Hammer Trouble Created 18 years ago2006-08-16 10:06:21 UTC by NONE9999

For awhile I've been building a map with basic tutorial knowledge. Sufficent enough ey? Just kidding, but everything was going smooth until my recent F9 test. Before the error of "cannot find file specified" which happened after trying to copy over a PTS file, I was resizing the map so I would be able to walk up the stairs I created.

(note: the part of this map I was working on first is actually an inch for inch reflection of my real home)
I'd figure once I was done building it by realistic size, I'd resize it for Half Life character size.

Anyways...

While inside of the resized home, my friend joins the server for the test and I notice that I am able to see his body through each of the walls. Remembering something about "func_wall", I thought I probably would have to make each wall this so that wouldn't happen in the game. Is this true?

(note: this was before I changed everything to func_wall)
So I go back to Hammer and realize that the program auto saved over my previous realistic sized measurements. This alone was annoying because trying to resize it back felt impossible. It wasn't going to be exact once it was finished anyway, so I feel for a normal size and try to test the map once more. (F9)

The command failed. Windows reported the error:
"The system cannot find the file specified."

This shows in the log after home.pts is being copied into my steam map folder.

I'm struggling with this problem for awhile, but the RMF is still intact, so why not continue editing? For my idea, I change all of the walls to func_wall entities. This makes everything in the views turn purple, so it seems good enough.

Ok, this is where I go online to see if func_wall will even help me. But before searching any further for answers on both this and the error I try to test once more. (F9)

No more PTS error. The file creates and copies over. I'm nearly relieved when Team Fortress starts loading the map, but then, it closes! Just as it would if I'd "continue anyway" following the error.

And this is where I'm at now: Not knowing what to do. I really like Hammer, and I don't see any reason for me to start using some other program to do the things it's supposed to be doing. However, I'm certain that this problem was caused by resizing my map like a lunatic.

If anyone has any solutions on this issue or even information on my wall problem(are they just not thick enough?) I'd very much appreciate it.

Thank You

Hi- I'm not an expert but maybe this helps...

1) you don't have to func_wall every wall... normal objects are solid and can not be seen through

2) sometimes running via hammer can be tricksy- try running the program from the mod, after compiling with hammer

3) It may be possible to put too much stuff in a map- certainly if it is a func_wall... I think these don't get "vis"d so the computer tries to display them all the time, then masking them with nearer objects. I hope someone with more knowledge checks this but basically I think you want more normal objects and less func_walls.

4) If you have an inch-by-inch replica of your house you will have to remove quite a lot of detail. Small objects break up how the game displays surfaces they're in contact with... otherwise you may get more probs from memory space.

5) have you checked around for error pages and tuts that might help?

Seeing people though walls is normally a VIS error.

Are you running VIS on compile?

Thanks for the replies. I have some screenshots to answer a few questions. Firstly this screen shows with what I'm working with: http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/8886/1xu1.png

Next, this is what happens when I try to use Normal mode on compiling:
http://img106.imageshack.us/img106/3646/2xj9.png

Normal hasn't worked for me because of this, so I switched to Expert and changed the drop down to "Team Fortress." That's been working until this recent problem of course. But I see no VIS option through expert. And now, with no func_walls on the map, the error returns with expert compile:
http://img250.imageshack.us/img250/8403/3ob3.png

I think I understand what everyone's said so far, except for Captain Monkey's number 2. This confuses me, I apologize.

EDIT: A thread here led me to a download link to the updated versions of the compiling tools. My old ones were named Q, and these are named HL. I used the new ones and now my error tells me that there's a problem copying both the pts file and the bsp. So, my updated problem is that I receive the message "cannot find file specified" on each copy.
(Edit: putting all of the new compiling tool files that I thought weren't necessary into the tools folder leaves only the bsp copy error remaining)

I also know that this has been asked in a number of variations throughout the forum, and I'm currently looking for a solution on my own with the search feature.

