The Level Editor is our own application to build maps for HPL2-based games. It is comprised of a set of basic object creation and edition modes which make the building task a lot easier.

When run, the first screen we get to see is like this:

Each part of the screen has a specific function, as follows:

1. Main menu bar: this is where every non-editor command lies, as well as some edition ones.
2. EditMode sidebar: here you will find a set of buttons used to switch the current behaviour of the editor. More on this later.
3. EditMode window area: any helper input the current EditMode needs will appear here.
4. Viewport area: this area of the screen is reserved for the viewports, which are used to actually see what you are doing to the map. Every viewport has its own menu bar, to control some parameters of the visualization.
5. Lower toolbar: some tools that are either viewport-dependent or global are located here.

Not listed above are some special windows, used pretty often here:

• Save file dialog
• Load file dialog
• Color Picker
• Texture Browser
• Sound Browser

This is a menu bar, just like in any other windowed application. Available options for this particular editor are as follows:

• File
  • New: This command will reset the map to an empty one, and the editor to a default state as well.
  • Open: This will load a map file picked in a dialog in the editor.
  • Save: Use this to save your work to a file in disk. Will ask for a file name when no file has been created.
  • Save As: This will also save your work, but will ask for a file name everytime it is called.
  • Open Recent: This will show a list of up to 10 files that have been recently loaded or saved.
  • Import Objects: This will show a file dialog with exported object (.expobj) files. When picked, the objects in the file will be added to the map.
  • Export Selection: This will save the current selection to a .expobj file.
  • Quit: This will exit the program.

• Edit
  • Undo: Use this to undo the last action. Note that not everything you can do in the editor is undo-able.
  • Redo: Use this to redo the last undone action.
  • Duplicate: This will clone the current selected objects. More details on selection later.
  • Delete: This will delete the current selected objects.
  • Create /Destroy compound object: Use this to create a compound object with the current selected objects, or to destroy the currently selected compound object. More on compound objects here. * Search for object: This will open the Find Objects window window. It is useful when you want to find a particular object and don't want to actually look for it. * Browse groups: This will open the Group window. This one is used to manage groups of objects. * Level Settings: This will open the Level Settings window window. This is used to add global fog and skybox to a level, also has other tools. * Options: This will open the Options Window. You will find general settings for the editor here.

Here you will be able to switch between the different EditModes available in this editor. An EditMode describes the state the editor is going to work in when selected. These five EditModes can be found in this editor and the Model Editor.

• Select EditMode: this mode is used to select and edit objects.
• Light EditMode: with this mode you will be able to place lights around.
• Billboard EditMode: use this to create Billboards. Light halos, light shafts, and some other
• Particle Systems EditMode: one can add Particle systems to the map with this mode.
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  hpl2/tools/editors/level_editor.txt · Last modified: 2015/01/25 23:14 by jermainestew