This is super annoying as a map-maker who uses sign directions. Signs can't be edited!
They have 4 lines and an odd character limit. Sometimes even after breaking and retyping I can't get it looking as nice or don't remember exactly how I phrased things to get it fitting properly in the space limits.
Please mojang, get rid of this pain once and for all! Allow signs to be edited by rt-clicking on them!
The suggestion:
This suggestion would be simple to implement. Rt-click on any sign with any item and the writing screen for it re-opens. right now it is coded to place the sign blank then open the writing screen. When you finish the text is linked to the sign.
I suggest to make it simple rt-clicking places a new blank sign in front but pre-copies in the text into the writing splash screen that opens just the way it looked last time you wrote it. This way you can edit directly by using backspace and up/down arrows to get to different lines. But if you change your mind and exit out the old text just gets printed on the new sign and it looks like nothing changed. Basically the exact same code as sign creation but pre-copying in the old text when you rt-click to edit. This would be easy to do and I'm really unsure why it hasn't been. Breaking and redoing tons of signs if you change something about your game is ridiculous.
Suggested by PapiDimmi:
Signs can be edited only by the creator.
Right now vanilla minecraft doesn't have a permission node structure like this, however, it is a good suggestion, especially if this is taken up by a mod. It would really add polish to the system!
For my rant about books:
While we're on the subject: Mojang? Why do I have to backspace an entire page before I can edit a character on a book? This is dumb, you already have text-editing that works by clicking at a character position in the chat or in command blocks, why did you make books so annoying??
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Thanks guys! If any of you do map-making you'll be even more frustrated by the sign mechanics. But I think even single-players can understand the pain if you've done a storage room with labels. You can't change anything without breaking a bunch of text.
It encourages sloppy labeling too because you can't quite see how it will look from the splash screen and when you finish and see it doesn't look quite right there is no easy way to redo it without breaking, typing all over again and guessing about what will look better. This is highly tedious and not in the spirit of minecraft at all.
I've added a poll so we can see how many supporters agree with my suggestion.
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Suggestion: your poll is heavily opinionated. It seems designed to 'force' people to pick only one option. Just put the no option as 'No.'
For storage, I don't even use signs. I use item frames. Mostly because signs are tedious.
lol, sorry, I was trying to be funny.
Signs are tedious hence the suggestion. I tried the item frame thing but was never satisfied, one item never seemed good enough to label chests the way I organize things.
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Signs are tedious hence the suggestion. I tried the item frame thing but was never satisfied, one item never seemed good enough to label chests the way I organize things.
Wait, actually, forgot. I do use signs. I use them until I get so much of one item that I can devote an entire chest to it.
those are some good ideas too! I thought about the empty hand idea, I know some mods that do that, however, I was envisioning them being like chests where any rt-click opens them. I don't think it would happen on accident too often and then I wouldn't need a free hand to edit.
I like your idea of assigning signs to specific players, however, that is a bigger change. I'll put it in the OP though, it is a good idea. I was more going for simplicity at this point, but I realize it could be annoying if anyone could walk by and edit your signs.
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Just to clarify and some reasons why the suggestion is not "useless":
1. There is not a fixed # of characters per line btw, if you use capitals or larger letters you end being able to fit less so it isn't always predictable. This is to make sure everything fits in the sign borders at default font And I don't care to whip out a calculator every time I want to write a sign and add up the sizes of every letter.
2. Also, this suggestion is kinda along the lines of what you are arguing for anyway. You want bug fixes and cleaner mechanics? Sign editing is a cleaner mechanic making signs easier to use and update. Also, as described, it could be done with a tiny change, we wouldn't have to give up, for instance, a new mob to introduce this. Basically just a routine that looks up the json storing the sign text and pre-copies it in. I want new features too, but I think cleaning up and making existing mechanics easier to use is actually better for minecraft now. There are a lot of bugs and awkward mechanics and you mentioned and signs are one of them. How is this a "cleaner" mechanic? well, I frequently end up with the case where the sign also looks different after I finish it then it did in typing mode. There is no easy way to tell this until after so I end up breaking and retyping about 3-4 times. If you want pretty and good-looking signs this is the pattern. Editing would make this process so much smoother and quicker and would result in more professional signs as well. Many players see it doesn't look great but leave it precisely because they don't want to break and redo them.
