Factorio Forums

TL;DR

When the target of a train interrupt has multiple widcards use different values to replace each.

What?

Train Station names used as targets for interrupts can have wildcards in them that get replaced. But this only allows the used of one item, fluid and/or signal. My proposal is that if a wildcard occurs more than once then the first is replaced by the first signal, the second by the second signal and so on. Signals should be ordered in descending order for this as I think that is easiest to understand and controlled by the user. (first target)

Preferably there could be a new options to select specific indexes but then it would need more new icons. (second target)(10 icons each for cargo, fluid and signal) Alternatively a value could be added to the wildcard signal so the target would be "Load <signal wildcard=1> <signal wildcard=2> but that would be a bigger change in the GUI.

This feature should also apply across targets to create schedules like:
Load <iron plate>
Load <copper plate>
Unload <electronic circuit> ingredients

by sending the signals <iron plate=3>, <copper plate=2>, <electronic circuit=3>. For this case there should probably be an option in the interrupt dialog to enable this feature. It could be a multiple choice option what to do with wildcards: "first", "assending", "descending", "random".

Why?

Currently it is impossible to create an signal driven system to pick up more than one item at a time either in a single stop or multiple stops. One can't set more than one target for an interrupt with signals. This feature would allow a lot more freedom and control to direct trains dynamically.