[2.1][QoL] Set Research should allow and restore manually set research when no conditon is active

[Skorpnok]

TL;DR

n/a

What?

When a lab with "Set Research" enabled has no active condition it should allow and restore the manually selected research and queue to what it was before being overridden.

Why?

When using "set research" to research gleba science as it arrives the player has to set up a queue in the form of conditions to return to some main focus instead of being able to use the regular queue for when no condition is active. If "set research" allows manual researching while no condition is active and restores the previous manual queue, removing entries if they have been researched while overriden, this would allow using set research like a temporary interrupt for the manual queue without negatively impacting the other use case.
edit: If a manual queue was set before "set research" is enabled it stays intact until a condition becomes active at which point it is overridden. This would further make the proposal the more intuitive behaviour in my opinion. (That or making it so "set research" cancels everything when no condition is active ig)

[TokMor]

I very much agree.
In my opinion, "set research" lab control should insert the specified tech at the front of the queue when there is a valid condition.
This needs some considerations as a result I believe:

• If the specified tech was previously manually added to the queue, it may need to be removed from the queue since it likely can't be in the research queue twice

• If the queue is "full" then the last tech should get bumped off, a little unfortunate, but I can't think of a better way personally. There may be a better way.

• Should the state change from a valid tech condition to no valid tech condition, then the previously specified tech should be removed from the queue, and the manually added techs (if there were any) will remain in the queue.

[worph]

I wish you would just set the research conditions in the old and trusty research window. And could manually insert stuff, etc.
Having to go look where my labs are and which one I connected to the circuit network is very flow breaking, when you just had to press one key before.

[TokMor]

You would still need to wire up the labs though in order to pass a signal. Personally I like the implementation of how to input conditions and tech. I just don't like that doing so precludes you from manually using the tech tree at all once you do.

[Karto]

+1, I tried to use the set research feature on the labs for the first time today (i am not a circuits power user at all, just use them once in a while for medium level stuff) and I intuitively expected it to work as described by OP

[Rseding91]

It was decided when implementing the set research feature to not try to do anything like this due to the annoyances and complexities involved in trying to implement it on the engine side. So unless one of the other developers decides they want to try to tackle them, this isn't going to happen.

The feature was implemented primarily as an end-game way to automate infinite research. The fact it also works for all non-infinite research was a small bonus but largely seen as unnecessary. Non-infinite technologies are finite and don't need automation (the time to automate them will be longer than just queuing 4-5 of them and letting them finish).

[quineotio]

When I set up automatic research I made sure not to leave a "no condition" situation. Basically, a series of all possible combinations. They can then be ranked in the automatic queue. The only time I automated non infinite research was for Aquilo, and it did take a little time to set up all the individual techs. But all you have to do to return to normal queue is disable "set research". As I understand, any lab can be connected, so if you're having trouble finding it you can put a lab in an obvious location without even needing it to be fed science.

[worph]

The feature was implemented primarily as an end-game way to automate infinite research. The fact it also works for all non-infinite research was a small bonus but largely seen as unnecessary. Non-infinite technologies are finite and don't need automation (the time to automate them will be longer than just queuing 4-5 of them and letting them finish).

I understand the limitiations on the human ressource side of things.
But the feature is really precious in the mid game, when you really want to research agricultural science whenever it's on nauvis, due to spoilage. At this stage I think many non-megabase players really don't have huge factories and logistics systems and every bit of science they can get is important to them. So, in my opinion - whether intentional or not - this is the primary use of this feature FOR ME until you get to infinite research far later in the game.
And queuing alone cannot handle such conditions ever.

[ombedor]

But the feature is really precious in the mid game, when you really want to research agricultural science whener it's on nauvis, due to spoilage.

+1

[SirSmuggler]

the feature is really precious in the mid game, when you really want to research agricultural science whenever it's on nauvis, due to spoilage. At this stage I think many non-megabase players really don't have huge factories and logistics systems and every bit of science they can get is important to them. So, in my opinion - whether intentional or not - this is the primary use of this feature FOR ME until you get to infinite research far later in the game.
And queuing alone cannot handle such conditions ever.

I use it even earlyer, usualy I build a minimal setup for yellow and purpule science early game (so they produce much slower then my red/green/blue/gray) and switch between reseach depending on what color is avalible.

Anyway, would be very handy to have this feature, but I can live without it ofcource.

[DamnPhotons]

I wish you would just set the research conditions in the old and trusty research window. And could manually insert stuff, etc.
Having to go look where my labs are and which one I connected to the circuit network is very flow breaking, when you just had to press one key before.

You can use alt + right-click to pin a location under your minimap and jump there anytime. I have my circuit-controlled lab pinned so I never need to look for it. It's also great for pinning the cargo landing pad on each planet and any circuit dashboards you make.