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The '''rail planner''' is a system that allows players to build many segments of [[Rail|rail track]] at once, either directly or as [[Glossary#G|ghost]] items.
The '''rail planner''' is a system that allows players to build many segments of [[Rail|rail track]] at once, either directly or as [[ghost]] entities.
The rail planner can be used immediately after researching the [[Railway_(research)|Railway]] technology and acquiring some rails.
The rail planner can be used immediately after researching the [[Railway_(research)|railway]] technology and acquiring some rails.


The rail planner was introduced in version 0.13, and eliminated the need for [[Curved_rail|curved rails]].
Aside from constructing the curved rail using a [[blueprint]] and [[construction robot]]s, the rail planner is currently the only way to place curved rail segments.
Thus, aside from constructing the curved rail using a [[blueprint]] and [[Construction_robot|construction robots]], the rail planner is currently the only way to place curved rail segments.


== Instructions ==
== Usage ==
 
[[File:Manual_rail_planner.jpg|thumb|300x300px|The rail planner operating in manual mode.]]
[[File:rail_planner_starter.jpg|thumb|300x300px|The small green arrow used to start the planner.]]
=== Starting the planner ===
 
To use the rail planner:
# Craft some [[Rail|rails]].
# Place a single piece of rail.
# Mouse over the rail that was placed (while still holding rails in hand).
# A green arrow/triangle should appear, like the example on the right.
# Left-click to start the rail planner ({{keybinding|LMB}} for manual mode, {{keybinding|Shift|LMB}} for ghost mode).
{{clear}}


[[File:Manual_rail_planner.jpg|thumb|300x300px|The rail planner operating in manual mode.]]
While holding rails, left-click (press {{Keybinding|A}} on [[Nintendo Switch version|Nintendo Switch]]) on the green arrow icon on existing rail to initiate the rail planning mode.
=== Manual Planner ===
While holding rails, left-click on the green arrow icon on existing rail to initiate manual rail planning mode.
This mode allows the player to directly place rails within a certain proximity to themselves (at most about 10 rails at a time).
This mode allows the player to directly place rails within a certain proximity to themselves (at most about 10 rails at a time).
The rails will be placed towards the cursor; simply aim with the cursor and left click again to place.
The rails will be placed towards the cursor; simply aim with the cursor and left click (press {{Keybinding|A}} on Nintendo Switch) again to place.
After placement, the rail planner will continue from the end of the new segment, and the process can be repeated.
After placement, the rail planner will continue from the end of the new segment, and the process can be repeated.
To escape the planner, press {{keybinding|Esc}}.  
To escape the planner, press {{keybinding|Q}} ({{Keybinding|B}} on Nintendo Switch).  


In this mode, the player is allowed to leave the typical range of the "green hologram" to place items.
In this mode, the player is allowed to leave the typical range of the "green hologram" to place items.
This means that, even if the player is physically beyond the range of the "hologram" for the new rail segment, they may still left click in order to have the rails placed from a distance.
This means that, even if the player is physically beyond the range of the "hologram" for the new rail segment, they may still left click (press {{Keybinding|A}} on Nintendo Switch) in order to have the rails placed from a distance.
This allows the player to start the planner, then run far away in a straight line, and click rapidly to bring the rails up to them.
This allows the player to start the planner, then run far away in a straight line, and click rapidly to bring the rails up to them.
{{clear}}
{{clear}}


[[File:Ghost_rail_planner.jpg|thumb|300x300px|The rail planner operating in ghost mode.]]
[[File:Ghost_rail_planner.jpg|thumb|300x300px|The rail planner operating in ghost building mode.]]
=== Ghost Planner ===
=== Ghost building ===
The ghost planning mode can be used to place longer stretches of rail at once, by creating [[Glossary#G|ghosts]] of rails that can be filled in by [[construction robot]]s, either from [[roboport]]s or a [[personal roboport]].
The ghost building mode can be used to place longer stretches of rail at once, by creating [[ghost]]s of rails that can be filled in by [[construction robot]]s, either from [[roboport]]s or a [[personal roboport]]. To use the ghost planning mode, hold {{keybinding|Shift}} ({{Keybinding|ZR}} on [[Nintendo Switch version|Nintendo Switch]]) while using the rail planner as described above. The rail planner will find the shortest route without considering natural obstacles such as [[tree]]s or [[cliff]]s, these will be marked for deconstruction.
To use ghost planning mode, hold {{keybinding|Shift}} and left click the green arrow icon on an existing rail.
Then, move the cursor to where the rails should terminate, press {{keybinding|R}} to rotate the last rail to the desired rotation, and {{keybinding|LMB}} to place the ghost rails.  
 
