40d:Controls

v50.14 · v0.47 · v0.34 · v0.31 · v0.28.181.40d · v0.23

This article is about an older version of DF.

This document contains a list of the default controls for Dwarf Fortress as of version v0.27.169.32a. Controls may be customized through the use of the Esc↓↓Enter menu or by editing the file data/init/interface.txt, but this is not recommended for new players.

Controls are usually listed on the bottom of the window 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.

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.

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, ...)
F1-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

Space - Cancel
Enter - Select

World

Move cursor / scroll map:

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

Or, with the numeric keypad:

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

a - View announcements
A - Attack an adjacent creature / Change mode to wrestle
[b]
c - Combat preferences
C - Center screen on yourself
d - Drop an item
D - Date/time
e - Eat or drink something
f - Fire a projectile
g - Pickup an item
[h]
i - Inventory
I - Interact with an object in an advanced way
[j]
k - Talk to somebody
l - Look around
L - Search the nearby area very carefully
m - Change movement preferences (e.g. swimming)
[n]
[o]
p - Put an item in a container
P - Temperature
Q - Adventure log
r - Remove an item you are wearing or from a container
s - Stand or lie down
S - Sneak
t - Throw an item
T - Travel
u - Interact with a building, furniture or mechanism
[v]
w - Wear an item
W - Weather
[x]
[y]
z - Status
Z - Sleep
Space - Advance/clear messages
. - Wait for a step

Travel

> - Visit location
c - Start/stop cloud viewing
Q - Adventure log

Fortress

a - View Announcements
b - Site a Building
c - View Civilizations
d - Designations
D - Depot Access (appears when depot is built)
[e]
[f]
[g]
h - Hot Keys
i - Zones
j - Job List
k - Look Around
l - Artifacts
m - Military
n - Nobles and Administrators
o - Set Orders and Options
p - Stockpiles
q - Set Building Tasks/Prefs
r - View Rooms/Buildings
[s]
t - View Items in Buildings
u - Units list
v - View Units
V - Visualize (3D view)
[w]
x - Squads
[y]
z - Status
Space - Pause/Resume
Tab - Move Menu/Map
. - Advance time by one-step (while paused)

Building List

a - Armor stand
A - Archery target
b - Bed
B - Vertical bars
Alt+b - Floor bars
c - Seat
C - Wall/Floor/Stairs (Construction, "Rewall")
Cd - Down stair
Cf - Floor
CF - Fortification
Cr - Ramp
Cu - Up stair
Cw - Wall
Cx - Up/down stair
d - Door
D - Trade depot
e - Furnaces
eg - Glass furnace
ek - Kiln
es - Smelter
ew - Wood furnace
f - Cabinet (personal clothing storage)
g - Bridge
G - Floor grate
h - Container (personal objects storage)
H - Wall grate
i - Siege Engines
ib - Ballista
ic - Catapult
j - Cage
k - Kennels
l - Well
m - Animal trap
M - Machine components
Mg - Gear assembly
Mh - Horizontal axle
Mm - Windmill
Ms - Screw pump
Mv - Vertical axle
Mw - Water wheel
n - Burial receptacle
o - Paved road
O - Dirt road
p - Farm plot
[q]
r - Weapon rack
s - Statue
S - Support
t - Table
T - Traps/Levers
Tc - Cage trap
Tl - Lever
Tp - Pressure plate
Ts - Stone-fall trap
TS - Upright spear/spike
Tw - Weapon trap
[u]
v - Restraint
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
[w][g]
wh - Fishery
[w][i]
wj - Jeweler's workshop
wk - Clothier's shop
wl - Still
wm - Mason's workshop
wM - Millstone
wn - Tanner's shop
wo - Loom
[w][p]
wq - Quern
wr - Craftsdwarf's workshop
ws - Siege workshop
wt - Mechanic's workshop
wu - Butcher's shop
[w][v]
ww - Farmer's workshop
[w][x]
wy - Ashery
wz - Kitchen
W - Wall grate
x - Floodgate
y - Glass window
Y - Gem window
z - Shop (appears when economy is unlocked)

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

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