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Mapping help Tutorials for Half-Life & Mods

How to make Overviews for HLTV/HDTV
by Tommy and Zest

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Step #0 : Preparation

First of all, you must decide which kind of overviews you want to make.If you want to make overviews for people running in software mode, you must set the screen resolution to 512x384 pixels. Most likely you will want to make them for people running the game in OpenGL or Direct3D modes. Then you must set the screen resolution to 1024x768 pixels. (You can change the screen resolution in the game by going to 'Configuration' -> 'Video' -> 'Modes'  and then selecting the mode you want to use. Select 'OK' to apply any changes you have made.)

Step #1 : Starting the game

A) The easy way

B) The hard ways

If MeMake's simple method does not work for you, then you have to follow this tutorial and do it the hard way. This is a complex and difficult tutorial. It is not for beginners to computers, I will assume you know complex skills and will not explain all details. To make an overview on one computer of a level map you made, here are the steps that SHOULD work will ALL mods at this point with overview ability. (Valve has allowed overview to be somewhat mod dependent - "Remember, the complete description file parsing, inset window, map projection and drawing code is all within the client DLL and may be changed as desired.") Steps are:

1. You will have to start HLDS, you can find it in the half-life folder. Set it to your mod/HL, and mapchange to your map name.
   NOTE: If your dedicated server takes ages to start up, or doesn't start up completely at all, and if you have a GATEWAY or DNS server setup for your LAN adapter; then try disabling/removing the gateway first, and else also the DNS server. This prevents HLDS from trying to connect to WON servers through your gateway. (The gateway only works when your internet-connection is plugged in, of course!) If really nothing works, try the -insecure flag like this example: 'c:\sierra\half-life\hlds.exe -insecure -game cstrike +map de_chateau'. ¹

2.      You will have to start HLTV and link it to the local network thru a port.

3.      You will have to start your mod/HL (i used CS) in single player mode, in a high graphics mode 1027x768, then reconnect to local network thru the same port. 1027x768 is the usual overview map size, except perhaps for software mode which prefers 512x384.

As you can see, it is a bit involved. and there are several ways to do the first three steps: either make a batch file, click on each program and feed in the instructions, or make a series of shortcuts for HLDS, HLTV, and CStrike singleplayer mode. I will show you examples of each.

If this gets you lost and/or want this info rephrased, see the resource website at: http://www.cg-dev.com/hltv/?section=tutorials⊂=overviews.

Method #B1: The Batch File Method:

the batch file itself:

Notes:

• I chose the Cstrike mod, but you can do this with any mod.
• The 127.0.0.1 is the code for your cpu in local connect. You can also use: "connect localhost:27020".
• 27020 is the usual port used by HLDS/HLTV, but yours may vary. One guy had 27015.
  The HLDS will usually report which port is being used like this: Server IP address 213.64.253.80:27015
• It is important for you to wait until each program has FULLY setup before going on to the next.
• And of course your mapname & paths will vary.

Ok, now you should be in the game, with the console covering half the screen. Close the console (with the tilde key ~) and proceed with step #2.

Method #B2: The Clicking Method:

1. click on HLDS.EXE in the HL folder.
   Then when it has finished intializing enter the lines:
   "-game cstrike" and
   "+map yourmapname"
2. click in HLTV.EXE in the HL folder.
   Then when it has finished intializing, enter the line: "+connect 127.0.0.1" or "+connect localhost:27020".
3. open cstrike, go to the console, enter:
   "+connect 127.0.0.1:27020" (Note, if your port is different change it from 27020 to whatever it IS!)

Notes:

• I chose the Cstrike mod, but you can do this with any mod.
• And of course your mapname will vary.

Close the console (with the tilde key ~) and proceed with step #2.

Method #B3: The Shortcuts Method:

Make a short cut for HLDS and HLTV and HL. I expect you know how to do this. Then open their properties.

