Factorio Forums

TL;DR

The "unsorted" deconstruction filters would be much clearer if existing icons were used on deconstruction planners.

The Problem

I've been frustrated in my recent game by the need to open my deconstruction planners to figure out which one is filtered for ghosts and which one is for module requests. There's no visual distinction between deconstruction planners whose only filters are on the "unsorted" tab, or one that's unfiltered:
You can't even tell the difference with the GUI open without hovering over the icons:

Proposal

The game already has icons that would work fine for "Entity ghost", "Item request slot", and "Tile ghost". Even "Item on ground", which doesn't have an icon, is clearer if the existing placeholder "X" is used (though I had to convert it to grayscale to be visible):

It also makes things clear in the GUI:
It's possible that for "Tile ghost" you would want something transparent or grayscale to distinguish it from real tiles, but I found that just made it look like a blob and that it reads clearer just using the icon as is.

Mod anyone please?

Made it myself, thanks

https://mods.factorio.com/mod/Iconic_Filters

One of those tiny mods you never knew you couldn't live without.
This should be part of base, having 4 identical placeholder? icons is just terrible ux design.

The fun things i learned how i get the placeholder replaced. If no entity icon is specified for this specific entities they get the X.
Setting an icon in data overwrites it.

Second thing was how to layer the ghost icon and concrete icon together.

So this is just a new lesson in Factorio modding for me.

If anyone wants to provide better icons i'm open to implement them.

Cu, steinio.

Thank you.

The default icon was changed from a red "X" to a black "?" in 0.18.20. It's better but why not give these icons the full treatment?

SupplyDepoo wrote: ↑

Sat Apr 25, 2020 1:48 pm

The default icon was changed from a red "X" to a black "?" in 0.18.20. It's better but why not give these icons the full treatment?

new-unsorted-deconplanner-icons.png

Wow, at least this topic gets attention by the devs and they also thing something has to be done.

Cheers, steio, the mod is great! I can't stop thinking about how to represent "item on ground", but it's tough. If I come up with anything I'll let you know.

Hopefully it does get fixed in vanilla as part of the polishing for 1.0.

So this can be moved to implemented you sneaky devs