Addon Spotlight: Work harder with GnomeWorks
by Mathew McCurley 
Apr 21st 2011 at 1:00PM
These past few weeks have been very good in the old email box for suggestions for addons to be featured on Addon Spotlight, so keep those recommendations coming. In the next few weeks, I've got a recommendation spotlight planned as well as a grab bag. Also, there is an idea kicking around in my head about a "my first addon" spotlight, where new addon developers pitch their addon and we talk about it constructively. What do you guys think?
Today's Addon Spotlight is one of those "long time coming" pieces; people were utterly shocked over the fact that I had not talked about GnomeWorks before. Well, there is a good reason for that -- GnomeWorks is still in its alpha development stage. As far as profession windows go, prior to Cataclysm, an addon of this type was almost required. The sorting features and customization options on the default profession window was lackluster at best.
Addon developer Lilsparky is responsible for some pretty excellent additions to World of Warcraft, and GnomeWorks is one of those addons that is going to really pioneer trade skill interface changes, in my mind. That's why, even in its alpha stage, I want to spotlight the addon. The more people using it means more bug reports and feedback, which means some pretty top-notch features getting the love they deserve. Basically, I love this addon and want to share it no matter what. So, do me this favor -- if you use GnomeWorks, discuss GnomeWorks.
Advanced Tradeskill Window was my best buddy for a while, but after Cataclysm's upgrades to the profession interface, I found myself using the default setup despite very much missing the queue features. It was good enough, added the sorting and searching options I wanted, and was generally a great upgrade from a system lacking in features. However, there is still a way to go, and GnomeWorks is one of those addons that shows you a future that is bright.
GnomeWorks is less of an addon and more of a replacement for the trade skill interface. You're basically uprooting the trade skill system and replacing it with something designed from the ground up to give more information and options than the traditional default profession interface. Want to choose which profession window you're looking at inside the crafting interface? GnomeWorks can do it. Want to queue up lots of different items across multiple professions, then click the queue to craft them? GnomeWorks has this feature.
There isn't too much wrong with the default trade skill window other than the fact that I don't get to customize it as much as I would like to. On the other hand, I don't spend as much time in the trade skill window as others, especially mega-crafters and auction house mavens who pump out wares to corner markets and play the AH game. However, as someone who watches these things happen on a daily basis and has a cadre of readers who appreciate the finer points of auctioneering, I do my best to keep up with addons that can help in that regard. I think GnomeWorks' queue feature is right up that alley.
A queue that Adam doesn't get to touch
Queueing up items for trade skill creation is one of those features I didn't think I needed or wanted until I had it in my hands. Have you ever been creating something complex, like blacksmithing items or engineering items, that require lots of smaller, craftable pieces? Instead of searching through all of the trade skill recipes and creating each piece, queue them all up and make the final product at the end of the queue.
For instance, to make Reinforced Bio-Optic Killshades, an engineer must combine six Handfuls of Obsidium Bolts, six Electrified Ethers, and other materials together. As an engineer, you can queue up the number of bolts and ethers needed and begin to run through the queue. For glyph makers, you can create a queue of glyphs and run down the list, crafting your stock for posting on the auction house.
Sort it out
If you can think of a way to sort your trade skill items and recipes, GnomeWorks can probably do it. Not only do you get to control the size of the windows and width of the columns, but you get to change the order in which recipes are displayed in many ways, such as by skill ups, category of recipe, or alphabetical order. Sorting is one of those features that makes or breaks addons for me, and GnomeWorks has it in spades.
Information-o-rama
One of the real magic features of GnomeWorks is how many other addons it can draw values from to give the player even more information. Auction house data and other numbers from addons such as LilSparky's Workshop, as well as in-game data from crafting material prices, give an estimated cost-to-produce for each trade skill item. Other addon incorporation is something tough to do seamlessly, but GnomeWorks makes it simple.
Alpha stage
GnomeWorks is still suffering from a few bugs because of the nature of the alpha stage and all that, but nothing that has stopped my game short or was too noticeable. Pretty great for an alpha, I have to say. The best way to report bugs is to leave a support or feature ticket at GnomeWorks' WowAce page. The search bar was acting a bit wonky for me at times but was easily fixed by reopening the addon.
