func_monitor

This entity is not in the FGD by default.
See below for instructions on making it available.

Class hierarchy
CFuncMonitor ↳CFuncBrush ↳CBaseEntity
Func_Monitor.cpp

func_monitor is a brush entity available in all Source and Source 2 games except Left 4 Dead series. It displays a real-time scene captured from a point_camera somewhere else in the world.

In Source for the entity to work, the surface(s) on which the camera view will be displayed must have a material with $basetexture _rt_Camera. Stock materials that work are dev\dev_combinemonitor* and dev\dev_tvmonitor*.

A broadcast from Dr. Breen.

Bug:Cameras may fail to network properly in multiplayer. See below for a code fix. Fixed in Team Fortress 2.  [todo tested in?]

Note:Unless you set up multiple render textures in your mod's binaries, only one point_camera can be rendered at any one time. The first camera in the map will appear on all monitors.

Code:To enable monitors in your non-HL2 mod, you must:

• Include the entity's client .cpp file (found in \client\hl2\).
• Include the entity's server .cpp and .h files (found in \server\hl2\).
• #define USE_MONITORS at the top of \client\viewrender.cpp and \client\view.cpp.
• Fix a multiplayer bug in CPointCamera::CPointCamera() by setting m_bActive to true.

Keyvalues

Name (targetname) <string>

The name that other entities refer to this entity by, via Inputs/Outputs or other keyvalues (e.g. parentname or target).
Also displayed in Hammer's 2D views and Entity Report.

See also:  Generic Keyvalues, Inputs and Outputs available to all entities

Camera name (target) <targetname>

The camera to render.

Inputs

SetCamera <targetname>

Sets the camera to use for this monitor. Takes the name of a point_camera entity in the map.

Toggle

Enables the entity if it is disabled, and disables if it is enabled.

Enable

Make the entity visible and solid.

Disable

Make the entity invisible and non-solid.

FGD Code

@SolidClass base(func_brush) = func_monitor : "A monitor that renders the view from a given point_camera entity." [ target(target_destination) : "Camera name" // Inputs input Toggle(void) : "Toggle - If on, turn off, if off, turn on." input Enable(void) : "Enable." input Disable(void) : "Disable." input SetCamera(string) : "Sets the camera to use for this monitor. Takes the name of a point_camera entity in the map." ]

See also

• info_camera_link - For rendering point_cameras on models.
• point_camera
• env_speaker