This page is for reporting bugs in the Current Version of the Source SDK, Currently known as SE2.

Note:After the new Nov 8th SDK has been updated, it's very important to Reset Game Configuration before the Episode Two hammer can be launched. This is caused by the gameconfig.txt pointing to folders/files that are now outdated/move/changed.

Note:A new section has been added to organize the page much more efficiently. Near the TOP of the page, a section has been placed for the update that was issued on Nov The 8th. If you encounter any issues, please place them under that area now, as the SDK has been updated, and most likely it has caused new errors.--Gear 07:09, 9 Nov 2007 (PST)

Note:The Episode One hammer is now both crashy and buggy, and the Ep1 compile tools are unable to compile at all: Therefore I put some <+s> tags on the below paragraf. If it ever will work again, please remove these tags. --Sortie 10:26, 13 Nov 2007 (PST)

For any problem you're having, try running the Episode 1 compatible SDK with any existing maps or mods first. This is done by adding "-engine ep1" to your command line options when you run the Source SDK. You can do this by right clicking on the SourceSDK, going to properties, and clicking on "Set launch options..." Put "-engine ep1" in the dialog, and hit ok. Now try running it again. This will put hammer back to how it was before this update.

A few issues were fixed in the Nov. 8th update. If any issues are still present and only lies within the Nov. 7th section, please move them to the newest section.

This page has been cleared to accept new reports for the November 2007 release of the SDK. For older bug reports, see August 2006 Community Buglist.

SE2, Nov 8th Update

Work Arounds

Any work arounds to fix issues with the SE2 Nov 8th release of the SDK should be added to this section. Bug reports should be added to the report section.

Mod Enabling Workaround via Fake Search Paths

Note:This is MOD-Only, however the same methods can easily be used for the games, see the Discussion/Helpdesk below for quickly written instructions. If you have no idea what's happening here and can't get it working, please use any other workaround instead. Or ask for better instructions, please.

Many crashes with Mods and Episode Two hammer is related to hammer requires mounted content from the Episode Two GCF'S ( Game Cache File ).

If you're making a mod, you can create a fake gameinfo.txt for use within Hammer. You can't do this with the normal gameinfo.txt because Episode Two doesn't support custom client.dll and server.dll binaries yet.

Follow the below steps to stabilize Hammer when working on Mods.

If you haven't Reset Game Configuration yet, you must do it now in order to ensure things are like they should be.
Launch Hammer in a working version, not using the Ep1 launch option. Episode Two should be working.
In Hammer, go to Tools -> Options.
Select [Your Modname here] as Configuration under Game Configuration under Options.
Near the button, change Game Directory from

 $SteamDir\SteamApps\SourceMods\[Your Mod Folder Here]\
 to
 $SteamDir\SteamApps\SourceMods\[Your Mod Folder Here]\SDK2007

Open your Mod Folder and create a new subfolder named SDK2007.
Insert a copy of your normal gameinfo.txt, located within [Steam]/SteamApps/SourceMods/[Mod Folder Name]/ and copy it into the new SDK2007 folder.
Open the gameinfo.txt within SDK2007 and alter SteamAppId to SteamAppId 420 in order to use Ep2 content for hammer.
Most importantly change |gameinfo_path|. to "..\..\..\..\SourceMods\[Your Mod Folder Name Here]"
Ensure you did the above correctly, otherwise you can't use custom content.
This search path is based relatively to the Orange Box Bin folder within sourcesdk/bin/. You can't use |gameinfo_path|. because it points to the folder which this fake gameinfo.txt lies within, and thus contains no data. Neither is .. possible since Source prevents escaping the root folder using ...
Lastly launch hammer, with your set as Current Game in Source SDK Launcher, Hammer will now load the fake gameinfo.txt and work, and your Steam Client/Your Mod should use the correct one.
This workaround should enable the Hammer VGUI Model Viewer, the 3D views and the 2D views and all the new Ep2 features (Hammer Only) without your mod being ported to Episode Two at all.

