Merging Docking Ports?

[Nikolai]

I don't even know if this is intentional behavior.

I'm creating rockets with (uncrewed) landers already docked to them and launching them.  If they've been in space for a while, it looks like the software is "clipping" the docking ports.  "Undock" isn't an option when I right-click on either side; the best I get is "Decouple node".

So I guess I need to ask for some information and some advice.  How does "Undock" differ from "Decouple node"?  Am I condemned to always have these landers stuck to the side of the space station?  Is there something I'm supposed to be doing during construction (or during some other phase) to prevent this?  Where can I go to learn more, especially when it comes to using the new editor tools effectively?

[radonek]

Decoupling is perfectly fine. Afaik only difference is that decoupling is staging event (not shown as such by default, but can be enabled in VAB/SPH). This is handy, since you can decouple from any part.

[FlyingPete]

You'll get 'decouple node' on docking ports that were docked in the VAB and haven't been separated yet. It does exactly the same thing as 'undock'.

[kujuman]

One thing to clarify: if you stack attach anything* to the "docking" node in the VAB/SPH, you will be able to use the docking port as a decoupler as well.

The reason you don't see the "Undock" option is because the game logic only recognizes docking when docking ports get connected in the flight scene. So because you never docked your craft together (they came preassembled), you don't have the Undock option. Once decoupled though, the docking ports will work normally, so next time you redock, you'll see the "Undock" option :-)

* so no just another docking port