I've made a map. Now, how do I test??

[Get_Ya_Wicked_On]

I know this is a HL-1 question but I'd appreciate it if someone would help me out with this simple question.

So, I've made a basic map that I'd like to try out in CounterStrike. I saved it as a .map file through Hammer. So, I guess my question is how do I make it a .bsp file that I can put in my cstrike\ folder and have it show up in the map drop-down box when you select "new game".

Thanks...

 

[Raeven0]

Press F9 and click Go.

If nothing happens, review this tutorial.

 

[Get_Ya_Wicked_On]

I know how to compile and run it. But, it just opens up CounterStrike menu.
I set steam.exe for the game executable and added the applaunch 10 parameters and all that shit.

By the way, I've read that tutorial before.

..edit: it says something about not being able to find a file and asking if I want to continue anyway...

 

[Raeven0]

Then maybe there's a critical error preventing the specified file from being created.

 

[WAR_Nuker]

i think it means that it cant find the file you are asking for. maybe you gave the map a name that has invalid characters like spaces or periods. try opening up the console and typing:

map (your map name here)

and press enter. should run your map manually.

 

[Get_Ya_Wicked_On]

is it supposed to be a .bsp or .map??

 

[Raeven0]

A MAP is used by the compiler to generate a BSP to be used by the game.

 

[WAR_Nuker]

through my mapping for hl2dm i have never had to encounter or tamper with any '.map' files. ive heard them mentioned, but i dont know what they do. though i am almost positive they arent necessary to mess with in order to get a .bsp workin in source. speaking of which, ARE you editing for source? you said cs and not css.

 

[Raeven0]

MAP was the format used by compilers in the days of HL1. All HL1 mapping programs had to support the format lest they be unable to use the compiler. Each one would typically also have its own format (Hammer's was RMF). MAP files had very little native compression, but the format was easy to understand (if you opened a MAP file with Notepad) since it was plaintext.

For Source, Valve basically extended the MAP format functionality and renamed it VMF. The VMF format has even less native compression than MAP did, since VMF files consist largely of whitespace. The extra whitespace makes VMFs even easier to read than MAPs.

 

[Get_Ya_Wicked_On]

I'm mapping for CS not CSS.

This is the error message I get...


** Executing...
** Command: Change Directory
** Parameters: "C:\Program Files\Valve\Steam\SteamApps\[email protected]\counter-strike"


** Executing...
** Command: C:\PROGRA~1\VALVEH~1\tools\hlcsg.exe
** Parameters: "c:\program files\valve\steam\steamapps\twiztid_juggalo_clown@hotmail"


** Executing...
** Command: C:\PROGRA~1\VALVEH~1\tools\hlbsp.exe
** Parameters: "c:\program files\valve\steam\steamapps\twiztid_juggalo_clown@hotmail"


** Executing...
** Command: C:\PROGRA~1\VALVEH~1\tools\hlvis.exe
** Parameters: "c:\program files\valve\steam\steamapps\twiztid_juggalo_clown@hotmail"


** Executing...
** Command: C:\PROGRA~1\VALVEH~1\tools\hlrad.exe
** Parameters: "c:\program files\valve\steam\steamapps\twiztid_juggalo_clown@hotmail"


** Executing...
** Command: Copy File
** Parameters: "c:\program files\valve\steam\steamapps\[email protected]" "C:\Program Files\Valve\Steam\SteamApps\[email protected]\counter-strike\cstrike\maps\[email protected]"

The command failed. Windows reported the error:
"The system cannot find the file specified."

 

[WAR_Nuker]

what the hell.... [email protected] doesnt sound like it would be a valid filename OR directory for counter strike. thats all i can tell you though. i never mapped for cs

btw this is the source editing forums....but im sure someone else can answer your question more thoroughly though.

 

[Raeven0]

No worries. Some of us Source guys came over from HL1 and know what we're doing.

The problem you're seeing is that there's a period between "hotmail" and "com" in your Steam account name. The compiling programs are stripping everything after this period and assuming that the name of your map is twiztid_juggalo_clown@hotmail.

Solution: either don't save your maps to the Steam folder (save them somewhere like c:\mymaps\ instead), or upgrade your compiler to ZHLT 3.2.1, which supports periods in Steam account names.

 

[Get_Ya_Wicked_On]

I appreciate all the help. I know these forums are more geared toward source-related things, but I'm glad you all can look past that and help out. I just didn't want something as little as this to stop my map making. Thanks again.

 

[Get_Ya_Wicked_On]

IS there a certain folder I need to install the ZHLT tools into?

 

[Raeven0]

You've already installed them once, how hard could it be to install an update over them

They should go anywhere on the same drive as Hammer.

 

[Get_Ya_Wicked_On]

Finally.

I got it to work by saving it into a C:\maps folder, like you said.

For some reason, it was still the same problem after updating from 3.0 to 3.2.1

But, I have it working so I'm happy.

... why does it say something about an unexpected texture size when compiling?
It still works but I thought that was interesting nonetheless.

 

[MulleDK13]

There is 1 million things that is wrong here!

First! Hammer is too old! Download Worldcraft 3.33 SDK (A "MUCH" better version).
And the compiler ZHLT!

You have to compile the maps to a short destination like C:\CS_Maps
and not a long name like the steam folder\steamapps\ and so on...

Then copy your .bsp file from C:\CS_Maps to your cstrike\maps in the SteamApps folder.


Greetings from denmark!
MulleDK13

 

[Ti133700N]

There is 1 million things that is wrong here!
First! Hammer is too old! Download Worldcraft 3.33 SDK (A "MUCH" better version).

lol

Don't try to confuse him.

 

[Get_Ya_Wicked_On]

I'm assuming worldcraft is some sort of map editor?

 

[Beerdude26]

Yes, it's the old map editor for Half-Life (And other games). He's just confusing you

 

[Raeven0]

Okay, er, ignore the Mulle guy. He doesn't know what he's talking about.

Unexpected texture size implies that some of your textures are larger than the game expects and won't be rendered for people running in Software mode with a very old video card. No matter.

Worldcraft was Hammer's name prior to version 3.4. At 3.4 the name was changed to Hammer.