Factorio Forums

TL;DR

Add a shortcut key to toggle blueprint snapping to the grid for more flexibility when placing special structures.

What?

I suggest implementing a shortcut key to toggle blueprint snapping to the grid. This feature would allow players to quickly switch between snapping and free placement modes without editing the blueprint settings every time.

Currently, if I need to place blueprints without grid snapping, I have to create a new blueprint with the snapping option disabled. This is time-consuming and introduces errors. Worse, when snapping is disabled, the original positional data of the blueprint is lost. This means if I re-enable snapping, the blueprint doesn't align correctly anymore, forcing me to duplicate it to avoid ruining the original.

A temporary keypress (e.g., holding `Alt`) to disable snapping during placement would solve this. It mirrors how drawing applications allow precise positioning by temporarily overriding snapping.

Here’s an example of how it could work:

- Press and hold `Alt` → Temporary free placement mode.
- Release `Alt` → Snap mode resumes with no loss of original coordinates.

This feature should ensure positional data remains intact regardless of snapping toggles.

Why?

This feature improves efficiency and reduces frustration when dealing with mixed building requirements (precision snapping vs. free placement). It's especially valuable in complex setups where repeated toggling of blueprint settings becomes tedious and error-prone.

It also enhances consistency since players can retain the original positioning data, avoiding unnecessary duplication of blueprints just to safeguard alignment.

By streamlining blueprint placement, this addition would increase the overall quality of life for Factorio players.