Solved! How to change the root part of a craft!

[dronkit]

Good news everyone!

I just wrote a Python script to change the root part of a .craft file!

You'll need Python 3.3.2 or superior, found at http://python.org/

As such, it should work on many platforms, and if you have linux you probably already have Python.

Usage:

Windows:

(path to python)\python reroot.py (craft file path/name) (part number to become root)

Linux:

you probably don't need the path to python or even to type python. Use '/' when appropiate.

If no path is supplied, it will look for the craft file in the current directory. The ouput is a new file with the original name plus a "_rootx" x being your supplied part number.

The part number to become root is which part you want to be root, counting from 1.

For now, you gotta open the craft file with a text editor, identify which part you need to be root and count its position.

To help you, you got to know that a part starts with a

PART

{

and soon there's a line that says

partName = (something)

which gives you a very good clue. Maybe you miss and you wanted another part with the same name. Try again.

This is a very first working version and there's zero error or bad input file tolerance. If the file does not exist or the number is not a number, you will get an error. Backup your file (though it should be untouched).

Not tested on linux (as of yet). Ship may experience unexpected structural failure (nah).

All corrections and suggestions are welcome. Feel free to fork in sourceforge or translate the code to c# to build a mod! (i really want someone to do that!).

You can download it here: https://sourceforge.net/projects/kspcraftreroot

[Galane]

Nice to see different ways to do things.

Here's another. http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/showthread.php/43208-0-21-1-Aug12-SelectRoot-Let-another-part-be-root-now-with-less-restrictions

[dronkit]

damn! I was so excited having finished! I searched for days and found nothing so I wrote it myself, then someone had already done it lol.

Edited September 4, 2013 by dronkit

[blizzy78]

Not sure what you were searching for, but googling "ksp change root part" turns up the SelectRoot mod right on the first page for me.

[Jackissimus]

Not sure what you were searching for, but googling "ksp change root part" turns up the SelectRoot mod right on the first page for me.

Now you can start wiggling and turning the knife in the wound. Finish him off!

Edited September 4, 2013 by Jackissimus

[blizzy78]

Ah well. Sorry about that, I was just curious why "searching for days" would not turn up the mod. Pardon my ranting there.

[KerbMav]

Because forum searches (everywhere) are mostly dung - I use google even to search for a forum thread now, the hits are far more relevant - sad but true ...

[Stone Blue]

Yup...the search on KSP Spaceport BLOWSS!!!!!!...I can type the EXACT, FULL title of a mod, much less just a relevant word, and it MAY show up near the bottom of the page, or maybe somewhere on the 2nd page, or maybe not at all...??

So I use "site:http://kerbalspaceprogram.com/" in the Google search with whatever I am looking for...(you dont type use the " ")...This usually brings up the EXACT mod right in the first couple links.

And yes, I've had to resort to this method on a couple other forums I am on, as well...

[BostLabs]

Because the search function doesn't work very well sometimes.

[Jackissimus]

Yeah, it took me a couple of "this thread has been here a week ago" reactions to my new threads to realize that I have to use google instead.

[dronkit]

problem is I searched for "ksp change root craft file" and the like... the post says "select a part on your vessel to become the new root part"... tricky to find DAMN lol

[blizzy78]

heh, okay... sometimes you need to juggle around with the vocabulary... craft, vessel, vehicle... lose the "file" word... such things