Note:Compiling is only possible via the Episode Two tools. These tools seem to be unable to compile Static Props in VRAD without it crashes when you load the game in Episode Two. See a below report for more information.

(Written by Sortie 08:46, 8 Nov 2007 (PST), updated by Sortie 07:33, 12 Nov 2007 (PST))

Work Around Dicussion/Helpdesk

The first step mentions getting into a working state of Ep2 Hammer, but doesn't seem to give much indication on how to do this. I've tried the mentioned Reset Game Configurations and Refresh SDK Content, but running Source SDK from Steam without '-engine ep1' has very little happen. The app appears to start then immediately exit. --lag.com 12:28, 9 Nov 2007 (PST)

Hi Lag.com, I updated the work around so it is more clear. Please reread it, and ask if you need any help or information about the behavoir of the Work Around. Sortie 07:33, 12 Nov 2007 (PST)

Same problem I'm afraid - there must be something else I need to do inbetween your steps 1 and 2. In order to 'Reset Game Configurations' I need to run Source SDK in ep1 mode, because the SDK window does not appear at all if I run it without. Any ideas? --lag.com 09:39, 12 Nov 2007 (PST)

You can't use Episode One Engine SDK, as I said in the instructions, back up your Source SDK folder, then rename it, and try launch Source SDK again, then you should get a fresh start. If nothing still happens, you got quite some bug beyond my powers. If so, say it here, and try Steam Support. Sortie 10:21, 12 Nov 2007 (PST)

This is way above my head. Even the paths don't match to anything like mine. I don't have a [Mod Folder] within SourceMods. My own folder is in a different place. Is it possible to link to some screens of what I have so I may get some help. I don't really like messing around with folders that were done automatically when I installed HL2. Is there another workaround or an update that will stop all of this nonsense? I am beginning to lose my rag with Steam or Valve (whoever caused this problem) and may just throw the lot away if they can't solve the problem that they have caused. Tonester 21:13, 12 Nov 2007 (GMT)

Hey Tonester, I suppose you're not making a mod at all, [Mod Folder] refers to whatever your mods folder is called, if you're making one. If you're not, here's quick how to do with with the game. Instead of using Steam/SteamApps/SourceMods/[Mod Folder], use Steam/SteamApps/[Your Account Name Here]/[The Game You Want To Edit]/[Short Name Of That Game. Eg. Hl2, Episodic, Ep2, etc. ]/. An example would be Steam\SteamApps\sortie\counter-strike source\cstrike in my case.

I hope that helped. :D Sortie 13:43, 12 Nov 2007 (PST)

World Model crashes Hammer

Caused by Reference memory failure with the model viewer.
Go to Edit->Options->General and untick "Use VGUI model browser" Solokiller 11:31, 10 Nov 2007 (PST)
- That is a good (albeit slow) work around, however, has anyone come across a fix yet? There is mention of two potential fixes above, but if neither are working, then what? --Dave M 12:17, 10 Nov 2007 (PST)
- How has this helped? I can't do a browser search. I have to look in each folder to look for a model. Why do Valve release bug ridden updates? Nov 7th, I was happily working on a map. Nov 8th, updated Hammer and now it doesn't work properly! Is there a way of reversing updates? Tonester 13:49, 11 Nov 2007 (GMT)
- It don't crash, that's a help. The crash is caused by hammer trying to read unmounted data. Use the search path work around, for mods if you really want the VGUI browser.Sortie 07:33, 12 Nov 2007 (PST)
Problem fixed in the 11/14 update. Mdurand 14:00, 14 Nov 2007 (PST)

Reports

Any issues with the SE2 release of the SDK should be addressed here. If there's a working work around, add it to the work around section.

