Question about use of ctrl X with duplicating blueprints

[Roxxsmom]

I've watched some videos on how to make domes and other modular buildings, and the big secret I wish I'd learned earlier is the use of CTRL-X, which evidently allows you to duplicate a segment of a dome and rotate or move it continuously using the X tool. So I created a dome section to try it out on and saved it as a blueprint.

CTRL X isn't working for me, though. I think it might be because the game doesn't seem to recognize this structure as a coherent blueprint, even though it is saved as one. As soon as I put it down, clicking on it does not select the whole structure, just a part of it. It also doesn't work to use the grouping function to highlight the whole thing. When I do this, neither CTRL D nor CTRL X work to duplicate the structure.

I basically created half the arch first, then duplicated that and stuck the two halves together. I saved that entire arch as a blueprint, but the game seems to think the arch is still two buildings, even after I multi selected it and saved it as a blueprint. Each half will duplicate, but not the entire thing.

I must have done something wrong, but I have no idea what. I have a couple of screen shots here, one showing the saved blueprint in my blueprints section, and one showing what happens when I click on the item.

 

[TFG21]

You unfortunately can't use the duplication controls on multiple groups that each have gridded items.

Since both sides of your arch are identical, why not just duplicate everything in group edit mode? That way, the entire thing will be a single scenery group

 

[Roxxsmom]

I did duplicate the arch and stuck the two sides together, as in the videos, but the grid turned off when I selected the entire half arch prior to duplication. Once the grid turns off for an object, the option add more to it and have it be part of the original group seems to go away. I was able to get a half arch to duplicate while still on the grid and stick the two halves together once using the shift to select the entire object, and then I was able to create a dome from it (by duplicating the arch with control x and rotating it continuously) as in the videos. But the next time I tried it, clicking part of the half arch and clicking shift closed the build window and turned off the grid. Duplicating the original arch, eyeballing it to attach it to the other half without the grid, and saving the whole thing as one blueprint does not result in a duplicatable object that can be used to make a dome (via ctrl X and rotation).

I'm not sure why or how the controls are so inconsistent, where sometimes selecting an object closes the grid it was created with and other times it doesn't. I must be doing something wrong, but I haven't seen it addressed in any of the how to make a round building/dome videos, or by googling the question.

 

[XT]

It's not exactly inconsistent but very ... particular. So far as I've been able to tell...

• At least one object in your dome 'slice' has to be a gridded object.
• After you've built your slice to your satisfaction you need to exit entirely out of the object, then click back on it and select the 'edit group' button in the menu (looks kinda like a pencil).
• When you've got that selected and you see the grid, you drag to highlight the entire collection - do not use the multi selection option down in the bottom right of the screen. That turns off the grid.
• If you've done it the way the program wants, you should have the option of the simple duplicate button.
• Duplicate then use Z twice to turn the duplicated object 180 degrees from the original.

It's incredibly non-intuitive and even though I've made several domes now, I still don't go through the right steps all the time.

 

[TFG21]

Once the grid turns off for an object, the option add more to it and have it be part of the original group seems to go away.

This means you have exited group edit mode. You will need to re-enter group edit to do the duplication. Usually you can do this by double clicking on a piece in the group, then you can use click and drag to select everything in the group and duplicate. Hopefully that makes sense

 

[Roxxsmom]

I think I finally figured it out. If I selected the group and hit R, it brought the grid up again, and then I could group select and the ctrl key or the group select button wouldn't close the building menu. It may seem dense, but I don't remember ever finding a list of building-specific macros on a how-to website, and the videos folks make showing how to make things already assume you know what all the hotkeys are and they just show items being moved and duplicated on screen without telling how they are doing it. The gal who did a good step-by-step video where she explained as she went helped a lot, but to my ears she kept saying "press ah," (which I took to mean A) and it took me a while to realize she meant "R" to bring the grid up.
I was able to make a round building/dome type building at last! I still have trouble with having the last duplicated segment not quite fitting, but the roof pattern is still interesting!

Thanks for the help and advice. I really appreciate it as I try to figure out the little intricacies in this game. I've played other builder type games, but not planet coaster, so this system is new to me.