EDIT: Found my problems within the .log (now im using the page it gave me to see what these errors mean)

Error: Entity 0, Brush 47, Side 1: plane with no normal
Error: plane with no normal
Description: The map has a problem which must be fixed
Howto Fix: Check the file http://www.zhlt.info/common-mapping-problems.html for a detailed explanation of this problem

Error: Entity 0, Brush 47, Side 2: plane with no normal
Error: Entity 0, Brush 47, Side 2: has a coplanar plane at (-376, 71, 155), texture OUT_GLUE
Error: Entity 0, Brush 47, Side 3: plane with no normal
Error: Entity 0, Brush 47, Side 3: has a coplanar plane at (-423, 71, 155), texture OUT_GLUE
Error: Entity 0, Brush 47, Side 3: has a coplanar plane at (-423, 71, 155), texture OUT_GLUE
Error: Entity 0, Brush 47, Side 4: plane with no normal
Error: Entity 0, Brush 47, Side 4: has a coplanar plane at (-376, 133, 125), texture OUT_GLUE
Error: Entity 0, Brush 47, Side 4: has a coplanar plane at (-376, 133, 125), texture OUT_GLUE
Error: Entity 0, Brush 47, Side 4: has a coplanar plane at (-376, 133, 125), texture OUT_GLUE
Error: Entity 0, Brush 47, Side 5: has a coplanar plane at (-423, 133, 125), texture OUT_GLUE
Error: Entity 0, Brush 47: outside world(+/-4096): (10000,-8927,-4202)(10000,9076,4509)
Error: Entity 0, Brush 47: outside world(+/-4096): (10000,-8927,-4202)(10000,9076,4509)
Error: Entity 0, Brush 47: outside world(+/-4096): (10000,-8927,-4202)(10000,9076,4509)
Error: Entity 0, Brush 47: outside world(+/-4096): (10016,-8943,-4238)(10016,9092,4545)
Error: Entity 0, Brush 47: outside world(+/-4096): (10016,-8943,-4238)(10016,9092,4545)
Error: Entity 0, Brush 47: outside world(+/-4096): (10016,-8943,-4238)(10016,9092,4545)
Error: Entity 0, Brush 47: outside world(+/-4096): (10032,-8959,-4234)(10032,9108,4541)
Error: Entity 0, Brush 47: outside world(+/-4096): (10032,-8959,-4234)(10032,9108,4541)
Error: Entity 0, Brush 47: outside world(+/-4096): (10032,-8959,-4234)(10032,9108,4541)
Error: Entity 0, Brush 47: outside world(+/-4096): (10016,-8943,-4220)(10016,9092,4527)
Error: Entity 0, Brush 47: outside world(+/-4096): (10016,-8943,-4220)(10016,9092,4527)
Error: Entity 0, Brush 47: outside world(+/-4096): (10016,-8943,-4220)(10016,9092,4527)
(0.05 seconds)

FINAL EDIT: OKAY ! Things are fixed. It seems the resizing I did somehow destroyed my vertex creation. I adjusted it, and the game runs. Now only one problem remains: Lighting's not showing up! Until next time... =P

And wow, checking this log file helps with everything.

Ok I've learned some things since my last post. Pointfiles, how tiny leaks can be and how they destroy lighting, knowing that hammer does not create a folder on it's own if that folder somehow becomes deleted, how to actually use clipping (hit enter stupid!) and the freedom of vertex manipulation, ect.

And the map is coming along great, but my one problem remains: the walls.

I'm able to see my bullets on each side of the wall after I shoot it, and see other players bodies penetrating the walls. They can't see through them, but other people are able to see them. My guess is that I need to group each room, seperate them in an orderly fashion, double wall everything and put the pieces back together. Am I right? And is there a faster way?

I'm not sure I understand the whole part about grouping the rooms and seperating them and stuff, but double walling everything won't fix your problems. Actually, I'm not sure what will fix your problems, as I've never experienced them before, but I can say with certainty that double walling will do nothing but bring you a lot of work.