For HLDS make sure it reads:
C:\SIERRA\Half-Life\HLDS.EXE -game cstrike +map yourmapname

For HLTV make sure it reads:
C:\SIERRA\Half-Life\HLTV.EXE +connect 127.0.0.1

For HL make sure it reads:
C:\SIERRA\Half-Life\HL.exe -dev -console -game cstrike +connect 127.0.0.1:27020 or +connect localhost:27020.
Again, your port may vary from 27020 - check the HLDS connection results.

And then run each shortcut in sequence. Then close the console (with the tilde key ~) and proceed with step #2.

Notes:

• I chose the Cstrike mod, but you can do this with any mod.
• 27020 is the usual port used by HLDS/HLTV, but yours may vary. One guy had 27015.
  The HLDS will usually report which port is being used like this: Server IP address 213.64.253.80:27015
• It is important for you to wait until each program has FULLY setup before going on to the next.
• And of course your mapname & paths will vary.

Step #2 : Setting up your screen and making the screenshots and condumps

You will have to do a series of console instructions to start the overview, clean it up, save the info, adjust the view and make the screen capture(s).

1.      First of all you must set the overview screen by typing in the console 'dev_overview 2'.

2.      If you haven't started the game in MeMake's easy way you must now remove the hud by typing in your console 'hud_draw 0'.

3.      Now you can adjust the screen settings to your liking. The following commands can be used:

command	action	corresponding action in a normal game
+forward	shifts the screen to the left	walk forward
+backward	shifts the screen to the right	walk backward
+moveright	shifts the screen up	strafe right
+moveleft	shifts the screen down	strafe left
+jump	increases Z Max value (removes floors from the bottom)	jump
+duck	decrease Z Max value (adds floors from the bottom)	duck
+moveup	increase Z Min value (adds floors from the top)	move upwards on a ladder or in water
+movedown	decrease Z Min value (removes floors from the top)	move downward on a ladder or in water
+attack1	increase zoom factor	primary firing button
+attack2	decrease zoom factor	alternate firing and zoom button

Notes:

• In this way you trap the volume(s) you want on your overview. In case your level has several layers over each other, you can make several screen captures to assemble into an overview map.
• If the maphas been rotated automatically in overview mode the shifting keys are swapped.
• With the new HL upgrade the +duck command is now being used to display the observer menu as well as to change the zmax value. This is quite an unlucky choice, as it can confuse people who have their hud visible. This issue does not occur if you start the game in MeMake's easy way, since you don't have a hud then.
• You can bind the commands to keys if you don't have them bound already.

4.      When you're satisfied with the way your screen looks you can make a snapshot (bmp) with the command 'snapshot' or a screenshot (tga) with the command 'screenshot'. Bind the command to a key, because if you type this in your console you will have the console show up in your picture.

5.      Now DO NOT adjust any screen settings before you have made a condump. This condump contains the settings that go with what you see on your screen. Go to the console and type 'dev_overview 1' to get the info on screen; next type 'condump' to save the information to your  mod's folder and then type 'dev_overview 2' to remove the info from your screen.

6.      Repeat steps 3 to 5 as you wish. When you are ready making screenshots and condumps you can get your hud back by typing 'hud_draw 1' in the console.

There's an easier way to make your screen settings and condumps. This is done by placing the necessary commands in your autoexec.cfg or in your config.cfg (both are in your mod's folder. An autoexec.cfg may not exist, but you can make a textfile yourself and name it autoexec.cfg)

Now proceed with step #3 or check out the instructions below to make your step #2 easier.

Using aliases ¹

You can copy the following aliases into your autoexec.cfg or config.cfg. This can help making overview screenshots easier, because it automates the taking of snapshots and writing of condumps:

Notes:

• Hitting 'b' once puts you in overview mode so you can make your settings. Hitting 'b' a second time writes the condump and snapshot and CLOSES the overview. Striking 'b' again starts the overview again, with the settings used for the previous screenshot, so you can continue changing the setting to make multiple screenshots and condumps. (The reason I have the alias close the overview is that this way you end exactly where you started - So you don't have to manually close the overview if you just want to continue watching HLTV.)
• You can bind the overview aliases to any key you want, just change the "b" in the last line to the key you want to use.

