Better action groups

[322997am]

I think there should be action groups for all main keys including WASDQE and rover controls and rcs controls. This will allow some advanced craft to fly as they never did

[Red Iron Crown]

Interesting...can you give a specific example of something you might use this for?

[adsii1970]

I agree with the idea of having more action groups, but am not too happy with the amount of confusion that some of the action group mods create. Ten more action groups could be added by allowing 0 through 9 to have a secondary assignment with the use of either a shift key or even the ALT key.

[StrandedonEarth]

All I really want is the ability to edit action groups on the fly

[Red Iron Crown]

All I really want is the ability to edit action groups on the fly

Or even just view them. I don't necessarily remember what the action groups are on that Jool ship I launched 3 years ago if I ran a lot of missions between then and now.

[adsii1970]

Or even just view them. I don't necessarily remember what the action groups are on that Jool ship I launched 3 years ago if I ran a lot of missions between then and now.

It's a low tech solution, but here it goes... I have a small spiral bound notebook. Each ship I make has its own page where I list every action group assignment. I also make sure I standardize those assignments - each aircraft has the same action key assignments, each satellite, each space station, etc. It makes it a lot easier to remember that way.

[Red Iron Crown]

It's a low tech solution, but here it goes... I have a small spiral bound notebook. Each ship I make has its own page where I list every action group assignment. I also make sure I standardize those assignments - each aircraft has the same action key assignments, each satellite, each space station, etc. It makes it a lot easier to remember that way.

My dream is that someday I'll be able to play KSP without needing any external tools like that. The game has this information already, all it needs is suitable presentation.

(I do standardized action groups, too. )

[adsii1970]

My dream is that someday I'll be able to play KSP without needing any external tools like that. The game has this information already, all it needs is suitable presentation.

(I do standardized action groups, too. )

To me it seems like this should be included in the Kerbal Engineer mod. (Edit:) It seems that it probably could easily be included as a HUD.

[Kerbart]

I'd add to the list action groups that are connected to specific stages and not "staging" in general. So you can have lights turned on, landing gear, solar panels, cooling panels folding out once you reach a certain stage.

[pandaman]

Yes to to being able to view action groups in flight. Using shift and/or alt to increase the number available makes sense too, but I wouldn't want to use the normal keys myself.

[Red Iron Crown]

Yes to to being able to view action groups in flight. Using shift and/or alt to increase the number available makes sense too, but I wouldn't want to use the normal keys myself.

I think the OP means to be able to add things like WASDQE and RCS to action groups, not use those keys for action groups.

[322997am]

Interesting...can you give a specific example of something you might use this for?

I would use this for a rover like "when I turn left have the reaction wheels roll right or something like that

[StrandedonEarth]

I would use this for a rover like "when I turn left have the reaction wheels roll right or something like that

I can see how that would be useful.

Hmmm, perhaps viewing AGs on the fly could be tied to pilot skill, and editing them tied to engineer skill

[mattinoz]

More auto populating action groups would be a real bonus as well.

For things like air intake, solar panels, cargo bays would delete a lot of what always feels like meaning less busy build work.

Still other than making a highly tweaked VTOL not sure how having an action group for each control direction would be useful.

Would you have these groups act as momentary-on actions?

So for example they switch a air intake from open to closed when the key is pressed but they flip back open when you lift your finger.

Then again more/better action groups can only be a good thing and should always be supported in my book.

Edited September 24, 2015 by mattinoz

[Guest]

Also add "toggle RCS" on rcs thrusters and "lock/unlock fuel flow" on tanks

[DocMoriarty]

Another thing related to action groups would be the generation of "dashboards" for each module in an assembly that consists of multiple modules so that you can access the action groups only for one module. Example: tug + space station + landers + rovers + satellites. People using AG's usually have standardized action groups but the action group to start main engines would start them on all the modules. With a dashboard UI that lets activate AG's only for one module that wouldn't be a problem. The UI would be kinda tree on the left side showing all "modules" and their hierarchy and the dashboard for the current selected module (a lander or a rover etc.) on the right side which consists of buttons for all AG's but probably also all the property settings for parts in that module.