The AI will find a path from the starter location that does not go through obstacles, instead weaving and winding between them, as seen in [https://eu3.factorio.com/assets/img/blog/fff-113-rail-plan-search-visualisation.gif this visualization].
To make the rail planner choose the shortest route ''without'' considering natural obstacles, use {{keybinding|Shift}} to preview the route and {{keybinding|Shift|LMB}} to place.
[[Tree|Trees]] and stone rocks in the way will be marked for deconstruction (as if a [[Deconstruction_planner|deconstruction planner]] was used on them).
After placement, the rail planner will continue from the end of the new segment, and the process can be repeated.
To escape the planner, press {{keybinding|Esc}}.  
{{clear}}
{{clear}}


== History ==
== History ==
{{history|0.17.29|
* Simplified rail building.
**  Holding shift while rail building always activates the combination of ghost-rail-building + remove-obstacles, releasing shift returns back to normal manual mode.
**  It doesn't matter anymore, whether the rail building started with shift or not.
**  This removed the possibility to do ghost-rail-building without the remove-obstacles, but since it seems to be almost useless, we consider it to be worth the simplification.
}}
{{history|0.13.0|
{{history|0.13.0|
* [[Rail planner]] tool simplifies rail building.
* [[Rail planner]] tool simplifies rail building.
Line 52: Line 39:


== See Also ==
== See Also ==
* [https://www.factorio.com/blog/post/fff-113 The FFF blog post that introduces this feature.]
* [https://factorio.com/blog/post/fff-113 The FFF blog post that introduces this feature.]
* [https://factorio.com/blog/post/fff-290 FFF describing the rail planning changes made in 0.17.29]
* [[Railway]]
* [[Railway]]
{{C|Railway{{!}}#Rail planner}}

Latest revision as of 13:11, 24 June 2024

The rail planner is a system that allows players to build many segments of rail track at once, either directly or as ghost entities. The rail planner can be used immediately after researching the railway technology and acquiring some rails.

Aside from constructing the curved rail using a blueprint and construction robots, the rail planner is currently the only way to place curved rail segments.

Usage

The rail planner operating in manual mode.

While holding rails, left-click (press A on Nintendo Switch) on the green arrow icon on existing rail to initiate the rail planning mode. This mode allows the player to directly place rails within a certain proximity to themselves (at most about 10 rails at a time). The rails will be placed towards the cursor; simply aim with the cursor and left click (press A on Nintendo Switch) again to place. After placement, the rail planner will continue from the end of the new segment, and the process can be repeated. To escape the planner, press Q (B on Nintendo Switch).

In this mode, the player is allowed to leave the typical range of the "green hologram" to place items. This means that, even if the player is physically beyond the range of the "hologram" for the new rail segment, they may still left click (press A on Nintendo Switch) in order to have the rails placed from a distance. This allows the player to start the planner, then run far away in a straight line, and click rapidly to bring the rails up to them.

The rail planner operating in ghost building mode.

Ghost building

The ghost building mode can be used to place longer stretches of rail at once, by creating ghosts of rails that can be filled in by construction robots, either from roboports or a personal roboport. To use the ghost planning mode, hold Shift (ZR on Nintendo Switch) while using the rail planner as described above. The rail planner will find the shortest route without considering natural obstacles such as trees or cliffs, these will be marked for deconstruction.

History

  • 0.17.29:
    • Simplified rail building.
      • Holding shift while rail building always activates the combination of ghost-rail-building + remove-obstacles, releasing shift returns back to normal manual mode.
      • It doesn't matter anymore, whether the rail building started with shift or not.
      • This removed the possibility to do ghost-rail-building without the remove-obstacles, but since it seems to be almost useless, we consider it to be worth the simplification.

See Also

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