TL;DR
'Send to Platform' circuit checkbox found in the platform GUI is mildly counter intuitive, self referencing and redundantWhat?
After the recent enhancements to circuit networks regarding input and output, the GUI has naturally become busier with the additional settings.Factorio 2.0.07:
Factorio 2.1.11:
Images courtesy eugenekay
The label 'Send to Platform' appears to have been grandfathered from Trains. More specifically, Train stations, where 'Send to Train' makes perfect sense due to them being seperate entities. However, due to the fact that Space Platforms serve both as the station and the transport vehicle, the wording is slightly counter intuitive as it is self referencing and does not target anything other than the platform hub itself (of which there can only be one)
I recently fell foul of overlooking the function of this flag by confusing it with other recent enhancements such as sending cargo to other platforms combined with the ambiguity. Confirmation bias then led me to report Space Platforms ignore circuit conditions as a bug.
The suggestion is to change the wording to something like:
Use Platform Inputs
Why?
Using precise and none ambiguous language leads to reduced friction for players. Especially for new players, and those that revisit the game after extended breaks.The suggested changed text is specific to circuit inputs as things like circuit signals and contents etc are already catered for by default or with their own check boxes on the platform. The Radar 'Universe' channels can already receive signals from space platforms and make them available without checking specific flags. Space Platform Hubs are unique in having this setting.
