RimWorld Mod Description Tool

Generate About, Settings, Updates, and Steam from a central file.

Uses codeoptimist.yaml for nested fields, parent files, and advanced formatting.
See defaults.yaml below for YAML basics.

Usage

cd C:\path\to\yaml\files\
C:\path\to\tool\generate.exe ...

usage: generate.exe [-h] [--auto-steam] path

positional arguments:
  path          path to mod yaml file

optional arguments:
  -h, --help    show this help message and exit
  --auto-steam  opens browser and updates mod description on Steam

See examples and their output below. Steam will be copied to clipboard.

To centralize your files yet include them with mods, you may wish to symbolic link (Windows) them from within each mod folder to a single working folder of all .yaml files, including defaults.yaml; this tool will resolve them correctly.

Included

defaults.yaml

---
## YAML Documentation
# |, |-, |+ block chomping indicators https://yaml.org/spec/1.2/spec.html#id2794534 (|- to strip final linebreaks)
# ~ null type https://yaml.org/type/null.html (~ is same as blank)
# "" vs '' https://yaml.org/spec/1.2/spec.html#id2787109 ("" will interpret \n as a newline)
# yaml multiline interactive summary http://yaml-multiline.info/

## MAIN
# {local_dir} is the (true) folder of the .yaml file given to the program
# {working_dir} is set by the user (generally where the program is executed from)
out_dir: '{local_dir}\_ModDescriptionTool' # for safety so as not to overwrite files unexpectedly

preview_path: '{out_dir}\About\Preview.png'
preview_from_path: ~ # when provided, copy an image to preview_path
published_file_id_path: '{out_dir}\About\PublishedFileId.txt'
published_file_id: ~ # when provided, write to PublishedFileId.txt

updates: [ ]
settings: [ ]

update_format: "{desc+\n}\
  \n"

# translate steam markup to xml
xml_url_format: '<color=grey><b>{text}</b></color>' # l.url, l.text
xml_u_format: '<color=grey>{text}</color>' # l.text


## ABOUT
about_path: '{out_dir}\About\About.xml'
ModMetaData:
  name: ''
  packageId: ''
  author: ''
  url: ~
  supportedVersions:
    - 1.3
  modDependencies: [ ]
  incompatibleWith: [ ]
  loadBefore: [ ]
  loadAfter: [ ]
  description: !steam2xml "{description}\n" # \n avoids text cut-off in-game


## UPDATES
updates_path: '{out_dir}\1.3\News\UpdateFeatures.xml'
UpdateFeatureDefBase:
  _Abstract: true
  _Name: &update_base_name '{ModMetaData.packageId}_UpdateFeatureBase'
  # https://github.com/UnlimitedHugs/RimworldHugsLib/blob/477aa179dbedf5d02ce8ede361a42c45af24b746/Source/News/UpdateFeatureDef.cs#L23
  # doesn't hurt to include this
  modNameReadable: '{ModMetaData.name}'
  modIdentifier: '{ModMetaData.packageId}'
  linkUrl: '{ModMetaData.url}'

UpdateFeatureDef:
  _ParentName: *update_base_name
  # https://github.com/UnlimitedHugs/RimworldHugsLib/blob/477aa179dbedf5d02ce8ede361a42c45af24b746/Source/News/UpdateFeatureDef.cs#L106
  # doesn't seem optional in reality; get 'Adding duplicate HugsLib.UpdateFeatureDef name: UnnamedDef'
  defName: '{ModMetaData.packageId}_{version}'
  assemblyVersion: '{version}'
  content: !steam2xml "{content}\n" # \n avoids text cut-off in-game
  titleOverride: ~
  linkUrl: ~
  # https://github.com/UnlimitedHugs/RimworldHugsLib/blob/477aa179dbedf5d02ce8ede361a42c45af24b746/Source/News/UpdateFeatureDef.cs#L64
  #trimWhitespace: true # default


## KEYS
keys_path: '{out_dir}\1.3\Languages\English\Keyed\Keys.xml'
key_prefix: '{ModMetaData.packageId}'
KeyLanguageData:
  '{key_prefix}_{name}': !steam2xml '{value}'


## SETTINGS
settings_path: '{keys_path}'
setting_prefix: '{key_prefix}'
SettingLanguageData:
  '{setting_prefix}_SettingTitle_{name}': !steam2xml '{title}'
  '{setting_prefix}_SettingDesc_{name}': !steam2xml '{desc?}'

Example

example_global.yaml

#parent=defaults.yaml
---
#out_dir: '{local_dir}'

