Question on struts

[Hexlord]

In the picture below, when I go to place a strut on one of the reaction wheels it turns green, I assume it's telling me it will "be part of" this piece.
http://i.imgur.com/wlVxh44.jpg

 

Now in the next picture, if I go to place the strut further towards the center of my rocket(thing), all of the reaction wheels turn green. Does this mean the single strut will 'connect' to all of them? If so it's a bit counter-intuitive, if nothing turned green I would place the strut at the furthest location in order to support it's weight better.

http://i.imgur.com/PyzToCB.jpg

[Plusck]

No, it's just the default behaviour whenever you mouse over any part in the VAB/SPH.

The part you are mousing over turns green, together with all parts which are "sub" parts to that part on the tree. So if you mouse over the root part the whole craft turns green, if you mouse over a part next to it then all more distant parts turn green, and so on.

The strut itself will be attached specifically where you place it, not to the rest of that branch.

 

It is, incidentally, how you can tell if you're about to pick up a strut or something else. The strut is always, always a sub-part to the part it is first attached to. If you mouse over the strut and something else turns green, then you know you are not actually pointing at the strut.

Edited January 11, 2016 by Plusck

[Snark]

Just to add to Plusck's answer: the green highlighting has nothing to do with the strut you're carrying.  The highlighting is implemented the way it is so that you can see "if I click here to pick up (detach) something from the rocket, what will I be grabbing?"

Edited January 11, 2016 by Snark

[swjr-swis]

Just to add to Plusck and Snark's correct answers: your instinct is correct in that you would get more structural integrity out of attaching the strut to the further end.

 

Aside from what you ask, I have to say: those pics have so much Kerbal in them. I am proud of you, son.

[arise257]

If you make it to space with that, you've earned ALL the gold stars for piloting.

[Hexlord]

Thanks, makes a lot of sense

It's the first half of my Kessel Run challenge. 1 probe for each planet, and a spare just in case.