Critical Engine Faults

Missing Episode One support for Episode Two maps ( Static Props Skin Related Crash )

Episode One mods crash if they launch a map compiled by the Episode Two compile tools. Every time it tries to read the very same memory at 0x0e3ca1a0. Many experimens have showed it's releated to Static Props, and further has shown the following criteria for the crashes:

If only VBSP is run, then crash.
If VBSP and VVIS is run, then it works.
If VSP, VVIS and VRAD is run then:
- If the level contains Static Props, the level crashes if:
  - If certain props are in the level, tests has shown that multiskinned props (eg. pipes) crash the game.
- Any other models have lighting problems, tests has shown that props facing certain angles are lit wrongly.
- Cubemaps can't be built in an Ep2 compiled map, without the game crashes with a message about some BSP Lump that couldn't be read.

Written by Sortie 07:33, 12 Nov 2007 (PST)

You can't play the maps because they are newer versions, containing newer info than the episode 1 engine supports. Solokiller 05:57, 11 Nov 2007 (PST)

Yes I can! Everything works but static props crash the game, and other props are lit wrong, and cubemaps.

We (Valve) are not going to make this work. That's why we distributed the Ep1 version of the tools. Mdurand 15:37, 14 Nov 2007 (PST)

Hi Mike, the main problem is that The Episode One compile tools doesn't work at all. VBSP claims to be lacking either MaterialSystem.dll or SteamFileSystem.dll and the others does complain similary. The Episode One hammer is now pretty unstabile last time I tried, and thus leaves me to use the Episode Two tools. And these leads me to this same Static Prop related bug.

That's pretty annoying for me trying to get a release out soon, when I'm unable to playtest the maps. It seems like you know what's causing this bug, or am I wrong?

I suggest making a beta of the SDK next time, if that's possible. :P Sortie 04:24, 15 Nov 2007 (PST)

The ep1 tools work fine for me. Jupix 04:47, 15 Nov 2007 (PST)

Oh you're right, they got working in the newest SDK update. But I still have some problems with the compile tools, but that's probably me messing around with the SDK binaries! I just reset my game configuration, so let's see if Ep1 compile tools works now, both outside the game, and ingame. :D --Sortie 08:59, 15 Nov 2007 (PST)

Great! I got compiling working with the old tools, while I suddenly notice they're also compiled at Nov 8. Hehe. Anyways, this is great, I got the model lighting bug away, and now I'm going to test the static props. Props to you Mike and your team at Valve! :D --Sortie 09:28, 15 Nov 2007 (PST)

General Model Viewer issues

Within the new update (8 Nov) the Model Viewer works correct. But it fails with opening the model browser window when the Episode Two SDK configuration is applied: The instruction at 0xxx3f018b referenced memory at 0x903f4009. The memory could not be "written". When re-opening the Model Viewer via the SDK window the SDK generates a fatal error: EnumerateApp( 211 ) failed: SteamEnummetaApp(211,0x1287fd34,0x1287fd78) failed with error 1: The registry is in use by another process, timeout expired. When closing the error window, and re-opening the Model Viewer again, it fails with the same error. When opening Hammer and the closing it directly when it's opened, I'd re-opened the Model Viewer again. Now it's opening normal, but fails again with the first error: Memory could not be written.
Note:Opening models from the File - Recent Models menu the Model Viewer works correctly without errors when opening them. Also: the errors above occurs only within the SDK's Episode Two configuration. The Team Fortress 2 and Portal configurations work fine.
--Jurgen Knops 06:43, 9 Nov 2007 (PST)

I am able to duplicate this issue and will investigate. Also added it to known issues in release notes. Mdurand 15:40. 14 Nov 2007 (PST)

Compile Tools

Missing support for Ep1 Compile Tools

Seems as I can't use the Episode One compile tools while running the Episode Two hammer (which is the only one who actually works good), vbsp can't load MaterialSystem.dll

 Valve Software - vbsp.exe (Dec 11 2006)
 1 threads
 Can't load MaterialSystem.dll

As I said above, I need to use the Episode One compile tools in order to play the maps within the game, so a quick fix/work around for this would be pretty appreciated. Sortie 13:00, 8 Nov 2007 (PST)

