Toolbars: Map Tools

The Map Tools toolbar lets you switch between the different editing modes. This toolbar can safely be closed as each button also links to a hotkey.

Selection - (Shift+S) The selection tool allows you to accomplish a number of things. To simply select an object, click once. Continue clicking on the selected area to cycle through the three basic transformation modes (resize, rotate, and shear).

• Resize mode allows you to grab any corner or edge of the selected object and resize it by pulling it to the desired size.
  

• In rotate mode, you can grab any corner of a selected object and pull it around to rotate the object into any position you wish. If you have the rotations set to 15 degrees by default (this is set in the 2D Views options), this can be overridden by holding shift while you rotate the object.
  
• Shear mode lets drag the edges of an object parallel to its surface. For example, if you grab the top edge of a selected object while in shear mode, you would be able to drag that edge right or left.

Tip: You can clone a selected object by holding down the shift button and click-dragging the object. This can be done regardless of what selection mode the object is in (resize, rotate, or shear). See Creating Solids for more information.

Note: While in selection mode, you can select multiple objects by dragging a selection box around them and pressing Enter. If Auto-Selection is toggled on, pressing Enter is not necessary.

Magnify - (Shift+G) This tool allows you to increase the magnification factor of the 2D views. Zoom back out again by clicking the right mouse button. You can also zoom in and out by pressing the number keys while the mouse cursor is in a 2D view, or by using the + and - keys.

Camera - (Shift+C) This tool allows you to place and modify cameras within your level. While in camera mode, hold shift and left-click-drag a line to create the camera. A line with a dot (the view point) will be drawn in the 2D views, where you can adjust it until it is pointing in the direction you'd like. To place more than one camera in a level, just repeat the above steps.

Cameras are good for helping you visualize the creation of your level. They are especially useful when using the Vertex Manipulation tool as they allow you to see exactly what you are doing to a brush. You will find multiple cameras especially useful if you are working on several areas of a level at once. Placing a new camera in an area negates the need to search for that area when you want to work on it again.

When you're in camera mode, you can cycle through all available cameras by pressing the PageUp/PageDn keys. To delete the current camera, press Delete. More information can be found in The 3D and 2D Views.

Entity - (Shift+E) This tool allows you to place point-based entities in a map. (Point-based entities are those entities which exist only at a point, and do not rely on a brush for their effect) Once selected, the New Objects dialog will contain a list of entities from which to choose. Click on one of the 2D views and press Enter to place the entity. If Snap To Grid is enabled, the new entities will be snapped to the grid.

Note: In order to place a brush-based entity (a func_door for example) you must first create the brush with the Block Tool (see below), then select it, and press Ctrl+T. You will be given a list of entities to choose from which will be different than those shown with the Entity Tool.

Block - (Shift+B) his is the basic creation tool available to you. It allows you to create any of the different types of primitive shapes. For more information, see Creating Solids.

Texture Application - (Shift+A) This toggles the Face Properties dialog on and off. This dialog allows you to edit the texture properties of individual brush faces. For more information, see Texturing Solids.

Apply Current Texture - (Shift+T) When pressed, the current texture is applied to every face of the selected brushes. For more information, see Texturing Solids.

Apply Decal - (Shift+D) A decal is a texture that can be placed on top of another texture. Common examples include scorch marks or bullet holes. Use the Apply Decal button to place a decal in the 3D window. Decal textures can be viewed and selected in the Textures window. Half-Life's decal textures are designated by the use of a { as the first character in the texture name.

Clip - (Shift+X) Clipping allows you to slice the currently selected brush. You have the option of only splitting the brush, or actually slicing a piece right off. For more info, see Reshaping Solids.

Vertex Manipulation - (Shift+V) Vertex manipulation gives you complete control over the shape of a brush. You can reshape the brush by manipulating individual vertices and brush edges. For more information, see Reshaping Solids.

Path - (Shift+P) This tool greatly simplifies the creation of paths for trains and monsters. It allows you to create dynamic paths that you can add and delete nodes to.

With the Path Tool selected...

1. Hold Shift and the left mouse button, and drag a line in a 2D view. This creates the first two path points.
   

2. A dialog box will pop up where you can set the name of the path, the path direction (one way, circular, or ping-pong), and the entity type (typically path_corner or path_track).
   
3. To add new points to the path, click on one of the existing path points, hold Ctrl and drag with the left mouse button. Do this as needed until you have your path complete.

note: The start of the path is denoted by the point with the green circle around it.