Idea for Chart Mode

[The Ventifact]

The options in place for Chart Mode are already really cool, but I was thinking of a new option that could be added to improve the Chart Mode. We have an option for mass, radius, density, etc... but not an option for the planets, moons, and stars by order and size. This would mainly improve the "Our Solar System" simulation, but it could also work for custom sims given enough time put into it.

For example, the Sun first, then Mercury, Venus, Earth, etc... all the way to Neptune at the end, in order. Chart Mode already has some cool stuff to experiment with, but no option like this. Has this been tossed around as a possible feature to add? Cause that would be really cool. It appears no one has mentioned this before, so I thought I'd put it out there.

Here is a image of what I am talking about:

[spa_sapping]

<<<<<<<< i actually dig this idea >>>>>>>>

[Xriqxa]

Me too. I want to create charts for my solar systems to print into books, but the bodies are way too far apart to compare

[Camacha]

So, basically order it by the size of the orbit/semi-major axis/what you like? I think that would be a nice addition.

[Xriqxa]

So you mean custom ordering? Yeah! Also: Chart mode for most/least amounts of a certain component (Water, Hydrogen, CO₂, etc.)

[The Ventifact]

Yeah, along those lines. See the image above? Just imagine clicking a button in-game and seeing the objects in your solar system arranged just like that. For example, if you place objects in a particular order, it could remember the order in which you placed your planets, stars, and moons... and when you click, lets say its called "Arrange by Order/Size," and it puts your system's planets in the order you placed them, except closer.

Cause, well... it's chart mode. :) As mentioned previously, this would improve the Our Solar System simulation, allowing for more in-depth viewing of our system's planets, but will also come in handy for our own simulation creations.

This is probably at the bottom of the to-do list, but having this as a Chart Mode option would be cool, whether its exactly like this, or a little different, more options are always better.

[Dan Dixon]

You can plot by semi major axis right now...

Just select it under the Customize tab... this will generally give you the order you're looking for. Although doesn't work well when there are moons in the sim.

I'll add "Semi Major Axis" as a preset in the next alpha update.

The improvement on this would be to have the moons appear in a line below their host planets.

[The Ventifact]

You can plot by semi major axis right now...

Just select it under the Customize tab... this will generally give you the order you're looking for. Although doesn't work well when there are moons in the sim.

I'll add "Semi Major Axis" as a preset in the next alpha update.

The improvement on this would be to have the moons appear in a line below their host planets.

I guess I forgot about the custom axis in Chart Mode. :P

Anyway, I didn't quite know what that was, so I never experimented with it. Since under "customize," it says "X, Y, Z," I assumed it was referring to the tilt or orbit of a body, not the position of them in a chart. I guess using custom positions in Chart Mode will get close to your desired result, but I though it would be easier to add it as a preset so you don't have to spend time tediously figuring out what position your system's bodies need to be in.

That's where the "Arrange by Order/Size" button comes into play, if there ever is one. I'd say, add as many charts that are used for real world application (of course not all, but a good selection), and then leave the customize tab for fantasy systems. I don't know, it's an idea... and ultimately, its your call.

What ever you guys decide to do, it will be good anyways.

[Dan Dixon]

Yeah... it was a good suggestion... and given that it wasn't very obvious (and neither is a preset called "semi major axis")... it means that we still have work to do to improve usability.

Thanks Ventifact.