Filter and Rule Cards

Filter and Rule Cards

Pipster has no filter block. Instead, every port has two card slots: one for a filter card and one for a Rule Card. The card unlocks features; the rules themselves are saved in the port.

Card	Rules	Adds
Basic Filter Card	9	exact item/fluid/gas id, allowlist or denylist
Advanced Filter Card	27	tags, mod namespace, exact component comparison
Precision Filter Card	54	quantity rules: "keep N in the source", "fill the target up to N"
Rule Card	–	port rate limit, energy reserve

Filters work on every pipe tier. A better card does not make the pipe faster.

Setting up rules

1. Put a filter card into the filter slot of the port screen.
2. Click a rule slot with an item (or a bucket/container for fluids) to set it as a pattern. This is a ghost pattern: the item is not used up. Right-click clears the slot.
3. Switch between Allowlist and Denylist.

With an Advanced or Precision card you can also:

• #Tag: type a tag into the text field and press #Tag to turn the selected rule into a tag rule (e.g. c:ingots).
• Mod: type a mod id and press Mod to match everything from that mod.
• Shift-click a pattern slot: also compare the exact components (for example enchantments or a custom name). Hover over the rule to see which components it compares.
• Qty (Precision card): cycle the quantity rule of the selected rule; the amount comes from the text field.

How rules are evaluated

• Inside one rule, all conditions must match (AND). Between rules, one match is enough (OR).
• An empty allowlist blocks everything. An empty denylist lets everything through.
• If an id or tag does not exist (for example, a mod was removed), the rule is kept, marked red and matches nothing. It becomes valid again if the mod comes back.
• The source port and the target port must both allow a resource for it to move.
• Tags are recalculated when datapacks reload.

Quantity rules

• Keep N in the source: never take the source below N of this resource.
• Fill the target up to N: stop delivering once the target holds N.

Quantity rules need blocks that report their contents reliably. If a block cannot, the port shows "Quantity rule unavailable for this machine" and the rule blocks instead of guessing.

Rule Card

The Rule Card unlocks:

• Port limit: a maximum rate per tick for this port, below the tier rate.
• Reserve (energy ports): energy that always stays in the source.

Energy has no filter card rules (there is nothing to tell apart). Use the Rule Card instead.

Cards stay cards

• Cards are real items in the port. They drop when the pipe is broken.
• They cannot be inserted or extracted by hoppers or other automation.
• Copy/paste with the wrench copies settings, never cards.