Can you cross pipes in SpaceChem?

Question

Is there anyway to have one pipe go over or under another, so as to avoid having to make long round-a-bout journeys?

Answer

Pipes can cross at right angles, just drag the path of one over others. They cannot turn while crossing over others though, so there must be a free space after the crossing.

In the below exaggerated mess, the bottom end, for example, cannot go to where the cursor is without some ripping up of the existing pipes.

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SpaceChem: Why can't I advance to the next level?

Question

I recently beat a level in SpaceChem (I feel like I need a cigarette after I beat one - and I don't smoke!) and I was met with the following unpleasantness:

Why can't I select the next level? Did I forget to do something in the prior one? Is this a bug?

Answer

You need to solve Molecular Foundry first. I hit the same thing. That level is hard.

The level you can't get to in the far right there is actually the last level on the planet.

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Are fusion operations “commutative”?

Question

Can I fuse a Carbon atom into an atom of Hydrogen just as easily as it is done the other way around, or must the smaller-mass atom be the source and the heavier one always be the target?

Answer

You can fuse atoms in any order, but it's usual to fuse lighter atoms into the target as you'll have a stream of, e.g., Hydrogen with which you are trying to make, e.g., Oxygen.

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How do I duplicate the blue Waldo's routine with the red one?

Question

I have a reactor for which I'd like to double the throughput by using both Waldos to perform the same routine. While they can't be exact duplicates, I'd like to start the blue Waldo routine off by duplicating the red one. What's the easiest way to apply the blue Waldo's routine with the entirety of the red's?

Answer

Simple. First, make sure there is nothing on the blue waldo, this would only get in the way. Then:

1. Select the whole red waldo path.
2. Use ctrl+drag to copy the entire red waldo path.
3. Then right click the result, and click blue layer.
4. Move the entire thing to the right location.

Make sure not to deselect the parts between step 2 and 3, as the correct stuff is already selected. Also, if the red path covers the entire screen, this will be a lot harder. Do it in steps and add parts manual where needed. Using shortcuts to place commands is quick too.

Edit: If red covers 100% screen, there is still a way to copy half of it into blue like this:

1. Select half the screen.
2. Right click it and select blue layer.
3. ctrl+drag the blue layer to the other half of the screen.
4. Select the original half again and right click to make it red.
5. Either hide or lock red by clicking in the lower right at layer controls.
6. Move the blue part back to the original location.
7. Repeat with half of the remaining half.

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SpaceChem: Can I quickly reset a reactor?

Question

I'd like to start anew with a reactor, scrapping all the current waldo programming. Can it be done? (I'm on a level with no top-level map, just a reactor. Not sure if that matters.)

Answer

You can click-drag to select the whole play field and hit Delete.

Sadly there is no Ctrl-A to select all, or that would be the way to go.

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Elapsed Cycles in SpaceChem

Question

When an assignment is completed in SpaceChem there is a summary with statistics about your solution.

What I do not understand is if it is better have high elapsed cycles or low. Because if I have 172 and 214, it tells me 214 is the best, but it seems a contradiction to me. Is it correct? Do you have an explanation?

Answer

Like this contrived example (but the other way around)?

Best is your "Previous best" (and doesn't include this run, so you can compare).
This is the result of this run.

So if you're seeing This:172 and Best:214 this implies you have just managed a faster solution that your previous best, next time you will see Best:172 because lower elapsed cycles are better.

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How to move bonders in Space Chem

Question

I'm playing the tutorial of Space Chem, and I've reached the stage where it tells me I can move the bonders. And I think I need to move the bonders. But I cannot get them to move! Dragging with the left mouse button does not move them.

How do I move a bonder?

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FOLLOWUP: thanks for all the help. It turns out my game had gotten into some strange wedged state. Exit, restart, and bonders will draf with the left mouse button as expected.

Answer

Bonders are moved in the same way that instructions are moved after placement - usually this is by clicking on them, holding and dragging them across the field.
(If you are somehow moving instructions in a different way, try that as well)

Note that you cannot use a drag-box selection (as you can to pick up multiple instructions), these ignore reactor features such a bonders.

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If you can't move bonders in the same was as instructions (and maybe you can't move instructions either?), it sounds like you've hit a bug of some type.

As William suggests in a comment, do you have anything unusual with respect to the set up of your input devices? And, have you tried moving the bonders (or different types of reactor features) on different levels in case it's a level specific problem?

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