Cannot attach to the bottom of part

[adamkdean]

Hi all,

I followed this tutorial (http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/entries/3232) and created a really rubbishy looking rocket booster, but it was my rocket booster. I'm having a problem though, in that I cannot stick any items to the bottom of this booster. Is there something special that I need to do so that I can stack radial decouplers onto the booster?

I look forward to hearing back from you!

Adam

[gkorgood]

could we see your config file? and maybe a pic or too? I have an idea of what may be the issue but a cfg and some pics would tell me whether or not I'm right.

[lo-fi]

A screen grab in vab as well as config would be handy too. Probably node orientation

[gkorgood]

A screen grab in vab as well as config would be handy too. Probably node orientation

I was assuming there wasn't a node at all. but you're right, could be the orientation.

@adamkdean: in VAB hit alt-F12 and enable the option that sounds something like "non-strict orientation for node attachment", see if the issue persists

[adamkdean]

Here is the config: https://gist.github.com/adamkdean/da34c87de08e5c1729a2

Here are some screenshots: https://imgur.com/a/IFdJl

When I disabled strict orientation checking, it worked. Could you explain what this means? Also, is there a way I can enable auto-fairing for when something is attached to the bottom?

Thanks, I really appreciate the help!

[lo-fi]

I believe there's a section in the mod dev links sticky that ought to be able to help with explaining the nodes. The first three sets of numbers are the position of the node, the second set are orientation. The last is the size of the node.

For auto fairing, create a mesh as normal for it and tag it in Unity as Icon_Hidden. KSP will do the rest hiding as appropriate.

Hopefully that'll get you going, but shout if you run into trouble.

Edited July 28, 2015 by lo-fi

[gkorgood]

Here is the config: https://gist.github.com/adamkdean/da34c87de08e5c1729a2

Here are some screenshots: https://imgur.com/a/IFdJl

When I disabled strict orientation checking, it worked. Could you explain what this means? Also, is there a way I can enable auto-fairing for when something is attached to the bottom?

Thanks, I really appreciate the help!

In regards to the node orientation: as of KSP 1.0.x, attachment nodes have a specific (*very) direction that they are "facing" so parts can only be attached in such a way that they are lined up. only problem is we can't see that, since nodes are spheres. Enabling the thing in the debug console removes this feature, to make the game function like pre-1.0. The node definition values are as following: first three numbers are location, second three are orientation, last one is size. To fix the problem permanently, as lo-fi implied, change the three orientation numbers to their negative counterparts for the node_stack_bottom, one at a time. In other words, make the line read "node_stack_bottom = 0.0, -0.45, 0.0, 0.0, -1.0, 0.0, 1". Test it. If it still doesn't work get back to us.

As for auto-fairing, I have no idea, never made an engine before, or dug into the configs.

Edited July 28, 2015 by gkorgood

[cantab]

KSP now cares about the direction a node is in, and won't allow you to attach another part the "wrong way" unless you turn on that cheat option. This change was made to resolve issues with attaching thin parts such as heatshields. In your config

node_stack_bottom = 0.0, -0.45, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0, 0.0, 1 
node_stack_top    = 0.0,  0.45, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0, 0.0, 1

The first three numbers are position, and the next three are direction. Notice how both nodes point in the same direction, upwards. You want the bottom node to point downwards, so change it to

node_stack_bottom = 0.0, -0.45, 0.0, 0.0, -1.0, 0.0, 1

You may also want to add a node_attach line to control how the booster attaches radially to other parts.

[adamkdean]

Thanks folks, I got a message back from the author of the tutorials which echoed your answers, so I'll give that a go and let you know. I'll also try the mesh thing as well, thanks for the tips.

You guys rock!