Factorio Forums

A display panel can use the [virtual-signal=signal-each] as defined in the image below, to display the active signal. I'd like the same functionality in the Programmable speaker for Show alerts. This would make dynamic assignment of the alert signal possible.

Presently, you cannot use the [virtual-signal=signal-everything][virtual-signal=signal-each][virtual-signal=signal-anything] signals with the Show Alert on the Programmable speaker at all.

In my case, I use the speaker to generate alerts that indicate supply problems at factories. item X is not present, or below a threshold for example. The only way to do so right now, is to manually specify the alert signal on every speaker. Which, after about the 40th or so such speaker, gets a bit tedious. Particularly knowing the display panel can do it. So instead, I just use a generic signal and I have to visually confirm which item is missing by looking for the train station name. Also tedious, as I can't tell at a glance at the alerts what the problem is. I have to go investigate.

Edit: Adding a image for clarity about what I'm focusing on. Specifically the alert Icon. Additionally, I feel like the speaker now suffers from scope overreach now that the display panel exists. If the display panel had a tick box for each message to make it populate the alerts list the way the speaker does, that function could be removed from the speaker entirely. Then the speaker is focused exclusively on playing sounds, while the display panel is strictly about messaging. Which, seems to me, would make the purpose for each more defined and distinct. I actually explored the idea of using the display panel to generate an alert, but since it didn't populate that alert list it was a non-starter.

I think a solution here would be to use different speakers, or different sound for different things, but i would try to use the suggestion if it was implemented as i see value to it.

mmmPI wrote: Sun Apr 27, 2025 2:08 pm I think a solution here would be to use different speakers, or different sound for different things

draslin wrote: Wed Apr 23, 2025 2:36 pm The only way to do so right now, is to manually specify the alert signal on every speaker. Which, after about the 40th or so such speaker, gets a bit tedious.

Jap2.0 wrote: Sun Apr 27, 2025 5:43 pm

mmmPI wrote: Sun Apr 27, 2025 2:08 pm I think a solution here would be to use different speakers, or different sound for different things

draslin wrote: Wed Apr 23, 2025 2:36 pm The only way to do so right now, is to manually specify the alert signal on every speaker. Which, after about the 40th or so such speaker, gets a bit tedious.

Thanks you for highlighting what i suppose you think i've missed

For clarification, the underlined part is refering to an automated way to do things currently, it doesn't necessarily has to be tedious, you can use the index of signals to use a different pitch to make different sound to have different alert.

mmmPI wrote: Sun Apr 27, 2025 5:59 pm

Jap2.0 wrote: Sun Apr 27, 2025 5:43 pm

mmmPI wrote: Sun Apr 27, 2025 2:08 pm I think a solution here would be to use different speakers, or different sound for different things

draslin wrote: Wed Apr 23, 2025 2:36 pm The only way to do so right now, is to manually specify the alert signal on every speaker. Which, after about the 40th or so such speaker, gets a bit tedious.

For clarification, the underlined part is refering to an automated way to do things currently, it doesn't necessarily has to be tedious, you can use the index of signals to use a different pitch to make different sound to have different alert.

Thanks, I was unaware of that.

Jap2.0 wrote: Sun Apr 27, 2025 6:00 pm Thanks, I was unaware of that.

The "use signal to choose pitch" on speaker is probably one the least used feature i've seen in multiplayer, it's very niche, and not as practical as the suggestion. I share the OP's feeling about the inability to tell at a glance which alerts are there, but with global sound, it's possible to associate a different instrument and/or pitch, and i even someone made something like geiger counter, to use sound for alerts.

I would still appreciate the suggestion, but in the meantime, i'm trying to share ideas

mmmPI wrote: Sun Apr 27, 2025 6:08 pm someone made something like geiger counter, to use sound for alerts.

To tell how much uranium you have left?

Sorry this is kind of off-topic.

Jap2.0 wrote: Sun Apr 27, 2025 6:12 pm To tell how much uranium you have left?

Sorry this is kind of off-topic.

Not uranium per say, but this versions will ping you audibly and with an alert based on how fast your power network is trying to drain your accumulators: . Found it !

if one like to think of the engineer as the orchestra chief of the machine world, you can imagine a similar system with different sound, to no longer rely only on difficult-to-read-at-a-glance-alerts.

Also to stay on topic, sorry , sorry , the current suggestion is similar to this thread : 127204

Edited the post for additional clarity.

The sound thing doesn't really work for me. The intention is for me to be able to glance at the alert list and immediately know what my problems are. Instead of the stack icon I'd see iron ore, iron plates, etc. And seeing the iron ore is lacking, I would immediately know I could disregard the iron plates alert to focus on iron ore.