Creating An Auto Portal

Introduction

This guide will show you how to make an auto portal, this is a very simple process and should be done in no time.

Auto Portal on the wall to walk through

The Frame

Make a prop_static entity and change it's world model to "models/props/autoportal_frame/autoportal_frame.mdl"

What the auto Portal Frame should look like.

The Portal

Make a prop_portal entity and name it "portal". Set the Property "Start Activated" to Inactive. Set the "Portal Number" property to which portal you are using. Note: Portal 1 is the Blue Portal and Portal 2 is the Orange/Red Portal.

Position the prop_portal 2 units above the bottom of the portal frame (prop_static entity).

What the positioning of the portal should look like

Portal Spawn Sound

Make an ambient_generic entity and name it to "sound_portal_spawn". Set the "Sound Name" value depending on what type of portal you have. Portal.open_blue is the Blue Portal and Portal.open_red is the Orange Portal. Set "Max Audible Distance" to "333". Set "Source Entity Name" to "portal".

Go to flags have only "Is NOT Looped" checked

Portal Spawn Shake

Make an env_shake entity and name it to "shake_portal_spawn". Put this entity fairly close to where the player triggers it if the player is near by the portal.

Optional (Recommended)

If you want to make this a prefab, I suggest following these steps to make things easier... Make a logic_relay and name it to relay_portal_spawn Add the outputs:

OnTrigger portal SetActivatedState 1 OnTrigger shake_portal_spawn StartShake OnTrigger sound_portal_spawn PlaySound

Auto Portal for ceilings, floors, or Flinging

I highly suggest you read "Auto Portal on the wall to step through" before you enter this part.

Aligning the portal

Do your best to perfectly center the portal with the auto-portal frame.

What the the portal should look like when centered

Rotating

Simply rotate the entire portal and make further corrections afterwards.

Note: Rotating the prop_portal will make the portal look like it is in the same position in the hammer editor, you will have to rely on which direction the origin (yellow line in 2d view) is facing.

An unrotated prop_portal

A rotated prop_portal (would be on the ceiling)

Implementation

Make the Portal spawn

Make some entity trigger the relay_portal_spawn logic_relay For example with trigger_once: OnTrigger relay_portal_spawn Trigger

Make the Portal close

To make the portal close, give prop_portal entity an input of

Input: SetActivatedState Parameter: 0

See Also

Portal Level Creation