Dwarf Fortress – How to Get (Most) of the Old Keybinds

December 6, 2022 Egor Opleuha 7

For the love of god I cannot fight my muscle memory. This is for the old school players, new players can ignore. TLDR; Swap interface.txt -It’s not perfect.

Guide to Get (Most) of the Old Keybinds

Walkthrough

You need to swap the interface.txt file.

  1. Have a copy of both the Steam version and the classic version.
  2. Go into the classical versions folder here: ./DwarfFortress/data/init/ and copy the interface.txt file.
  3. Go into the steam version folder here: ./steamapps/common/Dwarf Fortress/prefs/.
  4. Rename interface.txt to interface.txt.old.
  5. Paste new interface.txt.
  6. Launch steam version and enjoy.

Sidenote

No it is not perfect… Good luck digging. You are forced to use the mouse for most things, but at least ‘wasd’ and Z-level stuff is back to the old method!

From what I have played with so far – It might not be entirely fixable. The keyboard cursor is different from the mouse cursor, so unless you want numpad to only work with mouse cursor and then arrow keys to only work with keyboard cursor then you will not have a fun time.

TO-DO: Custom interface.txt / Hotkey Setup

[BIND:SELECT:REPEAT_NOT]
[SYM:0:Enter]
[SYM:0:Numpad Enter]
[BIND:LEAVESCREEN:REPEAT_NOT]
[SYM:0:ESC]
[BIND:CLOSE_MEGA_ANNOUNCEMENT:REPEAT_NOT]
[SYM:0:Enter]
[SYM:0:Numpad Enter]
[BIND:OPTIONS:REPEAT_NOT]
[SYM:0:ESC]
[BIND:TOGGLE_FULLSCREEN:REPEAT_NOT]
[SYM:0:F11]
[BIND:ZOOM_IN:REPEAT_SLOW]
[BUTTON:0:5]
[BIND:ZOOM_OUT:REPEAT_SLOW]
[BUTTON:0:4]
[BIND:FPS_UP:REPEAT_SLOW]
[SYM:4:Equals]
[BIND:FPS_DOWN:REPEAT_SLOW]
[SYM:4:Minus]
[BIND:STANDARDSCROLL_UP:REPEAT_FAST]
[SYM:0:8]
[SYM:0:Numpad 8]
[SYM:0:Up]
[BIND:STANDARDSCROLL_DOWN:REPEAT_FAST]
[SYM:0:2]
[SYM:0:Numpad 2]
[SYM:0:Down]
[BIND:STANDARDSCROLL_PAGEUP:REPEAT_SLOW]
[SYM:0:9]
[SYM:0:Numpad 9]
[SYM:0:Page Up]
[BIND:STANDARDSCROLL_PAGEDOWN:REPEAT_SLOW]
[SYM:0:3]
[SYM:0:Numpad 3]
[SYM:0:Page Down]
[BIND:CONTEXT_SCROLL_UP:REPEAT_FAST]
[BUTTON:0:4]
[BIND:CONTEXT_SCROLL_DOWN:REPEAT_FAST]
[BUTTON:0:5]
[BIND:CONTEXT_SCROLL_PAGEUP:REPEAT_SLOW]
[BUTTON:1:4]
