SDK in Steam

Short information about basic tools of SourceSDK program in Steam versions of Valve games.

Instructions

Want to learn to make maps but don't know how to set up the program? We know the answer for it. Now Source SDK program doesn't require a setup, Steam has a simple version of Source SDK built into almost all games from Valve. Source SDK is split into parts, so you can find them in those folders:

In game directory Team Fortress 2: Steam → SteamApps → common → Team Fortress 2 → bin.
In game directory Half-Life 2: Steam → SteamApps → common → Half-Life 2 → bin.
In game directory Portal: Steam → SteamApps → common → Portal → bin.
In game directory Fistful of Frags: Steam → SteamApps → common → Fistful of Frags → sdk → bin.
In game directory Codename CURE: Steam → SteamApps → common → Codename CURE → bin.
In game directory Synergy: Steam → SteamApps → common → Synergy → bin.
In game directory Garry's Mod: Steam → SteamApps → common → GarrysMod → bin.

Now we need to launch editor, click on shortcut called Hammer.exe to launch map editor. And then you can do anything you want. And in case you might want to use other tools, like Model Viewer, find a shortcut for that SDK tool in bin folder and click it. Some Valve games already have basic tools supplied. Those are Model Viewer, Hammer and so on.

To create maps for games, like Left 4 Dead 2 and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, you will need to hover your cursor over button Library in Steam, find SDK for that game and install it. For example, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive will require Counter-Strike: Global Offensive – SDK. For Left 4 Dead 2 we'll need Left 4 Dead 2 Authoring Tools but you get the idea.

You can also try to install and try to work with those free SDK bases:

Tip: This is a standard application on Steam, you can find them in the tab: Library → Tools.

— Source SDK
— Source SDK Base 2006
— Source SDK Base 2007
— Source SDK Base 2013 Dedicated Server
— Source SDK Base 2013 Multiplayer
— Source SDK Base 2013 Singleplayer

For users who like old game engine — GoldSource, there are SDK tools existing:

— Half-Life SDK
— Sven Co-op SDK

Also, I recommend to try out other SDK tools in Steam:

— Alien Swarm — SDK

Other SDK tools are given to you once you buy game in Steam Store. For example, if you buy game Rust, you will receive tools named Rust — SDK. You cannot install tools with buying game, so first you will have to buy game in Steam Store, and then install SDK tools.

Watch video tutorials on map creation on YouTube.

I wish luck to everyone starting to build maps!

Resetting Hammer preferences

To use Reg to reset Hammer preferences:

1. Press: Win+R, enter this command then:

reg delete HKCU\Software\Valve\Hammer /f

2. Press Enter, The Hammer preferences should be reseted.

To use RegEdit to reset Hammer preferences:

• Close the Hammer editor if it's currently running.
  
• From the Start Menu, choose Run... .
  
• Type regedit and click OK.
  
• Scroll to the top of the tree list on the left.
  
• Expand the tree to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Valve\Hammer.
  
• Back up the current Hammer settings by right-clicking the Hammer folder icon and click Export.
  
• Type a filename (eg. hammer_settings.reg) and save it to your desktop.
  
• Right-click the Hammer folder icon and select Delete.
  
• Click Yes to confirm the deletion.
  
• Close Regedit and launch Hammer and the settings will be reset.

Note: Check to see if there is any problems with the Hammer interface before deleting the settings backup file from the desktop. If you wish to restore the old settings from the backup file, simply double-click the file on the desktop and import the settings back in.

This guide in other languages

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=738652689