Factorio Forums

TL;DR

Add an option for blueprint parameters to dynamically hide or remove associated elements when left blank, ensuring cleaner and more modular designs.

What?

This suggestion is adding the ability to choose between in the blueprint editor per parameter:
- Use Default (Existing Behavior): Retain the current placeholder.
- Hide on Blank: Remove the associated icon if the parameter is not set.

Example:
In a train station blueprint:
The station name is <Parameter 0><Parameter 1>

If only Parameter 0 is provided (as Iron), the train station name will display:
<Iron>
instead of:
<Iron><Parameter 1> (where <Parameter 1> stays as an unnecessary placeholder).

This could be implemented as a toggle for each parameter in the blueprint editor, letting users define whether blank parameters should "default" or "hide."

Why?

This feature would make blueprints more flexible, allowing a slightly higher level of dynamic input for parameters than currently possible in the game. This is also used in my other suggestion "Unlimited Parameters: Dynamic Expansion of Parameters", which implements further use for this.