CryEngine SDK Sandbox 3 Documentation — Editor Quick Tips

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CryEngine SDK Sandbox 3 TipsLet me introduce you a quick list of useful shortcuts, tips and tricks for recently released CryEngine 3 SDK and its editor — Sandbox 3. While this tips aren't unique and all of them available as "Tip of the day" directly in Sandbox 3 Help menu, I think it's still may be somewhat useful to have them all gathered in one place. Later I will probably update this article with some examples and screenshots.

So here it is — a list of tips for Sandbox 3, as the part of useful CryEngine 3 SDK Documentation.
  • You can toggle snap to grid by pressing G.
  • Ctrl+Shift+Clicking somewhere with an object selected quickly moves the object to that position when in move mode.
  • Pressing M will open the material editor.
  • Show and Hide helpers is bound to Shift + Space by default.
  • Enable AI/Physics is bound to Ctrl + P by default.
  • You can save a viewport location by pressing Ctrl + F1 through F12 and go to that position using Shift + F1 through F12.
  • You can link objects together by using the link command on the top menu of the editor.
  • Pressing 1 through 5 on the keyboard will cycle through brush operations such as move or scale.
  • You can simply bind keyboard shortcuts to editor functions by going to Tools --> Customize Keyboard.
  • Pressing H will hide the selected objects, Ctrl + H will unhide all hidden objects.
  • Pressing F will freeze the selected objects, Ctrl + F will unfreeze all frozen objects.
  • Pressing F3 will toggle wireframe view.
  • Camera/terrain collision can be toggled using Q.
  • Pressing Ctrl + C with an object selected will clone that object.
  • Toggle the console by pressing the tilde (~) key.
  • You can dock windows by dragging them onto the blue helpers that appear when you grab a window by the titlebar.
  • You can select materials by clicking on the dropper icon in the material editor and then clicking on the material you wish to select.
  • You can right click on the previewer in the material editor and change the model to different shapes and background colors.
  • Materials can be saved in the local level folder for re-distribution.
  • Always keep your level free of errors and immidiately fix errors reported by the error report screen when you load your level.
  • You must always export to engine before you can run it in pure game mode. (File --> Export to engine)
  • You must re-triangulate AI before playing your level in game mode. (AI --> Generate all navigation)
  • You must always re-generate surface textures after you finish painting the terrain. (File --> Regenerate surface textures)
  • Press Ctrl + G or F12 to go into the Game mode, ESC to return to Editing mode.
  • Quickly rebuild a level (without regenerating the ground texture) by pressing Ctrl + E.
  • Hold down the third mouse button and drag to move the camera up and down.
  • Missing objects are represented by a bright yellow sphere.
  • Hold Alt + Middle Mouse button to rotate around an object.
  • Select multiple objects by holding Ctrl.
  • You can place multiple instances of vegetation by holding Shift and clicking on the terrain.
  • A number of useful commands can be found in Tools --> User commands. This can also be dragged and docked to the main window.
Got something like this to share? Feel free to post your tips in CryEngine 3 SDK — Help, Questions & Answers, How To Use on our Forum!
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About the Author: Sergey “Treidge” Danchenko

AvatarSergey "Treidge" Danchenko is a founder and the author of 3DG.Me blog, 3D Artist and game developer, Drupal web-developer and one-man-band with experience in some other areas. Personal credo — "If you want a thing done well, do it yourself". In times of great inspiration writes poetry and plays volleyball. Primary professional tools — Autodesk Maya & Mudbox, Adobe Photoshop. Wild about turkeys and parrots, loves music and videogames.  Thanks for reading and come again!

Comments

I've created video animation rendered by Cryengine in Realtime. it's very powerful engine to produce Animation in fast way! Love CRYENGINE!

Screencapture :

WATCH VIDEO HERE : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDf6y_wzUPc

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