VRAD crash

Since even the ep1 SE1, VRAD constantly crashes, and this is also very random. It doesn't matter what the map contains, as it even crashes on a simple square room. This also happens randomly at times, where sometimes it crashes in the LDR stage, but mainly it crashes in the HDR stage most of the time.--Gear 06:53, 9 Nov 2007 (PST) It has always done that, I got Visual Studio, so I get an error about an Unhandled Exception. If you get the same as I, please ignore the crash message, VRAD is still running and you just need to wait for it to finish, before you press OK. Sortie 07:04, 12 Nov 2007 (PST)

ERROR 'EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION' <assert 1>

This error comes up when trying to compile Ep1 models with the new Ep1 studiomdl.exe application. Same SMDs, Batch files, and .QC files worked fine before the update but now the compile makes it past the collision model line and then gives the above error message. The compile actually does generate a .MDL file but it seems to be corrupted as it causes both Model Viewer and Hammer to crash when it is loaded. A solution, work-around, or fix is desperately needed for this reoccurring error. Nov. 12th, 2007 benmears

I also have noticed this issue. It will build a physics model, claim to build the reference model and then throw the exception. The refernce model it leaves is just an empty file. --TheDistur 11:17, 13 Nov 2007 (PST)

Hammer

Any Hammer related bugs should be posted here.

Missing Rotate Cursor

The rotate cursor is missing when the mouse is above one of the rotate vertices when rotating a brush in the 2D view. Sortie 09:15, 8 Nov 2007 (PST)

Missing Zoom Cursor

Like the above error, but only the zoom cursor disappears. Solokiller 09:58, 9 Nov 2007 (PST)

Low Resolution Textures in 3D views

For some reason Hammer draws all things, including entity's, at a very low texture setting. As if it was a game and the settings had texture resolution set to very, very low.--Gear 14:31, 7 Nov 2007 (PST)

Yeah, I have the same problem. It seems linked to the problem of the resetting of the Very High texture setting to low, in all Source 2007 games. It's really annoying, and it seems like I can't find any fix within the Windows Registry. Going to look at some launch options right now and see if there's any fixes there. I imagine something like -DXLevel 81 should make an inpact. Sortie 08:46, 8 Nov 2007 (PST) Yeah it is horrible, mainly when it comes to sizing textures and aligning them correctly.--Gear 12:30, 8 Nov 2007 (PST)

Well, aligning is piece of cake, just remember to use the Left, Right, Top, Buttom, Center, Fit tools. Well that was a lie. :P. Sizing is another problem that always has been within the SDK, better support for scales with more than two decimals, which is, really really useful within the 3D skybox. Uh, and try to keep the === subcatagories, so we can arrange this article before it goes crazy. Uh, and if any Valve guys read this, mind to increase the Overlay limit? I'm running a litle low here. ;-) Sortie 12:42, 8 Nov 2007 (PST)

Overlay limit FTL, we need a better one.--Gear 12:46, 8 Nov 2007 (PST)

3D Shaded Texture Polygons bug

When 3d Shaded Textured Polygons is selected, all textures are rendered fullbright except for textures which are solid colour, e.g. all the white texture lights and the orange glow from Portal. Only these textures are shaded. Got Lag? 19:58, 7 Nov 2007 (PST)

Custom Hammer compile profiles not saved

Custom compile profiles aren't stored. They can be used during the session you created them in, but when you next load Hammer you'll need to enter everything all over again! --TomEdwards 04:05, 10 Nov 2007 (PST) Workaround: Use Batch compiles, if you do Hammer wont eat up memory that actually could speed up VRAD.

Hammer VGUI Model Viewer crashes Hammer

Please see the workaround section for a workaround to disable the new VGUI model viewer.

