Pipes only connecting to my entity if the pipe is placed 1st

[Reika]

I am making a gas-powered boiler, which works with a compound entity (a special boiler type, and a hidden gas-input assembler underneath). It all works, except for the fact that the hidden assembler only connects to pipes if the pipe is placed first. I have no idea why this is. The assembler's recipe is set the moment it is created and placed in the world.

Relevant code:

Code: Select all

data:extend({
  {
    type = "boiler",
    name = "gas-boiler",
    icon = "__base__/graphics/icons/boiler.png",
    flags = {"placeable-neutral", "player-creation"},
    minable = {hardness = 0.2, mining_time = 0.5, result = "gas-boiler"},
    max_health = 200,
    corpse = "small-remnants",
    vehicle_impact_sound =  { filename = "__base__/sound/car-metal-impact.ogg", volume = 0.65 },
    mode = "output-to-separate-pipe",
    resistances =
    {
      {
        type = "fire",
        percent = 90
      },
      {
        type = "explosion",
        percent = 30
      },
      {
        type = "impact",
        percent = 30
      }
    },
    collision_box = {{-1.29, -0.79}, {1.29, 0.79}},
    selection_box = {{-1.5, -1}, {1.5, 1}},
    target_temperature = 165,
    fluid_box =
    {
      base_area = 1,
      height = 2,
      base_level = -1,
      pipe_covers = pipecoverspictures(),
      pipe_connections =
      {
        {type = "input-output", position = {-2, 0.5}},
        {type = "input-output", position = {2, 0.5}}
      },
      production_type = "input-output"
    },
    output_fluid_box =
    {
      base_area = 1,
      height = 2,
      base_level = 1,
      pipe_covers = pipecoverspictures(),
      pipe_connections =
      {
        {type = "output", position = {0, -1.5}}
      },
      production_type = "output"
    },
    fluid_input =
    {
      name = "water",
      amount = 0.0
    },
    fluid_output =
    {
      name = "steam",
      amount = 0.0
    },
    energy_consumption = "1.8MW",
    energy_source =
    {
      type = "burner",
      fuel_category = "chemical",
      effectivity = 0.5,
      fuel_inventory_size = 0,
      emissions = (0.1 / 6.5) / 1.5, --the actual emissions of the entire gas boiler; 1/1.5 becomes 1/6th because of coal-burning x4
      smoke =
      {
        {
          name = "smoke",
          north_position = util.by_pixel(-38, -47.5),
          south_position = util.by_pixel(38.5, -32),
          east_position = util.by_pixel(20, -70),
          west_position = util.by_pixel(-19, -8.5),
          frequency = 15,
          starting_vertical_speed = 0.0,
          starting_frame_deviation = 60
        }
      }
    },
    working_sound =
    {
      sound =
      {
        filename = "__base__/sound/boiler.ogg",
        volume = 0.8
      },
      max_sounds_per_type = 3
    },
    
    structure =
    {
      north =
      { 
        layers = 
        { 
          {
            filename = "__base__/graphics/entity/boiler/boiler-N-idle.png",
            priority = "extra-high",
            width = 131,
            height = 108,
            shift = util.by_pixel(-0.5, 4),
            hr_version = {
              filename = "__base__/graphics/entity/boiler/hr-boiler-N-idle.png",
              priority = "extra-high",
              width = 269,
              height = 221,
              shift = util.by_pixel(-1.25, 5.25),
              scale = 0.5
            }
          },
          {
            filename = "__base__/graphics/entity/boiler/boiler-N-shadow.png",
            priority = "extra-high",
            width = 137,
            height = 82,
            shift = util.by_pixel(20.5, 9),
            draw_as_shadow = true,
            hr_version = {
              filename = "__base__/graphics/entity/boiler/hr-boiler-N-shadow.png",
              priority = "extra-high",
              width = 274,
              height = 164,
              scale = 0.5,
              shift = util.by_pixel(20.5, 9),
              draw_as_shadow = true,
            }
          }
        }
      },
      east =
      {
        layers = 
        { 
          {
            filename = "__base__/graphics/entity/boiler/boiler-E-idle.png",
            priority = "extra-high",
            width = 105,
            height = 147,
            shift = util.by_pixel(-3.5, -0.5),
            hr_version = {
              filename = "__base__/graphics/entity/boiler/hr-boiler-E-idle.png",
              priority = "extra-high",
              width = 216,
              height = 301,
              shift = util.by_pixel(-3, 1.25),
              scale = 0.5
            }
          },
          {
            filename = "__base__/graphics/entity/boiler/boiler-E-shadow.png",
            priority = "extra-high",
            width = 92,
            height = 97,
            shift = util.by_pixel(30, 9.5),
            draw_as_shadow = true,
            hr_version = {
              filename = "__base__/graphics/entity/boiler/hr-boiler-E-shadow.png",
              priority = "extra-high",
              width = 184,
              height = 194,
              scale = 0.5,
              shift = util.by_pixel(30, 9.5),
              draw_as_shadow = true,
            }
          }
        }
      },
      south =
      {
        layers = 
        { 
          {
            filename = "__base__/graphics/entity/boiler/boiler-S-idle.png",
            priority = "extra-high",
            width = 128,
            height = 95,
            shift = util.by_pixel(3, 12.5),
            hr_version = {
              filename = "__base__/graphics/entity/boiler/hr-boiler-S-idle.png",
              priority = "extra-high",
              width = 260,
              height = 192,
              shift = util.by_pixel(4, 13),
              scale = 0.5
            }
          },
          {
            filename = "__base__/graphics/entity/boiler/boiler-S-shadow.png",
            priority = "extra-high",
            width = 156,
            height = 66,
            shift = util.by_pixel(30, 16),
            draw_as_shadow = true,
            hr_version = {
              filename = "__base__/graphics/entity/boiler/hr-boiler-S-shadow.png",
              priority = "extra-high",
              width = 311,
              height = 131,
              scale = 0.5,
              shift = util.by_pixel(29.75, 15.75),
              draw_as_shadow = true,
            }
          }
        }
      },
      west =
      {
        layers = 
        { 
          {
            filename = "__base__/graphics/entity/boiler/boiler-W-idle.png",
            priority = "extra-high",
            width = 96,
            height = 132,
            shift = util.by_pixel(1, 5),
            hr_version = {
              filename = "__base__/graphics/entity/boiler/hr-boiler-W-idle.png",
              priority = "extra-high",
              width = 196,
              height = 273,
              shift = util.by_pixel(1.5, 7.75),
              scale = 0.5
            }
          },
          {
            filename = "__base__/graphics/entity/boiler/boiler-W-shadow.png",
            priority = "extra-high",
            width = 103,
            height = 109,
            shift = util.by_pixel(19.5, 6.5),
            draw_as_shadow = true,
            hr_version = {
              filename = "__base__/graphics/entity/boiler/hr-boiler-W-shadow.png",
              priority = "extra-high",
              width = 206,
              height = 218,
              scale = 0.5,
              shift = util.by_pixel(19.5, 6.5),
              draw_as_shadow = true,
            }
          }
        }
      }
    },
   