ModMetaData: !merge
  <: !parent ModMetaData
  author: Jane Doe

description: |-
  {intro}

  {features}{is_about?=

  Thanks for installing&excl;}

example_mod.yaml

#parent=example_global.yaml
---
ModMetaData: !merge
  <: !parent ModMetaData
  name: Super Swords
  packageId: modder.superswords
  url: https://example.com/rimworld-super-swords
  modDependencies:
    - packageId: brrainz.harmony
      displayName: Harmony
      steamWorkshopUrl: steam://url/CommunityFilePage/2009463077
      downloadUrl: https://github.com/pardeike/HarmonyRimWorld/releases/latest


intro: Super slashin'! Git 'em good!

# mappings are easy to override in a child file
longsword:
  title: &longsword_title '[u]Super longsword.[/u]'
  desc: &longsword_desc 'A super longsword: 1.5x vanilla damage.'
_: &v1_2_0 !join [ "\n", [ *longsword_title, *longsword_desc ] ]

features: !join
  - "\n"
  - - &v1_0_0 !join
      - "\n"
      - - |-
          [u]Super gladius.[/u]
        - &gladius_desc |-
          A super gladius: 2x vanilla damage.
    - |-
      {is_steam?=Slashy slashy&excl;
      }
      {longsword.title}
      {longsword.desc}
    -
    - &v1_1_0 |-
      [u]Spawn map with random super sword.[/u]
      It's a neat feature!


updates:
  - at: 1.0.0
    desc: *v1_0_0

  - at: 1.1.0
    desc: !join
      - "\n"
      - - *v1_1_0
        - |-

          • Fixed bug with super gladius.

  - at: 1.2.0
    desc: *v1_2_0

  - at: 1.2.1
    desc: '• Fixed bug with super longsword.'


settings:
  - name: enabled
    title: Enable mod

  - name: useLongsword
    title: Enable longsword
    desc: '{longsword.desc}'

  - name: spawnWith
    title: *v1_1_0
    swords: !join [ "\n", [ *gladius_desc, '{longsword.desc}' ] ]
    desc: |-
      Spawn map with one of these swords:
      {swords}

Output: Steam

Super slashin'! Git 'em good!

[u]Super gladius.[/u]
A super gladius: 2x vanilla damage.
Slashy slashy!

[u]Super longsword.[/u]
A super longsword: 1.5x vanilla damage.

[u]Spawn map with random super sword.[/u]
It's a neat feature!

Output: About.xml

<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
<ModMetaData>
    <name>Super Swords</name>
    <packageId>modder.superswords</packageId>
    <author>Jane Doe</author>
    <url>https://example.com/rimworld-super-swords</url>
    <supportedVersions>
        <li>1.3</li>
    </supportedVersions>
    <modDependencies>
        <li>
            <packageId>brrainz.harmony</packageId>
            <displayName>Harmony</displayName>
            <steamWorkshopUrl>steam://url/CommunityFilePage/2009463077</steamWorkshopUrl>
            <downloadUrl>https://github.com/pardeike/HarmonyRimWorld/releases/latest</downloadUrl>
        </li>
    </modDependencies>
    <incompatibleWith/>
    <loadBefore/>
    <loadAfter/>
    <description><![CDATA[Super slashin'! Git 'em good!

<color=grey>Super gladius.</color>
A super gladius: 2x vanilla damage.

<color=grey>Super longsword.</color>
A super longsword: 1.5x vanilla damage.

<color=grey>Spawn map with random super sword.</color>
It's a neat feature!

Thanks for installing!
]]></description>
</ModMetaData>

Output: UpdateFeatures.xml

<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
<Defs>
    <HugsLib.UpdateFeatureDef Abstract="True" Name="modder.superswords_UpdateFeatureBase">
        <modNameReadable>Super Swords</modNameReadable>
        <modIdentifier>modder.superswords</modIdentifier>
        <linkUrl>https://example.com/rimworld-super-swords</linkUrl>
    </HugsLib.UpdateFeatureDef>
    <HugsLib.UpdateFeatureDef ParentName="modder.superswords_UpdateFeatureBase">
        <defName>modder.superswords_1.0.0</defName>
        <assemblyVersion>1.0.0</assemblyVersion>
        <content><![CDATA[<color=grey>Super gladius.</color>
A super gladius: 2x vanilla damage.
]]></content>
    </HugsLib.UpdateFeatureDef>
    <HugsLib.UpdateFeatureDef ParentName="modder.superswords_UpdateFeatureBase">
        <defName>modder.superswords_1.1.0</defName>
        <assemblyVersion>1.1.0</assemblyVersion>
        <content><![CDATA[<color=grey>Spawn map with random super sword.</color>
It's a neat feature!

