Station Modules: Rotation before placement?

[EnVenta]

It appears the defacto way of placing and positioning (especially large) station modules is to

1) 'place' the module somewhere in a plot, regardless of its connectivity to other modules (ignoring warning about invalid placement)
2) overcome cognitive dissonance about having 'placed' something and realise that you still have to orient it
3) rotate it to desired orientation using the multicolored axis handles
4) finally drag it to connect to something and hope it fits inside the plot

I find the process unwieldy, awkward, and backwards. Is there an easier way to do it?

[Bazooka]

there is a function allow module overlap set your modules and shuffle, i don't know if it works. never tried it before, once it looked ugly :)

[Tin Pony]

If you open the cog/widget at the top of the BUILD interface, at the bottom is a button for SHUFFLE MODULES.

1) place all the modules you want in the build, into the plot (doesn't matter where)
2) use the SHUFFLE MODULES feature, pressing over and over until it all fits.
3) proceed with the build

This will automatically add any necessary connectors and completely remove having to rotate any modules.

There is a drawback, in that adding a single module to a pre-built station may require the shuffle feature to remove/rebuild some of the previous modules.

[EnVenta]

Originally posted by Tin Pony:

If you open the cog/widget at the top of the BUILD interface, at the bottom is a button for SHUFFLE MODULES.

1) place all the modules you want in the build, into the plot (doesn't matter where)
2) use the SHUFFLE MODULES feature, pressing over and over until it all fits.
3) proceed with the build

This will automatically add any necessary connectors and completely remove having to rotate any modules.

There is a drawback, in that adding a single module to a pre-built station may require the shuffle feature to remove/rebuild some of the previous modules.

Wow, this is more than I'd expected! Will give the auto shuffle a few goes. It seems like it might save time and headache, if not resources.

[SinisterSlay]

If you really want to, stations work just fine without connectors. It doesn't look as cool though

[Tin Pony]

One more caveat I haven't tested yet...

If you use Shuffle on a station that has ships docked at it, or wares in storage, you MAY lose those ships or wares, if Shuffle removes and rebuilds those modules.

[EnVenta]

Originally posted by SinisterSlay:

If you really want to, stations work just fine without connectors. It doesn't look as cool though

Not concerned with aesthetics, but rather with function. Mostly in a how-do-i-know-this-will-fit-before-i-even-start-the-wierd-process-of-trying-to-attach-it-meanwhile-my-ships-are-being-attacked-and-need-orders-why-is-this-so-convoluted kind of way.

[Tin Pony]

Originally posted by tigris:

Not concerned with aesthetics, but rather with function. Mostly in a how-do-i-know-this-will-fit-before-i-even-start-the-wierd-process-of-trying-to-attach-it-meanwhile-my-ships-are-being-attacked-and-need-orders-why-is-this-so-convoluted kind of way.

lol that's a mouthful. Using PAUSE while you build, give fleet movement orders, or micro-manage traders is very useful.

[Ketraar]

You can always use the Station Design Simulator start to design your stations first and then buld them ingame.

MFG

Ketraar