[BIND:CONTEXT_SCROLL_PAGEDOWN:REPEAT_SLOW]
[BUTTON:1:5]
[BIND:CURSOR_UP:REPEAT_FAST]
[SYM:0:8]
[SYM:0:Up]
[BIND:CURSOR_DOWN:REPEAT_FAST]
[SYM:0:2]
[SYM:0:Down]
[BIND:CURSOR_LEFT:REPEAT_FAST]
[SYM:0:4]
[SYM:0:Left]
[BIND:CURSOR_RIGHT:REPEAT_FAST]
[SYM:0:6]
[SYM:0:Right]
[BIND:CURSOR_UPLEFT:REPEAT_FAST]
[SYM:0:7]
[BIND:CURSOR_UPRIGHT:REPEAT_FAST]
[SYM:0:9]
[SYM:0:Page Up]
[BIND:CURSOR_DOWNLEFT:REPEAT_FAST]
[SYM:0:1]
[BIND:CURSOR_DOWNRIGHT:REPEAT_FAST]
[SYM:0:3]
[SYM:0:Page Down]
[BIND:CURSOR_UP_FAST:REPEAT_FAST]
[SYM:1:8]
[SYM:1:Numpad 8]
[SYM:1:Up]
[BIND:CURSOR_DOWN_FAST:REPEAT_FAST]
[SYM:1:2]
[SYM:1:Numpad 2]
[SYM:1:Down]
[BIND:CURSOR_LEFT_FAST:REPEAT_FAST]
[SYM:1:4]
[SYM:1:Numpad 4]
[SYM:1:Left]
[BIND:CURSOR_RIGHT_FAST:REPEAT_FAST]
[SYM:1:6]
[SYM:1:Numpad 6]
[SYM:1:Right]
[BIND:CURSOR_UPLEFT_FAST:REPEAT_FAST]
[SYM:1:7]
[SYM:1:Numpad 7]
[BIND:CURSOR_UPRIGHT_FAST:REPEAT_FAST]
[SYM:1:9]
[SYM:1:Numpad 9]
[SYM:1:Page Up]
[BIND:CURSOR_DOWNLEFT_FAST:REPEAT_FAST]
[SYM:1:1]
[SYM:1:Numpad 1]
[BIND:CURSOR_DOWNRIGHT_FAST:REPEAT_FAST]
[SYM:1:3]
[SYM:1:Numpad 3]
[SYM:1:Page Down]
[BIND:CURSOR_UP_Z:REPEAT_SLOW]
[KEY:<]
[BIND:CURSOR_DOWN_Z:REPEAT_SLOW]
[KEY:>]
[BIND:CURSOR_UP_Z_AUX:REPEAT_SLOW]
[SYM:1:5]
[SYM:1:Numpad 5]
[BIND:CURSOR_DOWN_Z_AUX:REPEAT_SLOW]
[SYM:2:5]
[SYM:2:Numpad 5]
[BIND:CURSOR_UP_Z_FAST:REPEAT_SLOW]
[KEY:E]
[BUTTON:1:4]
[BIND:CURSOR_DOWN_Z_FAST:REPEAT_SLOW]
[KEY:C]
[BUTTON:1:5]
[BIND:KEYBOARD_CURSOR_UP:REPEAT_FAST]
[SYM:0:8]
[SYM:0:Numpad 8]
[BIND:KEYBOARD_CURSOR_DOWN:REPEAT_FAST]
[SYM:0:2]
[SYM:0:Numpad 2]
[BIND:KEYBOARD_CURSOR_LEFT:REPEAT_FAST]
[SYM:0:4]
[SYM:0:Numpad 4]
[BIND:KEYBOARD_CURSOR_RIGHT:REPEAT_FAST]
[SYM:0:6]
[SYM:0:Numpad 6]
[BIND:KEYBOARD_CURSOR_UPLEFT:REPEAT_FAST]
[SYM:0:7]
[SYM:0:Numpad 7]
[BIND:KEYBOARD_CURSOR_UPRIGHT:REPEAT_FAST]
[SYM:0:9]
[SYM:0:Numpad 9]
[SYM:0:Page Up]
[BIND:KEYBOARD_CURSOR_DOWNLEFT:REPEAT_FAST]
[SYM:0:1]
[SYM:0:Numpad 1]
[BIND:KEYBOARD_CURSOR_DOWNRIGHT:REPEAT_FAST]
[SYM:0:3]
[SYM:0:Numpad 3]
[SYM:0:Page Down]
[BIND:KEYBOARD_CURSOR_UP_FAST:REPEAT_FAST]
[SYM:1:8]
[SYM:1:Numpad 8]
[SYM:1:Up]
[BIND:KEYBOARD_CURSOR_DOWN_FAST:REPEAT_FAST]
