So... in my effort to get started mapping I downloaded all needed tools and the UGX script placer. I made a map in the script placer and hit the "converter" button in the launcher (following all instructions in the tutorial I was using so far). However, I can't seem to open the map in Radiant via the launcher. No matter what I do I get a window titled "Open" with a blank bar labeled "File name" that I can enter text into. I dunno what to enter into this bar, and whatever I do I just get a "Radiant error". Please help an aspiring mapper get started! Any advice is appreciated

So... in my effort to get started mapping I downloaded all needed tools and the UGX script placer. I made a map in the script placer and hit the "converter" button in the launcher (following all instructions in the tutorial I was using so far). However, I can't seem to open the map in Radiant via the launcher. No matter what I do I get a window titled "Open" with a blank bar labeled "File name" that I can enter text into. I dunno what to enter into this bar, and whatever I do I just get a "Radiant error". Please help an aspiring mapper get started! Any advice is appreciated

I'm sure someone has had this issue before. You may get a quicker response with a picture or two of what you are describing. I can not remember having this issue. You may also want to list operating system and that you have or have not set all your files to not be read only in your root folder, and if you are running your exe's as admin with a service pack selected or any other information to indicate what steps you have completed.

did you select the codwaw prj file when prompted by radiant?

I'm sure someone has had this issue before. You may get a quicker response with a picture or two of what you are describing. I can not remember having this issue. You may also want to list operating system and that you have or have not set all your files to not be read only in your root folder, and if you are running your exe's as admin with a service pack selected or any other information to indicate what steps you have completed.

Big PC noob, here, I don't know how to take screencaps  . My OS is Windows 7. Here's a link to the tut series I've been following: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dS2YMqMsTds

did you select the codwaw prj file when prompted by radiant?

Sooo, I was able to open the map in Radiant successfully. However, this WAS NOT done using the launcher (I opened Radiant from my root bin). Will I have issues in the long run mapping using Radiant.exe rather than the launcher?

Big PC noob, here, I don't know how to take screencaps 

"prt sc" button (located above backspace near the delete key) takes a screenshot and copies it to the clipboard. Then you have to go into a picture editor proream like "paint" "paint.net" or even "word" and press ctrl + v to paste. Crop it to the desired portion of screenshot. Save. --Or-- you can skip all that and use a program like FRAPS or something else to take screen shots. To put it on a forum post, you can use websites like http://ctrlv.in/ or https://gyazo.com/.

Sooo, I was able to open the map in Radiant successfully. However, this WAS NOT done using the launcher (I opened Radiant from my root bin). Will I have issues in the long run mapping using Radiant.exe rather than the launcher?

they are the same thing but opening radiant from launcher can not work sometimes if either are being run in windows xp service pack 3 compatibility mode which is sometimes required. you shouldn't have any problems running rad from bin as that is where launcher runs it from anyway.

And also you can take a screen shot of the focused window with ctrl+alt+ print screen