ai_goal_actbusy_queue

This entity managed the food line in d1_trainstation_02.

ai_goal_actbusy_queue is a point entity available in the following Source engine games: Half-Life 2, Alien Swarm. It can do anything that an ai_goal_actbusy can do, except this entity is designed to order actbusy hints and NPCs in a queue. The queue can be moved forward, and when the first NPC in the queue leaves, it can be given orders.

Bug: Hint activities must not require exiting, or the queue will freeze.

Bug: Source 2006: Sometimes you want to switch between busy systems that you have, but direct call of it in your busy entity with OnNpcFinishedBusy->ForceNPCToActBusy works incorrectly and new one busy system npc grabbs extra npc from your queue.

You can't just use a small delay there, cause it still interrupts extra other npc from queue and npc, who finished his busy activity react immediately, causing whole queue to stuck by his movements, cause he didn't proceed to exit node, also, you can't use OnNpcLeft and OnNpcLeftQueue (it just won't work in this case).

Tip:To avoid this you can use this workaround:

OnNPCFinishedBusy !activator AddOutput OnUser1 busy_relay:Trigger
OnNPCFinishedBusy !activator FireUser1 <delay:0.20>

In your logic_relay (busy_relay) you can set a delay to wait for npc before switching to other ai_goal_actbusy system like this:

OnTrigger actbusy_street_new ForceNPCToActBusy !activator <delay>

This entity is also in the code for . Its functionality is not guaranteed.

In code, it is represented by class CAI_ActBusyQueueGoal, defined in ai_behavior_actbusy.cpp.

Keyvalues

Exit Node (node_exit) <targetname>

The name of the first node (info_node_hint or path_corner) the first NPC in the queue should head to when leaving the queue. Required.

Node 1 (node01) to Node 20 (node20) <targetname>

Used for defining the path of the queue, with info_node_hints. Node 1 is the front of the queue. The number of defined nodes defines the maximum number of NPCs queuing.

Must Reach Front (mustreachfront) <choices>

If true, an NPC must strictly be at Node 1 before being able to leave the queue.

• 0: No
• 1: Yes

AI_ActBusyGoal:

Search Range for Busy Hints (busysearchrange) <float>

Maximum distance between an actbusy hint and NPC for the NPC to consider it.

Visible Busy Hints Only (visibleonly) <boolean>

If set, an NPC will only consider actbusy hints in view when deciding which to use. Once the choice has been made it will not change, even if new hints become visible.

Actbusy Type (type) <choices>

Is this Actbusy part of combat? For use with Combat Safe Zone.

• 0: Default (Standard)
• 1: Combat

Allow actor to teleport? (alllowteleport) <boolean>

Sight Entity (seeentity) <targetname>

Optionally, if the Actor playing the ActBusy loses sight of this specified entity for an amount of time defined by Sight Entity Timeout, the specified entity will leave the ActBusy.

Note:Only targetnames are allowed, not classnames!

Sight Entity Timeout (seeentitytimeout) <float>

Time in seconds to wait for an Actor to see the Sight Entity again before the entity may leave the ActBusy.

Sight Enemy Method (sightmethod) <choices>

How to determine if the Actor sees the Sight Entity.

• 0: Default. LOS -and- Viewcone.
• 1: LOS Only. Disregard Viewcone.

Combat Safe Zone (safezone) <targetname>

Specify a brush entity to act as a safe zone if Actbusy Type is set to Combat. If any enemies are in the safe zone, the actbusy will break. To do: Will actors go back to the actbusy once enemies are dead? What if they leave the safe zone but are still alive?

AI_GoalEntity:

Actor(s) to affect (actor) <target_name_or_class>

The targetname or classname of any NPCs that will be included in this goal. Wildcards are supported.

Search Type (SearchType) <choices>

What the Actor(s) to affect keyvalue targets by.

• 0: Entity Name
• 1: Classname

Start Active (StartActive) <boolean>

Set if goal should be active immediately.

Base:

Classname (classname) <string>

The classname defines the type of entity. Classnames can be changed using AddOutput, which will influence how the engine deals with the entity in certain circumstances.

Name (targetname) <string>

The name that other entities refer to this entity by.

Global Entity Name (globalname) <string>

Name by which this entity is linked to another entity in a different map. When the player transitions to a new map, entities in the new map with globalnames matching entities in the previous map will have the previous map's state copied over their state.

