Symlinks

[vernal mulch]

So some time ago, I moved all my my mapping assets to an external storage device in order to save space. I did the whole thing with the game.txt, and the "files without contamination" or whatever it was called, but it caused some models, textures and even tools, like the linked_portal_door to appear missing whenever I'd map with the external storage device plugged into my computer. So then @plucky stirrup showed me this thing called a Symlink, and I finally decided to try it out. But I have no idea what this is. I read the stuff in the link but couldn't understand anything, and I watched a tutorial, and I kinda understood what was going on and the general idea for how this'd work for assets, but I have no idea how to use this for pulling assets for mapping. Can someone help me? Please keep in mind, I'm not a computer scientist like most people here seem to be. Please be patient.

[plucky stirrup]

so you have the symlink software installed ? ok lets say you want to install and map for portal 2, install portal 2 and portal 2 tools on to your pc C: drive or where steam is installed once installed load up the game run it once and do the same for portal 2 hammer, close steam hammer and portal and steam now go to steamapps\common

right click the portal 2 folder and cut and paste your other drive lets call it H, when its finished pasting the portal 2 folder to H right click the folder and click on Pick link source then go back to steamapps\common on the C: drive or where steam installed portal 2 originally then in the common folder right click any where and click drop as then symbloic link

when thats done you can run steam and play or run the portal 2 tools as normal , you can also place assets in portal 2 materials or models as normal but they will be copied as stored on the H: drive and not take up space onthe C: drive

if you set up hammer ++ for portal 2 you can do it as you normally would and it will work as if its on the C: drive too

[vernal mulch]

I'm sorry, but I'll have to ask a few questions to make sure I'm understanding everything correctly. It was kind of hard to understand due to the general lack of structure and punctuation in your message.

So I should go to steamapps\common, where all my steam games are, cut Portal 2, and paste it into the external storage device. When it's done, I should go into the external storage device, right click on the newly-pasted Portal 2 file, click "Pick Link Source," then go back to common, right click not on any file, and click Drop As > Symbolic Link?

And then it will work properly as if it's on my computer, even with Hammer++?

[plucky stirrup]

yes

[vernal mulch]

Epic

I'll try that now.

[vernal mulch]

It didn't fix the issues I previously had.

linked_portal_door, and I'm assuming some other entities are still missing, and so are some models in other maps.

Although strangely enough, I just tested it, and linked_portal_door works in base Hammer.

But I still really wanna use Hammer++. Is there a way to make it work in Hammer++?

[plucky stirrup]

is H++ using the portal 2 fgd, make sure its saved in the hammerplusplus game cinfig in the hammerplusplus folder in the Bin folder where H++ is that your using any obsolete entities usually mean the fgd isn't loading

you might want to check this again if you have seen it https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2742731712

[vernal mulch]

I don't know what fdg is, but the idea of not needing the csgo thing in order to run Hammer++ is nice. I'll certainly check it out.

[plucky stirrup]

in Portal 2/Bin you have 2 set the portal2.fgd i don't think you need to do the other 1

[vernal mulch]

What do you mean by "set" them?

I found them but what do I do with them?

[plucky stirrup]

in H++ tools tab then options in the configurations set it in the game data box

click add

i don't use H++ with portal 2 so i showed you it in maplabs_temp settings

[vernal mulch]

I clicked Add

Now what?

[plucky stirrup]

browse to the portal 2 bin folder and click the fgd

[vernal mulch]

Oh wait

It's already set.

Weird, I don't remember doing that.

[plucky stirrup]

do you still have obsolete entities showing

[vernal mulch]

I would assume so.

Nothing changed.

I didn't change anything, I mean.

[plucky stirrup]

have you used any addons like bee 2 mod

[vernal mulch]

I don't know what Hammer addons are.

Are you referring to the guide you linked?

[plucky stirrup]

there improvements like showing better icons in hammer or newer models in game

[vernal mulch]

If you're referring to the guide you linked, I have a question about it.

I don't really know what to do in a certain step.

[plucky stirrup]

which one

[vernal mulch]

This

Or did you mean which step?

[plucky stirrup]

step

[vernal mulch]

The part where it says to put "portal2_dlcx" into the gameinfo.txt.

I'm confused about that because I don't see portal2_dlcx anywhere in the screenshot, so I don't know where to put it, or how.

Oh wait, is the x a placeholder?