Tie To Entity Info Lost

If you are having this problem, then you probably don't know enough about the Group, Object, Solid tool. Please check that you haven't selected Solid by accident, if you have, switch back to either Group or Object. In the case this is a real bug, please add more indepth information about it below. *After tying an entity to a brush, when you click off of the brush then back onto it, you lose the entity properties box. It still shows any I/O used at the bottom. But it only shows up as the VisGroup view box. --Third Eye 14:13, 10 Nov 2007 (PST)

Edit: This problem seems to have gone away after closing and opening Hammer --Third Eye 15:50, 10 Nov 2007 (PST)

This randomly occurs to me. The reason is that the select mode randomly gets changed to solids and if you tie to entity it works, but you cant exit and then double click again to change it again because it reads it as a brush again. To fix: change the select mode back to groups. --PortalsApprentice 17:28, 10 Nov 2007 (PST)

Hammer Object Selection Crash

When objects are selected in hammer or created, on either the 2D screen or the 3D screen. Hammer freezes and crashes although that may be in part to a missing FGD file that still would not explain why objects that have no entities freeze as well. A work around or Fix would be nice soon. --Stalker 21:11, 10 Nov 2007 (PST) Please, are you using the crashy and buggy Episode One hammer? The Episode Two hammer should be working well, are your FGD's fucked up? Sortie 07:33, 12 Nov 2007 (PST)

Point_spotlight

~~Point_spotlight model is "ERROR" in Portal (not tested in any other games). --Baliame 14:23, 7 Nov 2007 (PST)~~

~~It does this for all Source Games :( --Frostbite 14:28, 7 Nov 2007 (PST)~~

This bug has been fixed in The Orange games, but the new point_spotlight model has no texture in the old games. --Spirit55555 08:04, 12 Nov 2007 (PST)

Light Preview Issues

My 3D light preview makes things black, #d raycast seems to freeze hammer and has the same effect as 3d light preview. My cpu is barely doing anything. --Bluestrike 14:03, 7 Nov 2007 (PST)

Note:The 3D Light Preview is only experimental and isn't release publicly. This will be addressed in the next SDK release.

Hammer Crash on map load

~~I still not able to work on Hammer, when I use File -> New ou File -> Load, Hammer freeze when viewport come in and I have to kill it in process. I have reset game config and source sdk content.~~

Cause : Light preview was keep when I closed Hammer before SE2, Why refresh sdk haven't reset viewport configuration?

Question: Hammer crash shouldn't make a mdmp file?

--Gectou4 11:28, 15 Nov 2007 (PST)

SE2 Update Nov 7th

Note:This section may not be completely updated anymore.

Work Arounds

Any work arounds to fix issues with the SE2 Nov 7th release of the SDK should be added to this section. Bug reports should be added to the report section.

Recommended/Temporary Solution For: "Missing material..."&"Can't load File..."

You must add this to the launch options for the Source SDK (or use the workaround below) in order to edit games that run using the Ep1 version of the Source engine. (However it seems this hammer version has a lot of errors and the model viewer crashes the editor constantly, Sortie 13:08, 8 Nov 2007 (PST))
~~-engine ep1~~
~~To see original document Follow the next link.~~

~~Original Solution Page(Source SDK Release Notes)~~

Note: This workaround doesn't support compiling, the files located somewhere else now, and can't connect to MaterialSystem.dll and Steam_FileSystem.dll. Use the below work around if you want at least to be able to compile for Episode Two.

--Stalker 20:33, 8 Nov 2007 (PST)

Reports

Any issues with the SE2 release of the SDK should be addressed here. If there's a working work around, add it to the work around section.

Episode One SDK Issues

Now it is different. I get no errors in the orangebox but my map 3d view has infinite lines, and the 2d views as well. I am missing all materials. In the Ep1 version i have no materials either. All models are lines stretching to the origin. This is not fixed for me yet. -Raider666
Valve/Steam seem to have solved this issue although others have taken it's place, remove the <-s>Strikeout<-/s> if the error is persistent for you.

