EMI++ Backport: Stack Grouping & Creative Tabs for EMI
If you have already established EMI as your primary tool for recipe discovery and item management, this add-on serves as a necessary evolution rather than a standalone replacement. Designed to streamline the user interface within complex environments, it introduces robust stack grouping and creative mode tabs directly into the sidebar navigation.
Purpose of Integration with EMI
The standard EMI library effectively displays recipes and hints at item usage but often struggles when hundreds of mods populate a single pack. The side panel can transform into an unmanageable list of similar items, creating friction for even experienced players.
- Solving the Clutter Problem: EMI++ Backport aggregates related items automatically. Instead of scrolling through dozens of nearly identical entries—such as different colored wool or various pressure plates—you see single collapsible groups containing all variants.
- Optimized for Large Modpacks: This is particularly vital for builds involving animal armor, flag patterns, copper blocks, and minecart sets. It reduces vertical scrolling significantly while increasing visual clarity during construction or farming setups.
Key Features: Stack Grouping & Tabs
Stack Grouping Logic:
The core functionality groups "sibling" items together. For example, red wool and white wool are not listed separately but reside in one group that expands on interaction. The modpack includes pre-configured sets for animal armor, flag patterns, copper blocks, infected blocks, minecarts, and more.
This organization allows builders to plan biome construction or decorative farms with fewer clicks. Configuration options allow you to fully disable grouping if a flat list is preferred, or customize behavior specifically for server environments versus single-player instances.
Creative Mode Navigation
The mod introduces native creative mode tabs directly into the EMI interface. Even when not currently in Creative Inventory, players can browse catalogs using familiar tab navigation logic from the vanilla inventory screen.
- Synchronized Tabs: The selected sidebar tab synchronizes with the actual creative inventory if it is open, ensuring a consistent user experience across modes.
- Visual Themes: A Vanilla/Modern visual theme adapts to your chosen EMI skin, preventing the interface from looking disjointed or "pasted on."
Sytem Requirements & Loader Compatibility
This mod targets current Minecraft branches starting around version 1.20.1 and above.
- Fabric: Requires Fabric Loader (minimum specified version), Fabric Language Kotlin, and the base EMI library installed first.
- Forge: For versions ranging from 1.20.1 to 1.21, you must have "Kotlin for Forge" compatible with your specific range plus the standard EMI mod.
Please verify compatibility charts before attempting installation; version mismatches are a frequent cause of startup crashes in modern Minecraft versions like 1.20.x through 1.21.x.
In-Game Configuration & Customization
Much of the setup occurs directly within the EMI overlay menu:
- Open the EMI interface and locate the settings icon (gear).
- Navigate to the "EMI++" section in the configuration tree.
To modify specific behaviors for advanced users, edit the file located at config/emixx/emixx-common.toml. This method is superior when sharing presets with friends or managing multiple profiles on a server.
Tabs Configuration Options
Inside the "Creative Mode Tabs" block of your config, you will find toggles for:
- Enabling/disabling the sidebar tab panel entirely.
- Synchronizing selected tabs with the real creative inventory state.
- Defining a list of hidden default categories (e.g., functional blocks).
Stack Groups Customization
The master switch for stacking is labeled enableStackGroups. Disabling this reverts the interface to the standard "raw" EMI layout where every item appears as a separate line.
If built-in groups are insufficient, you can define custom ones using JSON files within your resource pack placed in assets/<namespace>/stack_groups/. These definitions specify an ID, type, and list of contents including tags or specific items. Exclusions allow for precise filtering without listing every block manually.
KubeJS users can register groups via scripts using the event EmiPlusPlusEvents.registerGroups, ideal for dynamic modpacks where item lists change at runtime.
Licensing & Practical Advice
When redistributing packs, adhere to author licenses and publish full mod lists with versions. Always recheck emixx-common.toml after major game updates (1.20.x) or EMI releases, as breaking changes in the core library can invalidate old configurations.
This add-on is not merely another recipe browser; it acts as a structural layer over base EMI. It brings order to long item lists, adds familiar tabbed navigation, and offers deep customization via game configs and JSON scripts. Whether you are on Fabric or Forge, this mod significantly increases comfort for crafters living in large modded worlds.
Recent Updates
The development team has been actively maintaining compatibility with the latest releases:
- Middle of May (03.05–10.05): Added support files for version 1.21.1 covering both Fabric and NeoForge loaders.
- Late June (08.06): Released additional compatibility patches specifically for the latest 1.21.1 builds on multiple loader types.