Parent (parentname) <targetname>

Specifies a movement parent. An entity will maintain its initial offset from its parent. An attachment point can be added to the end of the name, separated by a comma. Every entity can be parented, even point entities. Entities which are parented will be forced to transition to the next map, such as from a trigger_transition. Some entities which aren't intended to be parented may not function correctly. phys_constraint can be used as a workaround to parenting.

Origin (X Y Z) (origin) <coordinates>

The position of this entity's center in the world. Rotating entities typically rotate around their origin.

Pitch Yaw Roll (X Y Z) (angles) <angle>

This entity's orientation in the world. Pitch is rotation around the Y axis, yaw is the rotation around the Z axis, roll is the rotation around the X axis.

Note:This works on brush entities, although Hammer doesn't show the new angles.

Flags (spawnflags) <integer>

Toggles features of an entity, its specific number is determined by the combination of flags added.

Response Contexts (ResponseContext) <string>

Pre-defined response system contexts for this entity. Format is key:value,key:value,.... Contexts may be filtered.

Effects (effects) <integer> !FGD

Combination of effect flags to use.

Local Time (ltime) <float> !FGD

The local time of the entity, independent of the global clock. Used mainly for physics calculations.

Next Think (nextthink) <float> !FGD

Amount of time before the entity thinks again.

Hammer ID (hammerid) <integer> !FGD

The entity's Hammer ID. Mainly used by plugins and debugging commands, such as ent_keyvalue. Can be manually assigned with the "hammerid" or "id" keyvalue. Entities spawned at run-time are not assigned any Hammer ID.

Disable for Xbox 360 (disableX360) <boolean> (New with Left 4 Dead 2) !FGD

If Yes, disables this entity on the Xbox 360 version of Source.

Entity Scripts (vscripts) <scriptlist> (New with Left 4 Dead 2)

Space delimited list of VScript files (without file extension) that are executed after all entities have spawned. The scripts are all executed in the same script scope, later ones overwriting any identical variables and functions.

Script think function (thinkfunction) <string> (New with Left 4 Dead 2)

Name of a function in this entity's script which will be called automatically every 100 milliseconds (ten times a second) for the duration of the script. It can be used to create timers or to simulate autonomous behavior. The return value (if present) will set the time until the next call. Try to avoid expensive operations in this function, as it may cause performance problems.

Lag Compensation (LagCompensate) <boolean> (New with Left 4 Dead 2) !FGD

Set to Yes to lag compensate this entity. Should be used very sparingly!

Inputs

MoveQueueUp

Moves all NPCs in the queue up one position, and sends the first NPC to the Exit Node.

PlayerStartedBlocking <float>

Tell the queue manager that the player has started blocking a specified point in the queue.

PlayerStoppedBlocking <float>

Tell the queue manager that the player has stopped blocking a specified point in the queue.

AI_ActBusyGoal:

ForceNPCToActBusy <string>

Format: <targetname> [hint node targetname] [teleport] [nearest] [$<custom activity or sequence>] [max time]

Force an NPC to act busy.

• The targetname parameter specifies the name of the NPC(s).
• The hint node targetname parameter specifies the name of the Hint node. Used to force an NPC to act busy on a specific node. If no hint node targetname is specified, it'll search for a random one.
• If the teleport keyword is specified as a parameter, the NPC will teleport onto the actbusy node instead of navigating to it.
• If the nearest keyword is specified as a parameter, the NPC will choose the nearest valid actbusy node, instead of choosing one randomly from all valid actbusy nodes.
• The max time parameter specifies the maximum time to actbusy. If no max time is specified, it'll use the default. Specifying 0 as the max time will make the NPC(s) act busy until disturbed.
• The $customactivityorsequence parameter specifies the name of a custom activity, prepended by a "$", that the NPC(s) will preform while navigating to the node, e.g. $ACT_RUN will make the NPC(s) run to the node. Sequence names can be used instead of activities.

ForceThisNPCToActBusy <targetname>

Force an specified NPC to act busy. If there are multiple NPCs with the same name, only one will be ordered.

ForceThisNPCToLeave <targetname>

Force an NPC to find an NPC exit point (HINT_NPC_EXIT_POINT hintnode) and vanish. Supports wildcards.

SetBusySearchRange <float>

Alters the Search Range for Busy Hints keyvalue for all actors.

AI_GoalEntity:

Activate

Make the goal active if it wasn't already. NPCs will begin taking orders.

Deactivate

Make goal inactive.

UpdateActors  !FGD

Tell the goal entity to re-check Actor(s) to affect in case any disappeared, or any new NPCs spawned.^[confirm]

Base:

Kill

Removes this entity and any entities parented to it from the world.

