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Controls
v50.14 · v0.47.05 This article is about the current version of DF.Note that some content may still need to be updated. |
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" in other Languages 
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