    patch = 
    {
      east =
      {
        filename = "__base__/graphics/entity/boiler/boiler-E-patch.png",
        priority = "extra-high",
        width = 3,
        height = 17,
        shift = util.by_pixel(33.5, -13.5),
        hr_version = {
          filename = "__base__/graphics/entity/boiler/hr-boiler-E-patch.png",
          width = 6,
          height = 36,
          shift = util.by_pixel(33.5, -13.5),
          scale = 0.5
        }
      },
    },
    
    fire_flicker_enabled = true,
    fire =
    {
      north =
      {
        filename = "__base__/graphics/entity/boiler/boiler-N-fire.png",
        priority = "extra-high",
        frame_count = 64,
        line_length = 8,
        width = 12,
        height = 13,
        animation_speed = 0.5,
        shift = util.by_pixel(0, -8.5),
        hr_version = {
          filename = "__base__/graphics/entity/boiler/hr-boiler-N-fire.png",
          priority = "extra-high",
          frame_count = 64,
          line_length = 8,
          width = 26,
          height = 26,
          animation_speed = 0.5,
          shift = util.by_pixel(0, -8.5),
          scale = 0.5
        }
      },
      east =
      {
        filename = "__base__/graphics/entity/boiler/boiler-E-fire.png",
        priority = "extra-high",
        frame_count = 64,
        line_length = 8,
        width = 14,
        height = 14,
        animation_speed = 0.5,
        shift = util.by_pixel(-10, -22),
        hr_version = {
          filename = "__base__/graphics/entity/boiler/hr-boiler-E-fire.png",
          priority = "extra-high",
          frame_count = 64,
          line_length = 8,
          width = 28,
          height = 28,
          animation_speed = 0.5,
          shift = util.by_pixel(-9.5, -22),
          scale = 0.5
        }
      },
      south =
      {
        filename = "__base__/graphics/entity/boiler/boiler-S-fire.png",
        priority = "extra-high",
        frame_count = 64,
        line_length = 8,
        width = 12,
        height = 9,
        animation_speed = 0.5,
        shift = util.by_pixel(-1, -26.5),
        hr_version = {
          filename = "__base__/graphics/entity/boiler/hr-boiler-S-fire.png",
          priority = "extra-high",
          frame_count = 64,
          line_length = 8,
          width = 26,
          height = 16,
          animation_speed = 0.5,
          shift = util.by_pixel(-1, -26.5),
          scale = 0.5
        }
      },
      west =
      {
        filename = "__base__/graphics/entity/boiler/boiler-W-fire.png",
        priority = "extra-high",
        frame_count = 64,
        line_length = 8,
        width = 14,
        height = 14,
        animation_speed = 0.5,
        shift = util.by_pixel(13, -23),
        hr_version = {
          filename = "__base__/graphics/entity/boiler/hr-boiler-W-fire.png",
          priority = "extra-high",
          frame_count = 64,
          line_length = 8,
          width = 30,
          height = 29,
          animation_speed = 0.5,
          shift = util.by_pixel(13, -23.25),
          scale = 0.5
        }
      }
    },
   
