Trying to hook up ceiling light/fan. Switch on wall controls 1/2 of an outlet. Black wires on back and bottom of side of switch, red on side at top, white together with nut, of course ground on green screw.

I put the 2 blacks and red from switch together with a black pigtail in a wire nut. Then put pigtail on bottom of switch. Took black from fixture to side screw, red from fixture to top screw of side.

The receptacle is now unswitched which is good. However, ceiling fix. Works but light is not operating by switch. How do I fix this? I know I will have to pull chain for fan, but switch should operate light

Lets start over. The light worked as originally wired? Was it connected to the switched outlet side or was the switch always hot? If the switch was hot and the ceiling light worked, connect back as original, use the black power and connect to the black and blue in the fan. Should work but unless you supply another power source, you will need to use the pull chain for the light and or fan. Against code to have a pull chain light in the middle of the room as the light switch.

"Against code to have a pull chain light in the middle of a room as the light switch"
That requires some explaining, as posted. Every ceiling fan with a light kit has a pull chain for the light, regardless of the existence of a wall switch.

Cannot have a ceiling light with a pull chain as the only way to illuminate a room. Have to be able to switch on a light from a doorway or activate an outlet. I'm sure you know that, maybe I worded it poorly.

Replacing a light fixtures is not considered a remodel. Code updates are required when major remodeling is done. A fixture change is NOT major remodeling. That being said, contractors may be obligated by the AHJ to bring certain items up to code when they are doing construction or rennovations, but local codes and the AHJ will not demand that homeowners do the same. I'm sure you know that...