[KuraFire]

Originally Posted by princeton

I'm just making suggestions.

And I appreciate it a lot, thanks!

Originally Posted by princeton

XML files can be parsed and printed using opensource XML PARSERS. There are a few out on the market that do a great job. You will not need to do anything .. just add a place (upload file input) to the htl interface to upload/parse the xml file.
The output can be modified to fit your needs. This can be added within a day.:up:

True, though I may be done faster using vB3's xml functions and just cutting out all the query stuff. They already have otag/ctag/etc. functions that I can still use
Anyhoo, not too difficult, true, but still some more time.

Originally Posted by princeton

that's good but I would rather have no data inserted into the database ... for example, if there needs to be a vbulletin upgrade .. I can go into the htl and check for hacks installed. The htl will get the information from the original .htl file NOT from the database ... storing the information into the database is not needed.

It's much easier and more flexible and useful though. The .htl files are not very accessible for a single purpose. They are 'compiled' hacks in their entirety. To do a thing like List All Modifications from .htl files would require the HTL to parse each .htl file it can find, which takes a lot of time, and use only a little bit of data from each...
Also, for the creating of hacks, not doing it via the database is very complicated and just not worth the trouble, imo.
2 simple tables won't hurt anyone, they're not intensive, have very little overhead and they aren't accessed a whole lot either.

Originally Posted by princeton

the txt installer would please me ... but you have to think of the BIG picture. If you enable a "standalone installer" feature you will have a great piece of software that everyone can use in one form or another.

I would also be defeating the purpose of the HTL - to create one structured, balanced Hacking Standard for vBulletin. A standalone installer is just too much work and redundant to boot - the HTL itself works fine. Sure, "people should be able to use the hack without having to install the HTL" - but where's the harm in it? If they don't want the HTL, I should not be forced to do overtime for them. And with the text file installers it can now create, people have their way anyway...

PS. I would also recommend an easier way for hackers to create a "temporary phrase file".

I've looked into it, but so far the only alternative I can come up with is one that will only complicated things, require a lot more explanation, and cause more confusion than is necessary....

It takes a bit of getting used to, this new method, but after a hack or two you'll find that it works quite well and easily, after all.