Reverse Cordon: A Good Idea? Created 18 years ago2006-07-15 23:38:42 UTC by rowleybob

I'm about 1/3 through with a map, and compiles are already +10 minutes, even with fast VIS.

Cordon compiles don't help for a couple reasons.

1. "Expert" compile doesn't support cordon compile--It just does the regular compile, despite cordon settings.

2. Under "Normal" it works, but it doesn't process the mapname.rad file, so I can't check any lighting.

So, what I've been doing is visgoup/hiding the current chunk of the map i'm working on, and then <gasp> select/deleting the rest of the map and running a full compile. 30seconds vs. 10 minutes = A-ok!

Can anyone see any problems with doing this? I backup regularly, and CTRL-Z the delete after the compile.

The only problem I can possibly see, is sometimes cloning a perfectly good object--no brush errors--and pasting it inexplicably causes "leaf saw into leaf" error. So I suppose, it could happen with the part of the map I'm deleting, but it hasn't happened yet.

For all you batch compilers out there, can you do cordon compiles that process the mapname.rad file?

Just look at the CSG/BSP logs for something like "cordon: 1 default 0" and slap -cordon (or whatever the variable is called) 1 in the advanced whatnot. Prob'ly work.

Expert does support cordon. Works fine for me. I use it all the time.

Do you use 3.5? (I do)

Maybe a bug or an option. I'll try the thing Seventh said too later.

Oh btw, does it process your mapname.rad file?

You could use a little hack: place large brushes over the parts of your map you don't want compiled. It's not only usefull for finding leak sources...

As for .rad files, as far as I remember you could give VIS some parameters to let it know what extra .rad files to use. Don't remember the exact param, but I think Muzzle knows. After all he's been working on a compiler front-end.

As for .rad files, as far as I remember you could give VIS some parameters to let it know what extra .rad files to use.

I have no idea where you got that from, CP. There is no such thing.
mapname.rad works fine anyway.

As for my Compiler front end, its kinda dead. Stupid text encoding problem!

You could use a little hack: place large brushes over the parts of your map you don't want compiled.

A simple solution to a complex problem...I like it! Thanks CP I might just use it.
(also, if you have more information about the VIS paramaters, please let me know)

mapname.rad works fine anyway

It works for you if you cordon compile in expert? Are you sure it's not reading the original lights.rad in the tools folder?

Anyway, I just cut out the part of the map I'll be working on for the next week or so, and when it's finished, I'll paste it into the map and "cut" another part out. Cordon would be much more convenient though, So I'm gonna try the stuff Seventh suggested tonight to try to get it working.

I've never used the Cordon tool. I never got it to work. Also, i don't comile my maps with the built-in Hammer compiler, i use HLCC, wich is a compiler front end that uses .bat fles.

If you put mapname.rad in the same directory as your .rmf, the compile tools ignore the rad file in the tools dir and use that one.