Want to completely change the way you look at the WoW trade skilling interface? Just once in your life, trust a gnome. You won't regret it.
Download the GnomeWorks alpha at [WowAce] and check out Lilsparky's other addons.
How about one quick mailbag question, and then I run for the hills?
Dear Mat,Thanks for the email, Raina. Both Chatter and Prat have this option, it just isn't called what you think it's called. Look for an option set called "edit box" or "input box." In Chatter, I know that it's called the edit box. You can set the edit box to be on top or on the bottom of the chat window or, my personal favorite, be a free-floating input box that can go anywhere on your screen. It was right under your nose all along!
I am a big fan of your column's Addon Spotlight and Reader UI of the week. I have a question though, I am for the most part happy w/ my UI except for one thing. I have been unable to find a chat mod that I like. I have tried out Prat and Chatter, but don't give me the simple thing I need which is to simply move the text box in the bottom of the chat pane to the top so I can move the chat pane as close to the bottom as possible. I don't need the rest of the features either provide. Personally, the rest of the features don't seem important enough for me to know, so they would go to waste and more than likely annoy me. So, I was wondering if you know of any addon that would allow me to move the text box from the bottom of the chat pane to the top. I have also tried Move Anything and a few others none have done this one simple thing I want.
Raina on Haomarush (US)
See you guys next week.
Addons are what we do on Addon Spotlight. If you're new to mods, Addons 101 will walk you through the basics; see what other players are doing at Reader UI of the Week. If there's a mod you think Addon Spotlight should take a look at, email mat@wowinsider.com.
Filed under: Add-Ons, AddOn Spotlight
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Groth Apr 21st 2011 1:23PM
it's called the edit box in prat 3.0 too
Lyrd Apr 21st 2011 2:54PM
I get the impression that the author of the question knows full well that those addons can move the edit box but doesn't want them because, in their opinion, are a glut of other useless features. They want that one single option without all the other chat bells and whistles.
Khirsah Apr 21st 2011 3:15PM
I agree with Lyrd. I read the question the same way. I don't use chatter or prat, but as a long time reader of Mat's columns, and knowing that he likes modular add-ons (with certain features that can be enabled or disabled at will), my guess is that Raina could move the edit box and disable all other features on at least one of those add-ons.
Mathew McCurley Apr 21st 2011 3:58PM
If Raina had intended to ask me for a mod that just gave her a certain function, opposed to what the function was called, it would have read something like "I want a mod that just gives me the function of moving the edit box."
As it reads, to me, is "Prat and Chatter do lots of things, but they don't do this one thing I need it to -- what addons can?"
"but don't give me the simple thing I need which is to simply move the text box in the bottom of the chat pane"
That implies that Chat and Pratter do everything BUT simply move the text box.
Chatter and Prat are pretty modular, too. You can enable and disable practically everything you do not want.
The Dewd Apr 21st 2011 1:47PM
The biggest test for me is if it can handle Inscription. I don't play the AH or corner markets by crafting thousands of glyphs but ATSW used to choke on my scribe's list (I believe she knows every glyph). At first I just disabled it on the one toon but eventually just removed it because it didn't scale very well.
I may have to give this one a try, even if it's not really "ready for prime time" just yet.
simonjwill Apr 21st 2011 1:51PM
I belive Raina may be looking for something like Basic Chat Mods (www.wowinterface.com/downloads/info11290-BasicChatMods.html) simple chat features with the edit box moving to the top
Mephestos Apr 21st 2011 2:29PM
Beat me while I was searching :)
Mephestos Apr 21st 2011 1:54PM
Re: Raina /Mailbag
I think they found out how to move it already with those addons, but are just looking for an something that only move the edit box. Chatter and Prat are too feature rich when you only want to move one thing.
