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

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

More Guides:

• Dwarf Fortress – Guide to the Premium UI for OG Players
• Dwarf Fortress – Connecting Those Infernal Stairs When Things Go Wrong
• Dwarf Fortress – Manual Mod Install Guide
• Dwarf Fortress – Embark: Prepare Carefully Item Improvements
• Dwarf Fortress – Kobold Kamp Guide

Written by RIP when DF drops