Halo 2 Tool is a
command-line application that brings data from exported 3ds Max
files into the Halo 2 Map
Editor tools. It also compiles completed assets into playable
levels for Halo
2.
Operating Halo 2
Tool
Halo 2 Tool operates from
the Windows Vista command line and provides feedback through plain
text that appears on the screen.
To access the command
line
1.
On the Windows Vista Start menu, click
Run.
2.
In the
Open box,type cmd, and then click
OK.
If the command line is unfamiliar to you, Windows Help is a good
resource for information.
Commands are given to Halo
2 Tool as additional parameters on the command line. These
parameters are separated by spaces after the name of the
application itself. It is perfectly acceptable if the parameters
wrap to multiple lines. For example, the Halo 2 Tool command to create
light and shadow data for your level looks like
this:
C:\<Halo2ArchitectDirectory>\H2Tool lightmaps C:\Halo
Work\data\scenarios\gladiator\gladiator" gladiator low
In
this case, lightmaps is the command parameter, and the following
input parameters configure the command. Every command offered by
Halo 2 Tool uses a
different number of input parameters, so be sure to read about them
in detail. Additionally, typing Halo 2 Tool from the command
line with no parameters will print a list of available commands and
the parameters they require.
Note: Many level designers find it helpful to create batch
(.bat) files that automate the input parameters to various
Halo 2 Tool commands. For
information on batch file scripting, see Windows Vista
Help.
Halo 2 Tool
Commands
Level Creation
Commands
structure-new-from-ass:
Converts geometry from an .ass file into an editable
level.
lightmaps: Generates shadows and
indirect lighting for a map.
new-strings: Imports a level's
location names and menu description.
build-cache-file: Compiles a
Halo 2 level into a
runnable .map cache file.
Texture Creation
Commands
bitmaps: Converts
image files into Halo 2
texture bitmap tags.