For 1 or 2?

[plucky stirrup]

you can skip that if you don't any new dlc packs

[vernal mulch]

Well I didn't download any downloadable content for Portal 2, but this guide is for fixing the issue of missing entities and models.

And I certainly saw some sort of dlc files when I made my game configuration for Hammer++.

[plucky stirrup]

if your portal2 folder looks like this , default then skip that step

[vernal mulch]

Are you talking about portal2 or Portal 2?

[plucky stirrup]

the main Portal2

[vernal mulch]

Because my Portal 2 folder has some dlc folders from the screenshot.

Ah ok

Well ima just check every single file to see if it matches with the screenshot.

[plucky stirrup]

ok

[vernal mulch]

Seems fine.

But if I don't have to do anything, why are my entities and models still missing?

My gameinfo.txt doesn't look like in the screenshot.

It doesn't have the dlc stuff in it, and my stuff is still missing.

[plucky stirrup]

post your gameinfo.txt

[vernal mulch]

All the text in it?

"GameInfo"
{
game "PORTAL 2"
title "PORTAL 2"
GameData "portal2.fgd"
gamelogo 1

SupportsDX8     0
SupportsXbox360 1

FileSystem
{
    SteamAppId                620        // This will mount all the GCFs we need (240=CS:S, 220=HL2).
    ToolsAppId                211        // Tools will load this (ie: source SDK caches) to get things like materials\debug, materials\editor, etc.
    
    //
    // The code that loads this file automatically does a few things here:
    //
    // 1. For each "Game" search path, it adds a "GameBin" path, in <dir>\bin
    // 2. For each "Game" search path, it adds another "Game" path in front of it with _<langage> at the end.
    //    For example: c:\hl2\cstrike on a french machine would get a c:\hl2\cstrike_french path added to it.
    // 3. For the first "Game" search path, it adds a search path called "MOD".
    // 4. For the first "Game" search path, it adds a search path called "DEFAULT_WRITE_PATH".
    //

    //
    // Search paths are relative to the base directory, which is where hl2.exe is found.
    //
    // |gameinfo_path| points at the directory where gameinfo.txt is.
    // We always want to mount that directory relative to gameinfo.txt, so
    // people can mount stuff in c:\mymod, and the main game resources are in
    // someplace like c:\program files\valve\steam\steamapps\half-life 2.
    //

    SearchPaths
    {
        Game                |gameinfo_path|.
    }
}

}

[plucky stirrup]

add Game portal2_dlc1 Game portal2 under Game |gameinfo_path|.

[vernal mulch]

It looks all wonky when I paste it. Is that ok?

I think I got it actually.

This should fix it?

It didn't fix it.

[plucky stirrup]

read this part in the tutorial Hammer Models and Materials

[vernal mulch]

Alright

But before that

I just ran into another problem.

I closed everything that was just opened, but when I tried ejecting my storage device, it said that some files on it were still in use, and that ejecting could cause data loss.

But everything was closed.

The only thing that wasn't was my file browser, which I need in order to eject it.

Could it be the sym link?

I ejected it before, after having linked the file.

[plucky stirrup]

do you always eject it ? i've never done that i've always just close any windows that are open and unplugged the usb flash drive or hdd

[vernal mulch]

Yes, always. I don't wanna break anything. I'm sure you know of the warning that says it could damage the drive, the computer, or both.

[plucky stirrup]

don't you have an icon by the clock that lets you click it you eject things

[vernal mulch]

Huh, that worked.

Weird

Well thanks

[plucky stirrup]

np 😁

[vernal mulch]

Anyway I gotta go do stuff. I'll read the tutorial later.

[plucky stirrup]

ok

[vernal mulch]

Thanks for the help this far.

[vernal mulch]

Um.. I don't know if this is bad, but I was putting away my storage device (it's like a USB but with 128 GB on it), and seems to have a loose piece in it because it lightly rattled when I shook it. I'm concerned because this thing is tiny. It's like only the metal part with the bare minimum surrounding it.

Also, last time I plugged it in, my computer said that it needed to be scanned and repaired due to some error or something, I don't really remember.

I scanned it and it said there were no issues.

[plucky stirrup]

depends whats broke if its something from the pcb board your flash drive could fail and you'd lose every thing, if its a bit of the casing then it might be ok

i set up H++ as the tutorial said and it does work

[vernal mulch]

Well I haven't tried the tutorial yet. I'll have to do it tomorrow.

