Tom's Simple Storage Mod (Fabric)

Overview

Tom's Simple Storage Mod is a lightweight storage solution that lets you unify all your inventories into a single searchable network. Instead of running around checking dozens of Chests, you place an Inventory Connector block, surround it with your storage containers, and then access everything through a terminal. The mod stays true to Minecraft's vanilla aesthetic and crafting philosophy, using common materials like Planks, Chests, Comparators, and Diamonds.

The mod adds blocks for connecting inventories across distances using cables, filtering items, outputting Redstone signals based on stock levels, and even accessing your storage wirelessly. You can browse all the items and recipes this mod adds using the tabs at the top of this page.

The Inventory Connector

The Inventory Connector is the core block of the entire mod. Every storage network needs exactly one. It automatically detects and merges all adjacent inventories (any block that implements Minecraft's inventory interface) into a single unified system. This includes Chests, Double Chests, Trapped Chests, Barrels, Shulker Boxes, Hoppers, Dispensers, Droppers, Furnaces, Brewing Stands, and any modded inventory blocks.

By default, the connector scans a 16-block radius for touching inventories. It updates its internal list every second (20 ticks), so newly placed containers appear in your terminal after a brief moment. Right-clicking the Inventory Connector shows a chat message with the number of free slots and total slots in your network, which is useful for checking if you need more storage.

There is a configuration option called "Only Allow Trims to Connect Inventories" (onlyTrims). When enabled, the connector will only recognize inventories that are bridged through Inventory Trim blocks rather than automatically grabbing every adjacent container. This is useful if you have other machines or inventories nearby that you don't want included in your network.

Terminals

Storage Terminal

The Storage Terminal is a read/write access point for your inventory network. Place it on any block that is part of the connected inventory system and right-click to open the interface. You'll see a scrollable grid of every item in the network with a search bar at the top. The terminal supports multiple search modes including standard search, auto-search (starts filtering as you type), and REI-synced search if you have Roughly Enough Items installed. Search mode persists between sessions.

Crafting Terminal

The Crafting Terminal includes everything the Storage Terminal offers plus a built-in 3x3 crafting grid. When you place items in the crafting grid, it pulls materials from the connected network. Shift-clicking the output crafts as many items as possible in one go, depositing extras back into your storage. The crafting grid contents are saved to the block, so your recipe stays loaded even if you close the interface.

A particularly useful feature is the option to pull missing crafting ingredients from the player's own inventory. This is controlled by a toggle button in the terminal GUI. When enabled (indicated by the pull mode setting with bit flag 256), the terminal checks your personal inventory for materials if the storage network runs out.

Control Schemes

Both terminals support three different control schemes that you can cycle through with a button in the GUI. AE-like controls use Shift+Right Click to pull one item and Ctrl+Shift+Right Click to transfer one item. Refined Storage-like controls use Middle Click to pull one item and Shift+Middle Click to transfer. Vanilla-like controls use Right Click to pull one and Shift+Right Click to transfer. Choose whichever feels most natural based on your experience with other storage mods.

Inventory Cables & Remote Connections

For larger bases where your storage room is far from your workshop, Inventory Cables let you extend your network over long distances. Cables connect inventories that aren't physically adjacent to the Inventory Connector. A single network supports up to 2,048 cable blocks by default (configurable). You'll need an Inventory Cable Connector at each end to attach an inventory or terminal to the cable network.

Inventory Cable

The basic cable block that forms the backbone of remote connections. The recipe produces 6 cables at a time from Sticks, Planks, Trapdoors, and a Chest. Cables connect to each other and to Cable Connectors, forming a path back to the Inventory Connector.

Framed Inventory Cable

A paintable variant of the Inventory Cable. It functions identically but can be disguised using the Paint Kit to match surrounding blocks, making cable runs look clean in decorated builds.

Inventory Cable Connector

This directional block bridges the cable network and an inventory or terminal. Place it so its face points at the inventory you want to connect. It requires an Iron Ingot, Planks, Inventory Cable, Chest, Ender Pearl, and Diamond to craft. Every cable branch needs a Cable Connector to interface with the storage network.

Filtered Cable Connector

An upgraded version of the Cable Connector with a 9-slot filter GUI. Right-click it to open the filter interface and place items in the slots to restrict which items can pass through. Only items matching the filter will be visible through this connection, which is useful for creating dedicated sections in your network.

