Development:Keyboard layout

Development

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Work In Progress, keyboard layouts

Example

place your layout here

ESDF baised, left hand on home row for U.S. Keyboard layouts

For more information and to contribute to the long term development of this Keyboard layout see New keybinding proposal ESDF baised, left hand on home row.

Visual Layout

Keyboard groupings first layer keys Image from forum

Study Key

Navigation

Navigation direction

Name	Key(s)	Command	Description
Up	+	UpKey	Turn the nose of your ship down.
Down	+	DownKey	Turn the nose of your ship up.
Rotate right	+	RightKey	Rotates your ship to the right.
Rotate left	+	LeftKey	Rotates your ship to the left.
Roll right	+	RollRightKey	Roll your ship to the right.
Roll left	+	RollLeftKey	Roll your ship to the left
Strafe left		ThrustLeft	Laterally thrust the entire ship to the left.
Strafe right		ThrustRight	Laterally thrust the entire ship to the right.
Strafe up		ThrustUp	Laterally thrust the entire ship upward.
Strafe down		ThrustDown	Laterally thrust the entire ship downward.
Activate jump drive	+	JumpKey	Press this to jump to another system. You must be in range of a jump point and have a jumpdrive equipped. See Manual:Interstellar travel for usage.
Activate autopilot		ToggleWarpDrive	Toggle the computer-controlled autopilot. This command will automatically steer your ship towards your target while using all of the thrust (including afterburners) available.
Toggle SPEC	+	ToggleWarpDrive	Toggles the FTL travel SPEC drive. Just direct your ship where you want to go, accelerate and activate the SPEC drive to get there REALLY fast. Gravity (near planets/other objects) will interfere with SPEC and slow down the ship. See Manual:Advanced flight#SPEC drive for usage.

Navigation speed

Name	Key(s)	Command	Description
Decelerate		DecelKey	Decrease set velocity of your ship.
Accelerate	+	AccelKey	Increase set velocity of your ship.
Overdrive		ABKey	Will accelerate your ship past maximum velocity. Overdrive velocity is not changing the set velocity, and must be maintained by holding down the TAB button. Velocity will decrease to maximum velocity when released.
Match velocity		SetVelocityRefKey	Set your velocity to same as your target. See Manual:Match velocity and Manual:Advanced flight#Matching velocity for usage.
Zero velocity	+	SetVelocityNullKey	Set velocity equal to local star
Stop	+	StopKey	Set your velocity to zero relative to your target.
Full throttle	+	StartKey	Set your velocity to maximum ship capable velocity.

Sound and music

See also Manual:Gameplay functions -> Music.

Name	Key(s)	Command	Description
Sound volume up		VolumeInc	Sound volume up
Sound volume down		VolumeDec	Sound volume down
Music volume up		MusicVolumeInc	Music volume up
Music volume down		MusicVolumeDec	Music volume down
Skip music track	+	Cockpit::SkipMusicTrack	Skip Music Track

Communication (general/wingmen)

See also Manual:Combat:Wingmen

Name	Key(s)	Command	Description
Wingmen form up	+	CommFormUp	Tell your wingmen to form up.
Break wingmen formation	+	CommBreakForm	Tell your wingmen to stop forming up.
Help me	+	CommHelpMeOut	Tell your wingmen to help you. They will attack the ship(s) attacking you.
Wingman attack target	+	CommAttackTarget	Tell your wingmen to attack your selected target.
Talking to target (other ships/station/etc...)	->	Comm1Key -> Comm8Key	You can talk to other ships/stations/whatever by pressing one of this buttons where the number means the aggressiveness in your voice ;-). 1=friendly 8=insulting

Target selection

See also Manual:Targeting.

Name	Key(s)	Command	Description
All targets	Forward Backward +	TargetKey ReverseTargetKey	Switches through all targets in current system.
Significant/neutral target	Forward Backward +	SigTargetKey ReverseSigTargetKey	Switches through all significant/neutral targets in current system.
Non-planetary/non-natural targets	Forward + Backward + +	UnitTargetKey ReverseUnitTargetKey	Switches through all non-planetary/non-natural targets (such as capships and fighters) in current system.
Hostile targets	Forward Backward +	NearestTargetKey ReverseNearestTargetKey	Switches through all hostile (to you) targets in current system.
Nearest hostile	+	NearestDangerousHostileKey	Switches to nearest attacking hostile target.
Cycle mission target	+	MissionTargetKey	Switches through the mission targets.
Reverse cycle mission target	+ +	ReverseMissionTargetKey	Switches through the mission targets in reverse direction.
Subunit select	+	SubUnitTargetKey	Switches through the subunits of the ship you have currently selected.
Lock target		LockTargetKey	By pressing this key you can 'lock' your selection on the selected target.
Select front targets		PickTargetKey	Pressing this key will pick targets in front of you (near the cross hair). Tends to be used to get planets in front of you, because the often are the bigger target of the two.
Store selected target	+ ...	SaveTarget1 --> SaveTarget9	Pressing this key will store the selected target for keys from 1 to 9
Restore selected target	+ ...	RestoreTarget1 --> RestoreTarget9	Pressing this key will restore the selected target for keys from 1 to 9

