total noob here Created 20 years ago2004-05-14 12:13:36 UTC by J.C

hi,
I have to make a map with hammer, and just started hammer some hours ago, I read a lot of "create an entity with player_info_start" or something like that on tutorials, but I don't got any "player_info_start" on my soft, where the f#ck can I get this parameter ?

an other point : I see too in every tutorials talking about 4 views (top,left, 3D, ...), but I only got 1 (I didn't change anything : first install) : wtf is wrong ??

thanks beforehand,

Get Worldcraft(I think Its easier to work with for newbies) If you have the original half-Life game then its in the directorys. Just pop in the CD
Go to My computer and Right click on your CD drive, and click open this will open up the directories in Half-Life instead of the game-Click on Worldcraft then Install, And Walllaa. Oh but there is one bug which is som...(well for me that is)anyways, sometimes when you get all the configuration setup correctly and it loads the new map it will freeze up, dont worry though, this can easily be fixed, this is caused because of your Hardware Accellerator, it works to hard on something so easily to load that it jams and freezes up, to fix this you Click the Start Menu, Settings, control Panel.
A window will appear, Click on the settings Icon, And under one of the Tabs You'll see Graphic options Click this and Change the setting from the highest point (-full Accelleration)to the lowest. Anyway yep try worldcraft to get used of the controls and options.

eh ?
worldcraft and hammer aren't the same soft ?

I didn't understand what should I install from the CD ...

I'd stay with Hammer.

To restore four-views, Ctrl+A works for me.

Read these, they'll have you mapping happily (and sucessfully) in an hour or two.

WorldCraft is an older version of Hammer. I wouldn't recommend it to newbies. It's not so much more easier, instead, it lacks some helpfull extra's. Just stay at Hammer.

k I succeeded to create true entities : it was a fgd file problem.

now I would like to test a very basic map :

_ I create a big hollowed cube, to contain the whole map,
_ inside I created some primitives (two cubes and a cylinder)
_ I added a "info_start_player" and a "light" entities

I run the map
"files missing" (same while opening), without more details ...

omg ...

Where do you get this error? A dialog box? The game console?

What're you mapping for: WON-HL ('proper' HL) or Steam? A mod?

Do you see a compile log? If so, can you post it here?

well, it's a bit long sorry :

"
** Executing...
** Command: Change Directory
** Parameters: "D:CounterStrike"
** Executing...
** Command: E:HAMMERTOOLSHLCSG.EXE
** Parameters: "e:hammermapsessai_05"
hlcsg v2.5.3 rel Custom Build 1.7 (Dec 9 2002)
Zoner's Half-Life Compilation Tools -- Custom Build
Based on code modifications by Sean 'Zoner' Cavanaugh
Based on Valve's version, modified with permission.
Submit detailed bug reports to (merlinis@bigpond.net.au)
--- BEGIN hlcsg ---
Command line: E:HAMMERTOOLSHLCSG.EXE e:hammermapsessai_05
Entering e:hammermapsessai_05.map
Error: Entity 0, Brush 9: mixed face contents

Texture !TOXICGRN and !TOXICGRN

Error: mixed face contents
Description: The map has a problem which must be fixed
Howto Fix: Check the file ZHLTProblems.html for a detailed explanation of this problem
Error: Entity 0, Brush 10: mixed face contents

