User:JacobsDevelop/GlowArticle
Activation
- Add GLOWS_ENABLE to the preprocessor directives on your client and server projects (don't forget to add it for release and debug, too!)
- Add the following line to ClientModeShared::DoPostScreenSpaceEffects:
g_GlowObjectManager.RenderGlowEffects( pSetup, 0 );
Materials Required:
SDK2013_TF2_GlowOutlineMaterials.zip
- Precache the effect by placing this code in clientmode_shared.cpp (search for other references of CLIENTEFFECT_REGISTER_BEGIN for usage example):
CLIENTEFFECT_REGISTER_BEGIN( PrecachePostProcessingEffectsGlow )
CLIENTEFFECT_MATERIAL( "dev/glow_color" )
CLIENTEFFECT_MATERIAL( "dev/halo_add_to_screen" )
CLIENTEFFECT_REGISTER_END_CONDITIONAL( engine->GetDXSupportLevel() >= 90 )
Don't forget to add the include defintion for the precache system!
#include "clienteffectprecachesystem.h"
(Optional) Transferring getters and setters from CBaseCombatCharacter


By default objects derived from CBaseCombatCharacter have getters and setters which can be problematic.
This section shows how to transfer setters and getters from CBaseCombatCharacter to CBaseAnimating since most entities are derived from CBaseAnimating e.g. CBaseCombatCharacter, CDynamicProp, CBaseProp and more.
There are two parts: Server and Client, where we'll start with server first.
Firstly delete this part of code from basecombatcharacter.h (lines 415-420) and put it into baseanimating.h (recommended lines 54-58):
#ifdef GLOWS_ENABLE
public:
void AddGlowEffect(void);
void RemoveGlowEffect(void);
bool IsGlowEffectActive(void);
#endif
After that, do the same thing to this part of code (basecombatcharacter.h, lines 459-462, baseanimating.h recommended lines 171-174):
#ifdef GLOWS_ENABLE
protected:
CNetworkVar(bool, m_bGlowEnabled);
#endif

And finally repeat that with this part of code (basecombatcharacter.h, lines 467-468, baseanimating.h recommended lines 355-356)
void UpdateGlowEffect( void );
void DestroyGlowEffect( void );

Now move to basecombatcharacter.cpp and baseanimating.cpp First part of code to delete from basecombatcharacter.cpp (lines 193-195) and put it into baseanimating.cpp (line 230):
#ifdef GLOWS_ENABLE
SendPropBool( SENDINFO( m_bGlowEnabled ) ),
#endif
Next, from basecombatcharacter.cpp (lines 744-746) put this part of code into baseanimating.cpp CBaseAnimating::CBaseAnimating
#ifdef GLOWS_ENABLE
m_bGlowEnabled.Set( false );
#endif
Lastly delete this from basecombatcharacter.cpp (lines 3227-3252)
#ifdef GLOWS_ENABLE
//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
// Purpose:
//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
void CBaseCombatCharacter::AddGlowEffect( void )
{
SetTransmitState( FL_EDICT_ALWAYS );
m_bGlowEnabled.Set( true );
}
//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
// Purpose:
//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
void CBaseCombatCharacter::RemoveGlowEffect( void )
{
m_bGlowEnabled.Set( false );
}
//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
// Purpose:
//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
bool CBaseCombatCharacter::IsGlowEffectActive( void )
{
return m_bGlowEnabled;
}
#endif // GLOWS_ENABLE
and put this part somewhere under CBaseAnimating::~CBaseAnimating in baseanimating.cpp
#ifdef GLOWS_ENABLE
//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
// Purpose:
//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
void CBaseAnimating::AddGlowEffect(void)
{
SetTransmitState(FL_EDICT_ALWAYS);
m_bGlowEnabled.Set(true);
}
//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
// Purpose:
//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
void CBaseAnimating::RemoveGlowEffect(void)
{
m_bGlowEnabled.Set(false);
}
//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
// Purpose:
//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
bool CBaseAnimating::IsGlowEffectActive(void)
{
return m_bGlowEnabled;
}
#endif
This is the end of server part, now onto client part. We'll be mainly operating on two files c_baseanimating.cpp/.h and c_basecombatcharacter.cpp/.h Firstly delete this part from c_basecombatcharacter.h (lines 17-19) and put at the top of c_baseanimating.h
