hTops is a leaderboard plugin that creates tops from PlaceholderAPI values.
You can create leaderboards from numeric placeholders, refresh them automatically, show entries through PlaceholderAPI, attach tops to signs and create skin-based displays for specific leaderboard positions.
The plugin stores leaderboard data in a database and supports SQLite, MySQL, MariaDB and H2.
Main Features

• Create leaderboards from PlaceholderAPI placeholders.
• Automatic leaderboard refresh.
• Configurable refresh interval.
• Support for offline player entries.
• Player exclusion by permission.
• Player exclusion by nickname list.
• SQLite, MySQL, MariaDB and H2 support.
• PlaceholderAPI output for top positions.
• PlaceholderAPI output for current player position.
• Sign displays for leaderboards.
• Automatic sign binding through a configured tag.
• Skin-head / skin-stand displays for leaderboard positions.
• Armor stand editor menu.
• Configurable default sign format.
• Configurable default skin stand options.
• Display list and display removal commands.
• Warning system for suspicious formatted placeholders.
• Runtime cache clearing with confirmation.

How It Works
A leaderboard is created from a PlaceholderAPI placeholder.
Example:
The plugin reads the placeholder value for players, parses it as a numeric value and builds a sorted leaderboard.
After the leaderboard is created, it can be used in PlaceholderAPI, signs and skin displays.
Placeholder Validation
hTops includes checks for placeholders that may return formatted or non-numeric values.
For example, placeholders ending with suffixes such as fixed, format, formatted, rounded, short or compact can be marked as suspicious during leaderboard creation.
This helps prevent creating a leaderboard from a value that cannot be sorted correctly.
If you are sure that the placeholder is correct, the plugin can ask for confirmation before creating the top.
Automatic Refresh
Leaderboards are refreshed automatically.
Default refresh setting:
The refresh interval controls how often the plugin updates leaderboard values.
If includeOfflinePlayers is enabled, saved offline players can remain in the tops.
Excluded Players
Players can be excluded from leaderboard updates.
Supported exclusion methods:

• permission-based exclusion
• nickname list exclusion

Default settings:
Players with htops.excluded are not updated in tops when permission exclusion is enabled.
Displays
hTops supports multiple display types for created leaderboards.
Supported display types:

• sign display
• skin-head / skin-stand display

Display bindings can be listed and removed through commands.
Sign Displays
A leaderboard can be attached to a sign with:
The player must look at a sign while using the command.
Signs can also use the default sign tag:
Default sign lines:
Sign settings are stored in:
Skin Displays
hTops can create skin-based displays for specific leaderboard positions.
Command format:
Example:
This creates a display for the first position of the balance leaderboard.
Skin display settings are stored in:
Armor Stand Editor
Skin displays can be edited through an armor stand editor menu.
The editor allows adjusting:

• offset X, Y and Z
• yaw and pitch
• visibility
• arms
• gravity
• base plate
• small mode
• equipment slots
• body part poses

This makes it possible to place and style leaderboard skin displays directly in-game.
Database
hTops stores leaderboard data, cached placeholder output and display bindings in a database.
Supported database types:

• SQLite
• MySQL
• MariaDB
• H2

Default database configuration:
PlaceholderAPI
hTops registers placeholders with the identifier:
Basic top placeholder format:
Examples:
By default, this returns the player name at the selected position.
Entry Values
You can request different values from a leaderboard entry.
Examples:
Player Position
You can get the current player's position in a leaderboard:
Example:
If the player is not found in the leaderboard, the placeholder returns -.
Custom Output Placeholder
The placeholder system can also request another PlaceholderAPI value for the player stored in the leaderboard entry.
Example format:
This can be used to show additional information for the player in a specific top position.
Commands
Command Description
Permissions
Requirements

• Java 17 or newer.
• Minecraft 1.16 or newer.
• Spigot / Paper / compatible server core.
• PlaceholderAPI.

Important: PlaceholderAPI is required.
Installation

1. Install PlaceholderAPI.
2. Place hTops.jar into the plugins folder.
3. Start or restart the server.
4. Open the generated configuration files.
5. Configure the database if needed.
6. Create your first leaderboard with /htops create.
7. Use placeholders, signs or skin displays to show the top.

Configuration files:
Notes

• Source placeholders should return numeric values.
• Formatted values can be rejected or require confirmation.
• The plugin can keep offline players in leaderboards.
• Sign displays and skin displays are stored separately from leaderboard definitions.
• The clear command requires confirmation within 15 seconds.
• Armor stand display editing is controlled by a separate permission.