Texture !TOXICGRN and !TOXICGRN

Error: Entity 0, Brush 11: mixed face contents

Texture !TOXICGRN and !TOXICGRN

Error: Entity 0, Brush 11: mixed face contents

Texture !TOXICGRN and !TOXICGRN

Error: Entity 0, Brush 11: mixed face contents

Texture !TOXICGRN and !TOXICGRN

Error: Entity 0, Brush 11: mixed face contents

Texture !TOXICGRN and !TOXICGRN

Error: Entity 0, Brush 11: mixed face contents

Texture !TOXICGRN and !TOXICGRN

Error: Entity 0, Brush 12: mixed face contents

Texture !TOXICGRN and !TOXICGRN

Error: Entity 0, Brush 12: mixed face contents

Texture !TOXICGRN and !TOXICGRN

Error: Entity 0, Brush 12: mixed face contents

Texture !TOXICGRN and !TOXICGRN

Error: Entity 0, Brush 12: mixed face contents

Texture !TOXICGRN and !TOXICGRN

Error: Entity 0, Brush 12: mixed face contents

Texture !TOXICGRN and !TOXICGRN

--- END hlcsg ---
** Executing...
** Command: E:HAMMERTOOLSHLBSP.EXE
** Parameters: "e:hammermapsessai_05"
hlbsp v2.5.3 rel Custom Build 1.7 (Dec 9 2002)
Zoner's Half-Life Compilation Tools -- Custom Build
Based on code modifications by Sean 'Zoner' Cavanaugh
Based on Valve's version, modified with permission.
Submit detailed bug reports to (merlinis@bigpond.net.au)
--- BEGIN hlbsp ---
Command line: E:HAMMERTOOLSHLBSP.EXE e:hammermapsessai_05
>> There was a problem compiling the map.
>> Check the file e:hammermapsessai_05.log for the cause.
--- END hlbsp ---
** Executing...
** Command: E:HAMMERTOOLSHLVIS.EXE
** Parameters: "e:hammermapsessai_05"
hlvis v2.5.3 rel Custom Build 1.7 (Dec 9 2002)
Zoner's Half-Life Compilation Tools -- Custom Build
Based on code modifications by Sean 'Zoner' Cavanaugh
Based on Valve's version, modified with permission.
Submit detailed bug reports to (merlinis@bigpond.net.au)
--- BEGIN hlvis ---
Command line: E:HAMMERTOOLSHLVIS.EXE e:hammermapsessai_05
>> There was a problem compiling the map.
>> Check the file e:hammermapsessai_05.log for the cause.
--- END hlvis ---
** Executing...
** Command: E:HAMMERTOOLSHLRAD.EXE
** Parameters: "e:hammermapsessai_05"
hlrad v2.5.3 rel Custom Build 1.7 (Dec 9 2002)
Zoner's Half-Life Compilation Tools -- Custom Build
Based on code modifications by Sean 'Zoner' Cavanaugh
Based on Valve's version, modified with permission.
Submit detailed bug reports to (merlinis@bigpond.net.au)
--- BEGIN hlrad ---
Command line: E:HAMMERTOOLSHLRAD.EXE e:hammermapsessai_05
>> There was a problem compiling the map.
>> Check the file e:hammermapsessai_05.log for the cause.
--- END hlrad ---
** Executing...
** Command: Copy File
Parameters: "e:hammermapsessai_05.bsp" "E:Hammermapsessai_05.bsp"
** Executing...
** Command: Copy File
Parameters: "e:hammermapsessai_05.pts" "E:Hammermapsessai_05.pts"
** Executing...
** Command: D:COUNTE~1HL.EXE
** Parameters: +map "essai_05" -dev -console
"
this was the hammer processing report, now here is what say the half-life console :
"
execing hw/geforce.cfg
execing valve.rc
execing language.cfg
execing config.cfg
"sv_aim" changed to "0.00000"
Adding : valve/dllshl.dll
Dll loaded for game Half-Life
execing skill.cfg
map change failed : 'essai_05' not found on server.
execing config.cfg.

my questions :
_ what does "execing" mean ?
_ why the hell doesn't the softs find my map file ? they are just working on it !
_ "Error: Entity 0, Brush 12: mixed face contents" ==> I don't understand I don't have any faces that are intersecting each other, my map is very simple but it already won't work !

try alt-p for pobs.
seems there is some weird texture alignment.
exing means executing. if im right

Execing is short for "Executing".

Your map won't work at the moment because:

In Halflife, brushes are required to have all faces be of the same type (solid, water, slime, sky, origin). Fortunately almost all textures are solid. If you put a water texture on one side of a brush which has dirt or steel textures for example, that would generate the error. The engine needs to know what is inside the brush, and it would be real confusing if different types could be put onto the same brush.

The fix is relatively simple. Simply find the offending brush, and then the faces with the inappropriate texture and change it. If a brush uses SKY, all sides must be sky. The same is true for CLIP, and ORIGIN textures as well. If you are careful it is possible to mix water textures (provided you don't accidently use a slime texture on the brush)

• Tommy14

also, ur mapping cs. anoter great way to start mapping is to map half life and get a good knowledge of mapping before moving to a mod.

oh I don't plan to work on half-life or CS, I am just checking the editor :

some years ago I was modding on AvP2 (using the lithtech editor : ever heard about the Guerilla Radio project ?) and as I am quite good with 3DSmax for terrains modeling I just wondered what worth that hammer.

but right now no way to test the simpliest map ( 4 walls room), that is confusing ...

I create a big box, hollow it, create inside an info_player_start and a light entity, I press "run the map",

the soft process it 2 MINUTES to finally say "no file found"

lol I wonder now how modders can have fun with such lame soft ...

It's no lame software but it must be set up righ, wich can be quite confusing at first. Thoroughly check if everything in the Game Configurations and Build Programs tabs (in the Tools -> Options menu) refer to the right directory's and programs.

Also, use a 'normal' texture for your walls, not one starting with a '!', these textures are meant for water.

I taken a look on two tutorials, in addition of the guide (hammer.chm) provided with the soft to try to set the configuration as good as possible, and carefully used only standard textures, but the 1 minute job map won't work ...

what I don't got is why map editor softs NEVER add some default properties to noobs maps to make them work right since the guy start modding, or pop up a window that report what settings, triggers, properties or anything else that need to be edited, instead of considering that everybody has to guess what it needs to be done : to process and run the first map is always the hardest job with modding softs.

eh I got an idea : could anyone post here the url of a tutorial map ? (or send it to me) I mean something very simple with the minimum things to run a map, or just list them here, I think I may miss something ... I mean a map that half-life can run and that is playable, even if there is nothing to do in the map, I mean that the engine can correctly load and run it ...

The VERC contains some in-depth tutorials:

Basic levels (found on THIS site!):
http://cariad.co.za/twhl/tutorial.php?id=23

Compiling:
http://collective.valve-erc.com/index.php?doc=1031084514-61686200

There are lots of tutorials found on the VERC, TWHL, the Snarkpit, 69 Vlatitude, Handy Vandals's almanac, whatever.

If you have the original worldcraft it came with a very noob tutorial on basic stuff. It also told you how to set up Worldcraft for compiling. The set up works both for Hammer and for Worldcraft.

These tutorials are available here at TWHL, slightly rewritten to stay up-to-date. They're the "In The Beginning" series.

k, a classmate showed me a way to check my map on counter-strike, using a soft called "ZHLT Compile GUI"

now I would like to know if my 3DSmax skills can be used in Hammer, I mean if it is possible to export max files into something (rmf files ?) that hammer can import.

thanks for your help by the way.

Yes, it's possible with a Max 5 plugin (Google). The plugin doesn't work with 6. Probably a bad idea unless you're a fairly experienced mapper. Know the limits.

I hate the limits.

I searched for that plugin half an hour and didn't find anything ...

as I am way more used with 3DSmax 5.0 than Hammer 3.4 I'd like better to design the most part of my level on 3DS instead of hammer, if it is possible of course, else as I plan to add some things like a skeleton or a sword for example I think 3DS is way more efficient than hammer for modeling such things ...