    fire_glow_flicker_enabled = true,
    
    fire_glow =
    {
      north =
      {
        filename = "__base__/graphics/entity/boiler/boiler-N-light.png",
        priority = "extra-high",
        frame_count = 1,
        width = 100,
        height = 87,
        shift = util.by_pixel(-1, -6.5),
        blend_mode = "additive",
        hr_version = {
          filename = "__base__/graphics/entity/boiler/hr-boiler-N-light.png",
          priority = "extra-high",
          frame_count = 1,
          width = 200,
          height = 173,
          shift = util.by_pixel(-1, -6.75),
          blend_mode = "additive",
          scale = 0.5
        }
      },
      east =
      {
        filename = "__base__/graphics/entity/boiler/boiler-E-light.png",
        priority = "extra-high",
        frame_count = 1,
        width = 70,
        height = 122,
        shift = util.by_pixel(0, -13),
        blend_mode = "additive",
        hr_version = {
          filename = "__base__/graphics/entity/boiler/hr-boiler-E-light.png",
          priority = "extra-high",
          frame_count = 1,
          width = 139,
          height = 244,
          shift = util.by_pixel(0.25, -13),
          blend_mode = "additive",
          scale = 0.5
        }
      },
      south =
      {
        filename = "__base__/graphics/entity/boiler/boiler-S-light.png",
        priority = "extra-high",
        frame_count = 1,
        width = 100,
        height = 81,
        shift = util.by_pixel(1, 5.5),
        blend_mode = "additive",
        hr_version = {
          filename = "__base__/graphics/entity/boiler/hr-boiler-S-light.png",
          priority = "extra-high",
          frame_count = 1,
          width = 200,
          height = 162,
          shift = util.by_pixel(1, 5.5),
          blend_mode = "additive",
          scale = 0.5
        }
      },
      west =
      {
        filename = "__base__/graphics/entity/boiler/boiler-W-light.png",
        priority = "extra-high",
        frame_count = 1,
        width = 68,
        height = 109,
        shift = util.by_pixel(2, -6.5),
        blend_mode = "additive",
        hr_version = {
          filename = "__base__/graphics/entity/boiler/hr-boiler-W-light.png",
          priority = "extra-high",
          frame_count = 1,
          width = 136,
          height = 217,
          shift = util.by_pixel(2, -6.25),
          blend_mode = "additive",
          scale = 0.5
        }
      }
    },
    burning_cooldown = 20
  },
{
    type = "assembling-machine",
    name = "gas-boiler-input",
    --icon = "__base__/graphics/icons/rail-signal.png",
    flags = {"placeable-off-grid", "not-on-map"},
    --fast_replaceable_group = "rail-signal",
    --minable = {mining_time = 0.5, result = "rail-signal"},
    max_health = 100,
	destructible = false,
    corpse = "small-remnants",
    collision_box = {{-0.5, -0.5}, {0.5, 0.5}},
    --selection_box = {{-0.5, -0.5}, {0.5, 0.5}},
	selectable_in_game = false,
	collision_mask = {},
	ingredient_count = 1,
	crafting_categories = {"gas-boiler-input"},
    crafting_speed = 0.001,
    energy_source =
    {
      type = "electric",
      usage_priority = "secondary-input",
      emissions = 0, --leave that to the gas burner
    },
    energy_usage = "10kW",
    ingredient_count = 1,
    allowed_effects = nil, --no modules
    fluid_boxes =
    {
      {
        production_type = "input",
        pipe_picture = assembler3pipepictures(),
        pipe_covers = pipecoverspictures(),
        base_area = 10,
        base_level = -1,
        pipe_connections = {{ type="input", position = {0, -0.5} }},
        secondary_draw_orders = { north = -1 }
      },--[[
      {
        production_type = "input",
        pipe_picture = nil,
        pipe_covers = nil,
        base_area = 0,
        base_level = 1,
        pipe_connections = {{ type="output", position = {0, 0.5} }},
        secondary_draw_orders = { north = -1 }
      },--]]
      off_when_no_fluid_recipe = false
    },
    animation =
    {
      filename = "__NauvisDay__/graphics/entity/boiler/trans.png",
      priority = "high",
      width = 96,
      height = 96,
      frame_count = 1,
      direction_count = 1,
    },
   }
})

[Reika]

For those who may be reading, I have a workaround, but it is fairly crappy: Destroy and replace my entity if a pipe is placed nearby, making an attempt to preserve properties like fluid contents and active recipe. This works...mostly, but is still messy.

[bobingabout]

It would be so much better if there was native support for fluids to be used as fuels.

Which we were promised would be a thing by 0.13 in a features list posted back in the 0.10 roadmap.

It was part of the fluid overhaul system, were the two key features were fluid wagons and fluids as fuels. Which was bumped to 0.14 in 0.11 roadmap, which would put it as a 0.15 feature as part of the fluid overhaul (we got fluid wagons) since 0.14 was basically 0.13 with better multiplayer and vehicle equipment grid support.

Therefore, we SHOULD be able to do it, but the devs broke their promise.