[L4D2]DownloadsTable Black Screen Fix
 

L4D2 DownloadsTable Black Screen Fix - ENJOY!

INITIAL SETUP - Requires Sourcemod & MMSource to be installed.

1. Download and install SM File and Folder Precacher.

2. Setup the files or folders you want to be downloaded by clients.

3. Files must be on your Left 4 Dead 2 Dedicated/Local server to work, as well as your webserver.

FAST DOWNLOAD SERVER - Required for servers to send files to clients properly without black screen.

1. Download and install DropBox or use any other webserver.

2. Copy all files into your DropBox Public folder or onto your webserver.

3. Setup file structure just like game directory (Example - left4dead2\scripts\melee) and place files in appropriate folders.

4. YOU MUST ADD THE FOLLOWING TO YOUR server.cfg.

sv_hosting_lobby "1" //Must be set for Direct Connect into server.
sv_allow_lobby_connect_only "1" //Or comment this out completely. Without this it will not work properly.

sv_downloadurl "" //Your DropBox or webserver link goes here.
sm_cvar sv_allowdownload "1" //Must be set, or remove it completely from your server.cfg.

5. If using DropBox goto any file, not folder, in your Public folder and right click it, goto DropBox and select, copy public link.

Now copy the link into sv_downloadurl in your server.cfg

Should look like this.
sv_downloadurl "http://dl.dropbox.com/u/133773/left4dead2/scripts/melee/riotshield.txt"

Now remove the last parts of the link until it looks like this.
sv_downloadurl "http://dl.dropbox.com/u/133773/left4dead2/"

6. You are ready to go! No more black screen on clients downloading files from your server.

7. If you try to connect to LAN or non Lobby Reserved servers, the loading screen defaults, and you will get a black screen, however you should see in console what files are being downloaded, if console is enabled.
So you must see the actual campaign loading screen when connecting in order for this to work, however if you do get black screen,
It will no longer lock up on first file being downloaded, and clients will still connect, they just won't see progress bar.

Re: [L4D2]DownloadsTable Black Screen Fix
 

Does this work if your server is set up unreserved?

Re: [L4D2]DownloadsTable Black Screen Fix
 

Tried it out on my dedicated and it seemed to work.

What files can you actually make a client download for a l4d2 server? At the moment I just use a few sounds.

Re: [L4D2]DownloadsTable Black Screen Fix
 

SM File and Folder Precacher plugin do not require a sdkhooks extension. with this cvar "sv_allow_lobby_connect_only" players may only join this server from matchmaking lobby. I do not know why you wrote about this.

blah

Re: [L4D2]DownloadsTable Black Screen Fix
 

Sorry for bumping this old thread. I added this into the server, but now the the client is stuck on a never-ending loading screen. Is there a fix for this?

Edit: black screen is still there...

Re: [L4D2]DownloadsTable Black Screen Fix
 

this was happening on my server. And i realized that what was causing it was sm_hats.smx. For whatever reason people that have never downloaded the hats models(IE: New installs). Cant seem to join because i guess the server never downloads the hats correctly. So i removed that plugin and it fixed it no problem. So i'm going to post in the hats thread and see if anyone else has had this problem, or if there is a way to fix it.

Re: [L4D2]DownloadsTable Black Screen Fix
 

not really sure if i understand what your saying...possibly to get the hats plugin to work with this u would need to setup the webserver to upload the hat models to all players, although the plugin works on its own, it could be trying to upload the files and not finding them, causing a black screen. I've done lots of custom work on the knife, riotshield, mace, fubar and gotten them all to upload to clients properly with no black screen or anything, this only works on reserved servers however, not on unreserved. Let me know if i'm understanding u...maybe i can help get it working right...

Re: [L4D2]DownloadsTable Black Screen Fix
 

ajr1234 - Your having that issue because that is the default behavior of the downloadstable trying to upload the custom files to clients connecting, they just get stuck in a neverending black loading screen. U must have made a mistake somewhere, just double check all your settings. And if all else falls start the setup over again...If u follow my instructions to the T it will work...if u need help PM me.

Re: [L4D2]DownloadsTable Black Screen Fix
 

That post was from back in April. I doubt he's still having the same problem as he hasn't posted back again.

Re: [L4D2]DownloadsTable Black Screen Fix
 

Sorry for bumping this thread but i have a question: Is there a way to upload a .vpk to the server (or a fast download server) so the players can download it in-game? I have tryed this out for myself but it seems not working well for me.

Re: [L4D2]DownloadsTable Black Screen Fix
 

Sorry for the late reply...You should be able to upload download any file as long as its not protected. However, in order for the .vpk addon to take effect the client downloading it would still need to restart there game so, kinda defeats the purpose, maybe download the individual files within the .vpk however not sure if there protected files if they'd work outside of .vpk format, I don't think they will...

Re: [L4D2]DownloadsTable Black Screen Fix
 

Hi,

I have problems with let people download a .vpk file.

I put it in the addons folder addons/specialallowcoloring.vpk
I put it on a http server
.../left4dead2/addons/specialallowcoloring.vpk

i put the download url into my server.cfg ..../domain.de/left4dead2/

nothing happens..

i made everything downloadable at client and server

Re: [L4D2]DownloadsTable Black Screen Fix
 

as far as I know u cant upload vpk's to clients...i will test this though...u do know even if the clients get the vpk addons they still wont be active on there game until they completely exit the game and then restart.

Re: [L4D2]DownloadsTable Black Screen Fix
 

would be okay for just get it downloaded would be nice enough in first place :)

Re: [L4D2]DownloadsTable Black Screen Fix
 

For me that's perfectly fine, as long as the client doesn't get stuck on then loading screen indefinitely and they actually receive the files. I'd like to try this with a vpk and see how it goes.

EDIT: Followed your guide and it works perfectly. Thanks man :) It doesn't seem to work with VPKs though. Individual files work fine though :D

Re: [L4D2]DownloadsTable Black Screen Fix
 

I recall being able to use Dropbox as my download server, however they have since updated things so now the download link for files no longer contain the directories in the download link. How do you use Dropbox now?

Re: [L4D2]DownloadsTable Black Screen Fix
 

sv_hosting_lobby "1" does not exist
and the drop box url is different now.

did valve remove sv_hosting_lobby "1"?

Re: [L4D2]DownloadsTable Black Screen Fix
 

i'm not sure i'll have to check it out, to be honest its been so long since i've done anything with this, i'm surprised it isn't fixed by vavle already or completely broken...

Re: [L4D2]DownloadsTable Black Screen Fix
 

No, you can try "sm_cvar sv_hosting_lobby" and see :bacon!:

Re: [L4D2]DownloadsTable Black Screen Fix
 

This guide dosen't work anymore. Either that or you fail to mention that you must also use AddFileToDownloadsTable

Re: [L4D2]DownloadsTable Black Screen Fix
 

Sorry, just i don't know what effect "sv_hosting_lobby" has? What happens when it is set to 0? What is the change / difference when it is set to 1?