Default order of equipment on F5

[Cody]

I've had this customised in my game for quite a while, as I prefer only combat-crucial kit on the first F5 page. The default equipment.plist has the large cargo bay and fuel scoops in the top few items, and I can't discern any particular order for the rest of the standard kit. Every few days, I install the latest nightly and either have to C&P the previously-customised equipment.plist, or edit the new one (for some reason known only to boffins, the equipment.plist seems to be the only .plist that doesn't work if in a personal Config folder). Is there any reason why the default equipment.plist shouldn't/couldn't be changed?

This is the order of kit that I've settled on for mine, btw. Only a cosmetic change, yes - but in the middle of a firefight, it's helpful.

[cim]

As far as I can tell the order is:
- equipment which also existed in Elite, in order of tech level
- other equipment from core Oolite, mostly in order of tech level
- equipment from OXPs, in OXP loading order
... and then on F5, weapon mountings are unconditionally shifted to the end of the list, while on F3 they stay in the above sequence

I think it makes even less sense as an ordering on F3 than on F5...

Maybe what would make most sense is to have F3 just in order of tech level (price? alphabetical?), and then on F5 order it alphabetically, excluding weapon mounts - but shift any damaged equipment to the front of the list so you don't have to scroll to see it.

(equipment.plist should generally work fine in a personal Config folder, but because of the way it merges entries, it won't change the sort order for entries which were already defined in core)

[Cody]

I wasn't going to mention F3 - but yeah, it too could do with a revamp.

As for alphabetical (with damaged kit shifting to the top) on F5 - I'd stick with what I have now, I think.

[cim]

We could add a "sorting order" parameter to the equipment definitions, and default it to something reasonable for old OXP equipment. That would make it easier to reorder items using an entry in AddOns.

[Cody]

<nods> As for F3 - pricewise sorted?

[Diziet Sma]

Being able to sort F5 equipment into a preferred order would be great.

[JazHaz]

I didn't know you could do that, Cody. A really good idea!

[Cody]

... weapon mountings are unconditionally shifted to the end of the list...

Which is ideal - unless they ever become damageable in the core game, of course (which would be cool).

[Redspear]

Not sure if this has been suggested before but how about segregating the equipment list?

Current issues:

If you like your equipment oxps, the list can easily go over to a second page.
Once you have several pieces of equipment it can easily look like a jumble.

Suggestions:

Divide the equipment list into categories.
Slightly smaller font beneath the category headers.
Means to label equipment to fall under a particular category.

Example Equipment Inventory:

Weapon Systems

• Front Military Laser
  Rear Beam Laser
  Left Mining Laser
  Target Scanner

Defences

• E.C.M.
  Shield Boosters
  Military Shield Enhancers

Navigation

• Docking Computers
  Galactic Hyperdrive
  Witchdrive Fuel Injectors
  Advanced Space Compass

Misc.

• Large Cargo Bay
  Fuel Scoops
  Beer Cooler

Of course the categories and the allocation within would be open to debate...
OXP equipment without an allocated category could fall under 'misc.', 'other', 'special' or whatever is prefered.

There'd be a balancing act with regards to changing any of the text size but it might smarten up the page and make it more readable. It might be nice if it could either all fit on one page, or if certain categories were always on the first page.

[Zireael]

I like the categories idea A LOT.

[Diziet Sma]

Maybe what would make most sense is to have F3 just in order of tech level (price? alphabetical?), and then on F5 order it alphabetically, excluding weapon mounts - but shift any damaged equipment to the front of the list so you don't have to scroll to see it.

We could add a "sorting order" parameter to the equipment definitions, and default it to something reasonable for old OXP equipment. That would make it easier to reorder items using an entry in AddOns.

Was anything ever done with these ideas?

[Cody]

I think F3 has changed, but I don't know about F5 as I'm using a custom equipment.plist in my Config folder.

[Diziet Sma]

I'm using a custom equipment.plist in my Config folder.

Would you be able to put a copy in your box.com account, please? I wouldn't mind checking it out.

[cim]

Was anything ever done with these ideas?

Defaulting to sort by TL/price (lowest first on F3, highest first on F5), yes.

Promoting damaged equipment, no.

[Cody]

Would you be able to put a copy in your box.com account, please? I wouldn't mind checking it out.

Certainly, amigo... here.