[Help] TOS+ with Roll20? (followup)

In reference to this (older) topic: <a href="https://app.roll20.net/forum/post/2934755/help-tos-plus-with-roll20" rel="nofollow">https://app.roll20.net/forum/post/2934755/help-tos-plus-with-roll20</a> ...and specifically this reply from The Aaron: &lt;&lt;The most likely scenario I can think of if the TOS+ author wants to get a smooth path into Roll20 characters would be for him to write his own character sheet and write the importer himself. &nbsp;That would allow him to control both sides to where he can make whatever changes to either one he wants without breaking the other.&gt;&gt; My query would be : Where can I find the information required so that I can add an Export function to the Roll20 format? My users are asking for compatibility to either d20Pro or Roll20. AND my products line covers 3.5 , Pathfinder 1st edition , 5th edition and the newer Pathfinder 2nd edition . I assume all these systems have similar formats, yet slightly different? I don't know much of anything about the *20 applications, so you can safely assume I'm ignorant; you'll be correct! and I promise I won't be insulted if you over-explain!). As the creator of these products, I have access to all the Character information (and then some!) Thanks for the help! TOS admin <a href="mailto:admin@TheOnlySheet.com" rel="nofollow">admin@TheOnlySheet.com</a>

I can probably speak to that. =D Some background details that might be important: Each character sheet for Roll20 is vastly different.&nbsp; There is no uniformity to the data model created for each, and migration between character sheets that are for the same system are a massive pain. There is no "Roll20 format" because there is no import or export for Roll20.&nbsp; All data in Roll20 is stored in the Cloud in a distributed, high-availability database.&nbsp; There isn't direct access to that data, you must get it in a character sheet (limited ability to manipulate it via Sheet Workers—Javascript routines that execute on certain events) or through the API (An event based Javascript program running on a sandbox in the cloud). If someone wanted to use TheOnlySheet for character creation, and then take that character into Roll20, the mechanism would be: Export data from TheOnlySheet in some structured format, probably JSON One of: Existing Character Sheet: Write an API script that reads the JSON (likely pasted into chat, or put in a handout) and adds data to the existing character sheet. Write your own Character Sheet with Import Capability: You would need to create a whole character sheet (HTML, CSS, Sheet Workers, Roll Templates) and then write a Sheet Worker or API Script to import the structured data. Neither of those options is for the feint of heart.&nbsp; The data model for character sheets is confusing at best, and incomprehensible generally.&nbsp; Even for people with a great deal of experience, it's tedious. If you were going to attempt it, the easier route is probably writing an API script to import to an existing character sheet.&nbsp; You wouldn't need to learn all of the other parts that go into a character sheet, and there's also the question of creating a sheet for a system that already has a sheet, which is a problem.&nbsp; The downside is that you have no control over the data schema for the sheet, and when it changes your code will need to change as well.&nbsp; You also won't have much control over things that would make it easier for you to do your import. If you create a character sheet, you can set it up to match everything in TOS+, which might simplify the import.&nbsp; But you have to learn all the ins and outs of creating a character sheet on roll 20, and all the details of API scripts. The very best case would be if you are exporting for an existing sheet that already has an importer.&nbsp; Then you'd just have to match the expected import format for that particular sheet. Hope that helps...

Aaron's write up is a great intro. There is one option he left out though: Work with the creator(s) of an existing sheet to add a TOS importer.

Oooh, good point!

So if I understand, the best way would be for me to find someone that has created an existing character sheet, and ask him/her to add a TOS importer to his/her product... But how would I go about finding such a person? Obviously I am too busy with my products to start learning the ins and outs of Roll20 and API scripts (and I've not worked with 'json' in the past, so that's an unknown to me..) THANKS for the quick replies!!!

The Shaped Sheet and Companion script (for 5e D&amp;D, but not the official sheet) have the ability to import a statblock from a text format, where the text is ordered pretty much like you would find in a printed product. That might be a good place to start testing. But it would require a Pro subscription. In fact, any import method would pretty much require the importing user to have a Pro subscription.

You can find the authors of character sheets in the Roll20 git repo for character sheets.&nbsp;

Roll20 Character Sheet Repository Aaron and Scott didn't mention this, but I thought you probably want to know that the number of people who knows all the things you're looking for aren't many, and even fewer of them likely have the time to take on a project like this. And if your data isn't stored in a modern/common format like json , it might be more tricky to convert to Roll20.