Re: upgrading facilities pet peeve
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">At least #1 is simple. Construction queues (F7), select Rate. Click on Rate, then Construction to sort: non-building colonies are listed first, starting with highest production rate (i.e. usually those on emergency) on top.

Having the same #2 problem (haven't we all? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif ) I usually design a few units named like "* upgrade *" or "* build ship now *" etc. Inserting them into the queue at the appropriate places alerts me to take action whenever I see an item starting with "*" in the queue. And they are listed first if you select sort by Construction, so it is easy to check it.

Re: upgrading facilities pet peeve
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">At least #1 is simple. Construction queues (F7), select Rate. Click on Rate, then Construction to sort: non-building colonies are listed first, starting with highest production rate (i.e. usually those on emergency) on top.

Having the same #2 problem (haven't we all? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif ) I usually design a few units named like "* upgrade *" or "* build ship now *" etc. Inserting them into the queue at the appropriate places alerts me to take action whenever I see an item starting with "*" in the queue. And they are listed first if you select sort by Construction, so it is easy to check it. </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Agreed on #1, but I'd still like a log entry so that I don't have to explicitly look for that each turn. Although I almost always do that sort every turn anyway.

#2... You know, I don't know why such a simple trick like this is incapable of being formulated by my feeble mind. This is a great idea! Thanks. I wonder what the absolute cheapest, smallest unit is... probably an empty small mine... Thanks again!

As for the "build ship now", I assume that you use this because you can't add a ship to the build queue until after a spaceyard is built. Check this out from the FAQ:

4.4.15 Q: How do I set up a planet’s construction queue to build a spaceyard and then build ships without having to edit the queue after the spaceyard is built?
A: Normally you can’t add ships to a planet’s construction queue until after the planet has a spaceyard facility. However there is a neat interface workaround. First, go to another planet that has a spaceyard and add your ship to its construction queue. Then save the construction queue using the process in section 4.4.13 above. Now, when you colonize a new planet, you can set up the build queue to build a spaceyard using the normal method and add ships to the queue using the saved queue.


Slick.

Re: upgrading facilities pet peeve
 

Ahh, I should read the FAQ more often. Thanks for the hint, this really solves another small problem.

I wonder how people not reading this forum manage to get along http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif

Re: upgrading facilities pet peeve
 

i knew that one slick, but roanons ideas are very nice and useful, thanx a lot http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

another thing I use to min/max my empire: I click on the production thing, and then on usage. this way I can check which planets of mine are using very few minerals (lets say something less than 1500 per turn) I check them and try to change my designs, buildings ques or what so ever in a way to maximize this. not useful at everytime, but a nice way to ensure that your empire is constructing at its maximum lvl.

Re: upgrading facilities pet peeve
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Nice tip! That's one I'll be sure to use. Thanks...

Re: upgrading facilities pet peeve
 

I just wanted to say thanks again to Roanon for the trick he mentioned below about placing dummy units in the build queue starting with * for reminders. I have been using this ever since he mentioned it and it works like a champ! WOOT!

Slick.

Re: upgrading facilities pet peeve
 

Did you just say "woot"? *shakes head*

Re: upgrading facilities pet peeve
 

Wow, those are excellent ideas. Thanks for sharing. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: upgrading facilities pet peeve
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">He must have been drinking 'woot beer'. */me looks very bland*

Re: upgrading facilities pet peeve
 

What is "root beer"?
I hear it sometimes in american TV shows but I don't know what it is, some kind of carbonated drink, like fanta or such? What does it taste like?