Combat

General

Name	Key(s)	Command	Description
Fire weapons/guns		FireKey	Fires your main weapons/guns (beams/bolts/chainguns/etc).
Select weapons/guns	+	WeapSelKey	Switches through your main weapons.
Fire missiles/torpedos	+	MissileKey	Fires your missiles/torpedos if your ship has some of them equipped.
Switch missiles/torpedo	+	MisSelKey	Switches through your rocket propelled missiles and torpedos.
Combat mode	+	SwitchCombatMode	Toggles the Governor on or off.
Cloaking device	+	CloakKey	Toggles your cloaking device (if you own one).
ECM device	+	ECMKey	Toggles your ECM device (if you own one). It will cause incoming missiles to be confused. The ECM device will constantly draw energy from your reactor.

Turret(s)

See also Manual:Combat:Turrets

Name	Key(s)	Command	Description
Switch turret control Switch ships		TurretControl	By pressing this button you can switch to the manual control of your turret(s) (if you have any equipped) and switch back to cockpit control. Camera controls work just like in normal cockpits. This button allows you to take control of a friendly ship; this is similar to taking control of a turret. This works for hired wingmen as well as wingmen 'from cargo', so be careful when you try to switch to turret view if you have wingmen. If you hit the wrong key, you're flying your wingman's ship instead of your own.
Target for turret	+	TurretTargetKey	Select a target your turret(s) should attack. The target your turrets are attacking is surrounded by a plus sign.
Set turret AI mode: on / off / fire at will	On: Off: + FAW: + +	TurretAIOn TurretAIOff TurretAIFireAtWill	With an active AI the turret(s) can track and attack assigned targets. See TurretTargetKey above. A customized config can also have bound PickTargetTurretKey, NearestTargetTurretKey, ThreatTargetTurretKey. Without AI the turret can still be controlled manually. See TurretControl key above With turret(s) set to fire at will AI actively engages targets in range using priorities of each turret's role much like AI-controlled ships do. See more about AIs at Terminology:Artificial Intelligence

Game commands

Name	Key(s)	Command	Description
Respawn after death		Respawn	Restores play to last save game.
Toggle "quit mode"		Cockpit::Quit	Press then to quit the game or again to return to game.
Pause	+	PauseKey	Pause the game.

Camera control

Name	Key(s)	Command	Description
Toggle cockpit		Cockpit::Inside	Switch back to normal cockpit. Press it again to switch between 3d-cockpit view and plain view.
Look left		Cockpit::InsideLeft	Press this to look to your left.
Look right		Cockpit::InsideRight	Press this to look to your right.
Look back		Cockpit::InsideBack	Press this to look back.
Chasecam		Cockpit::Behind	Press this to look through an imaginary camera behind your ship
Panning camera		Cockpit::Pan	Provides a panning (ghost) camera view of your ship. Move the camera by pressing (up,down,left,right)
Target camera		Cockpit::OutsideTarget	Press this to see a 3rd-person view of your selected target.
Target panning camera		Cockpit::PanTarget	Provides a panning camera view of your target. Move the camera by pressing (q,z,s,f)
Zoom view in	+	Cockpit::ZoomIn	Zoom in on target
Zoom view out	+	Cockpit::ZoomOut	Zoom out on target
Spin panning cam down	+	Cockpit::PitchDown	Spin the panning camera down.
Spin panning cam up	+	Cockpit::PitchUp	Spin the panning camera up.
Spin panning cam left	+	Cockpit::YawLeft	Spin the panning camera left.
Spin panning cam right	+	Cockpit::YawRight	Spin the panning camera right.
Take screenshot		Screenshot	Take an 'in-flight' screenshot. This means it will not work in the Docking/Base-screen. The crosshair and docking boxes will not be saved. Users will find it in the directory ~/.vegastrike/textures/

Information screens

Info/Mission/Cargo/etc..