• Fixed bug with super gladius.
]]></content>
    </HugsLib.UpdateFeatureDef>
    <HugsLib.UpdateFeatureDef ParentName="modder.superswords_UpdateFeatureBase">
        <defName>modder.superswords_1.2.0</defName>
        <assemblyVersion>1.2.0</assemblyVersion>
        <content><![CDATA[<color=grey>Super longsword.</color>
A super longsword: 1.5x vanilla damage.
]]></content>
    </HugsLib.UpdateFeatureDef>
    <HugsLib.UpdateFeatureDef ParentName="modder.superswords_UpdateFeatureBase">
        <defName>modder.superswords_1.2.1</defName>
        <assemblyVersion>1.2.1</assemblyVersion>
        <content><![CDATA[• Fixed bug with super longsword.
]]></content>
    </HugsLib.UpdateFeatureDef>
</Defs>

Output: Keys.xml

<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
<LanguageData>
    <modder.superswords_SettingTitle_enabled><![CDATA[Enable mod]]></modder.superswords_SettingTitle_enabled>
    <modder.superswords_SettingDesc_enabled><![CDATA[]]></modder.superswords_SettingDesc_enabled>
    <modder.superswords_SettingTitle_useLongsword><![CDATA[Enable longsword]]></modder.superswords_SettingTitle_useLongsword>
    <modder.superswords_SettingDesc_useLongsword><![CDATA[A super longsword: 1.5x vanilla damage.]]></modder.superswords_SettingDesc_useLongsword>
    <modder.superswords_SettingTitle_spawnWith><![CDATA[<color=grey>Spawn map with random super sword.</color>
It's a neat feature!]]></modder.superswords_SettingTitle_spawnWith>
    <modder.superswords_SettingDesc_spawnWith><![CDATA[Spawn map with one of these swords:
A super gladius: 2x vanilla damage.
A super longsword: 1.5x vanilla damage.]]></modder.superswords_SettingDesc_spawnWith>
</LanguageData>

Advanced Example

example_beta.yaml

#parent=example_mod.yaml
---
stable:
  ModMetaData: !parent ModMetaData
  intro: !parent intro
  features: !parent features

ModMetaData: !merge
  <: !parent ModMetaData
  name: '{stable.ModMetaData.name} Beta'
  packageId: '{stable.ModMetaData.packageId}.beta'
  modDependencies: !insert
    - [ !parent ModMetaData.modDependencies ]
    - packageId: UnlimitedHugs.HugsLib
      displayName: HugsLib
      steamWorkshopUrl: steam://url/CommunityFilePage/818773962
      downloadUrl: https://github.com/UnlimitedHugs/RimworldHugsLib/releases/latest

published_file_id: 1234567890
setting_prefix: '{stable.ModMetaData.packageId}'


intro: |-
  Thanks for trying the beta!

  {stable.intro}

longsword:
  title: 'Super colorful longsword.'
  desc: !parent longsword.desc

features: |-
  {stable.features}

  [u]Super spear.[/u]
  A super spear: 2x vanilla damage.


settings: !insert
  - [ !parent settings ]
  - name: randomColor
    title: Randomize longsword color.
    desc: |-
      Red, green, or blue.

Output: Steam

Thanks for trying the beta!

Super slashin'! Git 'em good!

[u]Super gladius.[/u]
A super gladius: 2x vanilla damage.
Slashy slashy!

Super colorful longsword.
A super longsword: 1.5x vanilla damage.

[u]Spawn map with random super sword.[/u]
It's a neat feature!

[u]Super spear.[/u]
A super spear: 2x vanilla damage.

Output: About.xml

<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
<ModMetaData>
    <name>Super Swords Beta</name>
    <packageId>modder.superswords.beta</packageId>
    <author>Jane Doe</author>
    <url>https://example.com/rimworld-super-swords</url>
    <supportedVersions>
        <li>1.3</li>
    </supportedVersions>
    <modDependencies>
        <li>
            <packageId>brrainz.harmony</packageId>
            <displayName>Harmony</displayName>
            <steamWorkshopUrl>steam://url/CommunityFilePage/2009463077</steamWorkshopUrl>
            <downloadUrl>https://github.com/pardeike/HarmonyRimWorld/releases/latest</downloadUrl>
        </li>
        <li>
            <packageId>UnlimitedHugs.HugsLib</packageId>
            <displayName>HugsLib</displayName>
            <steamWorkshopUrl>steam://url/CommunityFilePage/818773962</steamWorkshopUrl>
            <downloadUrl>https://github.com/UnlimitedHugs/RimworldHugsLib/releases/latest</downloadUrl>
        </li>
    </modDependencies>
    <incompatibleWith/>
    <loadBefore/>
    <loadAfter/>
    <description><![CDATA[Thanks for trying the beta!

