to want to replace the character.
6) With just the file name (no ext) and filtered text selected, I'm hitting "OK".
7) It takes me to the next step, to selecting a filter. Hd.flt is available. So I select that and hit "ok". Then my CPU usage goes up to 100%, and the program stops responding. And I have to shut it down with task manager.

What am I missing? Sorry again. Thought I had it figured out.

Michael

[Killer Shrike]

Hmm...strange, works fine for me (although some characters dont convert correctly).

Save as Text->HD.flt

I am using the HD.flt from the Export templates download directory, which is more current than the one from the HD install IIRC. Maybe that has something to do with it.

BTW, are you the new player comfortmd was refering my way? Mark IIRC?

[oconnellmd]

Hmmm. I don't seem to actually have a hd.hlt file in my "exporttemplates" directory. Should there be one?

Nope, I'm not that guy. I'm that OTHER guy (story of my life...)

Michael

[Killer Shrike]

http://www.herogames.com/FreeStuff/Hero%20Designer/export%20templates/index.htm

its about halfway down the page.

[oconnellmd]

Thanks for the info. Unfortunately, I tried it, same result. CPU usage shoots to 100% and Creator freezes up. Does it have anything to do with me using Creator 1.5, I wonder? Do you need a later version for this to work? I don't know. I'm at a loss. Any other thoughts? Anyone?

[Killer Shrike]

dunno. Does it happen on EVERY character, or just 1?

[oconnellmd]

Every character so far.

[Killer Shrike]

hrm.

OK, Im still at work (at midnight :rolleyes: ), but IIRC, you open the character in HC then go "SAVE AS", change the File Type to Text, then it prompts for a filter -> HD.flt, hit OK.

Thats not working?

[ChaosDrgn]

I think the problem is he's using 1.5. For some reason I get the feeling the CW->HD template was written for 1.9.5.

[ChaosDrgn]

OK, reloaded CW 1.5b and it locked up like you said. I'm using WinXPpro. I loaded the 1.9.5 update over that and it worked without any problem so my only solution is update to 1.9.5 and see how that works.

There's a problem with that solution though. Hero has apprently taken down the updates, and so has AlterEgoSoftware.....BUT as the update page says (www.alteregosoftware.com) contact them if you need updates for any discontinued template.

[oconnellmd]

Thank God, it wasn't just me. Outstanding tip! Thanks for the help. I've just e-mailed them in hopes of getting the 1.9.5 update. I'll hopefully be posting back with good news. Then, thankfully, I can actually start using Designer. I'm afraid to now because of my large library of Creator characters for my campaign. Thanks again, everyone!

Michael O'Connell

[Tom Carman]

Originally posted by oconnellmd
Thank God, it wasn't just me. Outstanding tip! Thanks for the help. I've just e-mailed them in hopes of getting the 1.9.5 update. I'll hopefully be posting back with good news. Then, thankfully, I can actually start using Designer. I'm afraid to now because of my large library of Creator characters for my campaign. Thanks again, everyone!

Michael O'Connell
The HD.flt exporter has its problems. If you had Powers grouped together in a sublist in HC, it will convert them into a list in HD. However, a sublist of Skills will disappear: the skills are still there, but the list that had contained them is gone.

In Hero Creator, you could put notes into the Powers or Skills windows by choosing the "---" separator and changing it to say whatever you needed. These notes will not be translated over to Hero Designer.

[oconnellmd]

Good to know that in advance. I'll keep a close eye on what happens to my conversions...if I'm actually able to make them. :)

[oconnellmd]

Just FYI, I got an e-mail from alterego, and they have now put those files back up on their web site. I downloaded them from there, updated my Creator to 1.9.5., and now the converstion works like a charm. Thanks again, all, for the assist.

[rowport]

Hey, guys! Could I continue this conversation?

"IIRC, you open the character in HC then go "SAVE AS", change the File Type to Text, then it prompts for a filter -> HD.flt, hit OK."

OK, I did that. It saves the file as a text file. I then go into Hero Designer in that folder to open the file, and it does not 'see' it there. Hmm. So, I tried to re-name the file with a .hdc extension, but Hero Designer still does not 'see' it. Did I miss a step?

I am using Creator 1.9.5 and Designer 1.47.

[Simon]

If HD isn't listing the file as available, then you're not changing the file to have an .hdc extension.

Most likely, the file is something along the lines of "somefile.hdc.txt"

You have to change the extension on the file, not the name.

[rowport]

Dan-

Thanks! You are right, I checked the file, and it shows "name.hdc.txt" now. I may just be dense, but how do I change the file type rather than just renaming? I tried using "save as" from wordpad, but it just continues to save it as "name.hdc.txt".

[Tom Carman]

Originally posted by rowport
Dan-

Thanks! You are right, I checked the file, and it shows "name.hdc.txt" now. I may just be dense, but how do I change the file type rather than just renaming? I tried using "save as" from wordpad, but it just continues to save it as "name.hdc.txt".
Just type "name.hdc" in the save as field. I mean, type it exactly like that, with the quotation marks. This will override that "add a .txt on the end" business.

[rowport]

WOO-HOO! You are too cool for school, Tom C. That worked poi-fectly. I can see myself doing some file conversions this weekend!

Thanks, Dan and Tom!