I am using the Source2 tools in SteamVR. It contains most of the things, such as the material editor, hammer, model editor (previous version of modeldoc, it is not as sophisticated as the modeldoc) and the S2FM. I've been busy the past week porting over a gmod map to source 2 to test out the filmmaker and hammer.

Hammer keeps throwing errors that materials aren't good while every single material was ported in material editor and properly assigned. I am unable to properly load the map in S2FM. The screen remains black. There's no obvious leaks in the map. I tried the VDC record/click/unclick lights workaround but that did not work as well. I tried baking the lights, that takes forever. I even made a quick testcube and that wont show any lights as well.

Are the HLA Source 2 tools that much better, as in terms of porting things over? Since I see a lot of people being able to port source 1 content to 2, and most of them use Alyx. I kinda wanted an opinion about this before I go out and splurge 50 euro on a game I am even unable to play.

Hey! Thanks a lot for the link! I got runway working, but apartments and sewers unfortunately still make the SFM crash. The other map I was talking about for L4D which I couldn't remember the name directly was l4d_garage02_lots. Did the first comment contain a link for cutthroat creek? I'm not sure because the comment is currently hidden and awaiting analysis.

Glad to hear that SFM Hammer in general is a tough cookie to work with and that it is not just me experiencing all of these issues. I was wondering though asdf, if you could share a couple of tips for me for porting maps in general, like what kind of workflow/steps do you take since your ported maps look great in SFM. Almost the same as in the actual game! Since I'm planning to do more map porting/map making things in the future for video projects it would be of great help!

It is about the maps: "The Sewers", "The Apartments", "The Truck Depot" and "The Runway"from the original Left 4 Dead (these crash in SFM after porting from the game), and "Cutting Throat Creek" from Left 4 Dead 2. (Also, I have installed the L4D content pack, but it is nowhere to be found, including maps..)

I have copied over all of the assets with GCFscape (and those manually that were in the folders already) for both games. SFM is told where to look. All of the objects work great in game and all of the maps I have so far work like they should. The SFM version of Hammer loads all of the assets.

I'm at it for multiple hours for the past few days and its so extremely frustrating. I just want to be able to recompile various maps for machinima I am working on in good quality. These maps are literally the only ones I am missing for left 4 dead and I figure that I will want to port over other maps in the future as well.

Decompiling:
- Tried throwing the map in there, just leave everything and click on decompile
- Throw the map in there, manually extracted the materials on both smart extract and not
- Thrown the map in there, extracted the materials on smart extract and not, and specified the game and source 2004-2009

Recompiling:
- SFM's version of Hammer won't re-compile the map. It keeps throwing many errors at me with leaks, and other issues. It skips the light compiling and straight goes to the end. When I ask Hammer to point to me where the leak is, the window opens for the point file which basically says there is no leak. If I open this map, SFM crashes. Even keeps giving area portal errors while area portals are deleted for example
- Tried deleting all of the entities except for the props, a couple of regular lights, skybox and shadows to keep the barebones minimum. SFM loads the map, but without HDR. HDR is checked. Also tried WITHOUT HDR. Won't load HDR either. all of the console commands won't work. like mat_fullbright etc.
- Tried the approach in another topic where i would deselect things in the vis group menu, tried deselecting the props as well. It won't compile in SFM Hammer.
- L4D2 hammer compiles like normal. Tried recompiling the map in there and deleting all of the unnecessary entities and vis groups. SFM crashes after importing the map. I was lucky once with a compile, I have no idea what I did. but all of the models were black.
- Tried porting all of the game assets over to Source SDK 2013 and used both Hammer there and Hammer++, and do all of the above as well, doesn't work either. Tried Half-Life 2, TF2, to no avail..

Lastly, since L4D often works, I have tried everything above in L4D authoring tools as well. Sometimes the map loads in SFM, but without HDR. It's safe to say I need help. :(