Using the Source SDK with Episode 1-Engine Games

From Valve Developer Community

This page is a candidate for speedy deletion because: no longer relevant

If you disagree with its speedy deletion, please explain why on its talk page. If this page obviously does not meet the criteria for speedy deletion, or you intend to fix it, please remove this notice, but do not remove this notice from articles that you have created yourself.

Administrators, remember to check if anything links here and the page history (http://developer.valvesoftware.com/w/index.php?title=Using_the_Source_SDK_with_Episode_1-Engine_Games&action=history) (last edit (http://developer.valvesoftware.com/w/index.php?title=Using_the_Source_SDK_with_Episode_1-Engine_Games&diff=0)) before deleting.

Note: Now that the new SDK has gone live, this no longer applies. Please do NOT follow these instructions.

[edit]

Introduction

The considerable changes in the Source engine for the Orange Box make it impracticable for Valve to support only one set of tools in the SDK. Thus when support for the Orange Box was rolled out, users found themselves with two versions of the SDK tools.

The default version of the SDK is for games based on the newer Orange Box build of the Source engine. This is currently only Half-Life 2: Episode 2, Team Fortress 2, and Portal. All Games released prior to the Orange Box use an older build of the Source Engine and require a legacy set of tools commonly known as the "Episode 1 Tools".

Since there has been no Orange Box source code released with the SDK, all source mods currently use code the older Episode 1 code and tools.

With a few simple steps, The Source SDK can be configured to use the "Episode 1 Tools". If you haven't taken the time to install the Source SDK, do so now by double-clicking it in the Tools window.

[edit]

Setting up the Source SDK To Use The Episode 1 Tools

Open your Steam My Games or Tools window. Find the Source SDK entry, and right-click it to bring up its context menu.

The Source SDK launch item context menu.

Click on Properties to upen the Source SDK's properties window.

The Source SDK properties window.

Next, click the "Set launch options..." button to open the Launch Options window.

The Source SDK launch options, with the "-engine ep1" option added.

The above image shows exactly what you need to enter into the Launch Options field to make the Source SDK use the Episode 1 tools.

-engine ep1

Press OK to save your Launch Options and close the properties window. You can now launch the Source SDK with the Episode 1 tools.

[edit]

Working With The Episode 1 Tools

The Source SDK will now work like it did before the Orange Box update. You will be able to map and model for games and mods based on the Episode 1 build of the Source engine. You will be able to create mods based on the Episode 1 build of the Source engine using this version of the SDK.

Note: To reverse the process (i.e. to work with Orange Box games again) simply follow the steps again, except remove "-engine ep1" from the Source SDK Launch Options.