quality of life [Inventory Management] "Take All" "Transfer All" Hotkey Binding | Auto-Sort Feature

[Killom]

 Hello Devs and Community! I'd like to request you to add / discuss these features:

 

"Take All" "Transfer All" Hotkey Binding

 

It is already possible to batch transfer items between storages and inventory. Kudos for that, devs. But the implementation of this feature is very cumbersome. In my case it's very tiring for the wrist to aim for the buttons often. It's also mentally uncomfortable. It somehow "mentally feels" very wrong. Instead, I would prefer to press a key to "take all" or "transfer all" to empty or fill the selected inventory. It should also easily be able to implemented, because the essential functions are already present.

 

Auto-Sort Feature

 

I could not find an similar request for this. So there should be a button / key, to auto sort inventory items into surrounding containers. Yes, there is the "transfer all" button present - but that's more or less a quick'n'dirty way to solve storage affairs. A good storage currently involves much mouse movement and micromanagement. But in my case, I get rather bored by having to manually sort in each item over and over again. I don't want to bother with this kind of micromanagement. I'd rather like to focus on other aspects of this game.

 

"Auto-Sort Feature" should be like: 
 

Oh, okay. So there are currently 6 containers present (including ground), within the accessible range of the player.

Let's take a look, whats inside of these containers.

Container1:
Oh there is a bunch of nails present. Do we have nails inside the inventory? Oh great, we have 21 of them! So lets put them all into the container.
There is also a nice, cuddly spiffo. Do we have a spiffos inside the inventory? Oh dang, no spiffos today.
[...]
Nothing more. Next container!

Container2:
Seems to be empty. Mkey - skip that. Neeext!

Container3:
Oh look! What a nice, beautiful shotgun. [...]

etc.

 

Just to clarify / TL;DR:

I am trying to suggest a feature (macro?) that empties out the player's inventory into nearby containers. But not like the "transfer all" button - more like a "sort in" feature. It should transfer items to nearby containers 360° around the player, which already contain identical items.

Edited May 20, 2020 by Killom
Adjusted Topic / Updated Inital post

[trombonaught]

4 hours ago, Killom said:

I'm out for an much smarter version of this!

So to rephrase it, you're suggesting a menu that presents a grouped summary of all items within all containers within reach? Is that right?

[Killom]

Nope, that is not what I've trying to suggest. How would your "grouped summary" idea apply to "quick stacking"? Which part you don't understood? #nohate

 

 Just a feature, to empty out the inventory into surrounding containers, which have the right, corresponding items already (manually placed) in them.

i.e. to speed up sorting, after you come back home to your base after a long, successful support run.

 

Lets say, this shall be a crate for cabbage and carrot seeds. Therefore I place one type of each cabbage and carrot seeds into the container. "smart quick stack" will now see, that there are cabbage and carrot seeds present in this container and only stores cabbage and carrot seeds from your inventory into this container. (until its capacity is reached.)

 

Just like somebody will manually do - only with one click.

 

Edit:

But "SQS" will not only automatically access this one active container, which the player selected. it will automatically access all containers which are surrounding the player character.  Not by moving - only rotating 360°. Or at least to all, which are listed inside the container selection menu. 

Edited February 17, 2017 by Killom

[Demonic_Kat]

If you're suggesting what I think you're suggesting, a method in which you can press a button and your inventory sorts itself into designated containers, I think that this feature would break immersion. It would seem like your character opened their bag, threw the contents into the air and they all magically went into place.

 

Maybe(?) as a optional feature.

 

Personally one of the reasons I like this game so much is cuz I get to sort things.

[Killom]

13 hours ago, Demonic_Kat said:

If you're suggesting what I think you're suggesting, a method in which you can press a button and your inventory sorts itself into designated containers, I think that this feature would break immersion. It would seem like your character opened their bag, threw the contents into the air and they all magically went into place.

 

Maybe(?) as a optional feature.

 

Personally one of the reasons I like this game so much is cuz I get to sort things.

 

Yes, you got the rough shade, of what im trying to suggest.  But the way youve imagined it isnt correct. There is no Hogwarts way of placing stuff "magically" into !predefined! containers intended. 

 

This function should only instruct the player character to put an item into an container where already a item with the same ID is present. Initial sorting (aka. placing the first item into the container) still has to be done by hand.  After instructing PC, to place the items into container uses same time like placing it manually via drag'n'drop. This function should only replace drag'n'dropping every item of A,B,C,etc. into the right containers. Same time consumption, lesser mouse movement needed. 

