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[Eleas]

I've started in on a new fortress and got to thinking on how to go about transporting items (food, ore, etc) efficiently. Having little experience with the physics engine I'm not sure what tools I have to work with. Is there any way to cause items in a predefined space to move upwards? Could one perhaps toss them with a retractable bridge?

I already have two drop chutes (each 4x4) that will use bridges to catch falling stuff, but I'd like to reverse the direction if possible.

[Sphalerite]

It's been discussed several times.  It's possible, but incredibly inefficient, to use bridges to throw objects upwards or sideways and build a sort of conveyor belt system.  There are some designs discussed towards the end of this thread:

http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=42111.msg2281491#msg2281491

[Diamond]

Upwards - bridges, more information here.
Downwards - chutes/pits, possibly with water or magma and floodgates to control the delivery to different locations from same place.
On same z-level - water conveyors (though too bothersome to make). Basically row of pumps witch create constant water flow in the same direction.

[Crazy Cow]

By far the easiest method is manual labor. Other methods, like bridge-tossing and water transportation, are either difficult and time-consuming or have glitches associated with them. Water transportation, for example, can "delete" things that it moves, where you cannot see them or do anything to them, but they still exist.
Chutes are nice for moving things down, though.

[Girlinhat]

There is no upwards mechanical motion, and all downwards motion relies upon gravity.  Until we get motion mechanics and conveyors or carts, then we won't have anything aside from good old haulers.

[Triaxx2]

I thought anything that floated could be raised with water elevators?

[Girlinhat]

What floats?

[Syrup Roast]

I thought anything that floated could be raised with water elevators?

I think you mean anything that swims.

[AutomataKittay]

Efficiency is in making sure you have as little distance as possible for hauling by dwarven hands. There're just no ways more efficient, unless you're using drop chutes and dumping for multi-z movement ( which is still technically hauling... To dump.). However there are awesomely ineffiicient but cool ways above.

You don't need bridges to 'catch' things, unless dropped item's impact damage have been implemented that I didn't know/noticed, I just drop straight to stockpiles and unforbids for raw materials and food supply ( remember, don't use d>b>d for items with contents, like bins, barrels and bags, they dumps the contents out too if the internals are designated to be dumped, I keep forgetting, agh).

[Girlinhat]

Any time you d-b-d, the dwarves will take the contents of the item out, and then the item itself.  Except that captured prisoners aren't items, and thus remain in their cage.  If the contents cannot be carried by hand, like a barrel of blood, a bag of sand, etc, then the contents are dumped on the floor and the item itself is carried.

[Eleas]

You don't need bridges to 'catch' things, unless dropped item's impact damage have been implemented that I didn't know/noticed, I just drop straight to stockpiles and unforbids for raw materials and food supply ( remember, don't use d>b>d for items with contents, like bins, barrels and bags, they dumps the contents out too if the internals are designated to be dumped, I keep forgetting, agh).

I think I may have forgotten to mention that part. The shaft is pretty deep (or intended to be) and is meant to serve a dozen or more levels simultaneously. The bridges are used to control where the items end up.

[Triaxx2]

I seem to recall it being only certain types of finished items. The same way as the water conveyor. Then again, I've been wrong before and so it's not impossible that I am again.

[Sphalerite]

I seem to recall it being only certain types of finished items. The same way as the water conveyor. Then again, I've been wrong before and so it's not impossible that I am again.

No objects float.  The physics engine just doesn't do that.  At best, more lightweight objects might be pushed more easily than heavier ones.

[AutomataKittay]

I think I may have forgotten to mention that part. The shaft is pretty deep (or intended to be) and is meant to serve a dozen or more levels simultaneously. The bridges are used to control where the items end up.

Ah, good point! That'd certainly make the shafts more flexible, I rarely uses drop shafts outside of direct deposits to deep workshops

[Montague]

The thing about chutes is that they don't really save any time at all.

Dwarves move up and down stairs so rapidly that they might as well be going down stairs close to terminal velocity, they move up stairs at the same terrifying speed.

If you want a more rapid conveyance of things in your fortress, builds lots and lots of up/down stairs and have hauls available.