Why is the Ion Engine in the Utility section?

[Zatie12]

Hi folks

This one always seems to get me, I look in the Propulsion section for the Ion engine and realise it's in Utility. Just wondering why it's there? It's a propulsion device, is it not. This also applies to the Xenon tanks, why aren't they in the Propulsion section with all the other various fuel tanks? Xenon is a fuel not a utility? I'm sure there's a very good reason for it that I've totally overlooked.

Thanks

[DevL]

No idea why, but you could use ModuleManager and a small patch to move them to propulsion if you like,

[Javster]

It is, but most people barely ever use it, so it would be extra clutter in Propulsion.

[Boomerang]

Also, if it really bothers you, just edit the cfg files for the engine and xenon tanks so that they're in 'Propulsion' rather than 'Utility'

[Zatie12]

Thanks for the replies. It's okay, it doesn't bother me. I was just wondering

[MarkyJ279]

Probably because it's the only propulsion device (other than RCS that has its own tab) that doesn't use liquidfuel. And if they stick the engine in utility they might as well put the tanks there as well.

Just a guess but that's the only explanation I could think of.

[Red Iron Crown]

RCS has its own troubles, why are the thrusters and tanks in different tabs?

I think ions are in Utility tab to keep them close to the electrical system parts.

[Alshain]

I'm hoping the new GUI in 0.4 brings us a new way to organize parts. The current method is fine for stock, but they know part mods are coming. There needs to be more divisions. Engines and Fuel need to be separated. Utility needs to be divided up between mechanical and electric. They keep talking about the new GUI and I'm hoping improvements to this will be included.

[Sky_walker]

In general the way they organize items it very confusing for a beginner.

For me during first 3 day it's always been a problem to find stupid separators. I keep on looking for them under the engines section, cause they're separating the engines, but nope...

You know what would be good?

An option to search for an item by name or keyword. Say: I type in a search box "adapter" - and I get all adapters. I type "docking" and I get all docking ports. I type "landing" and I get all the wheels and landing struts.

[Alshain]

In general the way they organize items it very confusing for a beginner.

For me during first 3 day it's always been a problem to find stupid separators. I keep on looking for them under the engines section, cause they're separating the engines, but nope...

You know what would be good?

An option to search for an item by name or keyword. Say: I type in a search box "adapter" - and I get all adapters. I type "docking" and I get all docking ports. I type "landing" and I get all the wheels and landing struts.

Search bar would be nice. The Part Catalog addon has one, but it really should be standard.

[Soda Popinski]

It also doesn't seem to show up on the staging icons on the left. In my current Jool mission, turns out I've been firing an ion engine laterally (part of a probe) on my mothership without realizing it. That may explain some of the wobbling.

This was evident when I looked by at my previous mission updates. Look at that little blue donut in the upper right.

Edited June 23, 2014 by Soda Popinski

[technion]

I'm hoping the new GUI in 0.4 brings us a new way to organize parts. The current method is fine for stock, but they know part mods are coming. There needs to be more divisions. Engines and Fuel need to be separated. Utility needs to be divided up between mechanical and electric. They keep talking about the new GUI and I'm hoping improvements to this will be included.

I'm playing with interstellar and the propulsion seems to go for forever.. you can just keep on clicking "next" looking for a part.

[technion]

In general the way they organize items it very confusing for a beginner.

.

Honestly the only solution here is to start in career mode.

Despite all the complaints from seasoned players, the limited parts in career mode at tier 0 makes this process a lot easier to learn.

[Alshain]

I'm playing with interstellar and the propulsion seems to go for forever.. you can just keep on clicking "next" looking for a part.

Only Interstellar? I have Interstellar, KW Rocketry, NovaPunch, B9 (who's parts are all misplaced btw), Firespitter, Spaceplane Plus, and LLL. I reeeeeeallly want engines and fuel separated. It would also be nice to have major divisions for parts intended for rockets vs aircraft, still able to access them from both VAB and SPH, but divided tabs.

[J.Random]

I'm sure that part list/UI will be reorganized/redone later in development.

[Wallace]

What bugs me more is that Mono propellant is in propulsion and the RCS schnozzles are in control, surely they should be in the same place? The fact that control is really empty and propulsion is overcrowded makes it worse, so I moved the mono prop to control.

What also annoys me is how mixed up the items are in their categories. Are all 3 sizes of decoupler next to each other, with the 3 stack separators next to them? Of course they aren't!

[Alshain]

I'm sure that part list/UI will be reorganized/redone later in development.

I hoping for a little sooner than that. The devs keep talking about a new UI for 0.4, but we don't know how involved that UI change will be. We know there is going to be enough for the economy obviously, but there may be a lot more included.

[J.Random]

I just hope devs will at least start using "subcategory" config parameter at some point. Current sorting (alphabetic by full path to part's config file) isn't very usable when you have a lot of parts.

[DevL]

I hoping for a little sooner than that. The devs keep talking about a new UI for 0.4, but we don't know how involved that UI change will be. We know there is going to be enough for the economy obviously, but there may be a lot more included.

You mean 0.24, right? 0.4 was a looooong time ago.

[Claw]

I don't like the current ordering, but I sort of like this game mechanic. If a user really cares and takes the time, the entire ordering can be managed directly.

I'm not saying that I necessarily like having to rename the directories, but I like the fact that I could organize my list my parts together by size while another user could organize by type (engines together, decouplers together, etc...).

Filters would work here too.