Instance

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An instance is a map (.vmf) file referenced inside another map through a func_instance, possibly aided by a func_instance_parms and/or func_instance_io_proxy.

Note:In order for instances to be compiled into maps, a GameData key must be present in gameinfo.txt pointing to the game's FGD file. Only Left 4 Dead 2, Alien Swarm, Portal 2, Team Fortress 2, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, and Source 2013 include this by default. Instances can be enabled in other games by adding it, or using a pre-compiler as described below.

Todo: Only tested in Portal, see if this works elsewhere

Note:In pre-Left 4 Dead 2 branches, instances have some broken or missing functionality: instance I/O system is unsupported, instances cannot be nested, displacements within an instance may not compile properly and any env_cubemaps inside of an instance will not be compiled into the final map.

Instances are helpful in many ways:

• They provide a more dynamic alternative to prefabs, as any changes to the instanced map will be reflected in all instances of it.
• They provide an alternative to visgroups, as they can be used to divide a large, unwieldy map into several smaller, manageable ones (that can even be worked on by multiple authors simultaneously).
• They provide a simple way to edit portions of a map that needs to be at a non-orthogonal angle. (Build the map on-grid inside a separate map, and then instance it into another map through a func_instance rotated at the correct angle.
• They provide a way for maps to work on multiple platforms, such as Left 4 Dead and Left 4 Dead 2 versions of the same map.

How to

In Portal 2 to give input to an entity within a instance use this:

	My Output	Target Entity	Target Input	Parameter	Delay	Only Once
	<Output>	<Instance>	instance:<entity>;<input>	<none>	0.00	No

Or, alternatively, you can do this:

	My Output	Target Entity	Target Input	Parameter	Delay	Only Once
	<Output>	<Instance>-<entity>	<input>	<none>	0.00	No

Manifests

^[Todo]

Workaround for any Source game

To use instances in unsupported Engine versions, Metapyziks wrote a program that merges used instances with the main VMF.

• Set up tutorial and source code
• VMFII releases

Also see

• L4D2 Level Design/VMF Instances - A Valve tutorial on how to use instances in Left 4 Dead 2.
• Working with instances - A tutorial on how to use instances in Portal 2.

External links

• Source SDK Tutorial - Manifest Tool (YouTube)
• Manifests and Version Control Tutorial (TF2Maps.net)