Strange 3D Skybox Issue - Developers

I've been working on a map for quite some time now, and recently added a 3D Skybox. For a while, I couldn't get it to work, but I launched Hammer one day to find a message along the lines of this: "For your information, 3 solids have not been loaded due to errors in the data file." Curious to find out what was not loaded, I compiled the map to find that my 3D Skybox was functioning properly - only one side of it, that is. You see, the skybox is made out of four displacements (one for each side), a block of water, and skybox tree props. The only side that ended up rendering was the one with the water, and all the other faces were just groups of trees with no earth below. Here are some pictures to explain what's going on: [b]The rendered side:[/b] [img]http://filesmelt.com/dl/zs_swamped_beta0008.jpg[/img] [img]http://filesmelt.com/dl/zs_swamped_beta0009.jpg[/img] [b]What the missing sides look like:[/b] [img]http://filesmelt.com/dl/zs_swamped_beta0010.jpg[/img] [img]http://filesmelt.com/dl/zs_swamped_beta0011.jpg[/img] Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Rebuild the terrain in the 3D skybox.

Did that twice, gave me the same message each time.

Post the compile log.

[code]** Executing... ** Command: "c:\program files\steam\steamapps\shamrock494\sourcesdk\bin\orangebox\bin\vbsp.exe" ** Parameters: -game "c:\program files\steam\steamapps\shamrock494\garrysmod\garrysmod" "C:\Program Files\Steam\steamapps\shamrock494\sourcesdk\bin\orangebox\bin\zs_swamped.vmf" Valve Software - vbsp.exe (Jul 7 2010) 2 threads materialPath: c:\program files\steam\steamapps\shamrock494\garrysmod\garrysmod\materials Loading C:\Program Files\Steam\steamapps\shamrock494\sourcesdk\bin\orangebox\bin\zs_swamped.vmf material "/black_outline" not found. Material not found!: /BLACK_OUTLINE ConVarRef mat_reduceparticles doesn't point to an existing ConVar Could not locate 'GameData' key in c:\program files\steam\steamapps\shamrock494\garrysmod\garrysmod\gameinfo.txt Patching WVT material: maps/zs_swamped/nature/blenddirtgrass001a_wvt_patch Patching WVT material: maps/zs_swamped/nature/blendmuddirt001a_wvt_patch fixing up env_cubemap materials on brush sides... ProcessBlock_Thread: 0...1...2...3...4...5...6...7...8...9...10 (1) ProcessBlock_Thread: 0...1...2...3...4...5...6...7...8...9...10 (0) WARNING: BSP node with unbounded volume (material: <NO BRUSH>, near (333.000000, -1024.000000, 290.791321)) WARNING: BSP node with unbounded volume (material: <NO BRUSH>, near (342.762421, -656.000000, 284.000000)) Processing areas...done (0) Building Faces...error: material METAL/METALTRUSS017A doesn't have a $bottommaterial error: material METAL/METALTRUSS017A doesn't have a $bottommaterial error: material METAL/METALTRUSS017A doesn't have a $bottommaterial error: material METAL/METALTRUSS017A doesn't have a $bottommaterial error: material METAL/METALTRUSS017A doesn't have a $bottommaterial done (0) Chop Details...done (0) Find Visible Detail Sides... Merged 16 detail faces...done (0) Merging details...done (0) FixTjuncs... PruneNodes... WriteBSP... done (0) writing C:\Program Files\Steam\steamapps\shamrock494\sourcesdk\bin\orangebox\bin\zs_swamped.prt...Building visibility clusters... done (0) Creating default LDR cubemaps for env_cubemap using skybox materials: skybox/sky_day01_09*.vmt ! Run buildcubemaps in the engine to get the correct cube maps. Creating default HDR cubemaps for env_cubemap using skybox materials: skybox/sky_day01_09*.vmt ! Run buildcubemaps in the engine to get the correct cube maps. Finding displacement neighbors... Finding lightmap sample positions... Displacement Alpha : 0...1...2...3...4...5...6...7...8...9...10 Building Physics collision data... done (0) (136854 bytes) Error! prop_static using model "models/props_wasteland/prison_heater002a.mdl", which must be used on a dynamic entity (i.e. prop_physics). Deleted. Error loading studio model "models/props_wasteland/prison_heater002a.mdl"! Placing detail props : 0...1...2...3...4...5...6...7...8Material maps/zs_swamped/nature/blendmuddirt001a_450_590_29 uses unknown detail object type coastline_redgrass01! Material maps/zs_swamped/nature/blendmuddirt001a_450_590_29 uses unknown detail object type coastline_redgrass01! Material maps/zs_swamped/nature/blendmuddirt001a_-793_594_35 uses unknown detail object type coastline_redgrass01! Material maps/zs_swamped/nature/blendmuddirt001a_-793_594_35 uses