# Extruder selection button in Mainsail

**URL:** <https://klipper.discourse.group/t/extruder-selection-button-in-mainsail/8194>\
**Category:** Mainsail\
**Created:** [May 3, 2023, 1:13pm UTC](https://klipper.discourse.group/t/extruder-selection-button-in-mainsail/8194 "2023-05-03T13:13:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![davethegearhead](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/klipper.discourse.group/davethegearhead/32/3347_2.png) [@davethegearhead](https://klipper.discourse.group/u/davethegearhead)\
**Post date:** [May 3, 2023, 1:13pm UTC](https://klipper.discourse.group/t/extruder-selection-button-in-mainsail/8194/1 "2023-05-03T13:13:55Z")

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### Basic Information:

Printer Model: Ender 5plus - 2in 2out hotend  
 MCU / Printerboard: BTT Manta M8P with CB1  
 `klippy.log`

_Fill out above information and_ **_in all cases attach your_ `klippy.log` _file_**. _Pasting your_ `printer.cfg` _is **not** needed_  
_**Be sure to check our [Knowledge Base](https://klipper.discourse.group/t/about-the-knowledge-base-category-table-of-contents/6228) and in particular [this](https://klipper.discourse.group/t/how-to-trouble-shoot/6326) and [this](https://klipper.discourse.group/t/how-to-ask-for-help/6327) post**_

### Describe your issue: I am testing a dual extruder setup and noticed that the Mainsail dashboard allows me to select between extruders but it does not actually activate “extruder1” when I select it so If I use the extrude or retract button, it operates “extruder”. I can send ACTIVATE\_EXTRUDER command in the console or create & run a macro to activate and all works OK but I wanted to know how to get the extruder selection button to work on the dashboard.

Thanks

 ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/klipper/original/2X/f/fe7f872c7a8ecfef2087a4b0b14d17c961ce560e.png)

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**Author:** ![Piccyman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/cdc98d/32.png) [@Piccyman](https://klipper.discourse.group/u/Piccyman)\
**Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 8:15pm UTC](https://klipper.discourse.group/t/extruder-selection-button-in-mainsail/8194/2 "2023-05-19T20:15:06Z")

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I have the same problem, did you manage to resolve it?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![davethegearhead](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/klipper.discourse.group/davethegearhead/32/3347_2.png) [@davethegearhead](https://klipper.discourse.group/u/davethegearhead)\
**Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 10:54pm UTC](https://klipper.discourse.group/t/extruder-selection-button-in-mainsail/8194/3 "2023-05-19T22:54:47Z")

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Never figured it out. I have macros to activate each extruder so I can click those macro buttons on the mainsail dashboard to switch between them. I have a BTT mini 12864 screen hooked up to the Manta so I modified the menu.cfg to display the extra extruder details and added the function to switch between extruders. Most of the time when I am loading or unloading filament, I use the 12864.

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**Author:** ![meteyou](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/klipper.discourse.group/meteyou/32/15362_2.png) [@meteyou](https://klipper.discourse.group/u/meteyou)\
**Post date:** [September 21, 2023, 12:22pm UTC](https://klipper.discourse.group/t/extruder-selection-button-in-mainsail/8194/4 "2023-09-21T12:22:09Z")

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This dropdown is only for the PA settings (the complete row is PA settings). You have to define T0, T1, Tx… macros; then, you will see buttons at the top of this panel.

You can also use a “active” and “color” variable in these macros to display the active tool and which color is right now in this tool.