Half-Life Level Compilation Controller v1.2 11/14/1999

Unsupported Freeware courtesy of theAntiELVIS

No copyright, no nothin'.


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If you've used the version of Worldcraft that comes with Half-Life, you know they screwed-up the "Run" dialog, which I hated in earlier versions even when it worked, anyway.

So, I wrote this utility to compile Half-Life levels for me. It creates a batch file with the appropriate command lines and then executes it. It can also execute Half-Life for you, automatically running your new level.

WARNING: This program is intended to be used by those who understand the command line options for QCSG, QBSP2, VIS, and QRAD. It doesn't replace the knowledge of how to write .BAT files, it just makes it easier.


INSTALLATION:

Unzip the archive somewhere nice. I created an \HLCC folder within my Worldcraft folder. The program only requires hlcc.exe to run, but the accompanying .INI file will set the program to it's default state.


SETUP:

Create a shortcut to hlcc.exe and place it with your Worldcraft shortcuts - makes it handy when you need it. Run the program, and here's what you'll see:

In the lower left you will see four tabs: Files, Params A, Params B, and .BAT.


* * * * THE FILES TAB * * * *

MAP: the path\filename of the .MAP file to compile (Version Control will look for a .rmf file here, as well - the .map and .rmf should have the same name. Otherwise, Version Control will ignore the .rmf file).

BSP: the path to the directory where the compiled .BSP file should be copied - usually the \valve\maps directory in your Half-Life folder.

TOOLS: the directory where QCSG, QBSP2, VIS, and QRAD are located - usually your \Worldcraft folder. This is where HLCC will save the hlcc.bat file that it generates. HLCC will also work with  HLCSG, HLBSP, HLVIS, and HLRAD (Zoner's Half-Life Tools).

HALF-LIFE: the path\filename of the Half-Life .exe file (usually \Half-Life\hl.exe).

COMMAND LINE: any command line parameters you want to pass to Half-Life. I usually put at least -console in here.


(NOTE: The above five edit boxes must be filled-in for the HLCC to work. All other controls are optional.)


CSG, BSP, VIS, RAD toggle buttons - use these to select the tools to run. Most people just leave them all down for "ON".

COMPILE button - it creates the .BAT file and executes it.

HALF-LIFE button - it launches Half-Life using your command line and most recently compiled .bsp file.

WORLDCRAFT button - if there is an .rmf file in your MAP directory, with the same name as your .map file, it will be launched in Worldcraft (NOTE: this only works if .rmf files are associated  with Worldcraft. This should happen automatically when you install Worldcraft. If not, you'll need to make the file association with the Windows File Explorer. Use the "View" menu).

OPTIONS CHECK BOXES - with these you can turn automatic .BAT file creation ON/OFF, Version Control ON/OFF, and Zoner's Half-Life Tools support ON/OFF. Zoner's tools should be in the directory you have specified for TOOLS.

STORED SETTINGS - here you can save, open, or delete files containing the settings on the Params A/B tabs. NOTE that the WAD list for -wadinclude is not affected by this. That is saved in a separate file.

VERSION CONTROL - When ON, you can manually or automatically back-up versions of your .map and .rmf files. Here's how this works:

	UPDATE - backs-up a new version. This pays no attention to the .map file's date/time stamp
	ROLL-BACK - select a version file from the list, and this button will replace your working .map and .rmf with the backed-up version. It 	will ask you to confirm first.
	DELETE - deletes the selected version file - your working files are unaffected. This DOES NOT ask for confirmation.
	AUTO - toggles automatic update ON/OFF (down is ON). If the working .map timestamp is newer than the last version, the .map and 	.rmf will be backed-up automatically. You can set the update interval from 1 to 60 minutes.
	OVERWRITE - if checked, the last version file will be overwritten on each update - the version number won't increase. Handy when 	you want to back-up without creating a new version
	REFRESH - this just refreshes the Version Control section - handy if you've deleted files with Explorer
	CLEAR - clears all version control for the current .map - this actually deletes all the version files, but leaves your working files intact. It 	will ask you to confirm first.


* * * * THE PARAMS A/B TABS * * * *

PARAMS A has all the options available for the CSG, BSP, and VIS tools. PARAMS B has all options for the RAD lighting tool, plus a handy text editor for .rad files. Any option left unchecked or blank will NOT be added to the tools' command lines in the batch file.

The -wadinclude section for CSG allows you to select .wad files. Any in the list will have individual -wadinclude commands generated for them.

(NOTE: Options for Zoner's Half-Life Tools are in blue. If "ZHLT Support ON" on the Files tab is unchecked, these WILL NOT be added to the .bat file.)


* * * * THE BAT TAB * * * *

Just a handy editor for .bat files. When you hit the COMPILE button, the generated .bat will appear here.



COMPILING:

To compile a .MAP file set the Params A/B options the way you want them (or alternately load a stored settings file) and click the COMPILE button.

Above the COMPILE button are four buttons for the four compilation programs. If a button is down, a command line will be placed in the hlcc.bat file for that program. Otherwise, if the button is up, no command line will be generated, and that program will not be run. This lets you quicky select to do a build with no VIS or lighting, for example.

When you click COMPILE, HLCC generates a command line for each program, as well as a DOS COPY command to copy the .BSP and .PTS file (if it isn't of 0 bytes length), and places them in the text area of the .BAT tab. This text is saved as the hlcc.bat file, and then the file is executed.

If you un-check the "Generate BAT File" check box, no command lines will be generated. Instead, whatever text is in the .BAT tab will be saved and executed. This way, you can use the Load File button on the .BAT tab to load a batch file, and then execute it. With the Save As button, you can save HLCC generated batch files for different compilations, and recall them when you need them.

Text in the .BAT tab is fully editable, and supports cut, copy, and paste with the clipboard.


RUNNING HALF-LIFE:

Click the HALF-LIFE button to execute Half-Life with your new level. The "+map" option will be set automatically, and any options set in the COMMAND LINE edit box in the Files tab will be added.


SAVING/RESTORING SETTINGS:

HLCC automatically saves all settings upon exit, and restores them from the hlcc.ini file upon startup. Once you set-up a compile for a particular map you are working on, just launch the program and click COMPILE to build it.


MUMBO JUMBO:

This is FREEWARE developed and distributed by me. Please report any bugs to theAntiELVIS@gracelessland.com. This is an unsupported product, and any requests for support will be rudely ignored.


-theAntiELVIS-