But back to the flash drive, I doubt it's the casing cuz.. I'll just show you

This thing barely has any casing.

And it really feels like the thing that's loose is inside of it, somewhere in the back of the device.

[plucky stirrup]

i have one like that, it could a bit of pcb board broke, i doubt if there away something very small could have gotten inside it

[agile oracle]

idk if it can be actual, but in gameinfo u can put links to folder on external drive

TestPathID        "d:\steamlibrary\steamapps\common\counter-strike source\cstrike\download"
Game            "d:\steamlibrary\steamapps\common\counter-strike source\cstrike\download"
            
TestPathID        "d:\steamlibrary\steamapps\common\counter-strike source\cstrike\custom\my_custom_stuff"
Game            "d:\steamlibrary\steamapps\common\counter-strike source\cstrike\custom\my_custom_stuff"

[vernal mulch]

I never put anything like that in the gameinfo, but I did do the "custom content without contamination" thing or whatever its called, where I tell it to look for assets in my external drive. But that didn't fully work so that's why I'm using symlinks.

Anyway ima try that tutorial now.

But while I'm doing that, does anyone know if my external drive is ok based on what I said about it?

I have a question. In the tutorial, it says to delete the materials folder in Counter-Strike Global Offensive\platform but in the screenshot below, both materials and models are circled.

Should I delete materials only, or materials and models?

Slightly more confusing, or says to go to Portal 2's platform folder, and drop the materials and models folders as a symbolic link into scgo's platform folder. Will this not conflict with Portal 2's models folder and csgo's models folder, since they both have the same name?

Well, I moved Counter Strike Global Offensive\platform's models folder to another location, and did the sym link thing, but there are still missing entities and models.

[plucky stirrup]

i did symbolic link into cs.go's platform folder with no issues

[vernal mulch]

Me too. There weren't any problems in the process.

But it didn't fix the existing problem.

To make sure I did everything right, here's what I did

I deleted Counter Strike GLobal Offensive\platform's materials folder, and moved the models folder somewhere else, essentially deleting it. And I still don't know whether I should have done that or not.

Then I went to Portal 2\platforms, and made a symbolic link between the Models and materials in Portal 2\platforms, and Counterstrike Global Offensive\platform.

And that's all.

Did I do something wrong?

[plucky stirrup]

no, remind me what your problem is

ok this is my gameinfo.txt

ths the the H++ options for Portal2 you can see hats loaded when portal2 H++ is started

this is the build programs settings

[vernal mulch]

Here's my problem.

Opened an old map and found this, and also linked_portal_door isn't recognized as a valid entity in Hammer++.

And probably other entities too.

[vernal mulch]

As for this, I don't really know what to make of this. I don't know how to understand what I'm looking at.

[plucky stirrup]

compare my gameinfo.txt to yours

are they the same ??

send the vmf of the map your having probs with

[vernal mulch]

They aren't the same.

Do they have to be?

Also I'm not having problems with a map, I'm having problems with Hammer++, and maybe base Hammer too.

[gray dove]

That sounds like FGD is not added

FGD defines all that for hammer

[vernal mulch]

But it's right here.

[gray dove]

Let me confirm my setup. Might be more than one fgd

Looks the same for me for default Hammer

Nothing is messed up with your fgd I assume?

Hammer++ only really supports Portal 2 by circumstance, it might just be a weird bug

[vernal mulch]

I don't even know what fdg is, so I wouldn't know.

I think normal Hammer doesn't have these problems, but I'm not sure.

linked_portal_door certainly is valid.

Is there no way to get Hammer++ to work with that?

[gray dove]

So an FGD just tells hammer what an entity is so it knows how to properly display it to you

It's like a translation dictionary

You don't have to have it technically

You can just manually create all the fields and such and as long as they match up with what the game expects it's valid

[vernal mulch]

Well then yeah, if that's what it does, then it'd certainly make sense that that might be the issue.

But is there a way to fix it?

[gray dove]

I'll send you my FGD give me a sec

Do note that at the top it tries to also include base.fgd, portal.fgd, and halflife2.fgd

If those are not present in the same location, could cause problems

[vernal mulch]

I have all those.

[vernal mulch]

But what do I do with this? Do I replace mine with yours? Would that be safe, to delete mine?

