Presets on-the-fly

[scootersoup]

Who here has thought they just put the finishing touches on their shiny new rocket, only to find out they goofed the presets mid-launch? I know I have Or maybe you dumped all your science experiments into one preset and most of the science has been depleted except the Materials Bay which still has 140 points left to go? Well, the reason I thought of this was because I know both of these things quite well. All I'm asking for is to add that little blue tab from the VAB/SPH into the top of the non-map view (not exactly sure what this is called) when you're out putting around the solar system. Just an idea, and I hope you like it. I know I would

EDIT: err, could a mod change the word "Prefixes" in my title to "Presets" please? My brain does strange things sometimes...

Edited November 18, 2013 by scootersoup

[KvickFlygarn87]

What "presets" are you talking about?

[vexx32]

I think he means Action Groups. In which case, yes, good idea, but not one I haven't seen before

[Kasuha]

Well, there's a mod that allows that. But it would still be nice to see it in the stock game for purists like myself. It's not just about screwing up action groups. What's my main problem is that I construct ships in orbit. And My lifter uses action groups so I can't use these on any parts I lift or the thing would malfunction. And when the thing is in orbit I have no chance of even checking whatever action groups have I set up on individual pieces, I just have to remember them.

[allmappedout]

Well, there's a mod that allows that. But it would still be nice to see it in the stock game for purists like myself. It's not just about screwing up action groups. What's my main problem is that I construct ships in orbit. And My lifter uses action groups so I can't use these on any parts I lift or the thing would malfunction. And when the thing is in orbit I have no chance of even checking whatever action groups have I set up on individual pieces, I just have to remember them.

Whilst now isn't the time to debate being a purist, my advice would be to try and standardise your action groups. Whilst I understand that's not always possible, I always set my solar panels to the same action group, or parachutes or all science to another, just so I'm far less likely to do something stupid with a constructed ship. It's been (mostly) successful and has cut down on me accidentally shooting up the wrong set of engines and ending up crashing into Jool (look...it happened once and I'm SORRY, but can't we let things live in the past, Jeb?)

[tetryds]

i belive that action groups need a review

there are issues about replacing and mirroring parts with action groups

sometimes the undo option glitches them out too

if i set an engine to start with an action group i want all the other engines mirrored by it to do the same

and not have to set it all over again just because i moved it around

[maltesh]

Whilst now isn't the time to debate being a purist, my advice would be to try and standardise your action groups. Whilst I understand that's not always possible, I always set my solar panels to the same action group, or parachutes or all science to another, just so I'm far less likely to do something stupid with a constructed ship. It's been (mostly) successful and has cut down on me accidentally shooting up the wrong set of engines and ending up crashing into Jool (look...it happened once and I'm SORRY, but can't we let things live in the past, Jeb?)

Definitely, definitely standardize your action groups. Doubly so, since they become merged when you dock spacecraft together.

Personally the scheme I use for action groups is one I found somewhere on these forums, but alas, when I evernoted the post, I didn't copy down the name of the user who made it. But the basic idea is, for most action groups, to center them around what the spacecraft will be /doing/, rather than what the individual parts /are/.

1 - Pre-flight checklist

2 - Orbital maneuvering mode

3 - Orbital mode, non-maneuvering

4 - EVA/Docking maneuvers mode

5 - Atmospheric descent mode

6 - Landing mode

7 - On ground-station mode

8 - TBD

9 - Special functions "on"

0 - Special functions "off"

So, for instance,

In AG1, you might want to Retract Solar Panels

in AG2, you might want to Extend Solar Panels, Retract Landing Legs, Retract Ladders, turn off Landing and Docking Lights, and Activate Engines.

In AG3, you might want to Extend Solar Panels, and Deactivate Engines.

In AG4, you might want to Retract Solar Panels, Deactivate Engines, and Turn on Docking Lights.

in AG6, you might want to Extend Landing Legs, and turn on Landing Lights.

In AG7, you might want to Extend Landing Legs, Lower Ladders, Expand Solar Panels, Turn off Landing Lights, Turn on Surface Illumination Lights, and Deactivate Engines

Just some examples, depending on how you decide to go from one state to another.

[Kasuha]

I'm not using that many action groups to run out of them yet, although that time may come. My current main problem is remembering them because there's substantial time between when I define the group in VAB and when I get to actually use it on ship constructed in orbit over a few days. Because I really hate to deploy parachutes when I want to lock gimbal on engines.

And my point still is that if the lifter takes up two action groups, there's no way to use them on anything it's lifting.

i belive that action groups need a review

there are issues about replacing and mirroring parts with action groups

sometimes the undo option glitches them out too

if i set an engine to start with an action group i want all the other engines mirrored by it to do the same

and not have to set it all over again just because i moved it around

Of course we all hope devs will fix bugs that are in the game but getting them fixed is not the matter in this part of forums.

Regarding selecting symmetry groups, I'd really appreciate if it was possible to select either all perts of the group or just one.

Edited November 18, 2013 by Kasuha

[scootersoup]

I think he means Action Groups. In which case, yes, good idea, but not one I haven't seen before

Yes, and sorry for the confusion and repost. I did a search and didn't find anything, and I don't remember seeing it in the what not to suggest list. Unless it was quite a long time ago.

Regarding selecting symmetry groups, I'd really appreciate if it was possible to select either all perts of the group or just one.

I agree. I haven't come across a case where I personally needed to select individuals of a group of symmetrical parts, but I think this could be an issue as well.

[Andersenman]

There's an app a mod for that. No guarantees whether it still works in .22.

[Hurry- Starfish!]

Regarding selecting symmetry groups, I'd really appreciate if it was possible to select either all perts of the group or just one.

There is a way, using that otherwise incredibly annoying bug that's been there since forever:

Place part with symmetry group, set up action group, remove and reattach part.

Only the part itself will retain the action group, its symmetric clones won't.