Name	Key(s)	Command	Description
Map/info screen		Cockpit::NavScreen	Activate/Deactivate Map screen during flight. See also Manual:Map.
Left VDU		Cockpit::SwitchLVDU	Cycles through all the possible displays in your left VDU
Right VDU		Cockpit::SwitchRVDU	Cycles through all the possible displays in your left VDU
Scroll text up		Cockpit::ScrollUp	Scroll selected mission-description/communication-log/cargo-list up
Scroll text down		Cockpit::ScrollDown	Scroll selected mission-description/communication-log/cargo-list down

Activateable ship functions

Name	Key(s)	Command	Description
Eject cargo	+ +	EjectCargoKey	Ejects the selected (topmost) cargo in your cargo bay into space. Use the scroll text keys to move the appropriate cargo to the top. Useful to get rid of pirates by leaving cargo behind, hiding contraband from security ships, eject unwanted cargo, and launching fighters.
Ejection	+ +	EjectKey	Press this key to eject yourself out of your ship sitting in an ejectpod. It has weak guns/shields and will not help you against enemy ships, but it will bring you to the next save and friendly station/ship.
Self Destruct	+	SuicideKey	Press this button to destroy your ship and kill yourself. See Manual:Combat:Death for more.
Request docking clearance	+ +	RequestClearenceKey	Select a target (station/capship) you want to dock with and press this key. You will get an audio feedback about your permission to dock. Additionally there will pop up green/red squares at the dock positions (only if you are near enough).
Activate docking procedure	+	DockKey	When sufficiently close to green docking markers, this key will activate docking procedures. See Manual:Docking for usage.

---

XML config code

This is the code to replace the in the bindings section. Replace this chunk of code starting from "<bindings>" all the way to just before "#no_mouse"

<bindings>
    <!-- # Netcomm related key
    <bind key="C" modifier="alt" command="ChangeCommStatus" />
    <bind key="X" modifier="alt" command="UpFreq" />
    <bind key="V" modifier="alt" command="DownFreq" />
    <bind key="W" modifier="alt" command="SwitchWebcam" />
    <bind key="S" modifier="alt" command="SwitchSecured" />
    -->
    <bind key="function-12" modifier="shift" command="Cockpit::SkipMusicTrack" />
    <bind key="i" modifier="none" command="Screenshot" />
    <bind key="f" modifier="ctrl" command="CommFormUp" />
    <bind key="r" modifier="ctrl" command="CommBreakForm" />
    <bind key="h" modifier="ctrl" command="CommHelpMeOut" />
    <bind key="a" modifier="ctrl" command="CommAttackTarget" />
    <bind key="function-1" modifier="none" command="Comm1Key" />
    <bind key="function-2" modifier="none" command="Comm2Key" />
    <bind key="function-3" modifier="none" command="Comm3Key" />
    <bind key="function-4" modifier="none" command="Comm4Key" />
    <bind key="function-5" modifier="none" command="Comm5Key" />
    <bind key="function-6" modifier="none" command="Comm6Key" />
    <bind key="function-7" modifier="none" command="Comm7Key" />
    <bind key="function-8" modifier="none" command="Comm8Key" />
    <bind key="1" modifier="alt" command="SaveTarget1" />
    <bind key="2" modifier="alt" command="SaveTarget2" />
    <bind key="3" modifier="alt" command="SaveTarget3" />
    <bind key="4" modifier="alt" command="SaveTarget4" />
    <bind key="5" modifier="alt" command="SaveTarget5" />
    <bind key="6" modifier="alt" command="SaveTarget6" />
    <bind key="7" modifier="alt" command="SaveTarget7" />
    <bind key="8" modifier="alt" command="SaveTarget8" />
    <bind key="9" modifier="alt" command="SaveTarget9" />

