Space Engineers: Ore Finder Plus [OFP] Guide 2022

Ore Finder Plus [OFP] is a in-game script that allows you to catalog ore deposits on planets or asteroids.

MOD Required: https://steamcommunity.com/workshop/filedetails/?id=1967157772

• Ore Detector somewhere on the grid labeled with the OFP Tag (Default: [OFP])
  • Currently the first detector found with the OFP tag in its name is used.
• Programming Block running this script
• LCD Panel or Cockpit or Programming Block with the OFP designated tag (Default: [OFP])
• Button Panel or Cockpit/seat control bar to run programming block with arguments

This Script works with

• Multiplayer or Single player worlds
• Custom ore types
• Different Detector Mods (although Rachers is the one this was designed for)

Configure your button (Cockpit or Button Panel) to run the OFP Programming Block with the below arguments.

• up – Add the programming block from above to your hot bar with the argument of up. This will navigate the menu items up
• down – Add the programming block from above to your hot bar with the argument of down. This will navigate the menu items down
• apply – Add the programming block from above to your hot bar with the argument of apply. This will select the current menu item
• menu – Add the programming block from above to your hot bar with the argument of menu. This is a quick key to go back to the main menu.
• disable – Add the programming block from above to your hot bar with the argument of disable. This will disable OFP and the Ore Detector
• enable – Add the programming block from above to your hot bar with the argument of enable. This will enable OFP and the Ore Detector

360 Scan – This is the default scan method now and will fire out a raycast ray in 360 degrees from the ore detector. This “ray” as its only 2D will fire at all angles from the ore detector one at a time. It starts scanning a 180 degree ark of elevation while scanning a 360 degree ark of azimuth. this gives you a total of 360 degrees of spherical scanning. Note that to cut down on time, and because deposits are usually big, there is a special stepping factor set in the code of 18 degrees. These are the “steps” of degrees taking between scans.

Forward Plane Scan – This will only can a pyramid starting from the tip of the ore detector at 5 degrees in all directions. This enables a forward “cone” if you will of scanning. This is much quicker than the 360 scan but will only hit ore deposits in front of the detector

Forward Scan – This is the original OFP method of scanning. It will fire a single 2D ray from the front of the ore detector and if it hits ore it will log it. The issue with this is the line is so narrow it is easy to miss ore at a distance. However this method is still available.

Scan Once – This options is Disabled by default meaning it will continue to scan forever. If, for some reason, you wish to only scan the area one time then stop you should set this to Enabled.

Quick Scan – Default Enabled. When a raycast device sends a ray out into space it needs to “charge” up enough power to hit the distance you want. If you send it out before its charged it will only go so far. For example. If I have my distance set at 5K detection and I only have 1.5K of charge when the device fires it will only see ore up to 1.5K for that ray. Quick Scan tells OFP to send whatever charge it has when fire time comes. If you disable this feature then the OFP will wait until you have enough charge to meet the distance specified. If you want to make sure you don’t miss any ore set this to Disabled.

Distance – Distance is how far you would like to scan for ore. This is not dependent on the size of the ore detector. The maximum value is 100K. To change the values move the menu cursor down to Distance and click the apply button. Then use the Up and Down buttons to change the value. Once at the desired distance then use the apply button again.

To configure an LCD to be used by OFP you need to add the OFP tag to its name
example: MyText Panel [OFP]
example: Cockpit [OFP]
Once this is done a custom data section will be added to that screen allowing you to change its operation

[OreFinderPlus]
; Edit the below to change how this screen reacts.
; Options:
; default = Allow this screen to navigate all menus
; ore = Always show ore status
; coordinates = Always show coordinate screen
; status = shows the status of current (or single) scan
; ministatus = shows scan status on small screens
Screen = default

Cockpits will have a OFP@X where X is the display number.

Setting the Screen option to Ore or Coordinates will force that screen to only display that. You should have at least one LCD set to default.

Main Page: This is the main menu which allows navigation
Deposits Found: This is a summary screen showing ore found
Ore Coordinates: This screen shows all the ore found in GPS coordinates format.
**IMPORTANT** To get these coordinates into your GPS system you will press K and navigate to the LCD showing the coordinates. Click Edit Text. Once that windows opens up the GPS points are automatically added to your GPS system. Navigate to the GPS tab and click Show on HUD if you want to see the location.Logging Data: This screen shows raw data being logged on the distances between ore deposits. This isnt required but is good for troubleshooting.
Status: This screen will show all of the current operations of OFP including how much charge is available for the ore detector raycast
Settings: This is where most of the settings you’ll change will be. Everything from scan mode (360/Front Plane/Point) or distance to scan
Clear Data: This option will clear the found list of ore and the coordinates screen.

When I get a base up and running I like to put a Large Ore Detector attached to the base and install OFP.
1. Install an Ore Detector with the [OFP] tag in the name
2. Install Programming Block with [OFP] tag in the name
3. Install LCD or Cockpit or Programming Block Screen with [OFP] tag in the name

4. Navigate to the Programming Block [OFP] in control panel and click edit
5. Select this ingame script
6. [OPTIONAL] Change the ignore list of ore to ignore. Stone is there by default but if you’re on a lake or at a pole then add Ice

//ignoreList will allow you to exclude types of ORE.
//example: "Stone,Ice"
 string ignoreList = "Stone";

//This is the degrees to move each scan during a 360 scan.
//Waiting for 1 degree in all directions is way to slow.
//At 18 steps it takes about 90 seconds to complete a 360 scan.
//You can speed this up by increasing the steps size but you may miss deposits.
//Modified to cast to a float so you can now scan by decimal steps (eg  .1 or .5 etc)
float sphereScanStep = (float).5;