Can I make my world a seed?
When I look my world has a seed, although I didn't start it with a seed.
When I give my son that seed he can't see my buildings.
How can I let him load up my world on his iPad?
Solution 1:
'Seed' is a programming term. In Minecraft, the 'Seed' is the starting number that is fed into the algorithm that's used in generating the world. If you do not enter a seed when creating a new world, Minecraft will generate a random number to use as the seed. However, if you enter the seed of your world when creating another new world, that seed is then fed into the algorithm and then the terrain, villages, dungeons, ores, etc are all going to be exactly the same as WHEN YOUR WORLD WAS CREATED.
In other words, what you do to the world AFTER its first created (your buildings etc) has nothing to do with the seed.
Also, not all platforms that Minecraft is on can share seeds, nor will they generate the same worlds. Seeds for the PC version won't generate the same world on a Xbox due to the console versions being a very old version of Minecraft compared to the PC. I don't know about iOS but I doubt it would generate the same world either. Seeds can be shared between PS3 and Xbox 360 and between PS4 and Xbox One. The PE version of Minecraft has an entirely different algorithm compared to PC or consoles from what I understand.
If your goal is to let him have your world as it is after you have modified it by playing the game, well that depends on what version of Minecraft you created it in and what version you are playing it in as to whether its even possible. I think @Faquarl covered that aspect well.
Solution 2:
As it is said in the comments, the seed is just the starting point. The same seed only means what your son has the same world as you when you started. You can see more about it here:
- Seed - Level Generation - GamePedia.com
So the thing you want is importing your save to his iPad. And it is a problem if you don't have the same game version. You can see about PC-iOS for example here:
- Can I-transfer-Minecraft-from-a-computer-to-iOS?
But it seems to be possible between PC/MAC and XBOX (both ways).
- Export XBOX 360 to MAC or PC
It is also possible between pocket versions (iPad, Android & cie).
- How to transfer minecraft pocket edition world between iPads