Often when Hammer has been minimalized, it refuses to show up again unless I right click -> maximize it. After doing that, Hammer looks something like this.

Is there a way to prevent this(other than not minimalizing it, often happens after testing a map)? I know you can just drag the toolbars back, but it gets quite annoying.

So, what you're saying is that even though you've got only one column toolbar on the right part, after maximizing again hammer window, that one line becomes 3 columns, right?

Well, that never happened to me... anyway, my hammer window doesn't refuse to maximize again after trying a map... But I will tell you that it spends quite some time (to render again the 4 views...).

Try to do as me and check out if you find a different behaviour:

• I use to have hammer window ALWAYS maximized on background (because I hate it spends time re-rendering), and always use explorer to go to folders and run programs and such.

• When I finish compile, I keep hammer window maximized on background and run Portal2 (in fullscreen mode, not windowed... but this is the same...).

• Then after testing the map (and quit to Portal2's main menu) I use window key to return to my desktop and leave Portal2 running.

This way, hammer resumes (it takes a bit to re-render the 4 views as mentioned above though...) and everything is there in its right place...

Whenever I need to test any new map version after a new compile, I simply hit Portal2 below icon (program running) again, test it, and so on...

That is supposed to work, but I usually just alt-tab between Hammer and Portal 2 (borderless window mode) which also shouldn't minimize Hammer. It takes a bit to redraw the views indeed, but I often just get a tiny window without contents after which I need to maximize it from the taskbar.(causing the clutter)

• I always keep Hammer maximized(at least I don't press the minimize icon)
• Usually just keep portal 2 in the main menu when editing my map in hammer. Windowed mode.
• I switch between programs with alt-tab which shouldn't minimize anything like the windows key.

I've noticed that for me clicking that fancy button on the bottom right of windows 7 doesn't mess up hammer for me.

But yea; alt+tab ftw!

this happened to me a bunch from alt tabbing back and forth to many times, it can be very lame.

It's likely to do with a difference between the native resolution of your desktop/monitor and the mode you play Portal2 with. When Hammer gets minimised before testing a map it's set to the resolution of your (smaller) desktop area. You then minimise it (so it remembers what state it was in)... open and play portal2 (with a larger resolution then your desktops native)... after testing you close Portal2 and click Hammer to reopen... which it chokes on a little so you have to "force" it to come up (by right clicking) whereby it goes "okay I'll come back, but look at how large the world is now, I can fill that space like your asking me to, but I don't know how to dress myself correctly for my new size"..... and you will likely not notice the change in resolution because either your PC or your monitor will have an auto-adjust feature... but Hammer will think the size isn't the same even when it is, it'll believe the desktop is larger then it was because it never got told the scale had changed back to default when you exited Portal2 ... ...

Did, erm... did any of that make sense to you ? Or am passed my alcohol limit to respond to questions in a suitable manner, it is 5am ?