#ifdef GLOWS_ENABLE
#include "glow_outline_effect.h"
#endif
Secondly is to delete this part of code from c_basecombatcharacter.h (lines 94-97) and put it into c_baseanimating.h (recommended lines 149-152)
#ifdef GLOWS_ENABLE
CGlowObject *GetGlowObject( void ){ return m_pGlowEffect; }
virtual void GetGlowEffectColor( float *r, float *g, float *b );
#endif // GLOWS_ENABLE
Then repeat that for this for this part of code (from c_basecombatcharacter.h, lines 100-103 to c_baseanimating.h, recommended lines 458-461):
#ifdef GLOWS_ENABLE
virtual void UpdateGlowEffect(void);
virtual void DestroyGlowEffect(void);
#endif // GLOWS_ENABLE
And this (from c_basecombatcharacter.h, lines 110-114 to c_baseanimating.h, recommended lines 481-485):
#ifdef GLOWS_ENABLE
bool m_bGlowEnabled;
bool m_bOldGlowEnabled;
CGlowObject *m_pGlowEffect;
#endif
Now go into c_basecombatcharacter.cpp and c_baseanimating.cpp Firstly delete this part of code from c_basecombatcharacter.cpp (lines 33-37) and put it into c_baseanimating.cpp (recommended lines 737-741):
#ifdef GLOWS_ENABLE
m_pGlowEffect = NULL;
m_bGlowEnabled = false;
m_bOldGlowEnabled = false;
#endif // GLOWS_ENABLE
Then delete this part of code from C_BaseCombatCharacter::~C_BaseCombatCharacter and put it into C_BaseAnimating::~C_BaseAnimating
#ifdef GLOWS_ENABLE
DestroyGlowEffect();
#endif // GLOWS_ENABLE
and repeat this for this part of code (from c_basecombatcharacter.h, lines 58-60 to c_baseanimating.h, recommended lines 4528-4530):
#ifdef GLOWS_ENABLE
m_bOldGlowEnabled = m_bGlowEnabled;
#endif // GLOWS_ENABLE
and again (from c_basecombatcharacter.h, lines 66-71 to c_baseanimating.h, recommended lines 4716-4721):
#ifdef GLOWS_ENABLE
m_bOldGlowEnabled = m_bGlowEnabled;
#endif // GLOWS_ENABLE
Remove this section of code from c_basecombatcharacter.h (lines 85-128)
#ifdef GLOWS_ENABLE
//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
// Purpose:
//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
void C_BaseCombatCharacter::GetGlowEffectColor( float *r, float *g, float *b )
{
*r = 0.76f;
*g = 0.76f;
*b = 0.76f;
}
//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
// Purpose:
//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
void C_BaseCombatCharacter::UpdateGlowEffect( void )
{
// destroy the existing effect
if ( m_pGlowEffect )
{
DestroyGlowEffect();
}
// create a new effect
if ( m_bGlowEnabled )
{
float r, g, b;
GetGlowEffectColor( &r, &g, &b );
m_pGlowEffect = new CGlowObject( this, Vector( r, g, b ), 1.0, true );
}
}
//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
// Purpose:
//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
void C_BaseCombatCharacter::DestroyGlowEffect( void )
{
if ( m_pGlowEffect )
{
delete m_pGlowEffect;
m_pGlowEffect = NULL;
}
}
#endif // GLOWS_ENABLE
and put this section in c_baseanimating.h (recommended start on line 4387):
#ifdef GLOWS_ENABLE
//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
// Purpose:
//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
void C_BaseAnimating::GetGlowEffectColor( float *r, float *g, float *b )
{
*r = 0.76f;
*g = 0.76f;
*b = 0.76f;
}
//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
// Purpose:
//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
void C_BaseAnimating::UpdateGlowEffect( void )
{
// destroy the existing effect
if ( m_pGlowEffect )
{
DestroyGlowEffect();
}
// create a new effect
if ( m_bGlowEnabled )
{
float r, g, b;
GetGlowEffectColor( &r, &g, &b );
m_pGlowEffect = new CGlowObject( this, Vector( r, g, b ), 1.0, true );
}
}
//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
// Purpose:
//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
void C_BaseAnimating::DestroyGlowEffect( void )
{
if ( m_pGlowEffect )
{
delete m_pGlowEffect;
m_pGlowEffect = NULL;
}
}
#endif // GLOWS_ENABLE
and lastly get this part of code from c_basecombatcharacter.cpp (lines 97-99) and put it into c_baseanimating.cpp (recommended lines 203-205):
#ifdef GLOWS_ENABLE
RecvPropBool( RECVINFO( m_bGlowEnabled ) ),
#endif // GLOWS_ENABLE
And you're done. Now you can create entities with glow (e.g. prop_dynamic, npcs, etc.) as long as they're derived from CBaseAnimating onwards.
