XSL for NSCRG - suggestions - Dumpshock Forums

XSL for NSCRG - suggestions, so as not to Hijack McMackies forum.

Fahr View Member Profile	Dec 8 2003, 11:16 PM Post #1
Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 320 Joined: 13-August 02 From: Austin, Republic of Texas (not CAS) Member No.: 3,094	Any feedback on what you would like to see in the XSL/XML output from McMackies NSCRG? I wrote the MR version of xsl included with NSCRG, and would be more than happy to try and change this to be more useful for players/GMs My aim in writing the first version was to include everything you would usually use in a fairly printer freindly layout, that was simple but covered everything you would normally need. I am thinking about trying to make this into a multi page parser with a form selector at the top (gotta learn me some more xsl first) like _________________________________________ Main Cyber Magic Decking Vehicle _________________________________________ where the second frame would change when you clicked on one of the headings, so you could have one page freindly printouts.. but that may be a bit off... anyway... any suggestions are welcome. :cyber: -Mike R. (fahr)

mcmackie View Member Profile	Dec 9 2003, 12:32 AM Post #2
Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 243 Joined: 26-February 02 Member No.: 774	You already heard it but I'll say it again: THANKS :) Note: you may discover sections that have no XML output. Let me know and I'll address the issue. I did the XML section a long time ago and there was very little interest. For all of you people who dislike the NSRCG HTML output, here's your chance to fix it! :D

Grey View Member Profile	Dec 9 2003, 12:46 AM Post #3
Runner Group: Members Posts: 3,035 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Anahiem, CA Member No.: 100	For those of us who don't program, what exactly is XML?

Fahr

Dec 9 2003, 07:42 AM

Post #4

Moving Target

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QUOTE

For those of us who don't program, what exactly is XML?

In laymans terms xml is a fancy way of saying organized data.

think of it like the filing system for your charechter(s)

you have a page for each charechter, on each page are different peices of information (like attributes, or skills) inside each group you have subgroups (natural vs augmented, knowledge/active/language) and inside those groups you cna have even more subgroups.

xml output from NSCRG is basically just like what I described above.
to make this into something you can print out or read, it has to go through a parser, that is where the xsl comes in. this is the set of rules that states how to dispaly the information in the xml files.

for the purposes of this discussion all of this is really kinda irrelevant, mostly what I want to know is - do you like what it looks like now, and how would you like it changed. the mechanics of how it works are less important for this discussion (thogh any suggestions technical or not are welcome)

- and in case you don't know how to use it, here is a very breif tutorial

after you finalize a char, click on print.
change from the html button to xml
then (in my case) click on the SR3-charachter-MR.xsl in the list box (added v3.62a i think)
then print
it will ask you to save a file with a .xml ending remember where you but this.
open the folder you just saved the xml into
drag the file to an open explorer window, it should display a charechter sheet.

-Mike R (fahr)

Grey View Member Profile	Dec 9 2003, 07:29 PM Post #5
Runner Group: Members Posts: 3,035 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Anahiem, CA Member No.: 100	Ok, thats easy enough. I already have one thing I'd like changed. When I export to xml and open it with notepad to edit something, it would be great to have page breaks put in after each item so that its MUCH more organized and easier to find something.

Fahr View Member Profile	Dec 10 2003, 04:32 PM Post #6
Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 320 Joined: 13-August 02 From: Austin, Republic of Texas (not CAS) Member No.: 3,094	that would be in McMackie's territory, but I can make a suggestion for how I do it... I use Textpad4 (search google you'll find it) and created a macro that inserts a <cr> after every ">" it would be nice if NSCRG did that for us though. -Mike R.

mcmackie

Dec 10 2003, 07:38 PM

Post #7

Moving Target

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QUOTE (Grey)

Ok, thats easy enough. I already have one thing I'd like changed.

When I export to xml and open it with notepad to edit something, it would be great to have page breaks put in after each item so that its MUCH more organized and easier to find something.

Question: Why do you need to edit the XML file? (simply a question your GM might ask) :D I'll look into fixing the format.

Grey View Member Profile	Dec 10 2003, 07:46 PM Post #8
Runner Group: Members Posts: 3,035 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Anahiem, CA Member No.: 100	Some things the character generator just can't handle. Like... making a Vampire character, you need to go in and edit the essense, then edit all the physical stats to account for the boosts and whatnot. There are just times that you need to edit is all and it would be nice if the format was a little more friendly to that. I love the output, its just the code is hard to browse through.

mcmackie View Member Profile	Dec 11 2003, 03:08 AM Post #9
Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 243 Joined: 26-February 02 Member No.: 774	Okay, the parser (the XML) doesn't support "pretty"ing up the output... BUT there are two programs that will automatically cleanup the output... GuiTidy.exe and TidyGUI-EXE (I found with Google)... I prefer the GUItidy program. It is windows based and will do what you want... Remember to goto the configuration section and set the output to XML (not XHTML)... Thanks HMM... Sorry to hijack your thread. :(

Fahr View Member Profile	Dec 11 2003, 05:16 PM Post #10
Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 320 Joined: 13-August 02 From: Austin, Republic of Texas (not CAS) Member No.: 3,094	nah, this isn't hijacking... this is what it is for, to adress XML specific issues with NSCRG, so It doens't clutter up the main thread... :) -Mike R.