KillHierarchy

Functions the same as Kill, although this entity and any entities parented to it are killed on the same frame, being marginally faster than Kill.

SetParent <string>

Move with this entity. See Entity Hierarchy (parenting).

SetParentAttachment <string>

Change this entity to attach to a specific attachment point on its parent. The entity will teleport so that the position of its root bone matches that of the attachment. Entities must be parented before being sent this input.

SetParentAttachmentMaintainOffset <string>

As above, but without teleporting. The entity retains its position relative to the attachment at the time of the input being received.

ClearParent

Removes this entity from the the movement hierarchy, leaving it free to move independently.

AddOutput <string>

Evaluates a keyvalue/output on this entity.
Format: <key> <value>
Format: <output name> <targetname>:<inputname>:<parameter>:<delay>:<max times to fire, -1 means infinite>

FireUser1 to FireUser4

Fire the OnUser outputs; see User Inputs and Outputs.

Use  !FGD

Same as a player invoking +use; may not do anything. Can also be invoked by creating an output that does not specify an input.
This input is not included in Valve's FGDs.

DispatchEffect <string> !FGD

Dispatches a special effect from the entity's origin. Removed and replaced entirely by the particle system since .

DispatchResponse <string> !FGD

Dispatches a response to the entity. See Response and Concept.

AddContext <string>

Adds to the entity's list of response contexts. Format is <key>:<value>.

RemoveContext <string>

Remove a context from this entity's list. The name should match the key of an existing context.

ClearContext <string>

Removes all contexts from this entity's list.

RunScriptFile <script> (New with Left 4 Dead 2)

Execute a VScript file from disk, without file extension. The script contents are merged with the script scope of the receiving entity.

RunScriptCode <string> (New with Left 4 Dead 2)

Execute a string of VScript source code in the scope of the entity receiving the input. String quotation may be needed when fired via console.

Bug:  In , the code is executed in the script scope of the entity that fires the output, not the one receiving the input.

Warning: Never try to pass string parameters to a script function with this input. It will corrupt the VMF structure because of the nested quotation marks, which then must be removed manually with a text editor.

CallScriptFunction <string> (New with Left 4 Dead 2) !FGD

Execute a VScript function in the scope of the receiving entity.

SetLocalOrigin <coordinates> (New with Alien Swarm) !FGD

Send this entity to a spot in the map. If the entity is parented to something, it will be offset from the parent by this amount.

SetLocalAngles <angles> (New with Alien Swarm) !FGD

Set this entity's angles.

Outputs

OnQueueMoved <integer>

Fired when the queue moves up. This output automatically puts the number of NPCs remaining in the queue into the parameter box for inputs, if the mapper does not override the parameter with something else.

OnNPCLeftQueue <targetname>

Fired when an NPC goes to the Exit Node. This output automatically puts the targetname of the NPC into the parameter box for inputs, if the mapper does not override the parameter with something else.

OnNPCStartedLeavingQueue <targetname>

Fired when an NPC is at Node 1. This output automatically puts the targetname of the NPC into the parameter box for inputs, if the mapper does not override the parameter with something else.

AI_ActBusyGoal:

OnNPCStartedBusy <targetname>

Fired when an NPC targeted by this entity starts an ActBusy animation sequence. This output automatically puts the targetname of the NPC into the parameter box for inputs, if the mapper does not override the parameter with something else.

OnNPCFinishedBusy <targetname>

Fired when an NPC targeted by this entity finishes an ActBusy animation sequence. This output automatically puts the targetname of the NPC into the parameter box for inputs, if the mapper does not override the parameter with something else.

OnNPCLeft <targetname>

Fired when an NPC targeted by this goal, ordered by the ForceThisNPCToLeave input, finishes its forced leave. This output automatically puts the targetname of the NPC into the parameter box for inputs, if the mapper does not override the parameter with something else.

OnNPCLostSeeEntity <targetname>

Fired when the NPC loses sight of the Sight Entity. This output automatically puts the targetname of the NPC into the parameter box for inputs, if the mapper does not override the parameter with something else.

OnNPCSeeEnemy <targetname>

Fired when this NPC leaves their ActBusy because they saw an enemy. This output automatically puts the targetname of the NPC (that left the actbusy, not the enemy) into the parameter box for inputs, if the mapper does not override the parameter with something else.

Base:

OnUser1 to OnUser4

These outputs each fire in response to the firing of the like-numbered FireUser1 to FireUser4 Input; see User Inputs and Outputs.

See also

• Actbusy Queues - Description of the Actbusy queue system.