Docking port trouble

[SofusRud]

I wasn't sure if I should put this here or in the bug report place.

Basically, I am building a modular surface base on Laythe, seen here in its current state:

here is the testing prototype at KSC:

The whole thing is assembled by those two rovers. Due to an error on my part, I only have one rover on Laythe at the moment, but that's beside the point.

Here is the issue:

For some reason, the docking port on top of the rover in the picture no longer works. No magnetism, no docking, no nothing. I noticed this when I went to pick up the second one of those tunnel segments that you can see in the first picture. At first I thought that it was a problem with the tunnel segment, as I had already assembled three pieces with that rover. With no docking, I had to haul the thing on top of the rover, without them being joined, which made for a nerve-wracking 2.5 km drive and a very tedious docking. Problem is, I have the same issue with the habitation module in the last picture, and i don't think I can pull off the same stunt this time.

As you can gather, this is a serious and weird issue. This really makes no sense, the thing worked before, has no visible damage, and everything has been tested to hell and back! And now all my Laythe efforts are in jeopardy. Worst case scenario I have to send out a shipment of new assembly rovers, but that would take ages, and I would prefer to avoid it, especially if there is some sort of invisible alien being on Laythe that feed off docking port magnetism but which is also really picky about only getting it from my rovers.

Does anyone have any idea whats going on with this thing? Any help would be appreciated.

Edited March 2, 2014 by SofusRud

[Roxette]

It's not an uncommon issue, sometimes the state of the docking port becomes incorrect. If a save/load cycle doesn't fix it, you need to save/edit/load - basically identify the errant docking port in the save file (persistent.sfs) - here is the state of a docking port that is currently unattached ...

			PART
			{
				name = dockingPort2
				uid = ( 9 digit number specific to individual part )
				mid = ( 9 digit number specific to individual vessel )
				parent = 2
				position = 0,1.56843280792236,0
				rotation = 0,0,0,1
				mirror = 1,1,1
				istg = 0
				dstg = 0
				sqor = -1
				sidx = -1
				attm = 0
				srfN = None, -1
				attN = None, -1
				attN = bottom, 2
				mass = 0.05
				temp = -189.1217
				expt = 0.5
				state = 0
				connected = True
				attached = True
				flag = Squad/Flags/default
				rTrf = dockingPort2
				EVENTS
				{
				}
				ACTIONS
				{
				}
				MODULE
				{
					name = ModuleDockingNode
					isEnabled = True
					state = Ready
					dockUId = 0
					dockNodeIdx = 0
					EVENTS
					{
						Undock
						{
							active = False
							guiActive = True
							guiIcon = Undock
							guiName = Undock
							category = Undock
							guiActiveUnfocused = True
							unfocusedRange = 2
							externalToEVAOnly = True
						}
						UndockSameVessel
						{
							active = False
							guiActive = True
							guiIcon = Undock
							guiName = Undock
							category = Undock
							guiActiveUnfocused = True
							unfocusedRange = 2
							externalToEVAOnly = True
						}
						Decouple
						{
							active = False
							guiActive = True
							guiIcon = Decouple Node
							guiName = Decouple Node
							category = Decouple Node
							guiActiveUnfocused = True
							unfocusedRange = 2
							externalToEVAOnly = True
						}
						SetAsTarget
						{
							active = True
							guiActive = False
							guiIcon = Set as Target
							guiName = Set as Target
							category = Set as Target
							guiActiveUnfocused = True
							unfocusedRange = 200
							externalToEVAOnly = False
						}
						UnsetTarget
						{
							active = False
							guiActive = False
							guiIcon = Unset Target
							guiName = Unset Target
							category = Unset Target
							guiActiveUnfocused = True
							unfocusedRange = 200
							externalToEVAOnly = False
						}
						EnableXFeed
						{
							active = False
							guiActive = True
							guiIcon = Enable Crossfeed
							guiName = Enable Crossfeed
							category = Enable Crossfeed
							guiActiveUnfocused = False
							unfocusedRange = 2
							externalToEVAOnly = True
						}
						DisableXFeed
						{
							active = False
							guiActive = True
							guiIcon = Disable Crossfeed
							guiName = Disable Crossfeed
							category = Disable Crossfeed
							guiActiveUnfocused = False
							unfocusedRange = 2
							externalToEVAOnly = True
						}
						MakeReferenceTransform
						{
							active = True
							guiActive = True
							guiIcon = Control from Here
							guiName = Control from Here
							category = Control from Here
							guiActiveUnfocused = False
							unfocusedRange = 2
							externalToEVAOnly = True
						}
					}
					ACTIONS
					{
						UndockAction
						{
							actionGroup = None
						}
						DecoupleAction
						{
							actionGroup = None
						}
					}
				}
			}

The key part is the lines 'state = Ready' but you may find other status lines show the incorrect state also. Take a backup copy of the file, edit the parts showing up wrongways, restart and test. Good luck, those kerbals are all counting on you.

[Taki117]

Be sure you also clear "dockUId" and "dockNodeIdx" by setting them to zero or they may still not work.

[Roxette]

Be sure you also clear "dockUId" and "dockNodeIdx" by setting them to zero or they may still not work.

Yes, I should have had more coffee this morning, thanks

[wasmic]

This bug usually arises from docking ports placed on physicsless parts (like the octagonal strut and the cubic octagonal strut), or docking ports placed on parts placed on physicsless parts. Just avoid the physicsless parts altogether.

[SofusRud]

Thanks guys, setting the state to "Ready" worked

[xcorps]

This bug usually arises from docking ports placed on physicsless parts (like the octagonal strut and the cubic octagonal strut), or docking ports placed on parts placed on physicsless parts. Just avoid the physicsless parts altogether.

Is there a list somewhere of parts that don't work well with docking ports? I'm trying to work this out as well. I've had a lot of difficulty getting them to work with struts, and now I'm trying the fuselage.