I found Basic Chat Mods but it acts similar to Prat/Chatter, just with less options.
http://wow.curse.com/downloads/wow-addons/details/basic-chat-mods.aspx
Trilynne Apr 21st 2011 1:59PM
I have loved Lilsparky's workshop for a long time, so I am definitely going to give this a try! I find ATSW to be a bit bulky and clunky at times, but I love the queue feature, so I stuck with it. Here's hoping this will be a viable alternative.
Just one question: Any word on if it can auto-queue like ATSW? For example, if you queued one of the above mentioned Killshades, ATSW would automatically queue the parts you needed first, then make the Killshades, all with one click on your part. Is this a feature that GnomeWorks has or is planning to add?
kamodius Apr 21st 2011 2:57PM
Due to the anti-bot restrictions, I don't think addons can craft all the sub-parts and then the item with one click.
Skillet (which I commented on below) will auto-queue all of the sub-components (including smelting, if you have it, for instance) and you have to hit the "Process" button on each new item. Still a pain, but better than having to manually queue/create each piece individually.
Trilynne Apr 21st 2011 3:05PM
derp, that's what I meant. :P But the queueing part is only one click. Processing takes a few more, yes. :P
kamodius Apr 21st 2011 2:54PM
Not for nothing, but Skillet (http://wow.curse.com/downloads/wow-addons/details/skillet.aspx) has been my trade skill replacement of choice for awhile now. It allows all kinds of sorting, queuing with sub-requirements, etc. It also will tell you if you have the materials in the guild bank or on an alt as well.
Just an option. :)
Peter Apr 21st 2011 3:51PM
Of course, if you look at Skillet's history, you'll realize that a large part of Skillet is Lilsparky's work too. He maintained a branch for a while (skillet-clone). When it was picked up by another person, the skillet-clone branch essentially became mainline, with a lot of other fixes as well.
I like gnomeworks, but it drives me nuts. I have both gnomeworks and the new skillet installed. I really want to use gnomeworks but keep hitting bugs, quirks or things that are missing and find myself back on Skillet.
I use Inventorium and Itemcount alongside both Skillet and Gnomeworks. I use skillet's queue and shopping list management. I'll queue up 50-100 different gems via inventorium and skillet will tell me what raw gems I need to collect from alts/banks/etc. I trade gems in person (two accounts) and Skillet's shopping list updates dynamically. But I just can't figure out how to make gnomeworks do the same for me.
Inventorium queues up gems MUCH faster in gnomeworks than skillet though.
Silvann Apr 21st 2011 4:55PM
I like the "my first addon" spotlight idea. If I'm around, I could give some advices code-wise as well, especially for new addon devs.
Shade Apr 21st 2011 6:12PM
Random input that contributes nothing, but I love that you spelled 'queueing' correctly :D
....more constructively, what about a sort of inverse to the piece you suggested? As in players contribute addon ideas and independent devs pick them up? Not necessarily a replacement, but a complement. We have addons for pretty much every major gameplay aspect, so it could be hard to think of something that hasn't been touched by the community yet. I can't think of anything off the top of my head.
bookworm13 Apr 21st 2011 8:34PM
Another option to move the chat input box is ctmod's core component (the only module I use):
http://www.ctmod.net/downloads/
This includes a bunch of other handy UI tweaks I find convenient. One that might be useful when you're trying to move your chat panel all the way to the bottom is to remove the Blizzard artwork (eagles?) to make more space on the side of the actionbars.
Amaxe Apr 21st 2011 11:03PM
So how does the gnomeworks compare with the author's Skillet?
Wartra Apr 22nd 2011 8:40AM
So far I am loving Gnomeworks. My only gripe is that it seems hard to make custom groups. For my JC I wanted a group that contained just 1 of each green gem cut. After trying everything I could think of with the new group feature, I finally logged out of WOW and opened up the lua, looked up the spell id's for the cuts I wanted, and pasted them into my custom group. That worked but I wish it was more straight forward to achieve that result from the addon itself.
masterm6 Apr 25th 2011 11:38PM
I'm liking the feature that tells the percentage chance that crafting something will give you a skillup. Are there other addons that can do this, or perhaps something to add this to the default window?