Fixing #{PLACEHOLDER}# Errors In Foundry VTT Module Install

Hey guys! I'm thrilled to hear you're excited about using the content in your upcoming campaign. It’s awesome to know you're diving in!

It's come to my attention that there are some "#{PLACEHOLDER}#" errors popping up in the module.json file, which is making it impossible to download into Foundry VTT. I spotted this while trying to get everything set up, and I wanted to bring it to your attention right away. This is specifically happening with the pf2e-lodgings-of-the-roaming-hero module.

Understanding the #{PLACEHOLDER}# Issue in module.json

So, let's dive into this #{PLACEHOLDER}# issue a bit deeper. You know, when you're setting up your Foundry VTT modules, the module.json file is like the roadmap. It tells Foundry VTT everything it needs to know about the module: its name, version, where to find the files, and all that jazz. If there are placeholders instead of actual information in this file, Foundry VTT gets confused, and the installation just won't work. It’s like trying to follow a treasure map where some of the landmarks are missing – you're just not going to find the treasure, or in this case, the module won't install correctly.

The placeholders, specifically the #{PLACEHOLDER}# entries, are causing a hiccup during the download process. I've seen this manifest in a couple of key areas, primarily within the module.json file itself. This file is crucial for Foundry VTT as it contains all the necessary metadata about the module, including its name, version, and most importantly, the file paths to the module's assets. When Foundry VTT encounters these placeholders instead of actual file paths or information, it can't properly interpret the module's structure, leading to a failed installation. This is a critical issue because the module.json file is essentially the blueprint for how the module should be integrated into Foundry VTT, and any errors here can halt the entire process.

Now, I'm not entirely sure if these placeholders are intentional – maybe the content is still awaiting approval, which is totally understandable. Things happen! But I wanted to flag it just in case it was an oversight. I figured it’s better to be safe than sorry, especially since there wasn’t any mention of this in the README file. The README is usually the go-to place for any special instructions or known issues, so I was a bit surprised not to find anything about it there. It's all part of the module setup process, and having a smooth installation experience is super important for everyone to get the most out of the content. So, catching these #{PLACEHOLDER}# issues early can save a lot of headaches down the road.

Addressing the Module Link Issue on GitHub

Okay, let’s talk about getting the module link right. This is a common snag, and I totally get why it can be confusing. When you're grabbing a module directly from GitHub, you might think copying the main GitHub.com link is the way to go. But here’s the thing: that link actually points to a webpage – you know, the one with all the code, issues, and the pretty interface. Foundry VTT isn't looking for a webpage; it needs the raw, unformatted module.json file itself. That’s where the raw.githubusercontent.com link comes in.

Think of it like this: the regular GitHub link is like going to a restaurant and asking for the menu. You get a nice, formatted list of options, but you can't actually cook with it. The raw.githubusercontent.com link, on the other hand, is like getting the actual recipe – the plain text instructions that you can follow step-by-step. In this case, Foundry VTT needs that raw recipe to understand and install the module correctly. The module.json file is the recipe, and the raw.githubusercontent.com link is how you get it in the right format.

I learned this the hard way too, by trying to use the standard GitHub link and just getting a webpage full of HTML () instead of the JSON data that Foundry VTT needs. It's a bit like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole – it just doesn't work. The good news is that switching to the raw.githubusercontent.com link is a super easy fix. Just make sure you’re grabbing the link that points directly to the module.json file, and you should be golden. This ensures that Foundry VTT gets exactly what it needs to properly install the module. This is particularly important because if you don't use the raw link, Foundry VTT receives the HTML of the GitHub page, which it can't interpret as a module definition, hence the installation failure.

Importance of Raw GitHub User Content Links

To really nail this point home, let's talk more about why using the raw.githubusercontent.com link is so crucial. When you use the standard GitHub link, what you're essentially getting is the HTML of the GitHub webpage. This HTML is designed to be rendered in a web browser, so it includes all sorts of extra information like the page layout, styling, and other elements that make the page look pretty. But Foundry VTT doesn't need any of that fluff. It just needs the clean, unformatted data from the module.json file. Think of it like trying to read a book that's been printed with all sorts of extra annotations and decorations – it makes it much harder to focus on the actual text.

The raw.githubusercontent.com link, on the other hand, gives you exactly that: the raw text of the file. This is perfect for Foundry VTT because it can directly parse the JSON data without having to strip away any unnecessary HTML. It's like getting the clean, unannotated text of the book – much easier to read and understand. This distinction is super important because if Foundry VTT tries to interpret the HTML as JSON, it's going to run into all sorts of errors. JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) has a very specific structure, and HTML simply doesn't conform to that structure. This is why you see those errors – it's Foundry VTT saying,