Crafting macros?

[Nimikos]

Is there a way to set up some macros to make crafting go faster? I hate using the mouse for all this, plus my finger gets sore from all the clicking!

I've gathered from comments here and there that there exists a way to bind crafting actions to keys? The stuff I've seen or comments I've run accross assume more knowledge than I have.

Help!

[Shinto]

/refineadditem
/craftselectstep
/craftselectaction

The first adds an item to your table. The seconds selects the step; you just give it the step number. The third selects an action within the step, and also takes a number.

Actually,that might be craftselectstage...I can't remember now.

[Nimikos]

erm... ok. I still don't get it

Does stage mean the part of the icon list that is currently active? I know I can't select items from other parts of the crafting process. So far I've seen either 1 or 2 icons in an active section? Not sure what to call this.

Why would you need to select the stage since only one is allowed at a time?

Hmmm... I guess if the above is correct, then the action would be the (?) sub-icon that pops up when you select one of the current available icons?

Color me massively confused!

[Dread Quixadhal]

Is there a document describing the arguments for these?

For example, can you use item names with /refineadditem, or do you specify it via bag number and slot number?

[SwordMage]

Originally Posted by Dread Quixadhal

Is there a document describing the arguments for these?

For example, can you use item names with /refineadditem, or do you specify it via bag number and slot number?

See the Ingame Commands page: http://www.vanguardspheres.com/wiki/...mands#Crafting

... and the answer is /refineadditem (e.g., /refineadditem Solvent).

[jdawgcurtis]

I have tried making macros with the /crafting commands, but it seems like more work than using the mouse...the way I set it up anyway. I also couldn't find a way to handle "complications" using the macros.

Personally I think it wold be neat to somehow use a joystick to do crafting... that might cut down on the carpal tunnel feeling!

[SwordMage]

Originally Posted by jdawgcurtis

I have tried making macros with the /crafting commands, but it seems like more work than using the mouse...the way I set it up anyway. I also couldn't find a way to handle "complications" using the macros.

Personally I think it wold be neat to somehow use a joystick to do crafting... that might cut down on the carpal tunnel feeling!

I think your best savings comes from macros to set up the table, you generally have a few standard setups based on the required utility and expected complications.

[jdawgcurtis]

Originally Posted by SwordMage

I think your best savings comes from macros to set up the table, you generally have a few standard setups based on the required utility and expected complications.

That is a good point! I do have a tendency to for get items sometimes!

[Ysharros]

I have a couple of toolbars devoted to crafting and although it doesn't make things particularly faster, it does save on the mouse movement, which is good for my injured shoulders. What follows is just an example of how I have it set up, but it might help you start your own method. Note that the selectstep and selectaction macros will be common to all chars - as such it's a shame to have to redo macros every time, but there you have it.

Hotkey 1 : "/craftingselectaction 1" (no quotes for the real thing; button is text only, called A(ction)1)
Hotkey 2 : "/craftingselectaction 2" (A2)
... and so on for 3 and 4. I'm not high enough to need more than 3 for those yet.

Those represent the actions you can take at any given stage of the recipe, numbered from left to right.

I then have hotkeys 8-12 (8, 9, 0, - , =) set up for the various sections of the recipe, cunningly labelled S1-S5, as follows:

Hotkey 8 : "/craftingselectstep 1" <- this selects the first section/step, the one where you add the resource (or the ficticious resource for WOs)
Hotkey 9 : "/craftingselectstep 2" .... you get the idea

I've not seen recipes with more than 5 steps from adding the resource to the final finishing section, but it won't be too hard to adapt later on.

Note that I'm left-handed and so this arrangement may be backwards for most people - you might prefer to select the recipe section with the left side of the hotbar and the actions with the right. Anyway when I'm crafting, I'll start by hitting 8 (S1) to select step 1, then usually 1 (A1) to pick action one while will add the "resources" to the recipe. Then 9 (S2) for step 2, and whatever action buttons I want.... and so on. I hope that makes sense.

On another toolbar I've set up a "-All" button, which has to be customised by character, and other stuff to use at the setup stage of a recipe. On my blacksmith, I've added the lines
/refineremoveitem "Copper Ore"
/refineremoveitem "Copper Ingot"
/refineremoveitem "Copper Sheet"
and will no doubt add to it as she levels into Tier 2. It allows me to take real stuff off the table in one fell swoop when I'm doing work orders.

On the same toolbar I'll have various commonly used /adds like /refineadditem "Bandages" and /refineadditem "Water". Note that you do need the quote marks for the items (possibly not for single word items, I can't recall, but it doesn't hurt to be consistent).

As mentioned above, it doesn't let me deal with complications but it *does* save me a lot of mousing around which is why I made them. It's not particularly faster since there's a global cooldown to prevent clicky madness anyway.

What I'd really like in connection with this is to actually be able to browse the icon set more efficiently. I think the VG icons are great, colourful and distinct, and it mildly bugs me to have to use text-only A1s and A2s for my macros. I'll live though, I think.

[Nimikos]

Thanks, Ysharros, I believe that answers all my questions, with enough detail that I (hopefully!) now get it.

As soon as they patch again I'll give it a try. I got too frustrated with the current complication madness to be crafting ATM.

Thanks again!