New "Electrical" Part Tab

[Zucal]

I've noticed that in recent updates parts have been added, but there's hasn't been any reorganization of where in the menu they go. This makes for a cluttered and unintuitive VAB, which no one wants. In particular I'm talking about the Utility tab, which isn't dedicated to anything specific and has 3 pages of parts. To reduce that number, I suggest adding a tab for parts that produce and consume electricity. I am aware that you can make your own custom tabs, but those are harder to navigate to and not everyone knows they exist.

-Lights (2 parts)

-Fuel cells (2 parts)

-Solar panels (6 parts)

-Batteries (5 parts)

This would also make creating ion-powered craft much easier, and get 15 parts out of the Utility tab.

[tutike2000]

Yes, the Utility tab has too many things inside of it. Breaking off Electrical would be pretty nice.

And yes, custom groups are just too tedious to use.

[11of10]

You can try this: http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/104231-1-0-x-Filter-Extensions-2-2-2-%28Jun-2%29?highlight=filter+extensions

[Zucal]

You can try this: http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/...ter+extensions

So everyone should download a mod just so navigating the menu is easier? I'm not suggesting this for myself, but for the game. There's already the Add-on request forum for that.

[Nothalogh]

I've noticed that in recent updates parts have been added, but there's hasn't been any reorganization of where in the menu they go. This makes for a cluttered and unintuitive VAB, which no one wants. In particular I'm talking about the Utility tab, which isn't dedicated to anything specific and has 3 pages of parts. To reduce that number, I suggest adding a tab for parts that produce and consume electricity. I am aware that you can make your own custom tabs, but those are harder to navigate to and not everyone knows they exist.

-Lights (2 parts)

-Fuel cells (2 parts)

-Solar panels (6 parts)

-Batteries (5 parts)

This would also make creating ion-powered craft much easier, and get 15 parts out of the Utility tab.

Yes, this needs to be stock

[Hcube]

Agreed ! it really would help. in order to clean the utility tab even a bit more i suggest moving the parachutes (5 parts) to the aerodynamics tab.

[Dodgey]

So everyone should download a mod just so navigating the menu is easier? I'm not suggesting this for myself, but for the game. There's already the Add-on request forum for that.

It's an option if you or anyone wanted to utilize the feature without waiting for Squad to implement, If at all.

[Red Iron Crown]

Some attention to the categories would be great. Electrical should be given its own tab, crew tanks should be moved to Pods, probe cores to Control, chutes to Aero, wing parts to their own tab, ore tanks to utility....I could go on. I doubt it will get much traction though, as it's not game breaking and the player can always make their own categories.

[KrazyKrl]

Some attention to the categories would be great. Electrical should be given its own tab, crew tanks should be moved to Pods, probe cores to Control, chutes to Aero, wing parts to their own tab, ore tanks to utility....I could go on. I doubt it will get much traction though, as it's not game breaking and the player can always make their own categories.

This would be amazing after they unify the UI with the Unity 5 update. Right now it seems like there is, and rightfully should be; a feature freeze on UI improvements. Why spend dev time on something that is a very minor issue; when the entire subsystem for said issue is currently being rewritten.

[Zucal]

This would be amazing after they unify the UI with the Unity 5 update. Right now it seems like there is, and rightfully should be; a feature freeze on UI improvements. Why spend dev time on something that is a very minor issue; when the entire subsystem for said issue is currently being rewritten.

What better time to make minor adjustments to the UI than while rewriting it?

[Starwhip]

I don't get why there are "Pods" and "Command and Control" categories. They contain vastly different parts put the names suggest they have similar ones.

Categories need some work. Why not like this? Okay forget that, I don't know what I was trying to say. :I

I do agree with this change though.

[tutike2000]

Yeah, "Command and Control" should actually be "Attitude Control"

[Zucal]

Yeah, "Command and Control" should actually be "Attitude Control"

True, and to be honest winglets and fins should be in there too. Aerodynamics tab is too cluttered as well

[Windspren]

Some attention to the categories would be great. Electrical should be given its own tab, crew tanks should be moved to Pods, probe cores to Control, chutes to Aero, wing parts to their own tab, ore tanks to utility....I could go on. I doubt it will get much traction though, as it's not game breaking and the player can always make their own categories.

Wait wait wait.... How do we make our own categories? I know KIS does it, and is there a cfg file somewhere?

[Red Iron Crown]

Wait wait wait.... How do we make our own categories? I know KIS does it, and is there a cfg file somewhere?

It's a stock in-game feature that came with the editor revisions in 0.90. If you expand the categories by pressing the little arrow at the extreme upper left of the editor, there is an option to make custom categories with whatever parts you want in them.

