Whenever I open up HEK, it just goes to the website for it. Is it supposed to do that or no? I can't really do anything on the website either. Plz help.

How do I Make Halo CE maps
http://hce.halomaps.org/index.cfm?nid=406

Before you ask How to edit/make maps - Read This


There is no one program that you use to make or edit Halo CE maps. There are a suite of programs. The process used to create a new map starts with creating the map geometry or Level BSP (Binary Space Partitioning) adding textures then exporting into a format that can be imported into the Halo Game. The HEK - Halo Editing Kit - is a suite of programs that contains the various tools you will need to import the map geometry and textures and allow for placement of other assets such as weapons, vehicles and scenery.


Program Downloads


Halo Editing Kit (HEK) for Halo (CE) Custom Edition
http://hce.halomaps.org/index.cfm?fid=411


3d Modeling Program
GMAX - (free)
http://www.turbosquid.com/gmax
note: you may use other 3D modeling programs but GMAX is the only free one fully supported.



The HEK
The Halo Editing Kit consists of several programs: (from the HEK tutorial)


Blitzkrieg (blitzkrieg.dle)
Blitzkrieg is the exporter plug-in for 3D Studio Max. This plug-in exports the model data (vertices, materials, smoothing group information, animations, etc...) from 3DS Max to the file formats (.jms, .jmp, .jma, .jmm, .jmt) used by tool.exe to compile a data tag that can be used by Halo.


Tool (tool.exe)
Tool is a multipurpose command line program that compiles and converts data that has been exported from other sources such as 3D Studio Max. The data files that are created are referred to as "tags". Running "tool.exe" by itself with no command line parameters will display a complete list of the available command line parameters and appropriate variables and variable formats.

Guerilla (guerilla.exe)
Guerilla has a graphical interface that is used to edit the properties and resource references in the Halo data “tags”.


Sapien (sapien.exe)
Sapien is used to edit or modify various aspects of a level that has already been compiled using Tool. Sapien has a graphical interface that contains a 3D window that renders the game including the level bsp, models, and vehicles as well as playing sounds and running physics. Sapien is used for many purposes, including the population of characters, weapons, items, scenery objects, and game play and mission objectives

It is highly recommended that you read the HEK tutorial that comes with the HEK installation BEFORE you start trying to edit or create maps.

Official HEK Mapping Tutorial
http://hce.halomaps.org/hek/

If that web page is what I think it is it is a tutorial on how to use the HEK from 3ds all the way through to playing it in Halo.
Either way you still should listen to Dennis.


-Submit to Authority
-SKipdrow

Let me rephrase this. I installed HEK and when i start it up, it just goes to the website for it. What do I do?

The website is a tutorial teaching you how to use it. Follow the tutorial.

HEK isn't one godly program designed to make maps with ease; it's an editing kit that contains multiple programs and dlls that are required in order to make a map. The website that loads is a tutorial which instructs you how to make a map, and all the programs you need have been installed in your root Halo CE directory, with the exception of a 3D modeling program.

Isn't that what I said?


-Submit to Authority
-Skidrow

Does it matter who says what as long as the guy is helped in the end?

Probably not.

And something to create/edit bitmaps and other things. All HEK really gives you is the basic means to edit a already made map or anything of your choosing with already pre-done tags. As a matter of fact, If you want to do anything custom, you sort of HAVE to download programs that are not in the editing kit.
Edited by eliteslasher on Jun 22, 2010 at 03:40 PM

I know this is not like a youtube video, so I will break it down for you as simply as I can in single sentances:

There is no one program that you use to make or edit Halo CE maps

There are a suite of programs

It is highly recommended that you read the HEK tutorial that comes with the HEK installation BEFORE you start trying to edit or create maps.

Read this:
How do I Make Halo CE maps
http://hce.halomaps.org/index.cfm?nid=406