Super slashin'! Git 'em good!

<color=grey>Super gladius.</color>
A super gladius: 2x vanilla damage.

Super colorful longsword.
A super longsword: 1.5x vanilla damage.

<color=grey>Spawn map with random super sword.</color>
It's a neat feature!

<color=grey>Super spear.</color>
A super spear: 2x vanilla damage.

Thanks for installing!
]]></description>
</ModMetaData>

Output: UpdateFeatures.xml

<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
<Defs>
    <HugsLib.UpdateFeatureDef Abstract="True" Name="modder.superswords.beta_UpdateFeatureBase">
        <modNameReadable>Super Swords Beta</modNameReadable>
        <modIdentifier>modder.superswords.beta</modIdentifier>
        <linkUrl>https://example.com/rimworld-super-swords</linkUrl>
    </HugsLib.UpdateFeatureDef>
    <HugsLib.UpdateFeatureDef ParentName="modder.superswords.beta_UpdateFeatureBase">
        <defName>modder.superswords.beta_1.0.0</defName>
        <assemblyVersion>1.0.0</assemblyVersion>
        <content><![CDATA[<color=grey>Super gladius.</color>
A super gladius: 2x vanilla damage.
]]></content>
    </HugsLib.UpdateFeatureDef>
    <HugsLib.UpdateFeatureDef ParentName="modder.superswords.beta_UpdateFeatureBase">
        <defName>modder.superswords.beta_1.1.0</defName>
        <assemblyVersion>1.1.0</assemblyVersion>
        <content><![CDATA[<color=grey>Spawn map with random super sword.</color>
It's a neat feature!

• Fixed bug with super gladius.
]]></content>
    </HugsLib.UpdateFeatureDef>
    <HugsLib.UpdateFeatureDef ParentName="modder.superswords.beta_UpdateFeatureBase">
        <defName>modder.superswords.beta_1.2.0</defName>
        <assemblyVersion>1.2.0</assemblyVersion>
        <content><![CDATA[<color=grey>Super longsword.</color>
A super longsword: 1.5x vanilla damage.
]]></content>
    </HugsLib.UpdateFeatureDef>
    <HugsLib.UpdateFeatureDef ParentName="modder.superswords.beta_UpdateFeatureBase">
        <defName>modder.superswords.beta_1.2.1</defName>
        <assemblyVersion>1.2.1</assemblyVersion>
        <content><![CDATA[• Fixed bug with super longsword.
]]></content>
    </HugsLib.UpdateFeatureDef>
</Defs>

Output: Keys.xml

<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
<LanguageData>
    <modder.superswords_SettingTitle_enabled><![CDATA[Enable mod]]></modder.superswords_SettingTitle_enabled>
    <modder.superswords_SettingDesc_enabled><![CDATA[]]></modder.superswords_SettingDesc_enabled>
    <modder.superswords_SettingTitle_useLongsword><![CDATA[Enable longsword]]></modder.superswords_SettingTitle_useLongsword>
    <modder.superswords_SettingDesc_useLongsword><![CDATA[A super longsword: 1.5x vanilla damage.]]></modder.superswords_SettingDesc_useLongsword>
    <modder.superswords_SettingTitle_spawnWith><![CDATA[<color=grey>Spawn map with random super sword.</color>
It's a neat feature!]]></modder.superswords_SettingTitle_spawnWith>
    <modder.superswords_SettingDesc_spawnWith><![CDATA[Spawn map with one of these swords:
A super gladius: 2x vanilla damage.
A super longsword: 1.5x vanilla damage.]]></modder.superswords_SettingDesc_spawnWith>
    <modder.superswords_SettingTitle_randomColor><![CDATA[Randomize longsword color.]]></modder.superswords_SettingTitle_randomColor>
    <modder.superswords_SettingDesc_randomColor><![CDATA[Red, green, or blue.]]></modder.superswords_SettingDesc_randomColor>
</LanguageData>