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Step #3 the .txt parse file

The condump files are named cundump0000.txt (with increasing number) and can be found in your mod's folder. They should have lines similar to this one:

Overview: Zoom 1.00, Map Origin (15.00, 7.00, 1280.00), Z Min 3585.00, Z Max -1025.00, Rotated 0

You will have to assemble the data into a .txt parse file with the same name as the map. An example is given below.

This text parse file will go into the /overviews folder of the mod the level was mapped for, along with the overview picture with the same name.

Notes:

• Most of it is pretty straight forward, except the zmax is used in 2 places, one zmax +1 after the origin and one zmax +1 after the height.
• You must enter the correct file type for the overview picture: bmp or .tga.
• In the sections with the data the empty 'spaces' consit of tabs, not spaces.

·         If you make multiple screenshots, make sure you use the zmax value of the LOWEST floor players can walk on, and use this one for the textfile! This is very important: If you use this value the yellow 'poles' underneath the players in your overview will be very short on the lowest floor. (The higher the player stands, the longer this pole gets) If you take a value that's too low, then even on the lowest floor you'll see very long poles. Now imagine the pole length for the highest floor the player can walk on! That makes the 'readability' of the overview very bad. If you use a zmax value that's too high, e.g. the height of a floor in the middle between your highest and lowest floor, then in about half of your map the logos will be drawn underneath the overview and thus they are not visible! ¹

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Step #4 - Final: Assembling the picture ²

You may not need all these steps, but you will need to make it look "clean" and good. If you are assembling several screen captures, you may need all the steps! Otherwise you may skip some steps.

A) If you use only one screenshot for your overview:

• Open an image editor like Paint Shop Pro or Photoshop and open your screenshot.
• Adjust anything you like in the picture. For example cut, adjust lighting and contrast, add the mapname or mappers name, or mark important spots.
• Save it as a 24bit or 8 bit .tga picture, or as an 8bit .bmp picture. To save in 8bit you must decrease the colordepth to 8bit (256 colors). You can use custom palettes, as long as you use pure green (RGB values 0 255 0) for the background, which becomes invisible in the game.
• Make sure the name of the picture corresponds with the mapname and  the .txt file and put it in your /overviews folder from your mod.

Note: The .tga pictures possibly might not work. If so you must use the 8bit .bmp format.

B) If you use multiple screenshots for your overview:

• Open an image editor like Paint Shop Pro or Photoshop.
• Make a new image with a green background in 1024x768 resolution with a pure green(RGB values 0 255 0) background.
• On top of the green background, add the screen captures as layers starting with lowest on the bottom and the highest on the top, with the background at the very bottom.
• Remove all green from the screen captures, but not from the new background.
• Adjust anything you like in the picture. For example cut, adjust lighting, contrast etc. Then hide the background and merge the captures.
• Adjust again as needed, then put it all together. You may want to label some spots in the level for easier ID by viewers, and to sign your name/handle.
• Save it as a 24bit or 8 bit .tga picture, or as an 8bit .bmp picture. To save in 8bit you must decrease the colordepth to 8bit (256 colors). You can use custom palettes, as long as you use pure green (RGB values 0 255 0) for the background, which becomes invisible in the game.
• Make sure the name of the picture corresponds with the mapname and  the .txt file and put it in your /overviews folder from your mod.

Note: The .tga pictures possibly might not work. If so you must use the 8bit .bmp format.

 

credits:
¹ Thanks to co-author --- Zest --- for his info, correcting & rewriting this tutorial!
² Much of this picture assembly info is from the site: http://www.cg-dev.com/hltv/?section=tutorials⊂=overviews.
³ Some info is from the Valve info reprinted below.
And MeMake figured out the simple method while the rest of us were doing it the hard way!

Valve software info

This article was originally made available as part of version 2.2 of the Half-Life SDK. As such, all limitations, restrictions, license agreements, copyrights and trademarks from the original document apply here.

webpage copyright (c) January 2003 Tommy of Escondido and Zest