[SYM:1:2]
[SYM:1:Numpad 2]
[SYM:1:Down]
[BIND:KEYBOARD_CURSOR_LEFT_FAST:REPEAT_FAST]
[SYM:1:4]
[SYM:1:Numpad 4]
[SYM:1:Left]
[BIND:KEYBOARD_CURSOR_RIGHT_FAST:REPEAT_FAST]
[SYM:1:6]
[SYM:1:Numpad 6]
[SYM:1:Right]
[BIND:KEYBOARD_CURSOR_UPLEFT_FAST:REPEAT_FAST]
[SYM:1:7]
[SYM:1:Numpad 7]
[BIND:KEYBOARD_CURSOR_UPRIGHT_FAST:REPEAT_FAST]
[SYM:1:9]
[SYM:1:Numpad 9]
[SYM:1:Page Up]
[BIND:KEYBOARD_CURSOR_DOWNLEFT_FAST:REPEAT_FAST]
[SYM:1:1]
[SYM:1:Numpad 1]
[BIND:KEYBOARD_CURSOR_DOWNRIGHT_FAST:REPEAT_FAST]
[SYM:1:3]
[SYM:1:Numpad 3]
[SYM:1:Page Down]
[BIND:KEYBOARD_CURSOR_UP_Z:REPEAT_SLOW]
[KEY:-]
[BIND:KEYBOARD_CURSOR_DOWN_Z:REPEAT_SLOW]
[KEY:+]
[BIND:KEYBOARD_CURSOR_UP_Z_AUX:REPEAT_SLOW]
[KEY:<]
[SYM:1:5]
[SYM:1:Numpad 5]
[BIND:KEYBOARD_CURSOR_DOWN_Z_AUX:REPEAT_SLOW]
[KEY:>]
[SYM:2:5]
[SYM:2:Numpad 5]
[BIND:RECORD_MACRO:REPEAT_NOT]
[SYM:2:r]
[BIND:PLAY_MACRO:REPEAT_SLOW]
[SYM:2:p]
[BIND:SAVE_MACRO:REPEAT_NOT]
[SYM:2:s]
[BIND:LOAD_MACRO:REPEAT_NOT]
[SYM:2:l]
[BIND:PREFIX:REPEAT_SLOW]
[SYM:2:u]
[BIND:CUSTOM_A:REPEAT_NOT]
[KEY:a]
[BIND:CUSTOM_B:REPEAT_NOT]
[KEY:b]
[BIND:CUSTOM_C:REPEAT_NOT]
[KEY:c]
[BIND:CUSTOM_D:REPEAT_NOT]
[KEY:d]
[BIND:CUSTOM_E:REPEAT_NOT]
[KEY:e]
[BIND:CUSTOM_F:REPEAT_NOT]
[KEY:f]
[BIND:CUSTOM_G:REPEAT_NOT]
[KEY:g]
[BIND:CUSTOM_H:REPEAT_NOT]
[KEY:h]
[BIND:CUSTOM_I:REPEAT_NOT]
[KEY:i]
[BIND:CUSTOM_J:REPEAT_NOT]
[KEY:j]
[BIND:CUSTOM_K:REPEAT_NOT]
[KEY:k]
[BIND:CUSTOM_L:REPEAT_NOT]
[KEY:l]
[BIND:CUSTOM_M:REPEAT_NOT]
[KEY:m]
[BIND:CUSTOM_N:REPEAT_NOT]
[KEY:n]
[BIND:CUSTOM_O:REPEAT_NOT]
[KEY:o]
[BIND:CUSTOM_P:REPEAT_NOT]
[KEY:p]
[BIND:CUSTOM_Q:REPEAT_NOT]
[KEY:q]
[BIND:CUSTOM_R:REPEAT_NOT]
[KEY:r]
[BIND:CUSTOM_S:REPEAT_NOT]
[KEY:s]
[BIND:CUSTOM_T:REPEAT_NOT]
[KEY:t]
[BIND:CUSTOM_U:REPEAT_NOT]
[KEY:u]
[BIND:CUSTOM_V:REPEAT_NOT]
[KEY:v]
[BIND:CUSTOM_W:REPEAT_NOT]
[KEY:w]
[BIND:CUSTOM_X:REPEAT_NOT]
[KEY:x]
[BIND:CUSTOM_Y:REPEAT_NOT]
[KEY:y]
[BIND:CUSTOM_Z:REPEAT_NOT]
[KEY:z]
[BIND:CUSTOM_SHIFT_A:REPEAT_NOT]
[KEY:A]
[BIND:CUSTOM_SHIFT_B:REPEAT_NOT]
[KEY:B]
[BIND:CUSTOM_SHIFT_C:REPEAT_NOT]
[KEY:C]
[BIND:CUSTOM_SHIFT_D:REPEAT_NOT]
[KEY:D]
[BIND:CUSTOM_SHIFT_E:REPEAT_NOT]
