props entities

First off I have read the following on props

http://www.valve-erc.com/srcsdk/Levels/prop_types.html

Although informative... not very hands on. I have a few questions about props. What are the smaller circles that you can resize when you create one? I have played with them but I have yet to figure them out. Next, can you resize a prop entity? If so how ? Can anyone offer a good solution to aligning multiple prop entities with one another ( i.e. like a set of pipes or a stack of barrels). Also I can't seem to get some type of props to appear without setting the fade-in and fade-out properties to <=0. Thanks

Jp

The circles set maxviewdist/minviewdist.

You cannot resize a prop entity in-hammer. They are auto-resized for the model size.

Aligning them, just line 'em up in the desired 2d-views.

Don't know exactly what the problem is with the fade-in/out properties, but for the first field (Start Fade Dist) set it to -1 and the other, (End Fade Dist)set it to 0.

The circles that come out from the centre of props are used to set the
start and end fade values of the prop. These are used to decide the
distance from which the player has to be from them for the engine to
render them, with -1 for start distance and 0 for end distance being
the default and recommended settings. You cannot resize props in hammer
I'm afraid. I'd suggest using the "tools -> align objects" option,
but unfortunately it doesn't work with props it seems, so you are
forced to do it by hand :sad:

EDIT: Beaten to it, you win this time Rabid :razz: