Placing blueprints in sandbox mode

[Kametec]

Hi,
I like to test and tweak setups and loadouts in sandbox mode before using them in standard game. But I find placing blueprints tedious in sandbox mode. I have to place the blueprint, put a roboport nearby, fill it with robots, power it, place a chest and keep filling it with required items.

I figured out I could use the console to make it so that I place the blueprints, copy and paste a command into the console and voila! The ghosts are built instantly and I can focus on things I want instead.

But the thing is... I don't know lua. At all. I'm afraid I would need many hours to familiarize myself with it well enough to write such script. So I thought I would ask local gurus instead, I'm sure someone already proficient will need a fraction of the time I need.

Therefore, I'd like to ask whether achieving such functionality through console script is possible in the first place? If so, can you please share a script which builds blueprint ghosts instantly, ideally without checking inventory? I'd be very grateful.

I've also tried to search for mods which would allow me to get similar functionality and I found https://mods.factorio.com/mod/autobuild, but either I haven't figured out how to use it or it doesn't work in sandbox mode where I don't have an avatar. If you know about a mod which would allow me to get blueprints built instantly in sandbox mode, I would gladly settle for that as well. I just want to get rid of a tedious and lengthy step in factory testing.

[DaveMcW]

Type /editor to get instant blueprint build. Plus a bunch of other useful cheats.

[Kametec]

That is just the thing I was looking for, thanks a lot! I've had no idea that stuff like that exists.

(On a side note, I've learned today that you cannot build on undiscovered chunks. You learn new things every day!)

[coppercoil]

I'd say Editor mode is very important in the sandbox mode, so there must be more obvious way to know it even exists. Maybe some toggle button on the screen. I played too much time without it.

[Khagan]

I'd say Editor mode is very important in the sandbox mode, so there must be more obvious way to know it even exists. Maybe some toggle button on the screen. I played too much time without it.

+1

I'd done quite a lot of planning and blueprint-cutting in the sandbox before discovering the editor mode. It should be one of the options when you start a new sandbox (along with 'Always day' etc. that are already offered).

[Rseding91]

I'd say Editor mode is very important in the sandbox mode, so there must be more obvious way to know it even exists. Maybe some toggle button on the screen. I played too much time without it.

+1

I'd done quite a lot of planning and blueprint-cutting in the sandbox before discovering the editor mode. It should be one of the options when you start a new sandbox (along with 'Always day' etc. that are already offered).

From the main menu there's a "Map Editor" button. It's the same thing as clicking "new game -> /editor" just wrapped in a button.

The sandbox scenario is the same as "new game -> /c game.player.character.destroy()" + a few other commands about daytime/cheat mode which you can also do if wanted. The editor can be toggled on any save file (singleplayer or multiplayer).

[Khagan]

From the main menu there's a "Map Editor" button. It's the same thing as clicking "new game -> /editor" just wrapped in a button.

Which is great -- if you already know that the Map Editor is actually a good tool for testing factory designs and messing around with blueprints (activities more naturally associated with the idea of a 'Sandbox'), rather than just, er, Editing the Map (i.e. making scenarios). Hindsight is a wonderful thing. (So is documentation ...)