Alternative hotkeys file

[stikkypixie]

Is there some sort of "Hotkey editing for Dummies" post somewhere on this forum? I'm trying out the CMSF 1.30 demo and I hate the default "relative" hotkeys. I tried a couple of the alternate files in this thread and liked them much better, but would like to tweak a few things. Unfortunately, I can't find any documentation anywhere on how to edit this file properly. There's nothing in the demo readme.txt, nothing that I can find on the FAQ site, and I've searched dozens of threads here with no luck.

Ideally, I'd really like to have some sort of a basic template that lists all of the possible commands that can be mapped. Does such a thing exist?

All the possible commands are already listed in the hotkeys.txt file. All you need to do is to open it and change the keys associated to them. If you're unsure you can compare two different hotkeys file. You can leave commands blank, and you can only assign A-Z as keys to the commands I believe. It's really not that hard once you read it through.

[Erik Springelkamp]

All the possible commands are already listed in the hotkeys.txt file. All you need to do is to open it and change the keys associated to them. If you're unsure you can compare two different hotkeys file. You can leave commands blank, and you can only assign A-Z as keys to the commands I believe. It's really not that hard once you read it through.

I think the special characters above the digits can also be used.

But that means you have to use the shift key when you use them.

[ClarkWGriswold]

I don't see "Clear Target" in the hotkeys.txt file. Is there no way to assign this command?

Command Keys Direct

<E>B // move fast

<E> // move quick

<E>N // move normal

<E> // move slow

<E> // move hunt

<E> // move assault

<E>\ // move reverse

<E> // move blast

<E> // move mark mines

<E>T // target

<E>Y // target light

<E> // target arc

<E> // NOT USED

<E>G // face

<E> // target smoke

<E>/ // deploy

<E>P // pause

<E>H // hide

<E>[ // dismount

<E> // bail out

<E>] // vehicle open up

<E>; // pop smoke

<E> // acquire

<E> // divide teams

<E> // assault team

<E> // antitank team

<E> // scout team

<E> // vehicle team

I'm also confused about how the game knows what you're trying to assign. Are all of the possible commands in order in the file? For instance, the custom file I'm using (downloaded from this thread) has this at the beginning:

Camera Keys

<E>_

<F>_

<E>_

<F>_

<E>_

<E>_

<E>_

<F>_

<E>_

<E>\

<E>_

<E>_

<E>Z

<G>Z

<F>Z

<E>X

<E>C

Misc Keys

<E>-

<E>=

<G>+

<E>{

<E>}

<E>`

Judging from that, seven keys are mapped to "_". Incidentally, that's the same key that shows up in the UI for "Cancel Target". Hence, my confusion.

[Erik Springelkamp]

Clear target is already implemented as the delete key.

(does a Mac have a delete key?)

[ClarkWGriswold]

Through experimentation I figured out that "NOT USED" is bullpucky. It's actually the Clear Target command.

<E>T // target

<E>Y // target light

<E> // target arc

<E> // NOT USED

But I still question how the game knows what commands are being assigned to what function, since it doesn't require comments of any sort. In other words, is the first line in the file ("<E>W" for example) always going to be "move camera forward", the second line always going to be "camera slide left", etc?

[ClarkWGriswold]

Clear target is already implemented as the delete key.

(does a Mac have a delete key?)

Sorta. On a Mac "backspace" is Delete and "delete" is Fn+Delete. It confused the hell out of me when I first switched. The laptops and the new wireless keyboards are designed to be smaller and take up less space, so no dedicated "delete" key, but you can still perform the command. And any USB keyboard that has both keys can be used no problem.

[Erik Springelkamp]

In other words, is the first line in the file ("<E>W" for example) always going to be "move camera forward", the second line always going to be "camera slide left", etc?

Yes, is the short answer if this board allowed short answers.

But it is not by line number but by occurrence of <E>

[stikkypixie]

Through experimentation I figured out that "NOT USED" is bullpucky. It's actually the Clear Target command.

<E>T // target

<E>Y // target light

<E> // target arc

<E> // NOT USED

But I still question how the game knows what commands are being assigned to what function, since it doesn't require comments of any sort. In other words, is the first line in the file ("<E>W" for example) always going to be "move camera forward", the second line always going to be "camera slide left", etc?

I think there it would be easiest if you edit the original hotkeys.txt (make a backup copy though), that way all the comments are still there and you know for sure that you're not messing anything up.

I think the special characters above the digits can also be used.

But that means you have to use the shift key when you use them.

Cool .

[aka_tom_w]

maybe this should be a sticky

[Phoenix]

Can someone make a version that works with the new patch?

[Jammersix]

Here is the file I copied from this thread.

So far, I'm using it with one issue: the "Next Unit" command does not work.

It will select the first unit if I use the shift key, however after that it selects additional units.

I know nothing of these issues, my skills are construction. Can one of you programming geniuses fix it?

// You can edit this file to modify various

// in-game functions and hot-key based commands.

// Use of special characters

// (shift, alt, control, numpad or function keys)

// is not permitted.

// The letter in <>'s (E,F or G) designates

// the language (English, French or German).

Camera Keys

// camera forward motion

<E>,

// camera slide left

<E><

// camera slide right

<E>>

// camera backward motion

<E>.

// camera rotate left

<E>!

// camera rotate right

<E>"

// camera turn 180 degrees

<E>§

// camera raise elevation

<E>#

// camera lower elevation

<E>'

// camera zoom out

<E>0

// camera zoom in

<E>9

// camera wide-angle/regular angle toggle

<E>8

Misc Keys

// select previous unit

<E>-

// select next unit

<E>+

// lower 3D Model Quality

<E>(

// increase 3D Model Quality

<E>)

// chat Message Toggle

<E>*

Command Keys Direct

<E>F // move fast

<E>Q // move quick

<E>M // move normal

<E>S // move slow

<E>U // move hunt

<E>A // move assault

<E>R // move reverse

<E>B // move blast

<E>N // move mark mines

<E>T // target

<E>I // target light

<E>C // target arc

<E> // NOT USED

<E>V // face

<E>K // target smoke

<E>D // deploy

<E>P // pause

<E>H // hide

<E>E // dismount

<E>Z // bail out

<E>O // vehicle open up

<E>X // pop smoke

<E>G // acquire

<E>Y // divide teams

<E> // assault team

<E> // antitank team

<E> // scout team

<E> // vehicle team

// These keys are relative to the button position in the displayed command panel and are used only when a Command Keys Direct is not specified for a given command

Command Keys Default

// Activate the button in the top row, left-most position

<E>

// Activate the button in the top row, middle position

<E>

// Activate the button in the top row, right-most position

<E>

// Activate the button in the middle row, left-most position

<E>

// Activate the button in the middle row, middle position

<E>

// Activate the button in the middle row, right-most position

<E>

// Activate the button in the bottom row, left-most position

<E>

// Activate the button in the bottom row, middle position

<E>

// Activate the button in the bottom row, right-most position

<E>

[Marc Anton]

when i copy these part into my "hotkeys" file i end up with blank buttons ingame ?!!

How can i change my hotkeys ?