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Dust 2 crate PickOne SmartProp

This tutorial builds a crate selector containing multiple Dust 2 crate models. It supports manual selection through a slider, automatic randomization, optional random scaling, and horizontal spin rotation.

PickOne Crate Demo

Download dust_crate.vsmart

note

This guide builds on the fundamentals in the SmartProps guide. Start there when working with SmartProps for the first time.

Create the root PickOne element​

In the Hierarchy window, right-click and add a new element of type PickOne.

Add model elements​

Add several Model elements as children under the PickOne element. Toggle Dynamic Isolation in the toolbar to isolate and inspect the active model being positioned.

Dynamic Isolation

Name the elements​

Double-click each model element in the hierarchy and give them clear, descriptive labels.

Rename Elements

Expose model properties​

Select a model element and expose useful properties as variables, such as Material Group, Cast Shadows, and Detail Object. Remember to specify the model path for material group variables so Hammer knows which skins are available.

Expose Model Properties

Organize with categories​

Create variable categories in the Variables panel to keep the parameters neatly grouped in Hammer's Object Properties.

Variable Categories

Configure the viewport handle​

Select the root PickOne element. In the property editor, configure the handle color, shape, and offset position. Offsetting the control handle ensures it does not overlap with Hammer's standard translation gizmo.

Control Handle Settings

Control Offset

The control handle will now appear cleanly next to the prop in the viewport:

Control Handle in Viewport

Create the selection switcher​

Add a toggle that switches between random selection and manual slider selection. In the Variables panel, expose:

  • SelectionMode (bound to the PickOne selection mode property)
  • SpecificChildIndex (bound to the specific child index property)

Set the index range​

Set the Min and Max bounds for the SpecificChildIndex variable. For 3 child models, set Min = 0 and Max = 2 (since index 0 is the first model).

Disable the slider conditionally​

The slider should be active only when SelectionMode is set to SPECIFIC. In the SpecificChildIndex variable settings, set the Read-only Expression to:

SelectionMode != 'SPECIFIC'

Selection Mode Logic

The selection logic is configured.

Add randomization modifiers​

To add variation, attach Random Scale and Random Rotation modifiers to the root element.

Random Modifiers

Add randomization toggles​

Create two boolean variables to let mappers turn randomization on or off:

  • EnableRandomScale (default: false)
  • EnableRandomRotation (default: false)

Enable Random Toggles

Expose scale parameters​

Expose the Min Scale and Max Scale properties in the Random Scale modifier, and bind its Enabled property to EnableRandomScale.

Scale Min/Max Properties

Create a Vector2D variable for rotation​

Rotation requires only the Z, or spin, axis. Create one Vector2D variable instead of separate minimum and maximum float variables:

  • X = Minimum spin angle
  • Y = Maximum spinangle

Vector2D Variable

Split vector expressions​

In the Random Rotation modifier, switch the Z min and max rotation fields to Expression mode. Use expressions to reference the split components:

  • Min Z Rotation: RotationRange.x
  • Max Z Rotation: RotationRange.y

Vector Split Expressions

tip

Drag horizontally with the mouse wheel over numeric input fields in Hammer Editor to adjust values smoothly.

Mouse Wheel Drag

Save the SmartProp and place it in a Counter-Strike 2 iconCounter-Strike 2 map.