[gray dove]

Should be fine but I doubt ours are different

[vernal mulch]

Ok then

Thing is though, this problem only happens with Hammer++ @gray dove

Everything seems fine in base Hammer.

So could it still be a problem with the fdg?

Guys I'm concerned about my external drive.

First it gives me that message about it needing to be scanned and repaired, then it won't let me eject it through the file explorer, and now, whenever I open Portal 2, it makes a sound.

A quiet sound, but I'm pretty sure it's coming from the drive.

I don't know how to describe it.

[fallen arrow]

use "link shell extension"

@vernal mulch

[vernal mulch]

What does that do?

And what does it have to do with my drive?

[fallen arrow]

it creates symbolic links

[vernal mulch]

But is there something wrong with my drive?

[fallen arrow]

as Taz said

also it gives you option in context menu to pick link source and drop it as various other options

[vernal mulch]

Yes but

My drive

I don't know if something's wrong with it.

I also forgot to mention that when I shake it it lightly rattles

[fallen arrow]

lemme ready what you have written

[vernal mulch]

like something is slightly loose in the back of it.

[fallen arrow]

what problem are you facing??

(tldr)

are you trying to put your portal files on a pendrive???

[prime onyx]

can you record the sound the USB makes

[vernal mulch]

Sure

[vernal mulch]

I don't know what a pen drive is, but it's really small, like a flash drive.

And yes, I put Portal 2 on it.

[faint grotto]

pen drive is usb drive, also known as flash drive, thumb drive, thumb stick etc

[vernal mulch]

Ah ok

[fallen arrow]

other name of flash drive is pendrive

and also thumbdrive

[vernal mulch]

I heard that flash drive only refers to a drive of small storage device.

Is that not true?

[fallen arrow]

idk

[faint grotto]

flash refers to the memory technology

but people also use it to describe a small portable memoery module, usually with a usb interface regardless of the underlying technology

so in common vernacular, flash drive is more commonly known

[vernal mulch]

Alright then, that'd make it a flash drive.

What the hell

I tried recording it but it wasn't audible. But then Portal 2 crashed, and I can't open it again.

It said something about an executable being missing,

and now I just got a notification saying the flash drive isn't recognized.

This thing is definitely breaking

Right?

Would it be best to move everything back to my computer?

Yeah, my flash drive just ejected without my doing anything

I'm really concerned.

I don't only have assets on this thing

Got that message again saying it needs to be scanned and repaired.

[faint grotto]

try different port

otherwise rip

[fallen arrow]

maybe move back everything to your pc

[prime onyx]

you should always try to backup anything important, USB flash drives like that aren't the most reliable

[vernal mulch]

How? Then any time I need a new flash drive I'll have to buy two.

Or were you referring to another way?

Here's an idea

[faint grotto]

yea why not, theyre cheap as shit

[vernal mulch]

I can move all my stuff back to my computer, but then move other, not important stuff, like games, to my flash drive and create a symbolic link.

[prime onyx]

mostly just important stuff
if you've got school assignments keep them on your hard drive + a flash drive + maybe even a cloud source

[vernal mulch]

That way if I loose stuff on it or if it breaks, I can just download them again.

[prime onyx]

things like Portal 2 are fine to keep on a flash drive since you can always re-download it if worst happens yeah

[vernal mulch]

Well

I have a hell of a lot of custom stuff

So I can't.

[prime onyx]

how much custom stuff are we talking?

[vernal mulch]

I keep forgetting, ima go see

That can't be right

I checked by checking the properties and my models folder is about 3 GB, and my materials folder is 45 GB.

I could have sworn there was a lot more.

[prime onyx]

how on earth do you have 45GB of custom materials

[vernal mulch]

I downloaded a mega pack a while back

I kinda regret it cuz so much of the stuff doesn't work, and other stuff I just never use.

[prime onyx]

Ah so like downloaded custom stuff
You can always download that again so you don't really need to back that up

[vernal mulch]

I don't know where to find that pack, but yeah, I guess I don't want to. I guess I'm just afraid of losing stuff that I were important that I didn't think about.

Aside from that pack I do know where to download everything else

But then again

I don't know how much of the stuff I use is from that pack, and how much of it is from Yanzl's packs.

I particularly love lamps and lampposts

I don't wanna lose those.

