Engineer's Report

[Dreygar]

This is the little icon in your assembly building that shows Parts, Mass, Height, Weight, etc. The problem is it doesn't show the total mass, like it rounds up instead. So to get the proper mass I have to launch, go into map view, and click the details...

Is there some game file I can edit to make it show the entire mass in the Assembly building?

[maculator]

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/18230-1-0-2-Kerbal-Engineer-Redux-v1-0-16-6

Thank me later

[Dreygar]

Thank you, I should have stated that I wasn't interested in mods. I actually enjoy doing the math/calculating part of it myself. Am still looking for a way to make the report show full weight without me having to put it on the launch pad to find out.

[maculator]

Oh then i dont know how to help^^ but trust me i dont use mods in my current game either, with the exeption of kerbal engineer redux, it is essential.

[Barking Sands]

KER completes me. The game just doesn't feel properly "finished" without that beauty included. Too bad they only added the "engineer's report" (which isn't totally awful) and didn't add something more like what the KER does.

Breaking down your mass and cost stage-by-stage is essential to planning. Sure, you can remove the parts in the VAB and look at the engineer's report to get the total mass and cost stage-by-stage, and remove fuel manually to get the empty weight, and pull out a whiteboard and calculator to build the craft table and calculate TWRs and delta-V -- and wipe it all off and start from scratch every time you add or remove a part as an afterthought. Sure. But a game that automagically calculates results of maneuver burns and applies patched conics in orbital view should really have that feature included for those that want to use it.

KER isn't intrusive once you open its settings and switch off the overlay, and it doesn't provide data in flight unless you either install a small component or turn off the "career mode" setting in the options. Definitely a must have.

[Langkard]

You can control what information Kerbal Engineer shows in the windows. You can just have it indicate mass and thrust at each stage without showing TWR or delta-V and then do the calculations yourself.

I use Kerbal Engineer for three important tasks:

In the VAB to make sure my atmospheric stages are as close to 2.0 TWR as possible for maximum efficiency.

The in-flight window which shows the biome I am currently in or flying over so I know when to send my Kerbal on an EVA to gather science while in orbit.

And most importantly for in-flight terminal velocity for fuel efficient throttle settings. In the new version of Kerbal Engineer (as of KSP 1.0) terminal velocity shows as the atmospheric efficiency value. Once the atmospheric efficiency number exceeds 100%, I can throttle back to keep it as close as possible to the terminal velocity, saving fuel.

Kerbal Engineer has many other uses, depending on which values you include. It can help with suicide burns and rendezvous and setting satellite orbits for missions and much more.

[Dreygar]

Well I did end up installing the mod. You guys were right it doesn't detract from the gameplay and it does add some good elements.

[maculator]

I use it manly for:
1. Building rockets and knowing what to expect from them
2. Getting to orbit (Atmospheric efficency, time to appolapsis and that stuff so i dont have to switch views)
3. The "time to manuvernode burn" is really helpfull
4. And while flying a plane the airintake usage and the velocity split into horizontal and vertical is a big help (makes not crashing my plane while landing so much easier)

There is so much in it. The first time i tested itit took ages to setup my HUD

[Syd Khaos]

Rounding up is fine.....you would be supprised at how much actual engineering is nothing more than guesswork.

This is why the terms R&D and Trial & Error are basicaly the same thing =)