Please add a button to add a new blueprint parameter variable

[tordarus]

I would like a button to add a new blueprint parameter in the parametrisation dialog. I think this would be a nice addition in order to introduce variables into formulas which are not present at all after the blueprint is constructed.

Currently I have a constant combinator in some of my blueprints which is not connected to anything else. Its just a placeholder so I can have as many parameters as I need. See the screenshot below for an example.

Here I just want a constant value in my arithmetic combinator which is calculated once during construction via blueprint parametrisation. But I want to have meaningful parameters as well, so I don't have to use the calculator to calculate the constant myself every time I build this blueprint.

Currently I have an unconnected constant combinator with fake signals in order to add more parameters. As soon as I delete the constant combinator from the blueprint, these parameters are gone as well.

Would it be possible, to add an "Add parameter" button in order to use these parameters in formulas for other parameters?

factorio-space-age-blueprint-parameter.png (2.26 MiB) Viewed 1652 times

[Inercia]

I'm doing the same thing on my blueprints, and being able to add parameters that are not used directly on the build would solve the problem.

[Hares]

Hard +1 on that

[nova4x]

Yes please, I was disappointed to find that I couldn't set a generic count variable parameter without needing a combinator. A good example I have is with wanting to set the number of stacks that an inserter will fill a chest with.

10-24-2024, 15-32-20.png (50.93 KiB) Viewed 1504 times

I can't have a variable `x` that I can specify on placement and instead have to have a baked in constant or do the item count math myself which defeats the whole point of these parameters. Being able to take in input in the way OP described with a `add parameter` button would fix this issue without adding extra complexity to equations. Needing to have a temporary combinator in a blueprint only to delete it after placement is silly and it shouldn't work this way.

[phro]

I am also interested in this being implemented. Adding a separate field for "Unassigned Parameter Object" in the blueprint format seems doable, and from the blueprint GUI, a simple "add additional parameter" button to add a new row would allow for in-game interaction with this mechanic.

[imi___]

The new parameterized blueprints are AWESOME!

I wish there was a button "Add Variable" that adds a simple parameter variable to the parameter list, which is solely usable in other parameter's formulas and otherwise ignored.

For example, my parameter list for my simple "Maker" (one assembler with the classic requester-chest in and buffer chest out)

10-28-2024, 10-44-01.png (179.5 KiB) Viewed 1565 times

Here, I wanted to have a variable "x" to be used in subsequent formulas. My work-around was: Adding some useless request to my requestor chest, just to get a number showing up here.

10-28-2024, 10-48-25.png (21.33 KiB) Viewed 1564 times

10-28-2024, 10-48-50.png (27.47 KiB) Viewed 1564 times

[vark111]

I want to second this request. For my train station circuit, I needed to add 3 extra parameters for use in formulas in the parametrisation dialog, but they are not needed as direct inputs in any of the circuit assemblies.

My workaround was to add a superfluous constant combinator with placeholder values just to get them to show up as parameters. Doing it this way, I can delete the extraneous CC after the BP is built with 0 effect on the circuit's operation, but it still feels like an extra step that shouldn't need to happen.

[TheFungleUncle]

I am strongly in favor of this request. Blueprint parameters should not have to be bound to concrete signals or values, requiring us to make dummy requests/combinators when we want a numerical input from the blueprint user that isn't directly bound to something in the blueprint.

I would also like to add that it is highly annoying how numerical values are inferred from unique concrete values. For example, if you put down a constant combinator with 10 different signals all set to 1 and then blueprint it, you will only have one value parameter because the system assumed that all 1s are the same thing. When we actually want one value parameter for each of these 10 signals, we need to go through and assign a unique number to each one, which is extremely tedious.

[TheToric]

I would also love this. Currently using the same constant contaminator trick.

[HadesSupreme]

+1. This took me like 30 mins of messing around with blueprinting to figure out why I couldn't set formulas after seeing someone else's blueprints. And if you don't watch youtube videos that show off this feature its possible to never know it exists.

[GongT]

+1;

It may be implement like this:

every formula have a "value" parameter variable reference to it self.

for example:

10-31-2024, 07-39-44.png (27.57 KiB) Viewed 1237 times

When I build this blueprint, it will ask me "what you want to store" and "number of steel chest", if I select :iron-plate: and 2, the result will be :iron-plate: and 9600.

calculate steps:

Code: Select all

value = 2
value = value * 48 * p0_s = 2 * 48 * 100 = 9600
construct with value = 9600

[vark111]

As I posted in another, similar thread, I too would very much like to see this implemented as I also found myself reinventing the exact same solution as the others in this thread: an extra, ultimately unnecessary, constant combinator that can be deleted after the blueprint has been built.

[Zijkhal]

Yes please, using fake constant combinator variables is a pain

[lvhurricane]

Alternatively, consider not collapsing constant values into a single parameter when creating a blueprint. Example: when setting enable/disable condition to `:checkmark: = 1` on a logistics chest, and set `:iron-plate: > 1` in a combinator condition, when creating a blueprint, it collapses both "1s" into a single parameter, even though they are logically separate things. Or perhaps show an option to "split" a parameter for those that have collapsed values.

[LeftyRighty]

just run into this, wanted to setup a "logistics drone fed assembler" bp with "number of stacks" to be stockpiled as an input to the bp placement (i.e. p0_s * stack_count as the enable/disable cutoff for the assembler) but since that isn't something concrete in the game i've had to add in a constant combinator just to have a signal "thing" to hold a value, and then the combinator has to be deleted after placing the bp

the variable section of the parameter interface is awesome, but sometimes you just need an extra input from the user to calculate from...

[AlexLeporiday]

just run into this, wanted to setup a "logistics drone fed assembler" bp with "number of stacks" to be stockpiled as an input to the bp placement (i.e. p0_s * stack_count as the enable/disable cutoff for the assembler) but since that isn't something concrete in the game i've had to add in a constant combinator just to have a signal "thing" to hold a value, and then the combinator has to be deleted after placing the bp

the variable section of the parameter interface is awesome, but sometimes you just need an extra input from the user to calculate from...

Just came here to add that I wanted to do exactly this but the UI doesn't allow you to just create variables. I want the user to be presented with a item and then a number for stack count, everything else would be calculated from there.

[pindab0ter]

I just want to express my support for this request.

[Koub]

[Koub] Merged into an older thread with the same suggestion.

[NotRexButCaesar]

I also would like a way to add more parameters without adding "dummy combinators."

[Creat]

Adding my +1 for this.
This is especially useful if you want to make something customizable that doesn't even exists as a base value.

Example: Consider the "default" assembler blueprint with a requester and passive provider, where the recipe in the assembler is set via parameter, and the requester requests a stack of each ingredient (using 'ingredient of' and 'pX_s'). If I want to make the number of stacks requested configurable, there is no entry I can customize, so I need to add one so I can have the user enter the number of stacks and assign it a variable (let's say 'm'), and change the formulas for the requested amounts to "pX_s*m'.

Unless I'm a bit slow, and I just might be, there is no way to do this right now, unless I add a request for an unrequestable (item), and misuse it's request amount as this multiplier.
Of course this is just one example, I've wanted to have the ability to have one more variable like this many times already.