[TIP] Utilising the power of Paste Special

[Psy]

Paste Special is a very useful tool for detailing bits and bobs in your map. You can copy stuff from your main map into a new file, then copy and paste special it back into the main map at the exact same location.

It's an alternative to using the cordon tool which can particularly fiddly and annoying if you miss-click and have to recreate the cordon all over again.

Take this example.

Here's a simple ramp which I want to replace with stairs. I'll copy it (CTRL + C) and create a new map file (CTRL + N).

Right-click anywhere in the 2D views and choose 'Paste Special' (making sure 'Start at center of original' is ticked) then hit OK.

Oh look! - A ramp! Now you can create your staircase using this geometry as reference like so.

Once you're done, move the new geometry so it's aligned with the reference geometry like in the following image and hit CTRL + C to copy.

Then Paste Special it back into the main map and voila!

A perfectly aligned replacement for the reference geometry.

 

[DaBeatzProject]

Nice tutorial. Handy tip!

 

[Peterm]

how do you make stairs appear in the shape of the ramp?

 

[Smetzle]

This looks like it could be very useful, thanks

 

[Peterm]

i dont understand it

 

[Mick-a-nator]

Wow, I never knew this tool had this kind of capability! Cheers!

 

[Psy]

It's for replacing geometry in a level more easily. Copy the existing brushes to another map, build a replacement then copy and paste special it back into the main map.

 

[Peterm]

so you still have to carefully make the replacement??? why not just do that in the map

 

[Psy]

Because you're view will be cluttered and resizing the cordon bounds all the time will just be a pain in the ass.

 

[Peterm]

i never do the cordon bounds?? im very confused

 

[Freyja]

Cordon hides most of your map except the part you're working on, and if you compile it with cordon mode on it only compiles that part (automatically surrounding it with a sealed box to stop leaks).

Unfortunately you have to manually select what part should not be hidden. He's saying that instead of manually resizing it every time you want to make some complex stuff like stairs, you can make it in an uncluttered new map file.

Anyway, thanks for the tip psy!

 

[Psy]

Exactly.

 

[DJive]

I never knew about this and i tend to do a new>make>copy>paste.

This will make it a lot easier for me, cool man.

 

[Owlruler]

Nice!

 

[Acumen]

very cool tip. thanks, Psy !
man i learned so many useful tips in this subforums in the last months.
awesome you mappers !
now i just need to learn the basics then i can go use the expert tips

 

[Garner]

Nice tutorial
Thanks =]

 

[Remix]

I actually prefer to use this when making a new version of my map. I might delete or change something so much stuff that I run out of undos after I want to fix it. Instead of closing the map file and reopening, I open the previous version, select the brushes/objects I want or need, and then I Paste Special them into the new version of the map. Works like a charm.

 

[Psy]

Erm, why not just resave the current map as the next version?

 

[Remix]

Erm, why not just resave the current map as the next version?

It is already saved as the next version. If I delete something and I can't get it back through undo's, I open the previous version of my map, copy the brushes I need, and then paste special into the new version.

This is useful if you haven't saved in a while, which is what happens to a lot of mappers when they really get into the zone and are working quick.

 

[Psy]

Oh right. Sorry, I misunderstood. I also do that.