Edited February 25, 2017 by Killom

[Demonic_Kat]

On 2/25/2017 at 11:50 AM, Killom said:

 

Yes, you got the rough shade, of what im trying to suggest.  But the way youve imagined it isnt correct. There is no Hogwarts way of placing stuff "magically" into !predefined! containers intended. 

 

This function should only instruct the player character to put an item into an container where already a item with the same ID is present. Initial sorting (aka. placing the first item into the container) still has to be done by hand.  After instructing PC, to place the items into container uses same time like placing it manually via drag'n'drop. This function should only replace drag'n'dropping every item of A,B,C,etc. into the right containers. Same time consumption, lesser mouse movement needed. 

I still think this takes something basic away from the game. I don't think it's a bad idea, but I think if implemented (even as an optional thing) it would need better examples. I'm getting kind of confused on whether this will be a button or a built in function or what.

[Killom]

I would like to bring this idea back to the surface. It seems there was quite a bit of confusion about it at the time.

[Mumbler]

I'm opposed to this mildly, on similar grounds to other opposition: I think it would take away some of the immersion.  Allow me to explain.

 

PZ is a taxing game at times, mentally.  I can't tell you the amount of time I've spent (happily, mind you) manually packing away my latest haul.  There's an odd satisfaction to having everything organized and knowing you placed each item there by hand.

 

The flip side of that coin is those intense, am-I-even-gonna-make-it-back days, where you just barely make it back to your safe house.  Your character is tired from running, fighting, and hauling stuff. It's already 12:30 AM, and you've got the Exhausted moodle chilling.  Not only does your character not have the energy to walk back and forth sorting things, but you as a PLAYER don't have the mental energy after keeping your little toon alive.  You both just need a second, and a fresh day to start out...so you just drop both bags on the floor saying "'l'll deal with it in the morning."

 

Both of these potential gameplay scenarios become moot with any kind of auto-sorting mechanic, removing bits of micromanagement from a game where every little choice you make (or don't make) takes up time and resources, which is pivotal to the overall atmosphere.

Edited May 20, 2020 by Mumbler

[Killom]

Well I am able to comprehend your point of view on this. But in my case, I get rather bored by having to manually sort in each item. I don't want to bother with this kind of micro management. Well, basically I am in search for a very basic function: I would like to be able to empty the inventory by keystroke. I do not want to aim the mouse at a tiny button in the inventory every time and do a click. It's uncomfortable. Instead, I would much rather press a key to "take all" or "drop all" to empty or fill the selected inventory. Sorting things automatically into the right containers would be a nice "optional" addition to this. The lack of such basic feature isn't just a taxing inconvenience to me. It is very annoying IMHO. It won't be a downside for both of us, if such feature would be optional.

 

Also I am requesting this, because it is not possible to add such feature through mods. In the current state, Key bindings can't be implemented in runtime. They have to be hardcoded AFAIK

Edited May 20, 2020 by Killom

[Mumbler]

10 minutes ago, Killom said:

Well I am able to comprehend your point of view on this. But in my case, I get rather bored by having to manually sort in each item. I don't want to bother with this kind of micro management. Well, basically I am in search for a very basic function: I would like to be able to empty the inventory by keystroke. I do not want to aim the mouse at a tiny button in the inventory every time and do a click. It's uncomfortable. Instead, I would much rather press a key to "take all" or "drop all" to empty or fill the selected inventory. Sorting things automatically into the right containers would be a nice "optional" addition to this. The lack of such basic feature isn't just a taxing inconvenience to me. It is very annoying IMHO. It won't be a downside for both of us, if such feature would be optional.

 

Also I am requesting this, because it is not possible to add such feature through mods. In the current state, Key bindings can't be implemented in runtime. They have to be hardcoded AFAIK

I can definitely see where you're coming from.  Inventory management can be a total nightmare sometimes.  

 

I would like to argue one point, though:  auto-sorting your inventory isn't really a basic function.  Indeed, I play a fair number of survival sims and I would go so far as to say it's not even a standard or common mechanic; keeping your house tidy (or not, hey) is typical of the genre.

[Killom]

1 minute ago, Mumbler said:

I would like to argue one point, though:  auto-sorting your inventory isn't really a basic function.

Yes, you are correct. Maybe I am a bit prone to be mistaken, because English is only my second language. I were trying to clarify, that take all / drop all on button press is a basic function in most games that involves inventory management. I tried to exclude the "auto-sort" feature from this statement.

[Mumbler]

18 minutes ago, Killom said:

Yes, you are correct. Maybe I am a bit prone to be mistaken, because English is only my second language. I were trying to clarify, that take all / drop all on button press is a basic function in most games that involves inventory management. I tried to exclude the "auto-sort" feature from this statement.

Ah, fair enough