The following steps allow using HLMV without having to open up the Left 4 Dead 2 Authoring Tools, but you still need to have Steam open.

• 1. Create a shortcut to "hlmv.exe" found (by default) in "C:\Program Files\Steam\steamapps\common\left 4 dead 2\bin\".

  2. Right-click on the shortcut.

  3. Select Properties.

  4. Select the Shortcut tab (if not already shown).

  5. Delete all text in the Target field.

  6. Copy-paste into the Target field: "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\left 4 dead 2\bin\hlmv.exe" -game "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\left 4 dead 2\left4dead2"

  7. (If not using the default folder for Steam, then edit the Target field as needed. It should be similar to the Start in field.)

  8. Move the shortcut to a easily-accessible folder, such as a taskbar toolbar; it should be placed somewhere for convenient opening.

Creating a shortcut to the VPK tool allows for convenient packing and unpacking of addon vpk files. To unpack: Drag a vpk file to the vpk shortcut. To pack: Drag a folder to the vpk shortcut.

• 1. Create a shortcut to the VPK tool:

     1. Go to "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\left 4 dead 2\bin" folder.

     2. Right-click on vpk.exe.

     3. Select "Create shortcut".

     4. Right-click the newly created "vpk.exe - Shortcut" file.

     5. Select "Rename".

     6. Change the name to "L4D2 VPK".

  2. Move the shortcut to your "SendTo" folder or to any other folder, such as your desktop; it should be placed somewhere convenient so you can drag-and-drop a folder or a vpk file onto it.