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:While working inside Hammer for all Source games, instances are currently only supported by the map compilers for 
Left 4 Dead 2, 
Alien Swarm, 
Portal 2, 
Team Fortress 2, 
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, and Source 2013, and therefore will not work for any other games. To use them in unsupported games, see below.Note:In Team Fortress 2 and Source 2013, 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.
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.