Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe.
I want to be able to measure the quantities of specific items inside the Dimensional Storage System for use in redstone and automation.

Describe the solution you'd like
Bare bones concept: A “dimensional storage observer” block that would enable a comparator to measure the quantity of a specific item within the dimensional storage system.

Fleshed out concept: The Dimensional Storage Observer (DSO) is a foliot infused Observer block that, once attuned to a dimensional storage actuator, can be read by a comparator which will output a redstone signal with a strength dependent on the quantity of a specific item in the dimensional storage system. (i.e. the same way comparators work with standard containers, but only measuring a specific item)

The DSO would have an interface with a slot in which you place the item that you wish to measure the quantity of.

To determine the “size” of the container, I have two possible methods you could use:
Method 1: Add another slot in the interface which only accepts items from an approved list. As the items get more valuable, the size of the container increases. So for example the items might go: Dirt, Stone, Copper Ingot, Iron Ingot, Silver Ingot, Gold Ingot, Lapis, Emerald, Diamond.

Method 2: Use chalk to write a rune on the DSO, the size of the container is determined by the quality of the chalk used. This is simpler and easier to describe, but less configurable than method 1.

Additional context
This feature solves the same problem as my previous feature request (klikli-dev/occultism-feature-tracker#4) but does so in what I believe would be a much easier way to implement.

Currently I’m using Create mod Stockpile Switches to achieve the same functionality to a degree, however they don’t scale properly once you have significant capacity in your storage actuator.

You could have the block output the redstone signal directly instead of having to rely on a comparator (this is what Create’s Stockpile Switch does). I included the comparator in my request because I think it might be easier to implement.

The minecraft wiki page on comparators has the formula for calculating signal strength: https://minecraft.fandom.com/wiki/Redstone_Comparator#Containers

Thanks for considering this feature request!

External counting measures can be used by setting overrideItemStackSizes=false in the occultism server config.
The storage system will then behave like a very large chest and leave stack sizes untouched.

Botania's Corporea Crystal cubes work wonderfully for this purpose (you just need to disable the stack combining in Occultism config to get them to display the right stack count - which has a performance impact). I recommend having a look at how those work if you want some alternate ideas for how to implement this

Someone mentioned in discord that the corporea crystals now count the real stack size (even above the vanilla maximum) and accurately display the amount - can anyone confirm this?

Someone mentioned in discord that the corporea crystals now count the real stack size (even above the vanilla maximum) and accurately display the amount - can anyone confirm this?

I used Corporea + Dimensional storage as my defacto storage in a recent playthrough (which ended two weeks ago). I cannot confirm if it's still the case now because I've injured my eye and cannot play games until it heals, but for my playthrough I had to disable the stack combining in dimensional storage in occultism's config for the Crystal Cube to report the correct stack counts.

Someone mentioned in discord that the corporea crystals now count the real stack size (even above the vanilla maximum) and accurately display the amount - can anyone confirm this?

I'm going to investigate this when I get a chance to play this evening.

Someone mentioned in discord that the corporea crystals now count the real stack size (even above the vanilla maximum) and accurately display the amount - can anyone confirm this?

Just checked with the most recent version of Botania, Corporea crystal doesn't count correctly.

Hi @Crioca, thanks for the suggestion!
I like the idea, it's an elegant solution - I have to icebox it though for now because I have a million things to do.
That said, if someone wanted to contribute that block, I'd be happy to review and merge it and help out if necessary