Hammer Manual Configuration

Read this first!

If you launch the Hammer editor with no proper game configurations set up, the Hammer Editor has not automatically configured itself after installing the Source SDK. You can follow these steps to manually configure it. Before following these steps to repair a bad configuration, it is strongly suggested that you first attempt to fix your configuration by following the steps outlined in Incorrect Hammer configuration.

Warning: In most cases, Hammer will configure itself and you do not need to follow this procedure. If you have problems, it is much simpler to reset the game configuration instead. Doing this, however will remove your mod configurations

Adding a new Game Configuration

1. Run Hammer from the Source SDK Launcher.
2. When you see the First Time Setup dialog box, click the No button:

   

3. This Configure Hammer dialog should appear next.

   

   If this dialog does not appear, choose Options from the Tools menu, and then select the Game Configurations tab.

4. Click on the topmost Edit button, next to the Configuration drop-down list. The Edit Game Configurations dialog appears:

   

5. Press the Add button. This will open the Add a game dialog:

   

6. Type in "Counter-Strike", "cstrike", "Half-Life 2", "HL2DM", "Team Fortress 2", or an equivalent to name your configuration or your mod. This is the name that will appear in the Source SDK Launcher where it says Current Game. The exact name is unimportant, what's important is that it makes sense to you. Press OK to confirm your choice and close the dialog.
7. Press the Close button in the Edit Game Configurations dialog.

Setting game directory and basic parameters

1. You should now be back in the Configure Hammer dialog with your entry in the Configuration drop-down list:

   

2. Press Add to the right of the Game Data files list. An Open dialog will appear:

   

3. Open the appropriate .FGD file for your configuration:
   • For a Counter-Strike: Source configuration, click on cstrike.fgd and then the Open button.
   • For a Half-Life 2 configuration, click on halflife2.fgd and then the Open button.
   • For a Half-Life 2 Deathmatch configuration, click on hl2mp.fgd and then the Open button.
   • For a Team Fortress 2 configuration, click on tf.fgd and then the Open button.
4. Now you'll be back in the Configure Hammer dialog with these fields filled out:

   

5. Type 0.25 into the Default texture scale field. Type tools\toolsskybox into the Cordon texture field.
6. Under Game Executable Directory, hit Browse and go to where you have the the game installed.

   For example:

   C:\Program Files\Valve\Steam\SteamApps\username\counter-strike source

   where username should be your Steam Login name.

   Use the Following for a mod:

   $SteamUserDir\half-life 2

7. Under Game Directory, copy what you entered into Game Executable Directory, paste it into Game Directory, and add the game directory to the end. The game directory for Counter-Strike is \cstrike. For Half-Life 2, it is \hl2. For Half-Life 2 Deathmatch, it is \hl2mp.
   • For example, for a Counter-Strike configuration, your Game Directory might be:

   C:\Program Files\Valve\Steam\SteamApps\username\counter-strike source\cstrike

   • For a Half-Life 2, your Game Directory might be:

   C:\Program Files\Valve\Steam\SteamApps\username\half-life 2\hl2

   • For a Half-Life 2 Deathmatch, your Game Directory might be:

   C:\Program Files\Valve\Steam\SteamApps\username\half-life 2 deathmatch\hl2mp

   Again, where username should be your Steam Login name.

   • For a Mod, your Game Directory will be:

   $SteamDir\steamapps\SourceMods\MODDIR

   MODDIR should be the game directory name of your mod.

8. Under Hammer Map Directory, you should enter in where you wish to save your .VMF map source files. Using the Source SDK Files and Directory Structure, you should enter the appropriate mapsrc directory:
   • Example for Counter-Strike:

   C:\Program Files\Valve\Steam\SteamApps\username\sourcesdk_content\cstrike\mapsrc

   • Example for Half-Life 2:

   C:\Program Files\Valve\Steam\SteamApps\username\sourcesdk_content\hl2\mapsrc

   • Example for Half-Life 2 Deathmatch:

   C:\Program Files\Valve\Steam\SteamApps\username\sourcesdk_content\hl2mp\mapsrc

   • Example for a MOD:

   This directory will be the folder you are doing your work from

Setting up the Build Programs

1. Click on the Build Programs tab:

   

2. Copy and paste the Game executable Directory you entered into the Game Configurations tab previously, then add \hl2.exe on the end.
   • For example, for a Counter-Strike configuration, your Game Executable might be:

   $SteamUserDir\counter-strike source\hl2.exe

   • For a Half-Life 2 configuration, your Game Executable might be:

   $SteamUserDir\half-life 2\hl2.exe

   • For a Half-Life 2 Deathmatch configuration, your Game Executable might be:

   $SteamUserDir\half-life 2 deathmatch\hl2.exe

1. For BSP executable, enter the location of the vbsp.exe:

   Orange Box: $SteamUserDir\sourcesdk\bin\orangebox\bin\vbsp.exe

   Ep1 Engine: $SteamUserDir\sourcesdk\bin\ep1\bin\vbsp.exe

2. For VIS executable, enter the location of the vvis.exe:

   Orange Box: $SteamUserDir\sourcesdk\bin\orangebox\bin\vvis.exe

   Ep1 Engine: $SteamUserDir\sourcesdk\bin\ep1\bin\vvis.exe

3. For RAD executable, enter the location of the vrad.exe:

   Orange Box: $SteamUserDir\sourcesdk\bin\orangebox\bin\vrad.exe

   Ep1 Engine: $SteamUserDir\sourcesdk\bin\ep1\bin\vrad.exe

4. For Place compiled maps in this directory before running the game, add \maps the end of the Game Directory:
   • Example for Counter-Strike:

   $SteamUserDir\counter-strike source\cstrike\maps

   • Example for Half-Life 2:

   $SteamUserDir\half-life 2\hl2\maps

   • Example for Half-Life 2 Deathmatch:

   $SteamUserDir\half-life 2 deathmatch\hl2mp\maps

   • Example for MOD:

   $SteamDir\steamapps\SourceMods\MODDIR\maps

   MODDIR is the name of your game directory for your mod.

1. Press OK. Hammer is now configured for use.