Env projectedtexture

Entity Description

Casting shadows.

Creates a dynamic shadow-casting light that affects all objects in the world. Used for the Episode Two flashlight.

Bug:Does not accept a configurable texture value from Hammer - will always default to the flashlight. You must use the SpotlightTexture input instead.  [todo tested in ?]

Bug fixes

Enabling multiple shadow maps

Valve's games only allow one projected texture to cast shadows at a time - including the player's flashlight! To surmount this, shadow casting can be disabled on each entity with the enableshadows KV, or for a proper solution a programmer can perform this C++ fix:

In CClientShadowMgr::Init() around line 1293, comment out:

	 bool bTools = CommandLine()->CheckParm( "-tools" ) != NULL;
	 m_nMaxDepthTextureShadows = bTools ? 4 : 1;	// Just one shadow depth texture in games, more in tools

And add:

	m_nMaxDepthTextureShadows = YOUR_CHOSEN_MAX; //with your number

Fixing parenting

By default, this entity's position only gets updated when it gets turned on. Thus, parenting does not work. To fix this, open c_env_projectedtexture.cpp and in line 225, comment out 3 lines like this:

    //	if ( bForceUpdate == false )
    //	{
    		g_pClientShadowMgr->UpdateProjectedTexture( m_LightHandle, true );
    //	}

In line 233 in the Simulate function, change the argument false to true like this:

    UpdateLight( true );

Fixing cuts in projected texture

Projected texture looking cut.

When using multiple env_projectedtexture, projected textures might be cut at certain viewing angles. To fix this, force r_flashlightscissor 0 for your mod or map.

Fixing targeting

Because the targeting code isn't finished in the SDK, env_projectedtexture will flicker when bound to a target. To fix this, open c_env_projectedtexture.cpp and around line 174 there is a lot of code already commented out. Comment out the rest (vForward stuff) and instead add the AngleVectors function like this:

    // JasonM ...
    //	VectorNormalize( vRight );
    // VectorNormalize( vUp );
    AngleVectors( GetAbsAngles(), &vForward, &vRight, &vUp );
    }

The server needs code to update the entity with angles on a target. Open env_projectedtexture.cpp and in the Activate function around line 234, change the Think function call to

    if ( m_target != NULL_STRING )
    {
    SetThink( &CEnvProjectedTexture::InitialThink );
    SetNextThink( gpGlobals->curtime + 0.1 );
    }

Now edit the InitialThink function to recalculate angles towards the target:

    m_hTargetEntity = gEntList.FindEntityByName( NULL, m_target );
    if ( m_hTargetEntity == NULL )
    return;
    	
    Vector vecToTarget = (m_hTargetEntity->GetAbsOrigin() - GetAbsOrigin());
    QAngle vecAngles;
    VectorAngles( vecToTarget, vecAngles );
    SetAbsAngles( vecAngles );
    
    SetNextThink( gpGlobals->curtime + 0.1 );

You can adjust the interval for SetNextThink to get smoother movement.

Keyvalues

Projecting a texture.

• target <target_destination>

The entity will rotate to point at its target, no matter where it is in the world. See also lightonlytarget.

Bug:Can get glitchy. Refer to bug fix section.  [todo tested in ?]

• lightfov <float>

The angle at which the texture is projected. The projection is square, but the texture can make it appear of any shape.

Remember the default Player FOV is 75°.

• nearz <float>

Near Z for projected texture. Default value is 4.0.

Objects closer than this will not receive the projection.

• farz <float>

Far Z for projected texture. Default value is 750.0.

Objects beyond this distance will not receive the projection. Think of it as the range limit.

• enableshadows <boolean>

Should I cast (dynamic) shadows?

0 = No, 1 = Yes.

• shadowquality <boolean>

Quality of (dynamic) shadows?

0 = Low, 1 = High.

• lightonlytarget <boolean>

Should I light only the entity that is my target?

0 = No, 1 = Yes.

Bug:Non-functional.  [todo tested in ?]

• lightworld <boolean>

Should I light world brushes?

• cameraspace <boolean>

Display relative to player's view. Breaks things horribly unless the entity moves with the player.

• lightcolor ⇆#000000rgb(0,0,0)⇆

Projected color

• Template:Kv parentname

Bug:Parenting does not work. Refer to bug fix section  [todo tested in ?]

• Template:Kv angles
• Template:Kv targetname

Flags

• 1 : Enabled

Inputs

• TurnOn

• TurnOff

• FOV <float>

See lightfov keyvalue above.

• Template:I parentname
• Template:I targetname

Inputs not in FGD

These inputs are not known to Hammer, but are still accepted by the entity:

• target <entity>

Specify a new <target_desination> entity.

• cameraspace <bool>

See above keyvalues.

• LightOnlyTarget <bool>

See above keyvalues.

Bug:Non-functional.  [todo tested in ?]

• LightWorld <bool>

See above keyvalues.

Bug:Cannot be re-enabled.  [todo tested in ?]

• EnableShadows <bool>

See above keyvalues.

• Ambient <float>

Allows for an ambiance light, much like the shadow color for it.

• SpotlightTexture <VTF/string>

A VTF file (not VMT), relative to /materials.

Outputs

• Template:O targetname