3. Breaking and redoing one sign is easy, redoing a whole chest room's worth of signs...well, it gets annoying. You may think you'll never have to edit them but it's not true. Eventually something changes and you need to update them.
4. Btw, I already do use books for any large amount of text already. They have their own problems (such as needing to backspace an entire page to edit anything). Signs are far superior as visual cues or notes as you enter an area so the player doesn't have to flip to page 20 and find the room # just to get a quick direction. I'm guessing you haven't done a lot of map-building or you'd have realized this. You don't want to cram everything into a few books, books are for discussion, introductions, stories, lore, etc. Signs are for labeling and quick directions, which, btw are what you end up needing to update the most anyway as you change the design of your rooms or map.
You are entitled to your vehement positions though, I just don't think sign editing will preclude any other neat features. It could literally be added in a day by a developer, and I know, I do programming.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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Space Expedition to EPIC 204:Go on a Space-Age Adventure to visit and explore EPIC 204, a wacky world of dense asteroids and full of alien life! Experience Custom Seasons, Weather, Over 50 new creatures, Beautiful Biomes, Alien Ruins, Dungeons, and new space age tech crafting recipes!
They have 4 lines and an odd character limit. Sometimes even after breaking and retyping I can't get it looking as nice or don't remember exactly how I phrased things to get it fitting properly in the space limits.
Please mojang, get rid of this pain once and for all! Allow signs to be edited by rt-clicking on them!
The suggestion:
This suggestion would be simple to implement. Rt-click on any sign with any item and the writing screen for it re-opens. right now it is coded to place the sign blank then open the writing screen. When you finish the text is linked to the sign.
I suggest to make it simple rt-clicking places a new blank sign in front but pre-copies in the text into the writing splash screen that opens just the way it looked last time you wrote it. This way you can edit directly by using backspace and up/down arrows to get to different lines. But if you change your mind and exit out the old text just gets printed on the new sign and it looks like nothing changed. Basically the exact same code as sign creation but pre-copying in the old text when you rt-click to edit. This would be easy to do and I'm really unsure why it hasn't been. Breaking and redoing tons of signs if you change something about your game is ridiculous.
Suggested by PapiDimmi:
Signs can be edited only by the creator.
Right now vanilla minecraft doesn't have a permission node structure like this, however, it is a good suggestion, especially if this is taken up by a mod. It would really add polish to the system!
For my rant about books:
Download and play my new Survival Map!
Space Expedition to EPIC 204: Go on a Space-Age Adventure to visit and explore EPIC 204, a wacky world of dense asteroids and full of alien life! Experience Custom Seasons, Weather, Over 50 new creatures, Beautiful Biomes, Alien Ruins, Dungeons, and new space age tech crafting recipes!
So this is really useful
Full Support
If you are planning to make a suggestion, please read this.
If you want to know more, you can read this.
For those who complain about post-Beta generation, you might want to see this.
It encourages sloppy labeling too because you can't quite see how it will look from the splash screen and when you finish and see it doesn't look quite right there is no easy way to redo it without breaking, typing all over again and guessing about what will look better. This is highly tedious and not in the spirit of minecraft at all.
I've added a poll so we can see how many supporters agree with my suggestion.
Download and play my new Survival Map!
Space Expedition to EPIC 204: Go on a Space-Age Adventure to visit and explore EPIC 204, a wacky world of dense asteroids and full of alien life! Experience Custom Seasons, Weather, Over 50 new creatures, Beautiful Biomes, Alien Ruins, Dungeons, and new space age tech crafting recipes!
For storage, I don't even use signs. I use item frames. Mostly because signs are tedious.