unknown detail object type coastline_redgrass01! Material maps/zs_swamped/nature/blendmuddirt001a_-87_589_28 uses unknown detail object type coastline_redgrass01! Material maps/zs_swamped/nature/blendmuddirt001a_-416_-1346_60 uses unknown detail object type coastline_redgrass01! Material maps/zs_swamped/nature/blendmuddirt001a_50_-1000_-108 uses unknown detail object type coastline_redgrass01! Material maps/zs_swamped/nature/blendmuddirt001a_-1008_-1398_99 uses unknown detail object type coastline_redgrass01! Material maps/zs_swamped/nature/blendmuddirt001a_-416_-1346_60 uses unknown detail object type coastline_redgrass01! Material maps/zs_swamped/nature/blendmuddirt001a_-322_-410_73 uses unknown detail object type coastline_redgrass01! Material maps/zs_swamped/nature/blendmuddirt001a_50_-1000_-108 uses unknown detail object type coastline_redgrass01! Material maps/zs_swamped/nature/blendmuddirt001a_-690_-739_69 uses unknown detail object type coastline_redgrass01! Material maps/zs_swamped/nature/blendmuddirt001a_-793_594_35 uses unknown detail object type coastline_redgrass01! Material maps/zs_swamped/nature/blendmuddirt001a_329_-295_74 uses unknown detail object type coastline_redgrass01! .Material maps/zs_swamped/nature/blendmuddirt001a_50_-1000_-108 uses unknown detail object type coastline_redgrass01! Material maps/zs_swamped/nature/blendmuddirt001a_329_-295_74 uses unknown detail object type coastline_redgrass01! Material maps/zs_swamped/nature/blendmuddirt001a_450_590_29 uses unknown detail object type coastline_redgrass01! Material maps/zs_swamped/nature/blendmuddirt001a_515_-1300_94 uses unknown detail object type coastline_redgrass01! Material maps/zs_swamped/nature/blendmuddirt001a_50_-1000_-108 uses unknown detail object type coastline_redgrass01! Material maps/zs_swamped/nature/blendmuddirt001a_515_-1300_94 uses unknown detail object type coastline_redgrass01! Material maps/zs_swamped/nature/blendmuddirt001a_515_-1300_94 uses unknown detail object type coastline_redgrass01! Material maps/zs_swamped/nature/blendmuddirt001a_514_-903_94 uses unknown detail object type coastline_redgrass01! Material maps/zs_swamped/nature/blendmuddirt001a_50_-1000_-108 uses unknown detail object type coastline_redgrass01! Material maps/zs_swamped/nature/blendmuddirt001a_514_-903_94 uses unknown detail object type coastline_redgrass01! Material maps/zs_swamped/nature/blendmuddirt001a_450_590_29 uses unknown detail object type coastline_redgrass01! ..9...10 Water found with no water_lod_control entity, creating a default one. Compacting texture/material tables... Reduced 914 texinfos to 497 Reduced 138 texdatas to 98 (5574 bytes to 3926) Writing C:\Program Files\Steam\steamapps\shamrock494\sourcesdk\bin\orangebox\bin\zs_swamped.bsp 4 seconds elapsed ** Executing... ** Command: "c:\program files\steam\steamapps\shamrock494\sourcesdk\bin\orangebox\bin\vvis.exe" ** Parameters: -game "c:\program files\steam\steamapps\shamrock494\garrysmod\garrysmod" -fast "C:\Program Files\Steam\steamapps\shamrock494\sourcesdk\bin\orangebox\bin\zs_swamped" Valve Software - vvis.exe (Jul 7 2010) fastvis = true 2 threads reading c:\program files\steam\steamapps\shamrock494\sourcesdk\bin\orangebox\bin\zs_swamped.bsp reading c:\program files\steam\steamapps\shamrock494\sourcesdk\bin\orangebox\bin\zs_swamped.prt 477 portalclusters 1303 numportals BasePortalVis: 0...1...2...3...4...5...6...7...8...9...10 (0) Optimized: 11073 visible clusters (0.00%) Total clusters visible: 141098 Average clusters visible: 295 Building PAS... Average clusters audible: 472 visdatasize:58986 compressed from 61056 writing c:\program files\steam\steamapps\shamrock494\sourcesdk\bin\orangebox\bin\zs_swamped.bsp 0 seconds elapsed ** Executing... ** Command: "c:\program files\steam\steamapps\shamrock494\sourcesdk\bin\orangebox\bin\vrad.exe" ** Parameters: -both -game "c:\program files\steam\steamapps\shamrock494\garrysmod\garrysmod" -noextra "C:\Program Files\Steam\steamapps\shamrock494\sourcesdk\bin\orangebox\bin\zs_swamped" Valve Software - vrad.exe SSE (Jul 7 2010) Valve Radiosity Simulator 2 threads Could not find lights.rad in lights.rad. Trying VRAD BIN directory instead... Warning: Couldn't open texlight file c:\program files\steam\steamapps\shamrock494\sourcesdk\bin\orangebox\bin\lights.rad. Loading c:\program files\steam\steamapps\shamrock494\sourcesdk\bin\orangebox\bin\zs_swamped.bsp Setting up ray-trace acceleration structure... Done (2.22 seconds) 2050 faces 2 degenerate faces 298206 square feet [42941692.00 square inches] 25 Displacements 60918 Square Feet [8772204.00 Square Inches] 2048 patches before subdivision zero area child patch 18960 patches after subdivision 19 direct lights BuildFacelights: 0...1...2...3...4...5...6...7...8...9...10 (5) BuildVisLeafs: 0...1...2...3...4...5...6...7...8...9...10 (7) transfers 742888, max 283 transfer lists: 5.7 megs GatherLight: 0...1...2...3...4...5...6...7...8...9...10 (0) Bounce #1 added RGB(23205, 19527, 15060) GatherLight: 0...1...2...3...4...5...6...7...8...9...10 (0) Bounce #2 added RGB(2997, 2154, 1284) GatherLight: 0...1...2...3...4...5...6...7...8...9...10 (0) Bounce #3 added RGB(430, 269, 121) GatherLight: 0...1...2...3...4...5...6...7...8...9...10 (1) Bounce #4 added RGB(61, 34, 11) GatherLight: 0...1...2...3...4...5...6...7...8...9...10 (0) Bounce #5 added RGB(9, 5, 1) GatherLight: 0...1...2...3...4...5...6...7...8...9...10 (0) Bounce #6 added RGB(1, 1, 0) GatherLight: 0...1...2...3...4...5...6...7...8...9...10 (0) Bounce #7 added RGB(0, 0, 0) Build Patch/Sample Hash Table(s).....Done<0.0154 sec> FinalLightFace: 0...1...2...3...4...5...6...7...8...9...10 (7) FinalLightFace Done 0 of 0 (0% of) surface lights went in leaf ambient cubes. ThreadComputeLeafAmbient: 0...1...2...3...4...5...6...7...8...9...10 (6) Writing leaf ambient...done Ready to Finish Object names Objects/Maxobjs Memory / Maxmem Fullness ------------ --------------- --------------- -------- models 59/1024 2832/49152 ( 5.8%) brushes 349/8192 4188/98304 ( 4.3%) brushsides 2421/65536 19368/524288 ( 3.7%) planes 2458/65536 49160/1310720 ( 3.8%) vertexes 3199/65536 38388/786432 ( 4.9%) nodes 1459/65536 46688/2097152 ( 2.2%) texinfos 497/12288 35784/884736 ( 4.0%) texdata 98/2048 3136/65536 ( 4.8%) dispinfos 25/0 4400/0 ( 0.0%) disp_verts 6185/0 123700/0 ( 0.0%) disp_tris 10880/0 21760/0 ( 0.0%) disp_lmsamples 164274/0 164274/0 ( 0.0%) faces 2050/65536 114800/3670016 ( 3.1%) hdr faces 0/65536 0/3670016 ( 0.0%) origfaces 1211/65536 67816/3670016 ( 1.8%) leaves 1519/65536 48608/2097152 ( 2.3%) leaffaces 2312/65536 4624/131072 ( 3.5%) leafbrushes 900/65536 1800/131072 ( 1.4%) areas 3/256 24/2048 ( 1.2%) surfedges 14399/512000 57596/2048000 ( 2.8%) edges 8033/256000 32132/1024000 ( 3.1%) LDR worldlights 19/8192 1672/720896 ( 0.2%) HDR worldlights 0/8192 0/720896 ( 0.0%) leafwaterdata 4/32768 48/393216 ( 0.0%) waterstrips 138/32768 1380/327680 ( 0.4%) waterverts 0/65536 0/786432 ( 0.0%) waterindices 2193/65536 4386/131072 ( 3.3%) cubemapsamples 30/1024 480/16384 ( 2.9%) overlays 0/512 0/180224 ( 0.0%) LDR lightdata [variable] 1043856/0 ( 0.0%) HDR lightdata [variable] 0/0 ( 0.0%) visdata [variable] 58986/16777216 ( 0.4%) entdata [variable] 76855/393216 (19.5%) LDR ambient table 1519/65536 6076/262144 ( 2.3%) HDR ambient table 1519/65536 6076/262144 ( 2.3%) LDR leaf ambient 4803/65536 134484/1835008 ( 7.3%) HDR leaf ambient 1519/65536 42532/1835008 ( 2.3%) occluders 0/0 0/0 ( 0.0%) occluder polygons 0/0 0/0 ( 0.0%) occluder vert ind 0/0 0/0 ( 0.0%) detail props [variable] 1/12 ( 8.3%) static props [variable] 1/11240 ( 0.0%) pakfile [variable] 3305694/0 ( 0.0%) physics [variable] 136854/4194304 ( 3.3%) physics terrain [variable] 7307/1048576 ( 0.7%) Level flags = 0 Total triangle count: 5451 Writing c:\program files\steam\steamapps\shamrock494\sourcesdk\bin\orangebox\bin\zs_swamped.bsp 29 seconds elapsed Valve Software - vrad.exe SSE (Jul 7 2010) Valve Radiosity Simulator 2 threads Could not find lights.rad in lights.rad. Trying VRAD BIN directory instead... Warning: Couldn't open texlight file c:\program files\steam\steamapps\shamrock494\sourcesdk\bin\orangebox\bin\lights.rad. Loading c:\program files\steam\steamapps\shamrock494\sourcesdk\bin\orangebox\bin\zs_swamped.bsp Setting up ray-trace acceleration structure... ** Executing... ** Command: Copy File ** Parameters: "C:\Program Files\Steam\steamapps\shamrock494\sourcesdk\bin\orangebox\bin\zs_swamped.bsp" "c:\program files\steam\steamapps\shamrock494\garrysmod\garrysmod\maps\zs_swamped.bsp" ** Executing... ** Command: c:\program files\steam\steam.exe ** Parameters: -applaunch 440 -game "c:\program files\steam\steamapps\shamrock494\garrysmod\garrysmod" +map "zs_swamped" [/code] I don't think the problem occurs in the compile, since it always gave me the message when Hammer itself was launched (the displacements don't show up in Hammer either).

