Configuring Excavation Shapes and Block Side Hit in Ore Excavation
Ore Excavation is controlled through its interface and hotkeys rather than through crafting, and its behaviour depends on a small set of settings you can adjust. This guide covers how to configure excavation shapes, display shape outlines, and use the block side hit option, along with the related undo and blacklist controls that affect how mining behaves.
Excavation Shapes
The mod supports shape mining, which determines the pattern of blocks affected when you excavate. Shape mining can be turned off entirely: when it is, the on-screen message shape disabled appears, reading "Shape mining is disabled!" In that state, excavation does not follow a configured shape.
To operate shape-related features, use the corresponding hotkey (set it in the controls menu). The mod's control entry for this is labelled Must Hold Key, meaning the relevant key must be held for the action to apply. No specific key is assigned by the mod itself, so you choose one in the controls menu and hold it while performing the action.
Showing Shape Outlines
The Show Shape Outlines setting controls whether the outline of the excavation shape is displayed. When enabled, you can see the shape's boundary, which helps you confirm the area that will be affected before you mine. Toggle this setting through the interface to turn the outline display on or off. Like other shape-related actions, operating it relies on the corresponding hotkey (set it in the controls menu) where a hotkey is required.
Using Block Side Hit
The Use Block Side Hit setting changes how the excavation is oriented relative to the block you target. With this option enabled, the side of the block you hit is taken into account, so the shape is applied based on that face rather than a fixed orientation. Enable or disable it through the settings interface to control this behaviour.
Undo and History
Excavations can be reversed. When an undo succeeds, the message success appears, reading "Undoing last excavation...." Undo is not always possible, and the mod reports why it failed:
- Undo Failed: Unable to repay XP — the experience required to reverse the excavation could not be returned.
- Undo Failed: Unable to repay items — the items required to reverse the excavation could not be returned.
- Undo Failed: Area obstructed — the area is blocked, preventing the undo.
- no history — "Undo Failed: Nothing to undo", shown when there is no recorded excavation to reverse.
Undo can also be turned off completely; when that happens, the message "Undo has been disabled!" is displayed. Trigger undo with the corresponding hotkey (set it in the controls menu).
Tool and Block Restrictions
Two blacklist settings shape what the mod is allowed to affect:
- tool class — labelled "Only Standard Tools", this restricts excavation to standard tools.
- invert tbl — Invert Tool Blacklist, which flips the tool blacklist so that listed tools are treated the opposite way.
- invert bbl — Invert Block Blacklist, which flips the block blacklist in the same manner.
Configuration Access
The open folder option, labelled "Open Config Folder", opens the folder holding the mod's configuration. Use it when you need to reach the configuration location directly rather than changing settings through the interface.
Practical Order of Operations
Set your shape and toggle Show Shape Outlines so you can preview the affected area. Decide whether Use Block Side Hit should apply, then hold the corresponding hotkey (set it in the controls menu) while excavating. If a result is wrong, use undo via its hotkey and check the failure messages above if it does not complete. Adjust tool class, invert tbl, and invert bbl when you need to change which tools and blocks are permitted.