Controls

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v50.14 · v0.47.05 This article is about the current version of DF. Note that some content may still need to be updated. More Info · V

This is a list of Controls, or keyboard shortcuts, used in the game. Their function can change depending on what game mode you are using and what screen you are at. Menu specific controls are usually listed on the bottom of each screen or next to the respective option when you have opened a menu. Arrows are shown on the edges of the screen if more options are available beyond the screen. Use the Interface keys to scroll through the list of options.

This document contains a list of the default controls for Dwarf Fortress as of version v0.40.24. Controls may be customized to use a different key sequence through the use of the Esc↓↓Enter menu or by editing the file interface.txt, but this is not recommended for new players.

For purposes of the game, note that any key designated in uppercase means to hold Shift while tapping that key. For instance, V means to press Shift+v. Also, pressing a key with Caps Lock turned on will work similar to pressing the key while holding shift. For example, if you want to press C then you could do it by pressing Shift+c or by pressing Caps Lock and then pressing c.

Interface

• + - Next option / Increase quantity
• - - Previous option / Decrease quantity
• * - Next page
• / - Previous page
• ↑ - Next option
• ↓ - Previous option
• ← - Next column
• → - Previous column
• PgUp - Next page/screen
• PgDn - Previous page/screen

When it is possible to scroll the map while a menu is open, the arrow keys cannot be used to select menu options; instead, the +, -, *, and / keys are repurposed to allow selection from menus.

• F11 - Toggle Fullscreen
• F1 - Save World Parameters from creation screen
• F6 - Load World Parameters from creation screen
• F1-F9 - Toggle selected biome while on embark map
• F9 - Exit certain text menus (Fortress naming, Trade goods menu, ...)
• ShiftF1-ShiftF8 - Jump to bookmarked map point (Set via Hotkeys menu)

• ? - Help
• ; - Movies / Stop Recording
• ;l - Load a Moving Record
• ;p - Play the Active Moving Record
• ;r - Start Recording (overwrites active record)
• ;s - Save the Active Moving Record
• Tab - Change mode (useful for enlarging Unreadable menus)
• Esc - Options

• Esc - Cancel
• Enter - Select

World Map

Move cursor / scroll map or with the numeric keypad:

Home Northwest	↑ North	PgUp Northeast
← West		→ East
End Southwest	↓ South	PgDn Southeast

7 Northwest	8 North	9 Northeast
4 West		6 East
1 Southwest	2 South	3 Southeast

Hold Shift while pressing the above keys to move the cursor very rapidly. Note that some users may experience "stuck keys" and other glitches unless Num Lock is off.

• > - Down a level (Z-Axis)
• < - Up a level (Z-Axis)
• Ctrl5 - Down a level (Z-Axis)
• Shift5 - Up a level (Z-Axis)

Adventure Mode

The following shortcuts are for Adventure mode:

Key	Function
a	View announcements
Shift+a	Attack an adjacent creature / Change mode to wrestle
b	Build / create site
c	View companions
Shift+c	Combat preferences
d	Drop an item
Shift+d	Date/time
e	Eat or drink something
f	Fire a projectile
g	Pick up an item
h	Hold or hang from something (to climb)
i	Inventory
Shift+i	Interact with an object in an advanced way
j	Jump. Sprint in movement options S to run and jump
k	Talk to somebody
Shift+k	Display nearby tracks
Alt+k	Display information for freshest track
l	Look around
L	Search the nearby area very carefully
m	Change movement preferences (e.g. swimming)
o	Show strongest odor

Key	Function
Shift+o	Display odor information
p	Put an item in a container
Shift+p	Temperature
q	Holster/Unholster held weapons or items
Shift+q	Adventure log
r	Remove an item you are wearing or from a container
s	Stand or lie down
Shift+s	Sneak/speed
t	Throw an item
Shift+t	Travel
u	Interact with a building, furniture or mechanism
v	Center screen on adventurer
w	Wear an item
Shift+w	Weather
x	Create an object or butcher a corpse
y	Yield
z	Status
Shift+z	Sleep
Enter	Advance/clear messages
.	Wait for ten instants (a normal step)
,	Wait for one instant

Travel

Key	Function
< >	Move into/out of tunnel.
c	Start/stop cloud viewing
d	Visit location
h	Display/hide instructions
m	Display/hide map

