I don't understand how to use trigger_message

I am creating a map for English class, and i need a trigger_message to tell my teacher where she needs to go in order to grade the thing. however, i cannot seem to use trigger_message. i have tried using trigger volumes, but i cannot assign the trigger_message entities to the block i create. am i doing something wrong? or is there a different way to do this?

I appreciate anything you guys can throw at me help wise

You make a trigger_once have an output targeting a game_message to make the message appear on screen.

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Posting And You

i cant find game_message... do you mean trigger_once and trigger_messagE?\

EDIT: I apologize.. i misread the entity. its env_message, but i still do not understand how to use it. i'm going to search for it on the site, and re-add to this if i find anything

EDIT: i still didnt find anytihng on the site. so i still need help with how to use env_message

ok, env_message is an entity that draws text messages from names predefined in the hl2/resource/hl2_english.txt You simply type the title that you want to appear in the "Message Text" keyvalue and it refers to that title from that .txt file from within the "source engine.gcf" file.

here is a link with everything you need to know about it. For example, if you type: "GAMEOVER_ALLY" in the "Message Text" keyvalue, you will get this message in-game:

ASSIGNMENT: TERMINATED

SUBJECT: FREEMAN

REASON: FAILURE TO PRESERVE MISSION-CRITICAL PERSONNEL

Because that is specified in that .txt file. You can change that if you started a mod of your own. They use this entity for automatic messages triggered based on how the player completed a task, or died trying. So they're meant to be preset and nothing more.

What you are probably looking for is the game_text entity. That entity works more like the way you want it to. whatever you type into the "Message Text" keyvalue, is what you'll get on screen. You can tell the text to scan-in or fade-in. You can also specify its color and where it appears on the screen. And also how long you want it to hold and what you want its secondary color to be.

Then there is also point_message entity which is more for developer use, and displays text like a sprite in the world from the entity's origin rather than on the player's screen, and it lacks any special effects.

-Hope that helps...

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Blog: www.playingarchitecture.net
LinkedIn: Eric Lancon
Twitter:@Riven202

That chuck of text helped alot! so i need to use game_text... ok. is there a way to set it to a volume how would i use it for someone who spawns? for example, i want the person to spawn, then i want it to show welcome to my map! then explain some stuff. how would i make a trigger volume for that? or something of the bit

That part is easy if you understand the Input/Output system. You will want to create a brush and coat it with the "trigger" texture, and then tie it to a trigger_multiple entity by pressing CTRL+T after selecting the brush. Once you have that set, read here for learning how to use the Input/Ouput system. And that should help you understand exactly what you need to do. If you have more questions about the Input/Output system, look further around here on this site, I'm pretty sure there have been other people asking the same question.

P.S. I like my SnarkMarks as much as the next guy so, if that earlier reply I gave you was correct, mark it as such please! It also helps other's find their questions if they see a thread as "answered"

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Blog: www.playingarchitecture.net
LinkedIn: Eric Lancon
Twitter:@Riven202