Adding an Empty 'fluid_boxes' key resolves non-rotating Assembling Machines

[honestabelink]

'Types/Animation4Way' specifies that you may optionally include directional animations, in the north,east,south,west keys.

north
Type: Types/Animation

Optional. If omitted, the game will not look for any other directions and instead try to load the whole definition as one Types/Animation and apply it to all directions.

east
Type: Types/Animation...

But, even if you define 'Types/Animation4Way' with the proper directional keys and animation definitions, you will find 'assembling-machine' ignores this data and just defaults to the north view, with no rotation available.

Weirdly...

Adding the key 'fluid_boxes' to the 'assembling-machine' definition, EVEN IF EMPTY, corrects the issue. (rotations return, rotation events are raised, etc)

There is apparently some logic checking for 'fluid_boxes' and only if it's found does it load the rest of the directional animations.

Links :
https://wiki.factorio.com/Types/Animation4Way
https://wiki.factorio.com/Prototype/Cra ... #animation

Thanks for your time

[Rseding91]

Thanks for the report. Assembling machines don't use direction if they don't have fluid connections so if anything it using directions when fluid_boxes is defined but empty would be the issue here.

[honestabelink]

Thanks for the speedy response @Rseding91

Assembling machines don't use direction if they don't have fluid connections

Is there a reason it was designed this way?

I only ask cause from a modders perspective, if I define the 4 directional animations from 'Types/Animation4Way', I expect to have these animations available to me by default. I found it unexpected that I have to include a 'fluid_boxes' key to get the rotating to work.

This is also an undocumented behavior, https://wiki.factorio.com/Prototype/Cra ... #animation

If you plan to leave the requirement for 'fluid_boxes' to make the directional animations available, then I'd recommend updating the docs to reflect the requirement.

My recommendation though would be to remove the requirement. 'Types/Animation4Way' defining directional animations should be respected.

so if anything it using directions when fluid_boxes is defined but empty would be the issue here.

Perhaps I am misunderstanding, but this is not entirely true.

For example

Code: Select all

        fluid_boxes =
        {
            {
            production_type = "input",
            pipe_covers = pipecoverspictures(),
            base_area = 10,
            base_level = -1,
            pipe_connections = {{ type="input", position = {0, -3} }}
            },
            off_when_no_fluid_recipe = false
        },

Results in a entity that can freely rotate, if directional animations are defined. (even without a recipe that uses a fluid)

Code: Select all

        fluid_boxes =
        {
            {
            production_type = "input",
            pipe_covers = pipecoverspictures(),
            base_area = 10,
            base_level = -1,
            pipe_connections = {{ type="input", position = {0, -3} }}
            },
            off_when_no_fluid_recipe = true
        },

Results in a entity that can not freely rotate. It requires a recipe accepting a fluid to be able to rotate. As this is when the fluid_boxes become active.

Code: Select all

        fluid_boxes =
        {
        },

Results strangely, in a entity that can freely rotate, again even without a recipe that uses a fluid.

Again it is appearing like fluid_boxes is the thing defining whether or not rotating should be available. Which I understand, but I don't think it's appropriate to ignore directional animations by default.

Thanks again for your time

[Bilka]

If you plan to leave the requirement for 'fluid_boxes' to make the directional animations available, then I'd recommend updating the docs to reflect the requirement.

I already updated the wiki page after you made your first post.

[honestabelink]

Thanks @Bilka, I was unaware

We have a workaround so it's not a big issue. Though I am a little curious how empty fluid_boxes key are handled internally. But all good here.

Great work you guys
Have a nice day

[Rseding91]

Thanks for the speedy response @Rseding91

Assembling machines don't use direction if they don't have fluid connections

Is there a reason it was designed this way?

Assembling machines are designed to be symmetrical so if they don't have fluid inputs there's no mechanical difference in directions. So, the game just doesn't accept any direction except north for assembling machines without fluidboxes.

[Bilka]

In the next version, a crafting machine with an empty fluid_boxes key will no longer be rotatable. Thank you for the report.

[honestabelink]

@Rseding91 Thanks for the info. It's a really good point about the mechanical side of things. My only counter would be that aesthetically some asymmetric visual designs would benefit from being able to rotate. But I couldn't agree more, visually something largely asymmetric may imply directionality which is incorrect when it comes to loading items into assembling machines. That is more important.

I'll be rethinking my designs

@Bilka thanks for the update

[hedgerc]

Not sure if this is related and may be a question for Angel but changing the recipie to a floatation device in Angel's rotates the device 180 degrees. This also happens with other fluid items in Angels. This is unexpected behaviour, of course. This means a blueprint I create (300 flotation devices) requires me to manually disconnect from fluid system (and thank you, thank you for blocking fluid mixing.) and then reconnect manually.


Note: just about to nudge 6000 hours on Factorio. 5902 and counting. You guys are wonderful.