[KEY:E]
[BIND:CUSTOM_SHIFT_F:REPEAT_NOT]
[KEY:F]
[BIND:CUSTOM_SHIFT_G:REPEAT_NOT]
[KEY:G]
[BIND:CUSTOM_SHIFT_H:REPEAT_NOT]
[KEY:H]
[BIND:CUSTOM_SHIFT_I:REPEAT_NOT]
[KEY:I]
[BIND:CUSTOM_SHIFT_J:REPEAT_NOT]
[KEY:J]
[BIND:CUSTOM_SHIFT_K:REPEAT_NOT]
[KEY:K]
[BIND:CUSTOM_SHIFT_L:REPEAT_NOT]
[KEY:L]
[BIND:CUSTOM_SHIFT_M:REPEAT_NOT]
[KEY:M]
[BIND:CUSTOM_SHIFT_N:REPEAT_NOT]
[KEY:N]
[BIND:CUSTOM_SHIFT_O:REPEAT_NOT]
[KEY:O]
[BIND:CUSTOM_SHIFT_P:REPEAT_NOT]
[KEY:P]
[BIND:CUSTOM_SHIFT_Q:REPEAT_NOT]
[KEY:Q]
[BIND:CUSTOM_SHIFT_R:REPEAT_NOT]
[KEY:R]
[BIND:CUSTOM_SHIFT_S:REPEAT_NOT]
[KEY:S]
[BIND:CUSTOM_SHIFT_T:REPEAT_NOT]
[KEY:T]
[BIND:CUSTOM_SHIFT_U:REPEAT_NOT]
[KEY:U]
[BIND:CUSTOM_SHIFT_V:REPEAT_NOT]
[KEY:V]
[BIND:CUSTOM_SHIFT_W:REPEAT_NOT]
[KEY:W]
[BIND:CUSTOM_SHIFT_X:REPEAT_NOT]
[KEY:X]
[BIND:CUSTOM_SHIFT_Y:REPEAT_NOT]
[KEY:Y]
[BIND:CUSTOM_SHIFT_Z:REPEAT_NOT]
[KEY:Z]
[BIND:CUSTOM_CTRL_A:REPEAT_NOT]
[SYM:2:a]
[BIND:CUSTOM_CTRL_B:REPEAT_NOT]
[SYM:2:b]
[BIND:CUSTOM_CTRL_C:REPEAT_NOT]
[SYM:2:c]
[BIND:CUSTOM_CTRL_D:REPEAT_NOT]
[SYM:2:d]
[BIND:CUSTOM_CTRL_E:REPEAT_NOT]
[SYM:2:e]
[BIND:CUSTOM_CTRL_F:REPEAT_NOT]
[SYM:2:f]
[BIND:CUSTOM_CTRL_G:REPEAT_NOT]
[SYM:2:g]
[BIND:CUSTOM_CTRL_H:REPEAT_NOT]
[SYM:2:h]
[BIND:CUSTOM_CTRL_I:REPEAT_NOT]
[SYM:2:i]
[BIND:CUSTOM_CTRL_J:REPEAT_NOT]
[SYM:2:j]
[BIND:CUSTOM_CTRL_K:REPEAT_NOT]
[SYM:2:k]
[BIND:CUSTOM_CTRL_L:REPEAT_NOT]
[SYM:2:l]
[BIND:CUSTOM_CTRL_M:REPEAT_NOT]
[SYM:2:m]
[BIND:CUSTOM_CTRL_N:REPEAT_NOT]
[SYM:2:n]
[BIND:CUSTOM_CTRL_O:REPEAT_NOT]
[SYM:2:o]
[BIND:CUSTOM_CTRL_P:REPEAT_NOT]
[SYM:2:p]
[BIND:CUSTOM_CTRL_Q:REPEAT_NOT]
[SYM:2:q]
[BIND:CUSTOM_CTRL_R:REPEAT_NOT]
[SYM:2:r]
[BIND:CUSTOM_CTRL_S:REPEAT_NOT]
[SYM:2:s]
[BIND:CUSTOM_CTRL_T:REPEAT_NOT]
[SYM:2:t]
[BIND:CUSTOM_CTRL_U:REPEAT_NOT]
[SYM:2:u]
[BIND:CUSTOM_CTRL_V:REPEAT_NOT]
[SYM:2:v]
[BIND:CUSTOM_CTRL_W:REPEAT_NOT]
[SYM:2:w]
[BIND:CUSTOM_CTRL_X:REPEAT_NOT]
[SYM:2:x]
[BIND:CUSTOM_CTRL_Y:REPEAT_NOT]
[SYM:2:y]
[BIND:CUSTOM_CTRL_Z:REPEAT_NOT]
[SYM:2:z]
[BIND:CUSTOM_ALT_A:REPEAT_NOT]
[SYM:4:a]
[BIND:CUSTOM_ALT_B:REPEAT_NOT]
[SYM:4:b]
[BIND:CUSTOM_ALT_C:REPEAT_NOT]
[SYM:4:c]
[BIND:CUSTOM_ALT_D:REPEAT_NOT]
