This basically allows blueprint editing outside of the game itself.Ī complete explanation of the blueprint JSON can be found on the blueprint string format page. It is therefore possible to decode/decompress the text string, change attributes of the blueprint in the JSON text and finally re-encode/compress it back to the known text string format. The text string itself is a base64 encoded, compressed JSON string which contains all the information of the blueprint. This will result in a blueprint appearing on the hand with the same setup as the one that was exported. A dialogue box will appear into which the string can be pasted. To import a blueprint, the player can click the Import string icon on the shortcut bar ( ). This string can be copied to the operating system clipboard, from where it could be saved to a text file or uploaded to a website. This makes sharing blueprints between players very easy.Ĭlicking the Export to string button ( ) in the top right of the blueprint edit window will pop up a window containing the Blueprint string. It is possible to export blueprints as a text string and import said text string to create a new blueprint. Right clicking on a blueprint allows you to view, edit and clear it.īy clearing it, it will become blank so it can be set again. The required items need to be in the network in an active provider chest, a passive provider chest, a buffer chest or a storage chest.īlueprints can be placed from map view as long as the area has been explored. If these are within the green (or orange) 110×110 tiles area of a roboport, or within range of a personal roboport installed in modular armor or spidertron, construction robots may be able to build them using available materials.Īfter the blueprint gets placed somewhere, the buildings are placed as ghost buildings.Ĭonstruction robots will now start to pick up the needed items from the construction network/the player inventory (if using a personal roboport) and place them at the ghost buildings. Placing a blueprint creates ghost entities. It is possible to place the blueprint rotated this is done by using the r key.

In this case the Blueprint was renamed to 'Example blueprint'. When you select a blueprint, the whole building setup of the blueprint will be shown at your mouse cursor. The process of placing a blueprint is very similar to that of using copy and paste functionality. To use/place the created blueprint select it from the tool belt or inventory. The created blueprint will replace the empty blueprint in the player's cursor. Canceling the blueprint does not consume the blueprint item. Additionally, blueprint creation can be cancelled by clicking the X in the top right corner. The green 'Create blueprint' button creates the blueprint. On the left the 'Total' number of components included in the blueprint is shown. These default icons can be changed by simply clicking on the icons to choose the desired ones. When creating a new blueprint, the game automatically selects some of the icons representing the entities in the blueprint. These are displayed on the blueprint's icon and can be used to quickly identify a blueprint. On the top left of the 'Setup new blueprint' menu there are four icon slots.

Once everything you intend to 'copy' is inside the drag box, release the mouse button and the 'Blueprint icon setup' menu will open. With the blueprint icon shown next to the mouse cursor, click and hold the left mouse button and drag a box as large as needed (which can be cancelled by pressing Q).Īll player-placed entities which will be included in the blueprint will be highlighted with a green square. To create a blueprint select the blueprint item out of the toolbar or the inventory. For example, copying this small gun turret defense setup: The blank blueprint can now be used to 'copy' a set of buildings.

Construct more machines using robots than manually.īlank blueprints can be crafted by clicking the ( ) button in the shortcut bar.

Factorio solar panel blueprint