keyboard shortcuts for browsing the build menus

[colorblind]

I'm not sure if it was in OTA, but it's certainly in Switeck's bugfix, and I think it's lacking in Spring: keyboard shortcuts for browsing the build menus.
With the , and . keys you could go back and forth in the build menus of the selected unit, and with q,w,e,r,f,v keys you could select build menu item. From Switeck's readme:

Factories and c-units now allow you to press q,w,e,r,f, and v (I think) for each build menu button. Q would be the build position 0 (top left), w for 1 (top right), e for 2 (middle left), r is for 3 (middle right), f is for 4 (bottom left), and v is for 5 (bottom right).

It's just a bit annoying to have to use the mouse for browsing the build menus; the keyboard shortcuts worked much better for me. Hopefully I'm not the only one ...

[Agiel]

I've been asking for something like this for a long time, but I haven't got any answers. It will probably be possible when/if they get the new and scriptable gui working. (don't quote me on that though)

[Redfish]

In OTA they were already. O for order B for build. Then you could use , and . to move through the pages. Also standard the keys 1-6 wen't through the pages, but most users prefered to have the +switchalt option on so that pressing the appropriate button selected the squad. But initially this was done with Alt + #.

The problem with what you're suggesting is that E is reclaim R is repair, T is track etc.

[jensgb]

It's just a bit annoying to have to use the mouse for browsing the build menus; the keyboard shortcuts worked much better for me. Hopefully I'm not the only one ...

No, you are not the only one who desires keyboard shortcuts for buildmenus. I also think that they would be nice to have.

[Ace07]

The problem with what you're suggesting is that E is reclaim R is repair, T is track etc.

When you tell the commander to browse the build menu with O or B, disable all other hotkeys. Simple as that. Press escape to get out of that mode, or click somewhere.

[colorblind]

When you tell the commander to browse the build menu with O or B, disable all other hotkeys. Simple as that. Press escape to get out of that mode, or click somewhere.

I think that would be a bit too confusing. And after all, how many keys do we have on our keyboard? 101? It should certainly be possibe to assign unique commands to certain keys.
And Agiel is probably right (though I refrain from quoting him): hopefully a fully scriptable GUI will be ready soon. It would be nice to personally assign keys to commands (like keybinds in Quake), including the 'browse build menu' things.

Perhaps we should start a list of possible commands we would like to have? Apart from the oh so obvious ones like quard, attack, reclaim, etc, my requests are:

• * browsing back and forth the buildmenu
  * selecting buildmenu-items

I'm sure you guys have some more ideas on this ...

[SinbadEV]

most people know what they want to build more then they know where it is in the build menu...
I would suggest, a key that would expand and show ALL the building and commands...
also a shortcut to build everything would be nice like type B to build then type ukro, or uroc, or umex, or something so people who know what they are doing can keep their mouse and eyes on the action...

also, I'm getting some glitch where words arn't showing up on my menu, so I don't know if it's their or not, but I can't seem to capture anymore. is there a key for this?

[Ace07]

most people know what they want to build more then they know where it is in the build menu...

Yes, exactly. The position is more or less black magic compared to what you want to build. Couldn't we take a page from some of the newer RTS's who do this now and have the build menu separate from all of the commands?

They do it to make it easier for people to play competitively. A game that relies solely on the mouse to select buildings to build is not easy to get into.

[zwzsg]

I like how in TA:Kingdoms all the builpics are shown at once, over the main screen. No more pages to flip, no more reserved space unused for non-builders.

[AF]

We should at least be able to defien how our mods display build menus.

[Redfish]

I think the left side is large enough to have an efficient interface that shows all options(maybe only not in AA) and otherwise the 1-6 is the best option imo. Just get used to selecting units with Alt + the number

[mongus]

also a shortcut to build everything would be nice like type B to build then type ukro, or uroc, or umex, or something so people who know what they are doing can keep their mouse and eyes on the action...

Wooha!
That joins Autocad and Spring in more than one way... ...
I mean, having a command line, press .. the command line key (TAB ?), then write something like... x (metal extractor), then enter... (or RMB).
I have even have a list of possible aliases..
s: solar colector.
k: Kbot lab
k2 : Advanced kbot
v: Vehicle plant.
v2: Advanced vehicle plant
a: airplane
a2: Advanced Aiplane...
mm: moho mine.
sf: small fusion
r: radar
r2: ad radar.
ga: gaat gun
so on.

Im also with alantai, the interface could be configurable... (scriptabe?)

As... for having fixed keys.. like.. "p" for metal x, and "o" for solars...
Sounds good... dunno how much posible... but deffinetly personal, as the ui keys..

I think i have understood what you are saying about all build pics in same place... like... if you want to build a samson (supposing you are an inferior race), you dont have to select the Tank lab then click in the build pic.., but only click in the right "tab" and then build pic... ? that right?..
That also involves a default building lab, as in c&c..
maybe im complicating things here.

[AF]

Those short defs as you said sucha s A2 etc would ahve to be configurable to prevent conflicts and support mods. You would also need some way of giving the user an index as nto everyone will know.

[CatalyticPrefect]

maybe a manual will come out soon telling you how to play :)

[colorblind]

While digging through the CVS-tree I found a developer readme / guide, stating that spring lacks (amongst others):

Game GUI (SJ)
The current GUI in Spring isnt that good however there exist a new gui that is almost finished. Unfortunally Pius that was working on it disapeared some months ago so we need someone else to finish it and generally improve the GUI.

Add console (Fnordia)
Add a game console to the game, preferably tied to some scripting language (below).

Add scripting language to game (Fnordia)
Add some sort of general scripting language to the game to run non performance critical game code in and allow easy modability through some sort of plugin system.

The above will probably including features like keybinding, so I guess we'll just have to wait (although I'm not sure whether the SY will implement these things themselves or that they're hoping someone else will ... ).

[SinbadEV]

I think i have understood what you are saying about all build pics in same place...

Actually all I meant was that instead of showing 6 or 10 build pics for a unit, you would be able to see all of them at the same time, if you clicked expand or something.

However, being able to have some kind of chart thing... I don't know, all the tech you can build at the moment... click the unit you want to build, it will bring up a list of units that can do that and have to option to add it to their queue or stop whatever they are doing and start building the item selected... would be kinda cool...

[AF]

perhaps fi we wished we could have build pics that where actual models behaving accodring to a script as either moving or stationarya dn we could apply basic commands attack move stay and attack, and then just click on them or drag onto screen.

Maybe even just stick it as a text only menu where we see everything. Someone could program an AI helper to build anythign anywhere and the AI would handle the construction units needed etc.