[Crzyrndm]

I strongly support the motion to reroll the stock categories completely (While I've done it through FE, something similar should still be stock)

Wait wait wait.... How do we make our own categories? I know KIS does it, and is there a cfg file somewhere?

KIS (and other mods) add subcategories through code. The only way to do it through a .cfg is with the plugin from Filter Extensions

[Windspren]

It's a stock in-game feature that came with the editor revisions in 0.90. If you expand the categories by pressing the little arrow at the extreme upper left of the editor, there is an option to make custom categories with whatever parts you want in them.

I strongly support the motion to reroll the stock categories completely (While I've done it through FE, something similar should still be stock)

KIS (and other mods) add subcategories through code. The only way to do it through a .cfg is with the plugin from Filter Extensions

Which one?

[Crzyrndm]

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/104231-0-90-Filter-Extensions-1-17-%28Feb-9%29

Comes with a lot of premade configs, but you can just rip them out and start from scratch if you want to. If you need a bit of help, ask in the thead

[Windspren]

Could someone maybe make an Electrical tab that has all stock electrical parts in it, along with Near Future Solar and Electric parts in it? I have NO idea how to use Filter Extensions.

[Crzyrndm]

Could someone maybe make an Electrical tab that has all stock electrical parts in it, along with Near Future Solar and Electric parts in it? I have NO idea how to use Filter Extensions.

Take a look in the latest release (last hour or so). It has a rearrangement of stock categories that is fairly similar to what this thread has suggested plus a few other things that I've found useful and includes the electrical tab that should do exactly what you want

Layout (NOTE some parts appear in multiple locations, but tabs are still between 0.5 and 1.5 pages stock)

• Command and Crew: Stock pods category + other crewed parts
  
• Attitude Control: Stock Command and Control + aero control surfaces
  
• Fuel tanks
  
• Engines
  
• Structural
  
• General Aero - Everything in stock aero category that isn't a wing + parachutes, adapters, and cargo bays
  
• Flight - Wings and control surfaces
  
• Misc - Stock Utility without Generators, Lights, batteries, solar panels, cargo bays, crew pods, and parachutes
  
• Electrical - Generators, Lights, batteries, solar panels
  
• Science
  

NOTE: Delete the "000_FilterExtensions Configs/Default" folder to stop all the other categories appearing

Edited June 28, 2015 by Crzyrndm

[Windspren]

Take a look in the latest release (last hour or so). It has a rearrangement of stock categories that is fairly similar to what this thread has suggested plus a few other things that I've found useful and includes the electrical tab that should do exactly what you want

Layout (NOTE some parts appear in multiple locations, but tabs are still between 0.5 and 1.5 pages stock)

• Command and Crew: Stock pods category + other crewed parts
  
• Attitude Control: Stock Command and Control + aero control surfaces
  
• Fuel tanks
  
• Engines
  
• Structural
  
• General Aero - Everything in stock aero category that isn't a wing + parachutes, adapters, and cargo bays
  
• Flight - Wings and control surfaces
  
• Misc - Stock Utility without Generators, Lights, batteries, solar panels, cargo bays, crew pods, and parachutes
  
• Electrical - Generators, Lights, batteries, solar panels
  
• Science
  

NOTE: Delete the "000_FilterExtensions Configs/Default" folder to stop all the other categories appearing

Does it work with mod parts? Looks good....

[Crzyrndm]

All done by characterising part components, so for the most part it will. Some mod modules aren't "known" though and will still show in their old locations (general aero for aero, misc for utility, etc.)

[Windspren]

All done by characterising part components, so for the most part it will. Some mod modules aren't "known" though and will still show in their old locations (general aero for aero, misc for utility, etc.)

So so the solar panels from NFS and the reactors from NFE know they belong in electrics? And the ALCOR pod knows it belongs in pods? How many categories are there?

- - - Updated - - -

EDIT: I am sooo getting this. One question: If I wanted to change a part's location, do I go into the .cfg and enter the new name (misc) or the old name (utility)?

- - - Updated - - -

Oh, and does the custom KIS category show up?

- - - Updated - - -

Darn, "You must spread around some reputation before giving it to Crzyrndm again"

[Crzyrndm]

Move any further questions to here so the thread isn't completely derailed: http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/104231-0-90-Filter-Extensions-1-17-%28Feb-9%29

1) yes (NF in particular is "known" and the pod will probably be picked up by category or the fact it has crew), and for the reconfigure only the 10 listed above (the default package also adds about 10 in Function and adds another 10 odd categories for really narrowing it down)

2) You don't touch parts for the most part (if you did, you need to use the stock category names. KSP doesn't recognise anything else and FE specifically blocks "hidden" parts that don't show in any stock or other mod category). Specifics of moving things around will need to go into the FE thread, but it's all done from the configuration files not from the parts

3) Yes, all other mods categories show up after unless specifically removed