View source for Configuring Hammer for Half-Life: Source

After the [[SteamPipe]] update in 2013, {{HLS|4}} now installs in {{HL2|4}} directory. However, a Hammer configuration does not ship, nor does an FGD file.
[[Half-Life Source.fgd]] is required for this process.
{{note|Most of this process is the same for {{hldms|4}}, although paths will be different.}}

==Game Configurations==
[[File:Hammer 4.1 Edit Game Configuration Screen.png|right|250px]]
[[File:HLSource_Hammer_config.png|right|300px]]
Launch Hammer. Hammer will be installed with Half-Life 2, and can be found at <code>common\Half-Life 2\bin\hammer.exe</code>. Click on '''Tools''', '''Options...''' to open the configuration window. Go to the tab labeled '''Game Configurations'''.

===Configuration===
Hammer allows you to setup multiple configurations, so if you want to make maps for more than one game, you can make maps for each on the same editor. This section allows you to add, remove, or edit different configurations. 

Click '''Edit''' (the wide one at the top, not the smaller one below), '''Add''', and name your configuration whatever you want. Click '''OK''', '''Close'''.

===Game Data Files===
Copy the text from [[Half-Life Source.fgd]] into a Notepad document, save it as <code>hls.fgd</code> in <code>common\Half-Life 2\bin</code>.<br>

Click '''Add'''. Select the <code>hls.fgd</code> file at <code>common\Half-Life 2\bin</code>. You can select and use extra FGDs, but anything in them not coded to work in Half-Life: Source will not work (For example: HL2 entities).

{{note|ALL filepaths you enter for configurations need to be absolute, meaning they start with the drive letter Steam is installed on and include the full path to the folder or file.}}

The '''Texture Format''' option should now say '''Materials (Half-Life 2)''' and the '''Map Type''' option should now say '''Half-Life 2'''.

===Default PointEntity class===
By default, Hammer automatically selects <code>ai_ally_manager</code> from the [[entity]] list when using the [[Entity Tool]], because it is alphabetically first. You can change the default to any valid [[point entity]] you want. {{ent|info_player_start}} or {{ent|info_player_deathmatch}} are recommended.

===Default SolidEntity class===
By default, Hammer automatically selects <code>color_correction_volume</code> from the entity list when you tie a brush to an entity, because it is alphabetically first. You can change the default to any valid [[brush entity]] you want. {{ent|func_detail}} is recommended.

===Cordon texture===
Set this to <code>tools\toolsskybox</code>. An alternative is <code>BLACK</code>.

===Game Executable Directory===
This is the folder containing hl2.exe. Select the folder <code>common\Half-Life 2</code>.

===Game Directory===
This is the folder holding game-specific files, such as models, animations, textures, etc. For Half-Life: Source, this is at <code>common\Half-Life 2\hl1</code>.

===VMF Directory===
This is where Hammer will save all files related to your map every time you [[Saving and Compiling|compile]]. The engine looks in <code>common\Half-Life 2\[your game folder]\maps</code> for maps, however, Hammer will generate quite a few files related to your map when saving or compiling, so you may find it preferable to have a separate folder to contain them all (usually named <code>mapsrc</code>). Compiled map files can be stored in another folder, which we will get to configuring near the end.

==Build Programs==
[[File:HLSource_Hammer_build_config.png|right|300px]]
Now go to the tab labeled '''Build Programs'''. These are the programs that process your level geometry, determine where to optimize for visibility, and add lighting to your map. Many mappers use fan made modifications of the original tools developed for Source containing many fixes and improvements. If you use those tools, you will have to give filepaths for those instead of the ones talked about below.

===Game Executable===
A .exe file to open when the map finishes compiling. Unless you have some non-gaming purpose for Hammer, this should ''probably'' be <code>common\Half-Life 2\hl2.exe</code>.

===BSP executable===
BSP creates the map and then generates [[visleafs]]. This is at <code>common\Half-Life 2\bin\vbsp.exe</code>.

===VIS executable===
VIS determines what is visible from within each visleaf, so it can enforce a maximum visibility distance and hide objects when it's not visible, improving performance. This is at <code>common\Half-Life 2\bin\vvis.exe</code>.

===RAD executable===
RAD bakes lighting into your map, so it won't look so flat and boring. Dynamic lighting, like the HEV flashlight and [[env_projectedtexture]], is done directly in the game. This is at <code>common\Half-Life 2\bin\vrad.exe</code>.

===Compiled Map Directory===
This is where the game usually looks for maps. This should be <code>common\Half-Life 2\hl1\maps</code>.

[[Category:Half-Life: Source]]
[[Category:Level Design]]
[[Category:Tutorials]]
[[Category:Hammer]]