Hammer freezes when I try to compile

Greaser Dan :D

L1: Registered
Jul 4, 2009
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I'm trying to make two large towers that connect at the top by a platform suspended between them.

The problem is, whenever I try to compile it so I can test it, Hammer freezes.

The only information I can give it that the each tower is about 3072 units tall, with platforms running around the outside and the inside of the tower. Maybe the sheer size of them is crashing hammer?
 

DJive

Cake or Death?
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Dec 20, 2007
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freezes, doubt it.

Taking forever to compile, most likely.

check for leaks.
 

Greaser Dan :D

L1: Registered
Jul 4, 2009
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It's just in a large box for now, so it can't be a leak. Also, it's not like it's just taking a long time, it's just flat out freezing. When I check in Task Manager it says Hammer is not responding. I can't open the hammer window either.
 

DJive

Cake or Death?
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Dec 20, 2007
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Hammer will say that, someone will come along with a better answer for that, but it saying "is not responding" is ABSOLUTELY normal.

On the compile screen are the numbers going?
How long are you waiting?
Do you have func_detail

care to share the .vmf, ill look at it.
 

Greaser Dan :D

L1: Registered
Jul 4, 2009
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Well, I minimized hammer while it was on "portal" or something, and it was working. Now I can't maximize hammer so I can't check.

Also, it's a huge tower that players will be climbing to get to the middle point, won't having it be func_detail be a bad idea?
 

DJive

Cake or Death?
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Dec 20, 2007
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Hammer takes a lot of resources, playing a 3d game over it will possibility cause the editor to freeze.

Depends your map, i cant really say without looking or seeing screenshots
 

Greaser Dan :D

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Jul 4, 2009
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Okay, it finally loaded. I don't know why two simple towers in a big box would take so long.

Anyway, here's a screenshot:

 

DJive

Cake or Death?
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Dec 20, 2007
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How long is "so long" though?

With your current setup EVERYTHING but your box should be func_detail as its not blocking anything.
 

Cameron:D

L6: Sharp Member
Sep 28, 2008
363
145
Yeah, hammer won't respond while it compiles. Take a look at a batch compiler as they take up less resources so you can continue to do other things while it compiles.
 

Greaser Dan :D

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Jul 4, 2009
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I'll look into it, thanks.

Anyway, my tower is coming along nicely. For a second there, I thought it was going to be too tall.

Then I realized that the nature of the map it's going to be in requires it to be tall. :<>
 

Tydax

L1: Registered
Apr 23, 2009
21
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Of course, it is. The compile uses all the power of your computer (especially the CPU and memory).
 

Cameron:D

L6: Sharp Member
Sep 28, 2008
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My computer is lucky to have CPU usage below 97%. It is always at 100% no matter what I do. It's become my mini heater.

Also, if there is inaccessible parts to your tower (either above or below playable area) put it in a 3d skybox to improve compile times.
 
Last edited:

Greaser Dan :D

L1: Registered
Jul 4, 2009
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My computer is lucky to have CPU usage below 97%. It is always at 100% no matter what I do. It's become my mini heater.

Also, if there is inaccessible parts to your tower (either above or below playable area) put it in a 3d skybox to improve compile times.

So far the entire tower is accessible. You just gave me an idea that would make the tower look much larger though, perhaps even going through a cloud line or something.

Anyway, thanks for the help guys.
 

-W3E- Im Chuck

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Feb 14, 2018
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my compiler is frozen aswell and will not work its been not responding for a couple hours and i have a decent size map but nothing really on it. the last line of the compiler says BasePortalVis 0.....1..etc up to 6
 

Micnax

Back from the dead (again)
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Apr 25, 2009
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my compiler is frozen aswell and will not work its been not responding for a couple hours and i have a decent size map but nothing really on it. the last line of the compiler says BasePortalVis 0.....1..etc up to 6
Likely due to lots of angled geometry or small details that you haven't made a func_detail

For a decently sized map (especially one in later stages) this is normal, but not usually ever taking a compile over the 1 hour mark. I'd make sure you check any complicated/detailed brushwork or brushes that aren't a key part to the map be made func_details.