UI usability suggestion: SPH / VAB

[spacetackle]

Hi SQUAD and friends ,

I wanted to make a suggestion for the UI of the SPH and VAB.  At the moment, There are a few key functions that are not included in the UI of the VAB/SPH and many players do not know these functions exist for a long time, until their frustrations become too much and they search a forum. 

These functions are : The toggle for mirrored/symmetry attach, the toggle/hold to turn off surface attach and alt - click for copy.

I think it would be fantastic if these functions could have a visible place on the UI so that players know they exist (perhaps next to the other buttons: attach, offset, rotate and root). Yes, they are listed in keybindings, But if a player does not know they exist they are unlikely to go looking for the keybinding for it. Especially when most major functions are have buttons, they players wouldn't expect there is something missing. 

These are also functions that greatly assist building, particularly in the SPH!

That's my two cents.

Keep up the great work SQUAD!  can't wait for 1.1

 

[Blaarkies]

What about a tiny help button, that open up a "KSPedia" page about that scene, showing all the tips & tricks and cool shortcuts that is usable at that moment. Mention this in the tutorial somewhere and all should be good. We vets probably wont go doing the tutorials again, and might miss out on noticing the "help" button, but most of us found those feature by watching the release update's videos

 

[spacetackle]

Yeah that is a very good idea!   It would be good too if it stayed within the game and did not go to an external browser. They could very easily implement a window popup that has basic explanations of the interactions you can have within that scene,  with big shiny pictures and associated key bindings .

Edited March 18, 2016 by spacetackle

[Snark]

Some additional "hidden" vehicle editor functions that lots of folks don't know about, not mentioned in the OP:

• "absolute snap" mode for the rotator widget (really important for airplane landing gear!)
• toggling between "vessel symmetry" and "parent part symmetry"

 

 

[FullMetalMachinist]

13 minutes ago, Snark said:

toggling between "vessel symmetry" and "parent part symmetry"

Maybe it's just me, but I've never been able to get this to work reliably. Anyone else have issues with it? 

[Claw]

On 3/18/2016 at 0:04 PM, FullMetalMachinist said:

Maybe it's just me, but I've never been able to get this to work reliably.

That's probably because it's not quite what it sounds like. Vessel vs parent really means where the symmetry is referencing it's rotations, rather than what it's creating symmetry on top of. So "part" is not doing symmetry on a single part, but rather using the part as it's rotational reference point but adding parts to symmetric partners. This really only comes into play when the root part of the craft is rotated.