* I'm getting a "Missing material 'editor/flatnocull'" error. It only happens when I insert a custom mod into the gameconfig.txt. I'm wondering if all my paths are correct. Gonna check and report back if I can fix it.--Spektre1 13:14, 7 Nov 2007 (PST)

- I am having even stranger issues. When I open hammer in orangebox i get the usual "Can't load FileSystemOpenDialog.dll" error, but if I switch over to the episode one, all of my materials in my map are gone and the models render as weird infinite lines in the 3D view. The map doesn't even open in the orangebox side. I don't know what valve did but this is really frustrating. I am in the middle of a map as well. -Raider666
  - Well hi. The Episode One version doesn't work at all as you pointed out. In order to fix the Episode Two hammer, click the Reset Game Configuration in Source SDK Launcher. Then it should work, eventually try my work above above.
- $Can\'tLoad.JPG$

Hammer Material Browser

I just started getting this one. Clicking "Browse..." causes Hammer to lock up, and become unresponsive to any input. I have to kill it with Task Manager. --Spektre1 00:38, 9 Nov 2007 (PST)

I'm not having this bug myself, everything seems so far to be working as it did yesterday. Sortie 06:48, 9 Nov 2007 (PST)

Hammer VGUI Model Browser

Hammer crashes when entering the Model browser, after the Episode 2 SDK update. Solokiller 13:18, 7 Nov 2007 (PST)

Fix: Extract Advisor.jpg from Source Models.gcf (it's under hl2/models) and

place it in "Half-Life 2 Episode Two/ep2/models"

And that should fix the crashing with hlmv. --Frostbite 14:27, 7 Nov 2007 (PST) Note: This and other errors are caused by hammer requiring content from the Episode Two GCF's. Use the searchpath workaround to mount this content.

Attempted the searchpath workaround from above, but kept getting the crash error. What is the path to the models folder? Is it "Program Files\Steam\steamapps\username\half-life 2 episode two\ep2\models"? IF it is, it didn't exist on two machines, and the fix suggested with the Advisor.jpg didn't work by adding in the \models folder. --Dave M 00:34, 9 Nov 2007 (PST)

I tried creating the model path given just above from scratch, with the "Advisor.jpg" in the suggested folder at the end, and it didn't do a bit of good. My VGUI Model Browser has been totally fried since the update. It brings Hammer down every time I try to use it. sagesource, 01:59, 11 Nov 2007 (PST)

Under CS:S ep1 engine I can't use any models/textures. Everything is generic gray and models are ERROR. How do you extract Advisor.jpg? Thanks. Stormfury 13:02, 9 Nov 2007 (PST)

Texture Keywords Lockup

Hammer seems to lock up for me after I enter a keyword in the texture browser (filter works fine). Bug? --Baliame 13:20, 7 Nov 2007 (PST)
It's always done this. Leave it for long enough and it'll complete the operation, and be instant next time you try. --TomEdwards 07:53, 8 Nov 2007 (PST)

General Model Viewer issues

* When opening the Model Viewer with my custom mod configuration for the Source SDK, the program doesn't load up the model browser when clicking on File - Load Model.... There was no error report generated. --Jurgen Knops 06:41, 8 Nov 2007 (PST)

Source SDK SE2 Bugs

Contents

SE2, Nov 8th Update

Work Arounds

Mod Enabling Workaround via Fake Search Paths

Work Around Dicussion/Helpdesk

World Model crashes Hammer

Reports

Critical Engine Faults

Missing Episode One support for Episode Two maps ( Static Props Skin Related Crash )

General Model Viewer issues

Compile Tools

Missing support for Ep1 Compile Tools

VRAD crash

ERROR 'EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION' <assert 1>

Hammer

Missing Rotate Cursor

Missing Zoom Cursor

Low Resolution Textures in 3D views

3D Shaded Texture Polygons bug

Custom Hammer compile profiles not saved

Hammer VGUI Model Viewer crashes Hammer

Tie To Entity Info Lost

Hammer Object Selection Crash

Point_spotlight

Light Preview Issues

Hammer Crash on map load

SE2 Update Nov 7th

Work Arounds

Recommended/Temporary Solution For: "Missing material..."&"Can't load File..."

Reports

Episode One SDK Issues

Hammer Material Browser

Hammer VGUI Model Browser

Texture Keywords Lockup

General Model Viewer issues

See also

Navigation menu