    <bind key="1" modifier="ctrl" command="RestoreTarget1" />
    <bind key="2" modifier="ctrl" command="RestoreTarget2" />
    <bind key="3" modifier="ctrl" command="RestoreTarget3" />
    <bind key="4" modifier="ctrl" command="RestoreTarget4" />
    <bind key="5" modifier="ctrl" command="RestoreTarget5" />
    <bind key="6" modifier="ctrl" command="RestoreTarget6" />
    <bind key="7" modifier="ctrl" command="RestoreTarget7" />
    <bind key="8" modifier="ctrl" command="RestoreTarget8" />
    <bind key="9" modifier="ctrl" command="RestoreTarget9" />
    <bind key="space" modifier="none" command="FireKey" />
    <bind key="u" modifier="none" command="SwitchCombatMode" />
    <bind key="z" modifier="alt" command="SwitchCombatMode" />
    <bind key="j" modifier="none" command="JumpKey" />
    <bind key="A" modifier="none" command="ToggleWarpDrive" />
    <bind key="a" modifier="none" command="ASAP" />
    <bind key="c" modifier="alt" command="CloakKey" />
    <bind key="@ modifier=alt" command="EjectKey" />
    <bind key="e" modifier="alt" command="ECMKey" />
    <bind key="!" modifier="alt" command="EjectCargoKey" />
    <bind key="keypad-0" modifier="none" command="FireKey" />
    <bind key="return" modifier="none" command="MissileKey" />
    <bind key="keypad-enter" modifier="none" command="MissileKey" />
    <bind key="space" modifier="shift" command="MissileKey" />
    <bind key="w" modifier="alt" command="WeapSelKey"/>
    <bind key="W" modifier="alt" command="ReverseWeapSelKey"/>
    <bind key="]" modifier="alt" command="WeapSelKey"/>
    <bind key="[" modifier="alt" command="ReverseWeapSelKey"/>
    <bind key=";" modifier="none" command="Respawn"/>
    <bind key="[" modifier="none" command="TurretControl"/>
    <bind key="]" modifier="none" command="TurretControl"/>
    <bind key="t" modifier="ctrl" command="TextMessage"/>

    <bind key="d" modifier="alt" command="DockKey"/>
<!--    <bind key="D" modifier="alt" command="UnDockKey"/>-->
    <bind key="d" modifier="ctrl" command="RequestClearenceKey"/>
    <bind key="0" modifier="alt" command="RequestClearenceKey"/> <!-- #this is the original -->

    <bind key="R" modifier="alt" command="ReverseMisSelKey"/>
    <bind key="r" modifier="alt" command="MisSelKey"/>
    <bind key="t" modifier="none" command="TargetKey" />
    <bind key="n" modifier="none" command="SigTargetKey" />
    <bind key="u" modifier="ctrl" command="SubUnitTargetKey"/> <!-- #temporary compromise -->
<!--    <bind key="u" modifier="n" command="UnitTargetKey" /> #n modifier is not allowed#-->
    <bind key="u" modifier="alt" command="UnitTargetKey" /> <!--#Temporary compromise#-->
    <bind key="l" modifier="none" command="LockTargetKey" />
    <bind key="y" modifier="none" command="PickTargetKey" />
<!--    <bind key="t" modifier="n" command="NearestTargetKey" /> #n modifier is not allowed-->
    <bind key="y" modifier="alt" command="NearestTargetKey" />
    <bind key="T" modifier="none" command="ReverseTargetKey" />
    <bind key="h" modifier="alt" command="NearestHostileTargetKey"/>
    <bind key="h" modifier="none" command="NearestDangerousHostileKey"/>
    <bind key="g" modifier="none" command="NearestFriendlyKey"/>
<!--    <bind key="b" modifier="n" command="NearestBaseKey"/>
    <bind key="p" modifier="n" command="NearestPlanetKey"/>
    <bind key="j" modifier="n" command="NearestJumpKey"/>
    <bind key="k" modifier="none" command="TurretTargetKey" />
    <bind key="g" modifier="b" command="TurretAIOn" />
    <bind key="h" modifier="b" command="TurretAIOff" />
    <bind key="g" modifier="b" command="TurretAIFireAtWill" />
    <bind key="T" modifier="n" command="ReverseNearestTargetKey" />
    <bind key="M" modifier="n" command="ReverseMissionTargetKey" />
    <bind key="m" modifier="n" command="MissionTargetKey" /> #no n or b modifiers allowed -->
    <bind key="b" modifier="alt" command="NearestBaseKey"/>
    <bind key="p" modifier="alt" command="NearestPlanetKey"/>
    <bind key="j" modifier="alt" command="NearestJumpKey"/>
    <bind key="k" modifier="alt" command="TurretTargetKey" />
    <bind key="b" modifier="none" command="TurretAIOn" />
    <bind key="B" modifier="none" command="TurretAIOff" />
    <bind key="B" modifier="ctrl" command="TurretAIFireAtWill" />
    <bind key="Y" modifier="alt" command="ReverseNearestTargetKey" />
    <bind key="M" modifier="alt" command="ReverseMissionTargetKey" />
    <bind key="m" modifier="alt" command="MissionTargetKey" /> <!--#Up to here are all the compromises for no n and b modifiers -->