WARNING: BSP node with unbounded volume (material: <NO BRUSH>, near (333.000000, -1024.000000, 290.791321)) WARNING: BSP node with unbounded volume (material: <NO BRUSH>, near (342.762421, -656.000000, 284.000000)) Press alt P and press fix.

[quote] WARNING: BSP node with unbounded volume (material: <NO BRUSH>, near (333.000000, -1024.000000, 290.791321)) WARNING: BSP node with unbounded volume (material: <NO BRUSH>, near (342.762421, -656.000000, 284.000000)) [/quote] Invalid brush, perhaps? Try going to View > Go to coordinates and plug in [i]333.000000 -1024.000000 290.791321[/i] and [i]342.762421 -656.000000 284.000000[/i], look at which brush is suspicious, and delete them.

Hmmm... the suspicious brushes in question were the two sides of a pitched roof that were clipping with the floor. They didn't seem to have anything to do with the skybox, being that the house is in the middle of the map, but I clipped both of them just to be safe. For some reason, they actually didn't show up on problem list. I don't know if that had any effect, so I'll try to rebuild the displacements tomorrow (wait... wouldn't it be later today if it's 2:00 A.M. right now?), being that they deleted themselves from the map.

GGGAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!!!!!!! Same goddamn problem! When I create the remaining displacements and check for problems, it ends up saying the brush has an invalid solid format and that it's caused by vertex manipulation, which I have never used! Looks like I'll have to do without a 3D Skybox, maybe I'll just put a tree wall just outside the map's boundaries so you can't see anything.