Spookymonster View Member Profile	Dec 22 2003, 04:22 AM Post #11
Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 639 Joined: 22-April 02 Member No.: 2,638	How about using the CSS display property to create collapsable sections. For example, have a Biography DIV with a link called 'SHOW ALL'. Click on the link, and it toggles the display property for the full bio text. When display=none, the text is hidden. When display=block, the text appears. Repeat as necessary for the Weapons section, the Cyberware secton, etc.

mcmackie

Dec 23 2003, 08:24 PM

Post #12

Moving Target

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I received this and wanted your input:

QUOTE

When printing XML files it does the following on language skills:

<language><skill><name>English</name><display>English(LAN) [4]</display><rating>4</rating><linkedattribute>LAN</linkedattribute></skill><skill><name>
English</name><display> English(LAN)
(RW) [2]</display><rating>2</rating><linkedattribute>LAN</linkedattribute></skill></language>

The problem here is that several XLS files use the <name> tag, that makes
the (R/W) skills apear as a second identical skill. Hope the print
functing in NSRCG can be fixed to include the (R/W) tag in language skills
in a later verison, thank you.

What do you say to replacing the [name] tag with [skillname]? Wanted to coordinate with you but also wanted input from community (of how many people?) THANKS! :D

Edited: Oops, this may be mine to fix.. :(

Fahr View Member Profile	Dec 30 2003, 06:11 PM Post #13
Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 320 Joined: 13-August 02 From: Austin, Republic of Texas (not CAS) Member No.: 3,094	sounds good to me!

Slicer View Member Profile	Jan 22 2004, 01:56 PM Post #14
Target Group: Members Posts: 1 Joined: 15-January 04 Member No.: 5,985	Would it be possible to add a more detailed section for contacts?

Fahr View Member Profile	Jan 22 2004, 04:31 PM Post #15
Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 320 Joined: 13-August 02 From: Austin, Republic of Texas (not CAS) Member No.: 3,094	sure, what additional info do you want and where do you want it? -Mike R.

KeyMasterOfGozer View Member Profile	Feb 10 2004, 06:49 PM Post #16
Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 239 Joined: 10-February 04 Member No.: 6,068	Hi. I’ve made a possibly improved XSL file to transform the XML output of NSRCG to printable HTML. I started with the base of the SR3-CharacterMK.xsl file included in the distribution, so most of the work is not my own, but I didn’t know who to give credit to. Here is a my file SR3-CharacterMG.xsl. My changes are: 1) remove the need to have image files to include. 2) I added in the condition monitor from mcmackie's old HTML output, because I liked it better. 3) I made several sections such as CredSticks, Magic Gear, and DeckPrograms multi columner to more efficiently use the space. (this actually took me quite a lot of time to figure out, since XML transforms are not designed to work that way.) 4) Re-ordered the sections. For instance, the only time the Deck info will show up is if you have a decker character, and if you have a decker character, it doesn’t make sense to have that info at the bottom next to the Biography, so I moved it to be at a more prominent spot if there is decking info in the XML file. Also, it made more sense to me to move the MagicGear section to alongside the Spells and magic stuff rather than at the bottom of the Gear section. Once again, this was just because I think it groups items more efficiently for use. I named the file with an “MG” on the end because that’s my initials, and I could not figure out what the naming scheme was for the supplied files, so feel free to change that however you like. Also feel free to use this Transform and distribute it as you like. I would like to get in touch with the person who made the template I worked from to exchange some ideas. Is there a forum in which we XML guys could talk/exchange ideas about making the ultimate NSRCG character Transform? Thanks for your hard work

KeyMasterOfGozer

Feb 10 2004, 07:06 PM

Post #17

Moving Target

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In case some one was wondering about the multi-columner table of the same items that I was talking about... (I'm proud of figuring this one out, it took me so long (maybe I'm a dolt :D ))

Since I thought that it was a waste of space to devote a whole line to each small text for a magegear item, I thought it would be better to make 2 columns of Magegear to take up less space:

Here is the code:

CODE

The two tricks being to put "[position() mod 2 = 1]" in your select parameter so that you get every other one in the list only, and then use the "following-sibling::" selector to write the next pice in the second spot.
This same trick can be used for any number of columns. Here is the one I used for 4 columns of CredSticks(don't mind the &#165's, those are just the code for Yen):

CODE

<xsl:for-each select="bio/credsticks/credstick[position() mod 4 = 1]">
<TR class="bold" align="right">
<TD><xsl:value-of select="."/> ¥</TD>
<TD><xsl:value-of select="following-sibling::credstick[1]"/> ¥</TD>
<TD><xsl:value-of select="following-sibling::credstick[2]"/> ¥</TD>
<TD><xsl:value-of select="following-sibling::credstick[3]"/> ¥</TD>
</TR>
</xsl:for-each>

KeyMasterOfGozer View Member Profile	Feb 10 2004, 09:18 PM Post #18
Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 239 Joined: 10-February 04 Member No.: 6,068	Ha Ha! It looks like I chose the correct file name format, and the two people to credit for the bulk of that XSL I posted earlier are Michael Rowlett & Michal Kumžák, I would guess Michal K since I used the MK version as my base. So essentially all I added was some mulit-columner stuff and a little re-org. I would like to compliment whoever came up with that Zalomit page breaking stuff. That is really cool. (What does "zalomit" mean?) I would also like to explore putting all these sections on DIVs and making them collapsable. How should we go about collaborating on that? -Mike G

KeyMasterOfGozer View Member Profile	Feb 10 2004, 09:48 PM Post #19
Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 239 Joined: 10-February 04 Member No.: 6,068	Boy do I look like a jerk for posting 4 times in a row!!!! :D This is a question more for the XML generator, Mr. McMackie. It seems to me that CredSticks should have more attributes than just a value. For instance, I believe that CredSticks can function as Identification as well as cash holders. In NSRCG, you can purchase credsticks with different types of security(silver,gold, platinum), which determines what proof the user must use to be able to use (signature,thumb print, retinal scan). In addition to that You need to know the ID on that stick(or anonymous), and the Rating of the ID(or alternately if it is valid). Anyway, the question is, do you plan on putting that info into NSRCG and thus writing it into the XML file? It would also be nice to be able to choose which CredStick(s) cash comes from when purchasing items in NSRCG. Also with that, sometimes you procure items without paying for them, so that would also be a good option. Sorry to Broadside you, just food for thought, -Mike G

Grey View Member Profile	Feb 10 2004, 11:20 PM Post #20
Runner Group: Members Posts: 3,035 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Anahiem, CA Member No.: 100	You don't look like a jerk, you look like someone who is interested, which makes me damn happy, cause what I lack in skill, I make up in wanting other people to make the ideas I come up with happen (ie: The Shop thread). That last post of yours you may want to put into the NSRCG thread though, as you'll get McMackie's attention faster in there.

simonw2000 View Member Profile	Feb 11 2004, 03:34 PM Post #21
Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 402 Joined: 23-April 03 From: London, UK Member No.: 4,491	How do you get it to make a xsl file for your character?

KeyMasterOfGozer

Feb 11 2004, 03:52 PM

Post #22

Moving Target

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QUOTE (simonw2000)

How do you get it to make a xsl file for your character?

In short, you don't. the NSRCG program doesn't do any XSL work for you, it merely generates an XML document for you to use as you wish. If you don't like any of the XSLs provided with the program, then you can make your own in any program you wish. I use Notepad, myself. :D

The combination of the XML file with your character's data, and the XSL file that will transform it will produce an XML output that is hopefully valid HTML so your browser can display it for you.

KeyMasterOfGozer View Member Profile	Feb 12 2004, 08:32 PM Post #23
Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 239 Joined: 10-February 04 Member No.: 6,068	I'm not sure which place to post this, so I'm going to post it on both forums. mcmackie, I know you already do so much, so it's really in poor taste for me to ask you to do more, but do you think it is possible for you to make a section on you website where people can upload XSL files for the NSRCG program, so that we can see what every one has done? I have recently stolen from MK and MR, and put together my own version of the XSL, but In short, I would like to be able to steal from more people. :D I think it would help us to refine our own designs to see as many examples as possible. If you don't have the time to do this, but would like it done, I would be willing to put the PHP time into making something for you. -Mike bombadil<at>oldforest.net

simonw2000 View Member Profile	Feb 12 2004, 09:29 PM Post #24
Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 402 Joined: 23-April 03 From: London, UK Member No.: 4,491	When I try to Print, I get error 76: "Path Not Found" What's up with that?!

Grey View Member Profile	Feb 12 2004, 09:36 PM Post #25
Runner Group: Members Posts: 3,035 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Anahiem, CA Member No.: 100	I haven't seen that one, I'd ask in the NSRCG thread and it wouldn't hurt to shoot McMackie an email either.

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