Key	Function
shift+k	Display tracks/odor
shift+q	Adventure log
s	Sneak
shift+z	Sleep

Fortress Mode

The following shortcuts work in the Main Play Screen, in Fortress mode:

Key	Function
a	View Announcements
b	Site a Building
c	View Civilizations
d	Designations
Shift+d	Trade depot access (appears when depot is built)
h	Hauling
Shift+h	Hotkeys
i	Zones
j	Job List
k	Look Around
l	Locations and Occupations
Shift+l	Artifacts (and written codices/scrolls) *
m	Military
n	Nobles and Administrators

Key	Function
o	Set Orders and Options
p	Stockpiles
q	Set Building Tasks/Prefs
r	View Reports
Shift+r	View Rooms/Buildings
t	View Items in Buildings
u	Units list
v	View Units
w	Burrows
x	Squads
z	Status
Space	Toggle Pause/Resume
.	Advance time by one-step (while paused)
Tab	Move Menu/Map

* not available until an artifact is made or a codex/scroll is written in the fortress.

Building List

Key	Function
a	Armor stand
A	Archery target
b	Bed
B	Vertical bars
Alt+b	Floor bars
c	Seat
d	Door
D	Trade depot
f	Cabinet (personal clothing storage)
g	Bridge
G	Floor grate
h	Container (personal objects storage)
H	Wall grate
j	Cage
k	Kennels
l	Well
m	Animal trap
n	Burial receptacle
o	Paved road
O	Dirt road
p	Farm plot
r	Weapon rack
s	Statue
S	Support
t	Table
v	Restraint
x	Floodgate
y	Glass window
Y	Gem window

Key	Function
e Furnaces
eg	Glass furnace
ek	Kiln
es	Smelter
ew	Wood furnace
w Workshops
wa	Alchemist's laboratory
wb	Bowyer's workshop
wc	Carpenter's workshop
wd	Dyer's shop
we	Leather works
wf	Metalsmith's forge
wh	Fishery
wj	Jeweler's workshop
wk	Clothier's shop
wl	Still
wm	Mason's workshop
wM	Millstone
wn	Tanner's shop
wo	Loom
wq	Quern
wr	Craftsdwarf's workshop
ws	Siege workshop
wt	Mechanic's workshop
wu	Butcher's shop
ww	Farmer's workshop
wy	Ashery
wz	Kitchen
W	Wall grate

Key	Function
C Wall/Floor/Stairs (Construction, "Rewall")
Cd	Down stair
Cf	Floor
CF	Fortification
Cr	Ramp
CT	Track
Cu	Up stair
Cw	Wall
Cx	Up/down stair
i Siege engines
ib	Ballista
ic	Catapult
M Machine components
Mg	Gear assembly
Mh	Horizontal axle
Mm	Windmill
Ms	Screw pump
Mv	Vertical axle
Mw	Water wheel
T Traps/Levers
Tc	Cage trap
Tl	Lever
Tp	Pressure plate
Ts	Stone-fall trap
TS	Upright spear/spike
Tw	Weapon trap

Building Placement

Size/Direction

	u Increase height North orientation
h Decrease width West orientation		k Increase width East orientation
	m Decrease height South orientation

Orientation (Bridge)

	w Raises ↑
a Raises ←	s Retracts	d Raises →
	x Raises ↓

Designation List

Key	Function
a	Carve fortifications
bc	Reclaim items/buildings
bf	Forbid items/buildings
bm	Melt Items
bM	Remove Melt
bd	Dump Items
bD	Remove Dump
bh	Hide items/buildings
bH	Unhide items/buildings
d	Mine
e	Engrave stone
h	Channel
i	Up/down stairway
j	Downward stairway
n	Remove construction
o	Set traffic areas
p	Gather plants
r	Upward ramp
s	Smooth stone
t	Chop down trees
T	Carve tracks
u	Upward stairway
v	Toggle engravings
x	Remove designation
z	Remove up stairs/ramps

Mouse

Some screens also support the mouse, allowing you to use the left button to select options:

Designations

Use the left button to select and place designations, right button to position cursor without designation.

Nobles and Administrators

Status > Stone

Music and Sound

Name Fortress

Name Group

Move Goods to/from Depot

See Also

• Controls guide

"Controls" in other Languages Dwarven: egul Elven: ade Goblin: ngure Human: kas