Adding color control for glow
This subsection will explain how to add glow color control so you can change color in code. Firstly open baseanimating.h and add void SetGlowEffectColor(float r, float g, float b); like this:
#ifdef GLOWS_ENABLE
void SetGlowEffectColor(float r, float g, float b);
void AddGlowEffect(void);
void RemoveGlowEffect(void);
bool IsGlowEffectActive(void);
#endif
then add CNetworkVar(float, m_flGlowR);, CNetworkVar(float, m_flGlowG);, CNetworkVar(float, m_flGlowB); like this:
// this should be around line 172
#ifdef GLOWS_ENABLE
protected:
CNetworkVar(bool, m_bGlowEnabled);
CNetworkVar(float, m_flGlowR);
CNetworkVar(float, m_flGlowG);
CNetworkVar(float, m_flGlowB);
#endif
Now in baseanimating.cpp add SendPropFloat(SENDINFO(m_flGlowR)),, SendPropFloat(SENDINFO(m_flGlowG)),, SendPropFloat(SENDINFO(m_flGlowB)), like this:
// this should be around line 229
IMPLEMENT_SERVERCLASS_ST(CBaseAnimating, DT_BaseAnimating)
#ifdef GLOWS_ENABLE
SendPropBool(SENDINFO(m_bGlowEnabled)),
SendPropFloat(SENDINFO(m_flGlowR)),
SendPropFloat(SENDINFO(m_flGlowG)),
SendPropFloat(SENDINFO(m_flGlowB)),
#endif
In baseanimating.cpp add m_flGlowR.Set(0.76f);, m_flGlowG.Set(0.76f);, m_flGlowB.Set(0.76f); like this:
// this should be around line 299
#ifdef GLOWS_ENABLE
m_bGlowEnabled.Set(false);
m_flGlowR.Set(0.76f);
m_flGlowG.Set(0.76f);
m_flGlowB.Set(0.76f);
#endif
Add this section of code in baseanimating.cpp like this:
// this should be around line 318
//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
// Purpose:
//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
void CBaseAnimating::SetGlowEffectColor(float r, float g, float b)
{
m_flGlowR.Set(r);
m_flGlowG.Set(g);
m_flGlowB.Set(b);
}
That's it for the server side, now it's time for client side.
Firstly, inside c_baseanimating.h add float m_flGlowR, float m_flGlowG, float m_flGlowB like this:
// This should be around line 481
#ifdef GLOWS_ENABLE
float m_flGlowR;
float m_flGlowG;
float m_flGlowB;
bool m_bGlowEnabled;
bool m_bOldGlowEnabled;
CGlowObject* m_pGlowEffect;
#endif
Then in c_baseanimating.cpp add RecvPropFloat(RECVINFO(m_flGlowR)),, RecvPropFloat(RECVINFO(m_flGlowG)),, RecvPropFloat(RECVINFO(m_flGlowB)), like this:
// this should be around line 203
#ifdef GLOWS_ENABLE
RecvPropBool(RECVINFO(m_bGlowEnabled)),
RecvPropFloat(RECVINFO(m_flGlowR)),
RecvPropFloat(RECVINFO(m_flGlowG)),
RecvPropFloat(RECVINFO(m_flGlowB)),
#endif // GLOWS_ENABLE
Add {{{1}}}, {{{1}}}, {{{1}}} in c_baseanimating.cpp like this:
// this should be around line 742
#ifdef GLOWS_ENABLE
m_flGlowR = 0.76f;
m_flGlowG = 0.76f;
m_flGlowB = 0.76f;
m_pGlowEffect = NULL;
m_bGlowEnabled = false;
m_bOldGlowEnabled = false;
#endif // GLOWS_ENABLE
Now change C_BaseAnimating::GetGlowEffectColor to look like this:
void C_BaseAnimating::GetGlowEffectColor(float* r, float* g, float* b)
{
*r = m_flGlowR;
*g = m_flGlowG;
*b = m_flGlowB;
}
Now you can change the color of glow from white to any color you want. If you don't what values you should type in I suggest picker. Most important is RGB (float) field, since it's the value we want.
Usage
If you have followed this step then you can use getters, setters and color control with objects derived from CBaseAnimating onwards, but if you didn't followed it then don't worry nothing bad happens, the only limitation is that you can use getters and setter with objects derived from CBaseCombatCharacter. To start a glow, call:
myObject->AddGlowEffect(); //Make it glow
To update a glow, call:
myObject->UpdateGlowEffect(); //Update glow
To stop a glow, call:
myObject->RemoveGlowEffect(); //Make it stop glowing