Wireless Terminal

The Wireless Terminal is a handheld item that extends your reach when interacting with terminals. By default it has a range of 16 blocks (configurable from 4 to 64). Hold the Wireless Terminal in either hand and right-click while looking at a Storage Terminal or Crafting Terminal from a distance. The terminal GUI opens as though you were standing right next to it. The item has a max stack size of 1.

When holding the Wireless Terminal, the distance check for the terminal interface is quadrupled (wirelessRange x 2, squared). This means with the default 16-block wireless range, you can interact with terminals from up to 32 blocks away when the distance check runs. This is particularly handy for large storage rooms where your crafting station is across the room from the terminal.

Utility Blocks

Open Crate

The Open Crate is a creative automation block that converts the space in front of it into an inventory interface. Items placed into it via the inventory API (such as from a Hopper or other automation) are dropped as Item Entities in front of the block. Conversely, Item Entities sitting in front of the crate appear as items in its inventory slots. It checks for items every 5 ticks. This is useful for automation setups where you need to interact with items as entities, for example feeding them into a mob farm or using them with other mods that work with dropped items.

Inventory Proxy

The Inventory Proxy extends the face of the inventory it points at. It essentially acts as a remote access panel. When another block (like a Hopper) interacts with the proxy, it behaves as though interacting with the inventory behind it. This is invaluable for routing items into the back of machines or accessing inventories through walls.

Right-clicking the Inventory Proxy with a Diamond on any face (other than the one it points at) activates filtering mode on that side. Place a container on the filter face and fill its slots with the items you want to allow through. Empty filter slots allow any item. The item count in each filter slot sets the maximum stack size for that slot. You can also rename the filter container on an Anvil with special keys: "ignoreSize" ignores filter stack sizes, and "maxCount=N" sets a global max count for empty slots (default 64).

Basic Inventory Hopper

The Basic Inventory Hopper transfers items between two sides of your storage network or between a network and a regular inventory. It has a directional face: items move from the back (network or inventory) to the front. Right-click with an item to set a filter so only that item type is transferred. Shift-click with an empty hand to clear the filter. The hopper operates on a 10-tick cooldown (half a second) and transfers one item per cycle. It can be disabled with a Redstone signal.

Level Emitter

The Level Emitter outputs a Redstone signal based on item quantities in your storage network. Set a filter item and a count threshold, then choose whether it emits when the network has more or less than the specified amount. It connects to the cable network and checks stock levels every 10 ticks. This is perfect for automatic crafting systems or warning lights when materials run low.

Painting & Aesthetics

Several blocks in Tom's Simple Storage can be painted to match your build's aesthetics. The Paint Kit is a consumable item with 100 durability that lets you copy the appearance of one block onto compatible paintable blocks. Sneak+right-click a source block (like Stone Bricks or Planks) to sample its appearance, then right-click a paintable block to apply the look. The Paint Kit shows the sampled block in its tooltip.

Paintable blocks include the Painted Inventory Trim and the Framed Inventory Cable. The Painted Trim functions identically to regular Inventory Trim but can be disguised. You can also craft regular Inventory Trim back from Painted Trim using a Water Bucket to wash off the paint. When the Paint Kit's durability runs out, it turns into a Bucket.

Configuration

Tom's Simple Storage uses the AutoConfig system (Mod Menu compatible on Fabric). The config file is located at config/toms_storage.json. There are four settings to be aware of:

Network Design Tips

For a basic setup, a simple wall of Double Chests with an Inventory Connector in the center and a Crafting Terminal mounted on the front is all you need. This gives you hundreds of slots with instant searchable access. As your base grows, run Inventory Cables to satellite storage areas and attach them with Cable Connectors. Each area only needs a Cable Connector pointed at its local storage, not its own Inventory Connector.

Be careful about accidentally connecting inventories you don't want in the network. Furnaces, Hoppers, and Brewing Stands all count as inventories and will be absorbed if they touch the connector. Use the onlyTrims config option or leave air gaps between your storage and your machines. Alternatively, place machines on the opposite side of the room from the connector.

For automated sorting, combine the Basic Inventory Hopper with a Filtered Cable Connector. The Filtered Connector restricts which items are visible through that connection, while the Hopper moves items between networks or into specific inventories. This lets you build a system that auto-sorts incoming items into categorized storage sections.