Need help with custom particles (.pcf) with Steampipe

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JCapps

L1: Registered
Feb 18, 2014
8
0
I've tried a few methods to get this file to work, but I figured it would be easier to come here and ask starting from scratch.

I have created a custom particle file called "core_kaboom.pcf" within TF2's particle editor, using only tf2/hl2 materials. I have saved the file in tf/particles so i can open and view it whenever I need to. In hammer, I created an info_particle_system entity that will be triggered by a button (for now just to test). The inputs and outputs work correctly, but the particle effects do not show. I've tried putting the pcf file in a few places to see if it would work, but it kept returning errors such as "Attempting to precache unknown particle system" and "Attempting to create unknown particle system"

So, where do I put the .pcf and what other files must I edit to make it work?
 

xzzy

aa
Jan 30, 2010
815
531
You have to make a particle manifest for TF2 to be able to find it.

https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Particles_manifest.txt

I prefer the maps\<map name>_particles.txt form, you just have to remember to change it when you update the name of your map.


There's also a bug (or there was at one point, it could be fixed now) where the name of your particle system and the pcf file that contain it cannot be the same name. That is if your file is called myparticles.pcf you cannot have a particle system named myparticles.

You will always get the "attempting to precache unknown particle system" error, even if it shows up just fine in game. It's just a quirk of TF2.
 

JCapps

L1: Registered
Feb 18, 2014
8
0
There's also a bug (or there was at one point, it could be fixed now) where the name of your particle system and the pcf file that contain it cannot be the same name. That is if your file is called myparticles.pcf you cannot have a particle system named myparticles.

You will always get the "attempting to precache unknown particle system" error, even if it shows up just fine in game. It's just a quirk of TF2.

*Me before realizing I'm an idiot*

That is good to know, even though nothing was named the same.

Unfortunately, I had already tried both ways and neither worked. Same result when I tried using vpks.

*Me after realizing I'm an idiot*
I used the name of the pcf for the info_particle_system instead of the particle system. :blushing:

Thanks for the help anyways. I appreciate the very quick response.