Parts unplaceable even when they should be?

[TheLastMonkeylander]

Occasionally when using symmetry, regardless of what type of symmetry, only one of the parts will show as placeable and the rest will show red, even though it's not obstructed. For example when I attach several fuel tanks around the main body, and try to add engines to these tanks, only one side of all two to eight sides will be green and the rest prevent me from placing it, even if the engines are not intersecting anything.

I can occasionally fix this by trying a different tank to add the engine to, and for some reason it'll work that time, but it often is still blocked. I have had to change a lot of my designs due to this... bug? (Or am I just doing something wrong?)

The strange part is that I can often place parts in really odd, physically impossible ways, like a reverse engine going inside of a fuel tank or a decoupler inside of a decoupler. Yet a part that has plenty of room can be blocked when symmetry is involved.

EDIT: example

Edited July 29, 2013 by TheLastMonkeylander

[Deejay2000]

This happens to me quite often. To get around this, just place the fuel tanks on the bottom of the ship so you only have to put one engine on it, then put it back on the side using symmetry. Should always work. (Sorry if I'm not clear enough)

-Deejay

[TheLastMonkeylander]

accidental double post

Edited July 29, 2013 by TheLastMonkeylander

[TheLastMonkeylander]

This happens to me quite often. To get around this, just place the fuel tanks on the bottom of the ship so you only have to put one engine on it, then put it back on the side using symmetry. Should always work. (Sorry if I'm not clear enough)

-Deejay

Ah, haven't thought of that. Though, this sometimes happens with the tanks themselves as well if I have radial 4, 6, or 8 part symmetry.

I guess that's a good workaround for the engine case.

Edited July 29, 2013 by TheLastMonkeylander

[mcirish3]

I can occasionally fix this by trying a different tank to add the engine to, and for some reason it'll work that time, but it often is still blocked. I have had to change a lot of my designs due to this... bug? (Or am I just doing something wrong?)

Bug, yes, yep drives me nuts. This is a bug they have yet to fix, not sure why. I found that there are several workarounds including Deejay2000's method. I have discovered with the tank problem if I can get them to attach to any thing at all I can disconnect them and and they will usually bit not always attach correctly after that. I also noticed that the problem gets worse the more parts you have on the ship. To get around this problem is Usually do the tank and engine design work first and then to thrusters and connector parts lights fuel lines and so forth last. since they seem to have less of a problem with the symmetry issue. Also reloading the game seems to help at least for a while. hope this helps.