[Question] How to prevent automatically taking items?

[donoya]

Is there some way to make a crafting machine that can only be extracted from by players? Because I've been thinking of adding a machine for a mod (which can be replaced with a fully automate-able one, later) that only the player can take items out of. Some might see this as a poor design choice, but logically, you can't handle living workers (AKA the item that this machine makes) with a mechanized inserter. So that's the reason for my question. Is it possible with the current API? I'm okay with learning scripting if that's what's necessary, but I still have a pretty limited understanding of the code (and lua-based game modding in general, for that matter).

[bobingabout]

I don't know... I don't think there is a method for this.

[donoya]

Is it possible to make its selection box smaller than its build collision? Or would that not do what I want it to?

[bobingabout]

erm... no, I think the selection box is just what the game shows you, the player, and all interactions are done directly with the collision box.

[donoya]

erm... no, I think the selection box is just what the game shows you, the player, and all interactions are done directly with the collision box.

Bummer...

[BenSeidel]

whenever an inserter is built, check if it's attached to your machine and if it is, disable it.

[eradicator]

whenever an inserter is built, check if it's attached to your machine and if it is, disable it.

I think OP still wants to put stuff into the machine though?

Code: Select all

script.on_events({
 defines.events.on_built_entity,
 defines.events.on_player_rotated_entity,
 on_robot_built_entity},
 function(event)
  local ent = event.entity or event.created_entity
  if ent.type == 'inserter' then
   if ent.pickup_target.name == 'my_machine_name' then
    ent.active = false
   else
    ent.active = true
    end
   end
  end)

Though if any other mod also disabled inserters for..whatever reason, there may be situations where you accidentially enable an inserter that you're not supposed to activate.

[donoya]

Can I just make a structure that opens an' item exchange GUI' (for lack of a better term) for the 'assembled' item when the player right clicks it? Or can such a thing exist? And also, can it be given a cooldown time for exchanging the items?

[eradicator]

Yes, you can replace the GUI (which is left click in factorio, not right click) of any arbitrary machine with whatever you like, if you're into heavy scripting. That won't prevent inserters from taking stuff out though.