Planar / axial symmetry switch in SPH?

[Evanitis]

Hope I used the correct terminus technicus in the title. Anyways...

Symmetry mode in SPH is usually the more logical 'planar' way - so if I try to attach a wing to the upper part of a palne, the 'mirrored' wing goes to the upper part on the other side. But sometimes it snaps the parts by axial symmetry, like it happens in the VAB - so in the above example, one of the wings will be placed higher.

Do you know what causes the switch? Is there a way to control this mechanic?

Edited July 4, 2015 by Evanitis

[Gaarst]

Pressing R by default switches the symmetry mode

[Evanitis]

Pressing R by default switches the symmetry mode

Thanks!

Dang that was too easy. I should print a KSP keyboard layout. Or read the manual at least.

[Daveroski]

There is a long-standing bug in SPH which sometimes messes up the symmetry of your craft when it happens, pressing 'R' to change symmetry does so until you hover over certain parts of your craft which changes it back again. You can try pressing 'F' which is supposed to cause symmetry to affect the part you are hovering over and tell it that symmetry is for this part. Then select symmetry using 'R' and place your part.

I have found that does work on occasion but on numerous occasions I have had to abandon the craft and start another from scratch. Quite Tiresome.

[Claw]

Symmetry (especially in the SPH) is sometimes a goofy thing.

- If you have symmetry selected and you drag a part over another symmetrically placed part, the symmetry mode with change to match the part you touched with the mouse.

-- Which also means that placing a part in symmetry will force it to match symmetry to the part you're attaching it to

Based on your limited description, I would guess that you're simply dragging the mouse over some other parts on the way. After you get the the placement spot you want, press R as Gaarst suggests to switch symmetry modes.

That's really the only symmetry rule, is that symmetry will switch to match whatever your mouse is touching (unless it's a single part). In the SPH, parts placed without symmetry (just a single part) default to holding Radial symmetry. So if later you remove some parts, turn on symmetry, and place those parts, they will all default to Radial and you can't switch it back. Sometimes that can cause a problem. Something to be aware of if you like to build one wing at a time, then remove and attach with symmetry later. This can usually be avoided by building both wings in symmetry at the same time, even if you want to pull it off and put it back on later, because the symmetric relationships will be correct.

Cheers,

~Claw