If you are planning to make a suggestion, please read this.
If you want to know more, you can read this.
For those who complain about post-Beta generation, you might want to see this.
lol, sorry, I was trying to be funny.
Signs are tedious hence the suggestion. I tried the item frame thing but was never satisfied, one item never seemed good enough to label chests the way I organize things.
Download and play my new Survival Map!
Space Expedition to EPIC 204: Go on a Space-Age Adventure to visit and explore EPIC 204, a wacky world of dense asteroids and full of alien life! Experience Custom Seasons, Weather, Over 50 new creatures, Beautiful Biomes, Alien Ruins, Dungeons, and new space age tech crafting recipes!
Play minecraft.
NOW
Wait, actually, forgot. I do use signs. I use them until I get so much of one item that I can devote an entire chest to it.
If you are planning to make a suggestion, please read this.
If you want to know more, you can read this.
For those who complain about post-Beta generation, you might want to see this.
I like your idea of assigning signs to specific players, however, that is a bigger change. I'll put it in the OP though, it is a good idea. I was more going for simplicity at this point, but I realize it could be annoying if anyone could walk by and edit your signs.
Download and play my new Survival Map!
Space Expedition to EPIC 204: Go on a Space-Age Adventure to visit and explore EPIC 204, a wacky world of dense asteroids and full of alien life! Experience Custom Seasons, Weather, Over 50 new creatures, Beautiful Biomes, Alien Ruins, Dungeons, and new space age tech crafting recipes!
Banners n stuff:
ITS GOLD NOT BUTTER!!!!
1. There is not a fixed # of characters per line btw, if you use capitals or larger letters you end being able to fit less so it isn't always predictable. This is to make sure everything fits in the sign borders at default font And I don't care to whip out a calculator every time I want to write a sign and add up the sizes of every letter.
2. Also, this suggestion is kinda along the lines of what you are arguing for anyway. You want bug fixes and cleaner mechanics? Sign editing is a cleaner mechanic making signs easier to use and update. Also, as described, it could be done with a tiny change, we wouldn't have to give up, for instance, a new mob to introduce this. Basically just a routine that looks up the json storing the sign text and pre-copies it in. I want new features too, but I think cleaning up and making existing mechanics easier to use is actually better for minecraft now. There are a lot of bugs and awkward mechanics and you mentioned and signs are one of them. How is this a "cleaner" mechanic? well, I frequently end up with the case where the sign also looks different after I finish it then it did in typing mode. There is no easy way to tell this until after so I end up breaking and retyping about 3-4 times. If you want pretty and good-looking signs this is the pattern. Editing would make this process so much smoother and quicker and would result in more professional signs as well. Many players see it doesn't look great but leave it precisely because they don't want to break and redo them.
3. Breaking and redoing one sign is easy, redoing a whole chest room's worth of signs...well, it gets annoying. You may think you'll never have to edit them but it's not true. Eventually something changes and you need to update them.
4. Btw, I already do use books for any large amount of text already. They have their own problems (such as needing to backspace an entire page to edit anything). Signs are far superior as visual cues or notes as you enter an area so the player doesn't have to flip to page 20 and find the room # just to get a quick direction. I'm guessing you haven't done a lot of map-building or you'd have realized this. You don't want to cram everything into a few books, books are for discussion, introductions, stories, lore, etc. Signs are for labeling and quick directions, which, btw are what you end up needing to update the most anyway as you change the design of your rooms or map.
You are entitled to your vehement positions though, I just don't think sign editing will preclude any other neat features. It could literally be added in a day by a developer, and I know, I do programming.
Download and play my new Survival Map!
Space Expedition to EPIC 204: Go on a Space-Age Adventure to visit and explore EPIC 204, a wacky world of dense asteroids and full of alien life! Experience Custom Seasons, Weather, Over 50 new creatures, Beautiful Biomes, Alien Ruins, Dungeons, and new space age tech crafting recipes!