[prime onyx]

if you'd be absolutely devastated to lose it, don't keep a copy of it in just one place

But I think most of this stuff you can find and download again

[vernal mulch]

But again, I don't know where that mega pack was

[prime onyx]

If you found it once you can find it again

[vernal mulch]

I found it on this server

a while back

Someone just posted a link in general or level design

No idea how to find it.

wait a minute

That was easy

[prime onyx]

you can use has:link or has:file in discord search

[vernal mulch]

I found it

[prime onyx]

that + "pack" will probably find it

nice

[vernal mulch]

I guess I'll just delete my entire materials and models folders, verify game files, and go and download whatever I need.

Actually first, I'll pack some of my maps into BSPs so that if I can't find certain assets, I can download them through the packed BSP. I heard that was possible, right?

No idea how to do it, but I'll find out if I need to.

Also, I heard there was a very simple way to pack maps.

I forgot what the app was called but I heard of an app name that packs maps very easily.

Any idea what it was called?

[prime onyx]

CompilePal?

[vernal mulch]

Ye

Thenks

Sorry to bother again but how do I download it? With this link, and click Download? https://cloud.mail.ru/public/ohe8/t1rj9ebQ3

I just wanna be sure I'm downloading the right thing.

[plucky stirrup]

for compilepal download the compilepal0.27.zip from here https://github.com/ruarai/CompilePal/releases/tag/v027

[vernal mulch]

I just downloaded it and extracted it with 7zip, but when I try to open the exe nothing happens.

At first my computer gave me a warning, but when I acknowledged it and tried running it anyway nothing happened.

Actually, in the tutorial, they opened CompilePalX.bdp, but when I try it gives me a list of apps to open it with. I tried several but none work.

Also after I get it open I'll need help on how to actually pack the content into the BSP because I can't find any tutorials on it with this app.

[blazing ibex]

https://tenor.com/view/community-gif-23728510

[plucky stirrup]

when you start compile pal and have selected the vmf to compile you just need to have these ticked and it'll everything

[vernal mulch]

But I can't even open it.

[vernal mulch]

^

[vernal mulch]

Also, I just reinstalled Portal 2 again, but even though nothing appears in the materials and models folders, for some reason I can still find and use them in Hammer.

Is that alright or will it cause problems later? I remember when I first got Portal 2 Authoring Tools, I had to do something with a "pak.vpk" or something, I don't really remember. Do I need to do that again?

[prime onyx]

you'll want to run the Application / .exe file to start CompilePal

source games usually store materials/models in their .vpk files; if they're showing up in Hammer there's nothing to worry about

[vernal mulch]

Alright then

[vernal mulch]

But what do you mean by this?

You mean to run the exe?

I tried that but nothing happens.

What-..

Ok weird, it works now.

[prime onyx]

are you sure you clicked it hard enough last time

[vernal mulch]

I did

And many times.

Linked portal door still doesn't work in Hammer++ though.

And now I know that this issue wasn't caused be trying to pull assets from an external drive, because all my stuff is on my computer now and it still won't work.

Is there any way to get it to work?

[faint grotto]

you need to orient the six hydrocoptic marzlevanes such that every seventh conductor is connected by a non-reversible tremie pipe to the differential girdlespring on the "up" end of the grammeters.

[prime onyx]

is this the entity showing up as "obsolete" or a different issue?

[plucky stirrup]

you need the portal2.fgd loaded in H++ not the portal.fgd

[vernal mulch]

Oh...

Wow was it that easy all this time?

Dunno why no one said it sooner. Thanks! It worked.

I suppose my issue has been resolved.

[plucky stirrup]

you missed this did you ??

also if you noticed the config box on the right you would have seen portal2.fgd #1024962361557258260 message

[vernal mulch]

Just missed the 2

Oh well, my mistake

Sorry bout that

Anyway while we're still here, completely unrelated issue that I don't really expect to be answered since it's not about mapping or Portal 2.

I downloaded a TF2 FPV animations mod that changes the FPV animations of the Engineer. It works when I install it, but I for some reason it stops working when I close and open the game again.

I have to install it all over again. Anyone know why, and how to fix it?

It's still in the file and everything.

I just have to replace it with a new copy.

[vernal mulch]

I wanna ask a new help question. Can I ask it here or should I make another thread?

[plucky stirrup]

depends is it relevant to the the symlink subject if its totally off then better to start a new tread

[idle bay]

i'm sure if people get the same issues displayed here they don't want to search through over 300 messages so just start a new thread