[SYM:4:d]
[BIND:CUSTOM_ALT_E:REPEAT_NOT]
[SYM:4:e]
[BIND:CUSTOM_ALT_F:REPEAT_NOT]
[SYM:4:f]
[BIND:CUSTOM_ALT_G:REPEAT_NOT]
[SYM:4:g]
[BIND:CUSTOM_ALT_H:REPEAT_NOT]
[SYM:4:h]
[BIND:CUSTOM_ALT_I:REPEAT_NOT]
[SYM:4:i]
[BIND:CUSTOM_ALT_J:REPEAT_NOT]
[SYM:4:j]
[BIND:CUSTOM_ALT_K:REPEAT_NOT]
[SYM:4:k]
[BIND:CUSTOM_ALT_L:REPEAT_NOT]
[SYM:4:l]
[BIND:CUSTOM_ALT_M:REPEAT_NOT]
[SYM:4:m]
[BIND:CUSTOM_ALT_N:REPEAT_NOT]
[SYM:4:n]
[BIND:CUSTOM_ALT_O:REPEAT_NOT]
[SYM:4:o]
[BIND:CUSTOM_ALT_P:REPEAT_NOT]
[SYM:4:p]
[BIND:CUSTOM_ALT_Q:REPEAT_NOT]
[SYM:4:q]
[BIND:CUSTOM_ALT_R:REPEAT_NOT]
[SYM:4:r]
[BIND:CUSTOM_ALT_S:REPEAT_NOT]
[SYM:4:s]
[BIND:CUSTOM_ALT_T:REPEAT_NOT]
[SYM:4:t]
[BIND:CUSTOM_ALT_U:REPEAT_NOT]
[SYM:4:u]
[BIND:CUSTOM_ALT_V:REPE

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Egor Opleuha
About Egor Opleuha 2789 Articles
Egor Opleuha, also known as Juzzzie, is the Editor-in-Chief of Gameplay Tips. He is a writer with more than 12 years of experience in writing and editing online content. His favorite game was and still is the third part of the legendary Heroes of Might and Magic saga. He prefers to spend all his free time playing retro games and new indie games.
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7 Comments

  1. Man, the interface is frustrating to work with. Is there a way to confirm through the menus via keyboard?

    Reply

  2. There is a setting to use Keyboard Cursor that enables the old style keyboard commands. I cannot say for sure that it does everything but it should not cause problems.

    Reply

    • it only restores the ability to use the keyboard for designations like mining or tree cutting, and even then you will have to modify several keybinds to get it to somewhat work the same way the classic version does (which sadly removes your ability to use numpad/arrow keys to move around the map). Otherwise you will move 10 tiles in a direction.

      Reply

  4. It would be nice if they offered a setting to enable classic controls but Im sure a modder will figure it out soon enough

    Reply

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