Modding Mondays: PreciseNode 0.7.5

[SQUAD]

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<p><strong>regex</strong>'s*<a href="http://bit.ly/1dlxnVb"><strong>PreciseNode 0.7.5</strong></a> does one thing and does it well - it lets you view the ejection angle of a maneuver node. With the addition of several editing controls and customization of the node editor window, itself, you’ll have every angle covered in no time.</p>

<p>For more info about <strong>PreciseNode 0.7.5</strong>, click <a href="http://bit.ly/1dlxnVb"><strong>HERE</strong></a>.</p>

[TMS]

It also allows on-the-fly changes of the conics node - essential for those fine-tuned, long-distance manoeuvres.

[regex]

It's been updated to 0.8.

[Superfluous J]

Ah, it's Tuesday, so that means it must be time for Modding Mondays!

PreciseNode is one of the mods I won't leave Kerbin's SOI without (Kerbal Engineer is the other), and one of the few mods that I think Squad should toss money at the modder for and just put in the game.

Half the time I don't even use it to create a node, but instead to switch my conic patch draw mode.

Edited January 14, 2014 by 5thHorseman

[Luis]

Yes, although the ejection angle is the feature that isn't available anywhere else (as far as I know), you could argue that it's actually the least important feature in the mod. A decent manoeuvre node editor is absolutely essential in my opinion, if you don't want to drive yourself nuts fighting the fickle widget in the stock game. I wrote one last year, which wasn't good enough for public release, just because I couldn't bear to keep zooming back and forth to view my Duna encounter trajectory and my transfer burn manouevre. PreciseNode is much better than my one and it's always installed on my PC.

[allmappedout]

It is absolutely fantastic, I especially like the snap back to target vessel, as it saves you having to tab through all the planets just to get back to your craft for focus, but the ability to adjust the nodes so precisely is only hampered by my inability to follow them to the letter!!!

[Spica]

It is absolutely fantastic, I especially like the snap back to target vessel, as it saves you having to tab through all the planets just to get back to your craft for focus, but the ability to adjust the nodes so precisely is only hampered by my inability to follow them to the letter!!!

That can be done with the delete key.

Not that I am against this mod in any way, i even use it myself.

[Rosco P. Coltrane]

Yep, one of the essentials for me too. It takes the pain of node editing away so you have more room to enjoy.

[Soda Popinski]

Can someone explain the conics node adjustment to me? I understand it somehow should let me see down multiple encounters, but I haven't quite figured out how.

[regex]

Can someone explain the conics node adjustment to me? I understand it somehow should let me see down multiple encounters, but I haven't quite figured out how.

The conics draw mode controls (the buttons 0 ~ 4) change the conics draw modes. More info here:

http://wiki.kerbalspaceprogram.com/wiki/Map_view

You can change the conics limit with the +/- buttons; I'll have to track that internally because it's not exposed as public in the class where you change it.

[Specialist290]

This post also covers the subject with a good bit of detail.

[Superfluous J]

Can someone explain the conics node adjustment to me? I understand it somehow should let me see down multiple encounters, but I haven't quite figured out how.

Others have already answered about the MODES, but it almost sounds to me like you're asking about the other setting, the Conic Samples.

Currently that's set to 3. What this means is that after 2 SOI changes (so it's showing 3 lines), KSP will stop telling you where you ship is going. This is fine in Kerbin, when all you're doing is going to Mun and back, but if you're going to another planet (especially Jool) you want more.

Let's say you're going to Jool and want to make sure you come in really close so you can aerobrake. Currently (with 3 samples) you would make a maneuver node and it would show you leaving Kerbin's SOI (sample #1), flying around Sun (#2), and then coming in to encounter Jool (#3). However, Jool's a crowded place and there's a good chance you'd encounter one of its moons. At that point, your line will STOP DRAWING and there's nothing you can do.

Except now, you can increase the samples. Add 1, and now you have 4. You'll get an additional line showing your encounter with Tylo. Add another one and you'll see your line increase back into Jool's SOI and oops, seems you've also got a encounter with Laythe. Add a 6th sample and and 7th and you'll now see how you pass through Laythe's SOI and continue on on the other side to Jool.

I personally have my conic samples defaulted to 8. I don't think I've ever had to add more.

[Soda Popinski]

Thanks for clearing that up everyone. Glad I have this mod installed. Even more useful than I thought.

[TMS]

The ability to increase your conic samples will really enhance your game. You'll find the opportunity to engineer 'chance' encounters that you otherwise wouldn't have known about. Good stuff if you enjoy orbital ballet.

[Traches]

Mode 0 is the only way to fly