What is the problem with SE5?

[Captain Kwok]

It should be easy enough for Aaron to add the functionality where double-clicking a component puts in the appropriate slot automatically - the AI scripts already contain functions that do that sort thing.

[Mephisto]

I suggested that a looooong while ago and he said it can't be done. No explanation. Go figure.

[Suicide Junkie]

The UI part could almost certainly be done...
I imagine the problem would be in that the AI script dosen't deal with single components, but rather creates an entire design on its own.

Which is why the "place it as close as possible to where other existing designs have placed theirs"
IE, if all your designs to date have the engines in the bottom middle, then autoplace the engines in the bottom middle.
If you've got lots of ships with supply tanks symmetrical on the left and right sides, then doubleclicked supply tanks should go to the left or right (whichever has unused slots).

[Captain Kwok]

The AI places each component individual in a slot when making the design. It is told if the component is placed on armor/inner/outer slots and if it should be spread from the bottom or not. Using the same logic, I don't see why Aaron couldn't duplicate it in game unless it can't read the component to see if it's a innie or an outie - which it is implicitly told in the design script.