Choosing the mechanisms levers use

[AurelianDio]

I'm trying to make a lava safe flood gate, but the lever just uses whatever is closest, is there any way to choose the mechanism or do I have to make some elaborate stockpile management system with the magma safe mechanisms close to the lever?

[[MCG] Merrik Blackwater]

When you make the lever you should have the option to "choose individual items" or "choose closest". or just forbid all your mechanisms and build a few with fire safe so thats all there is

[AurelianDio]

The problem is with linking the lever, it shows that it's going to use but doesn't let me choose afaik, but I guess forbidding mechanisms will work this one time.

[Gulf of America]

Is forbidding the only way right now? ...

[AurelianDio]

afaik yeah =/

[Holyvision]

It sucks but has saved me -- I get where I just manually control the work orders to make sure they always make the mechanism components out of sandstone or etc... I've forgotten about this one too many time.

[AlP]

Don't forbid *all* the mechanisms, that can lock levers you may need to use. Create a big stockpile for each type of mechanism, and forbid the entire stockpile with the tool at the bottom.

[GFluegel]

Is this still not fixed? I was planning to use masterwork mechanism in bridges with a lot of traffic for happy thoughts, but it always just shows me some random parts. :/

Between this, the messy squad/equipment menu, strangely automated stair selection, lack of communal tombs and missing alerts, I wonder if I should go back to Classic for now.

[harlequin_corps]

Unfortunately it doesn't choose the closest, it chooses the oldest made.
There are some steps to avoid this for future note.
First, only use magma safe rocks to make mechanisms. Instead of Rock Mechanisms, click the magnifying glass on the Mechanic Shop and choose a magma safe rock like Gabbro/Orthoclase etc. That way your only choices are always going to be magma safe.
This is actually a really good use for Cassiterite/Sphalerite btw. It's an ore but it's relatively pointless otherwise.