I just don't get the new Root tool

[RocketBlam]

I used SelectRoot before, and it worked like I expected. I just selected one part, and from then on, that was the root.

Now, I'm supposed to select two parts, and I just don't get how it works, and I can't seem to make it work like I want it to. Further, I can't seem to find any explanation for how it should work. Help?

Edited January 26, 2015 by RocketBlam

[Slam_Jones]

The first click is irrelevant; the second click is what the root will be set to.

[vexx32]

Moved to Gameplay Questions.

I have a habit of selecting whatever part is immediately adjacent to the part I want as root, and then selecting the new root part. I'm still not sure what the first click is for, but it seems to work.

[RocketBlam]

I think I just tried that, and it flipped my rocket all around... maybe I was seeing things. but thanks for the quick replies.

It does beg the question what the extra click is for.

[SkyRender]

I suspect the first click is to make sure that you don't select a non-root-capable part. If they did it single-click, it would force you to re-click the re-root tool to select a valid root if you picked an invalid one the first time. Just my guess.

[monophonic]

I suspect the first click is to make sure that you don't select a non-root-capable part. If they did it single-click, it would force you to re-click the re-root tool to select a valid root if you picked an invalid one the first time. Just my guess.

Why wouldn't they just keep the old root and pop up a message saying that part cannot be root?

I'm sure there is a clue in the message given for the first click though. It goes something like "select part to attach by" or thereabouts. I just can't figure out what it means.

[Superfluous J]

All I've figured out is the first click only does one thing: Denotes a part as NOT able to be root. It seems the prompts could have been "Click on a part you don't want to be root." and "Good. You have proven you can click the mouse. Now click on the part you actually want to be root."

[cicatrix]

All I've figured out is the first click only does one thing: Denotes a part as NOT able to be root. It seems the prompts could have been "Click on a part you don't want to be root." and "Good. You have proven you can click the mouse. Now click on the part you actually want to be root."

Very Kerbalish indeed.

[Alshain]

Yeah I struggled with this myself at first. I think Squad needs to rethink that a bit.

[Kelderek]

All I've figured out is the first click only does one thing: Denotes a part as NOT able to be root. It seems the prompts could have been "Click on a part you don't want to be root." and "Good. You have proven you can click the mouse. Now click on the part you actually want to be root."

You can click on the same part twice to make it the root, but I think you need to move your mouse off that part to something else and then move it back in between clicks. After the first click you will notice the new blue highlighting of the parts as your mouse over them. So you can have both your clicks on the same part, but not as you would expect - it just needs a little movement in between (god knows why, lol).

[Superfluous J]

You can click on the same part twice to make it the root, but I think you need to move your mouse off that part to something else and then move it back in between clicks. After the first click you will notice the new blue highlighting of the parts as your mouse over them. So you can have both your clicks on the same part, but not as you would expect - it just needs a little movement in between (god knows why, lol).

Ha that makes even less sense. Which makes sense, in an odd way.

[Chewy]

If I had to guess, I would guess the first click determines how the program rebuilds the part tree.

[TopGull]

I'm away from my computer so I can't test this, but maybe the 1st click selects which group of parts to change the root of? For example, you build a stack under a command pod, then detach the stack so it's not part of the craft but still in the editor. Can you use the root tool to change the root of the detached parts?

[SaturnV]

All I've figured out is the first click only does one thing: Denotes a part as NOT able to be root. It seems the prompts could have been "Click on a part you don't want to be root." and "Good. You have proven you can click the mouse. Now click on the part you actually want to be root."

Actually it's “Click on a part you think it's important“ then "Did I just said something? Never mind, now click on the part you want to be root."

[vexx32]

I'm away from my computer so I can't test this, but maybe the 1st click selects which group of parts to change the root of? For example, you build a stack under a command pod, then detach the stack so it's not part of the craft but still in the editor. Can you use the root tool to change the root of the detached parts?

That.... actually makes a whole lot of sense. Can it indeed change the root part of "ghosted" or unattached part sections? That would be immensely​ useful, if that's the case.

[problemecium]

I heard something similar when I asked about it in the 0.90 discussion thread, but when I tried it on a detached group of parts, the whole ship file became corrupted and I had to start over.

[monophonic]

That.... actually makes a whole lot of sense. Can it indeed change the root part of "ghosted" or unattached part sections? That would be immensely​ useful, if that's the case.

Testing indicates "no." I get the message "No other valid parts to attach by in the current selection"

I also remembered the messages wrong. They are "Select a set of two or more parts to attach..." for the first click and "Select another part to attach by" for the second.

If I have only a single part on the ship, the first click says "Cannot use the Root tool on a single part." You cannot select the original root node as the new root node.

I haven't played with symmetry and surface attached parts yet. Don't have time for that right now though, but this mystery is too intriguing to forget for long...

[LostOblivion]

I'd like for Squad to comment on this, explaining as to why we have to click twice.

[Kryxal]

I think I've been making the wrong part root ... but it works, so good enough (I was swapping out the OKTO for the HECS)

[Mars Mullo]

Apparently in DF Wandering kid - You tube videoes he shows how changing the root part and using assemblies allows you to have radially connected docking ports on new build space ships.. something you couldn't do easily if at all without the new root part and the alignment tools.

see it here

well worth watch to see how it can be used to good effect.

[Superfluous J]

Apparently in DF Wandering kid - You tube videoes he shows how changing the root part and using assemblies allows you to have radially connected docking ports on new build space ships.. something you couldn't do easily if at all without the new root part and the alignment tools.

see it here

well worth watch to see how it can be used to good effect.

I saw that video and was impressed. I've used the alignment tool (just clicking on it with angle snap on) to align things placed without symmetry exactly on a vertical axis (Vertical snap FTW) but never thought to use it to align multiple docking ports.

Mostly because I don't use multiple docking ports and instead prefer strut mods

[Sigma88]

I think I just tried that, and it flipped my rocket all around... maybe I was seeing things. but thanks for the quick replies.

It does beg the question what the extra click is for.

the flipping around happened also with the change root mod, it's the game rebuilding the craft around the part you selected. But putting said part in it's starting orientation (the same effect that has pressing space)

at least that's how I've always seen it

[panzer1b]

Never understood the use for 2 clicks, but i will say that while its rarely used, the rooting tool really helps when making sub assemblies, especially since it lets u grab stuff by a docking port ect. Only issue with it is that if you root it wrong, sometimes it messes the fuel flow around, but that seems to be rare and with very specific designs after rooting.