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Supply Lines

Build smaller, more efficient, automated bases that are easier to maintain!

• Stops the offloading of miners to prevent overfill of ores
  
• Especially useful for processing centers you want to mostly fully automate
  
• Automate the flow of supplies with remote bases, mining outposts, etc.
  
• Balance need and eliminate excess ore and ingots filling Containers and Refineries
  
• Eliminate the ‘overflow’ and associated problems of miners overfilling your base

This script controls the flow of ores by automatically adjusting Conveyor Sorter white/black lists to control what ores (or ingots / materials) are pulled from a docked ship or direct connection (such as a Pipeline, etc.).

Supply Lines works by automatically controlling the Conveyor Sorters white/black lists to allow/restrict the flow of a particular Ore/Ingot.

You can send a ship/connect a pipe/whatever to any Sorter in the group controlled by the script and ores and ingots will be pulled only if the base needs it to fill the percent quotas you have set. Everything is done automatically by the script according to your configuration!

All you need to do is set up your base with Conveyor Sorters pointing toward your Containers (i.e., an Incoming Sorter) and connect a 'Supply' (Connector, Pipeline, Collector, etc.) to insure a steady flow of any particular Ore (Ores are most common, though if you have a supply of Ingots from another facility, that works too!).
https://youtu.be/BcTMkFlmz6g

1. Set up an LCD to read out the data (see SETTING UP LCDS below)
   
2. Install a Programming Block (PB) with the Supply Lines script running on it. Note that the LCD starts showing data automatically.
   
3. In the Custom Data (CD) of the PB, set the MIN and MAX for each item (Ore/Ingot) that you want to allow/restrict via Supply Lines (see SETTING UP YOUR SUPPLY LINE LIMITS) - the script will then take care of the rest, seting notification colors/numbers and blocking the item when the MAX is reached, giving you an INSTANT view of the status of the Ores and Ingots in your base, while controlling the flow and eliminating 'glut'!

Enter the tag 'SL-Line' (no quotes required - can also be [SL-Line] if you like, etc.) in the Name or the Custom Data of the LCD

NOTE: MUST be a WIDE LCD!!!
Displays the list of Ores and/or Ingots you want for MIN and MAX as well as Current and a Status (for quick monitoring of your system)

Here is what you need to do to make a nice Supply Line for your base.

1. Create your base with Containers, O2 Generators, etc. as you like. Basically, get your base up and running before installing SL (i.e., there are no special requirements other than the Conveyor Sorters that Supply Lines will control and though you may want to plan for that space-wise, they can be added at any time).
   
2. Set up Ore 'supply lines'. NOTE: though not required, it is strongly recommended to ONLY collect Iron OR Cobalt OR Gold, etc. per Connector (use various methods available in SE like mining bases with separate containers for storing ore before transport to the main base, miners that eject non-wanted ores, etc.) because of the way Sorters, Connectors, Containers, etc. fill up with no regard to the ore in them (which is why you need this script!)
   
3. On the main base, set up a connection (Connector, Pipeline, Collector, etc.) that then connects to a Conveyor Sorter (that points INTO the base). This will be used to 'filter' the ores.
   
4. Once you have a connection/ConveyorSorter set up for each ore, select all of the ConveyorSorters and put them in a group named "SL-Direct" {you can change that name, see instructions in the script configuration section}

- the MAGIC of the Supply Lines script!

When you load the script into the PB, it will automatically generate a list of Ores and Ingots in the CD of the PB - all with 0 defaults (allowing NOTHING to pass). To access the list, open the Terminal (highlight the screen on the PB and type K on your keyboard for easy access) scroll down the list and click on Custom Data.

Set up the numbers to restrict the Ores and Ingots according to your needs:

Ores will only be 'whitelisted' when both the Ore limit AND the associated Ingot limit allow it.

Note that the numbers follow a strict format

ORENAME ORETYPE=X+Y

Where:
ORENAME is the OFFICIAL name of the ore (like "Gold", "Silver", etc. - see https://github.com/malware-dev/MDK-SE/wiki/Type-Definition-Listing)
ORETYPE is the OFFICIAL name of the ore type
= (Note that there are NO SPACES here!)
Least amount that you want in the system without warnings - will trigger the red letters and URGENT so you have a sort of todo list when below this limit (0 will always show "OPEN" as long as the 'Maximum' is not 0 - see below)
+
Maximum amount you want in the system - controls the ConveyorSorters to ALLOW/STOP the particular ore/ingot from passing (anywhere in the "SL-Direct" Group).

IMPORTANT: 'Least' and 'Maximum' numbers are in PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL STORAGE CONTAINERS attached to the same grid as the PB (i.e., not attached ships, rotors/hinges/pistons, etc.)

(Settings are found in the Custom Data of the Programming Block where Supply Lines is running - adjust up/down for your needs, though pay attention to the overall use of your system!)

[SupplyLines]
Cobalt Ingot=0.4+0.75
Gold Ingot=0.2+0.5
Gravel=0+0
Iron Ingot=10+12.5
Magnesium Powder=1+1.5
Nickel Ingot=0.8+1.25
Old Scrap Metal=0+0.5
Platinum Ingot=0+0.25
Silicon Wafer=0.1+0.25
Silver Ingot=0.1+0.25
Uranium Ingot=0.5+0.75
Cobalt Ore=0.1+0.8
Gold Ore=1+2
Ice=1+9
Iron Ore=4+8
Magnesium Ore=0.1+2
Nickel Ore=0.6+1
Organic=0+0
Platinum Ore=0+0.2
Scrap Metal=0+0
Silicon Ore=0+1
Silver Ore=0+0.5
Stone=0+0
Uranium Ore=0+0.5


You can use the following commands in the Argument of the Programming Block (PB) to control the flow of an ore/ingot (the item MUST have 0+0 in the configuration to be controlled manually!)
Where 'OREINGOTNAME' is the OFFICIAL name of the Ore or Ingot and OPTIONALTYPE is the OFFICIAL name of the type (like "Ore", "Ingot", "Powder", etc.)
(Note that Ores are GENERALLY "Ore" and Ingots are GENERALLY "Ingot", but not always!)
OPTIONALTYPE is, as the name says, optional. The default (if you do not include this) is "Ore" (which means commands of "STOP Iron" will work great)

CRITICAL NOTE!!! SE scripts work on a 'tic' method and are only allowed to work a very small amount of time.
What this means to Supply Lines is that even if you (or the script) will ALLOW and then STOP a certain Ore/Ingot,
the amount stored in your Containers will be somewhat larger than the MAX number you have in the settings (i.e., it is not instantaneous cutoff)
This number may be 2-5% MORE than you wanted - you need to allow for that in your settings!

IF YOU ARE USING ISY's INVENTORY MANAGER you must change the name of the Connector AND the ConveyorSorter to include "Locked [No IIM]" to keep the 'warnings' from saying "No route".

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