FIXED! Is building Test Chambers completely broken for ALL Mac users?

[Remiel]

There have been at least three threads about this, but they keep falling out of view because they're editor-specific topics.

But this affects you too!

If you like playing Community Test Chambers, but you don't build them, you may be unaware that many, if not all, of us who build them on a Mac have been unable to do so for over a month:

Unable to rebuild test chambers
Levels won't "build" in level editor.
Building Geometry Stuck Around 95% on Mac Map Editor

Help!

One easy thing you can do to help is test the problem.

Are you on a Mac? Can you successfully build a level? Any level?

It doesn't even have to be a custom map! Just do this:

• Start Portal 2 and choose...
  
• Community Test Chambers
  
• Create Test Chambers
  
• New Test Chamber
  
• File > Rebuild...

Does it work?

For many — if not all — of us, the "Building Geometry:" progress bar hangs indefinitely at ~95%, and making custom maps is simply impossible now.

I filed a support ticket four days ago. So far all I've gotten are the same two boilerplate responses others have received.

If the "Build Test Chambers" portion of the game is effectively GONE for Mac users who have been happily enhancing Portal 2 for fun, and for free, then we may need the help of more than just a few squeaky wheels to spur Valve into action, here.

But so far, we can't even get anyone at Valve to say "We're going to fix that", let alone any specific information about the problem.

My support ticket

Game hangs indefinitely at "Building Geometry" stage of creating a Community Test Chamber in Portal 2


Remiel on Fri, 15th Mar 2013 1:46 am
======================================
Can't get past "Building Geometry", even with a brand new Community Test Chamber.

To reproduce:
Start Portal 2
Choose...
Community Test Chambers
Create Test Chambers
New Test Chamber
File > Rebuild...

The "Building Geometry:" progress bar hangs indefinitely at ~95%

Same is true for a Test Chamber I've been working on for weeks.


Support Tech Ward on Tue, 19th Mar 2013 4:05 pm
================================================
Hello [Remiel],

Thank you for contacting Steam Support. We apologize for the delay. We do not offer technical support for development tools or user made content.

Please visit the following page for information:
Title: Resources for the Source SDK, Mapping, and Dedicated Servers
Link: http://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=1987-WYGJ-3701

Additional resources can be found on our forums:
http://forums.steampowered.com

Also, feel free to visit the Valve Developer Wiki:
http://developer.valvesoftware.com/



Remiel on Tue, 19th Mar 2013 4:50 pm
======================================
Thanks for the reply.

This issue is affecting a large percentage of your Mac user base:
http://steamcommunity.com/workshop/discussions/-1/846945955318621699/?appid=620#p2
http://steamcommunity.com/app/620/discussions/0/846945579837536137/#p2
http://steamcommunity.com/app/620/discussions/0/846944689807184222/

I don't think anyone's really asking for traditional "support" at this point. What we need is public acknowledgment that Mac users no longer have the ability to build test chambers, and that something is being done.

While this may be nominally a "developer tool", it is one that:
A) Comes neatly packaged with the game, as part of its regular menu structure. It is a highly visible, polished, integral part of the default experience. There's even an explanation for its existence in the plot of Portal 2!
B) Is simply broken, as it is. Again, I can't even build the default, empty test chamber.

The issue can't be fixed simply by deleting objects or rolling files back to an earlier state. It can't be solved by consulting the community discussion forums. Everyone there is in the same boat.

The "Build Test Chambers" portion of the game is effectively GONE for Mac users who have been happily enhancing Portal 2 for fun, and for free, for your customers.

We'd really like to be able to keep doing that!

Thanks for reading.


Support Tech Ward on Tue, 19th Mar 2013 5:13 pm
===============================================
Hello [Remiel],

Thank you for taking the time to report this issue.

Upon further examination, I have discovered that the developers are aware of the problem and are investigating the issue further.

For news regarding the latest updates and patches, please check the SteamPowered News page:
http://store.steampowered.com/news/

[No13ody]

I've been having this problem for a bout a week! I'm running a Mac and have found (obviously) no help in any threads. Thank you so much for advocating so strongly for us all

[Remiel]

No problem. Like many of us, I've got a map I worked on for weeks, which is now just languishing because... we don't even know!

[Moysey89]

i am having this problem also would be nice if a fix update came out soon......

[JWeier]

We've just pushed out an update which should fix this issue. Please update Portal 2 and try again!

[Remiel]

Success! Rebuilt my map for the first time in over over a month! (Though it still would have been nice to know we weren't being left out in the cold.)

[Taffy]

sadly this is still an issue 10 years later. although the issue is slightly different it is pretty much the same.