    <bind key="N" modifier="none" command="ReverseSigTargetKey" />
    <bind key="U" modifier="alt" command="ReverseUnitTargetKey" />
    <bind key="`" modifier="none" command="Flight::Mode::InertialToggle" /> <!-- #Was SheltonKey, you may use InertialToggle also -->
    <bind key="-" modifier="none" command="DecelKey"/>
    <bind key="+" modifier="none" command="AccelKey" />
    <bind key="keypad-minus" modifier="none" command="DecelKey"/>
    <bind key="keypad-plus" modifier="none" command="AccelKey" />
    <bind key="=" modifier="none" command="AccelKey"/>
    <bind key="z" modifier="none" command="AccelKey"/>
    <bind key="x" modifier="none" command="DecelKey"/>
    <bind key="Z" modifier="none" command="AccelKey"/>
    <bind key="X" modifier="none" command="DecelKey"/>
    <bind key="/" modifier="none" command="RollLeftKey"/>
    <bind key="*" modifier="none" command="RollRightKey"/>
    <bind key="keypad-divide" modifier="none" command="RollLeftKey"/>
    <bind key="keypad-multiply" modifier="none" command="RollRightKey"/>
    <bind key="backspace" modifier="none" command="StopKey"/>
    <bind key="X" modifier="none" command="StopKey"/>
    <bind key="\" modifier="none" command="StartKey"/>
    <bind key="Z" modifier="none" command="StartKey"/>
    <bind key="tab" modifier="none" command="ABKey" />


    <bind key="#" modifier="alt" command="SuicideKey"/>

    <bind key="cursor-up" modifier="none" command="UpKey"/>
    <bind key="cursor-down" modifier="none" command="DownKey"/>
    <bind key="cursor-left" modifier="none" command="RightKey"/>
    <bind key="cursor-right" modifier="none" command="LeftKey"/>
    <bind key="D" modifier="none" command="UpKey"/>
    <bind key="v" modifier="none" command="UpKey"/>
    <bind key="E" modifier="none" command="DownKey"/>
    <bind key="c" modifier="none" command="DownKey"/>
    <bind key="S" modifier="none" command="RightKey"/>
    <bind key="F" modifier="none" command="LeftKey"/>
    <bind key="W" modifier="none" command="RollLeftKey"/>
    <bind key="R" modifier="none" command="RollRightKey"/>
    <bind key="w" modifier="none" command="RollLeftKey"/>
    <bind key="r" modifier="none" command="RollRightKey"/>
    <bind key="keypad-8" modifier="none" command="UpKey"/>
    <bind key="keypad-2" modifier="none" command="DownKey"/>
    <bind key="keypad-5" modifier="none" command="DownKey"/>
    <bind key="keypad-4" modifier="none" command="RightKey"/>
    <bind key="keypad-6" modifier="none" command="LeftKey"/>
<!--    <bind key="M" modifier="none" command="Cockpit::MapKey"/> -->
    <bind key="m" modifier="none" command="Cockpit::NavScreen"/>
    <bind key="1" modifier="none" command="Cockpit::Inside"/>
    <bind key="2" modifier="none" command="Cockpit::InsideLeft"/>
    <bind key="3" modifier="none" command="Cockpit::InsideRight"/>
    <bind key="4" modifier="none" command="Cockpit::InsideBack"/>
    <bind key="5" modifier="none" command="Cockpit::Behind"/>
    <bind key="6" modifier="none" command="Cockpit::Pan"/>
    <bind key="7" modifier="none" command="Cockpit::ViewTarget"/>
    <bind key="8" modifier="none" command="Cockpit::PanTarget"/>
    <bind key="9" modifier="none" command="Cockpit::ZoomIn"/>
    <bind key="0" modifier="none" command="Cockpit::ZoomOut"/>
    <bind key="=" modifier="ctrl" command="Cockpit::ZoomIn"/>
    <bind key="-" modifier="ctrl" command="Cockpit::ZoomOut"/>
    <bind key="keypad-plus" modifier="ctrl" command="Cockpit::ZoomIn"/>
    <bind key="keypad-minus" modifier="ctrl" command="Cockpit::ZoomOut"/>
    <bind key="0" modifier="ctrl" command="Cockpit::OutsideTarget"/>

    <bind key="|" modifier="none" command="PauseKey"/>
    <bind key="pause" modifier="none" command="PauseKey"/>

    <bind key="C" command="ThrustUp"/>
    <bind key="V" command="ThrustDown"/>
    <bind key="e" command="ThrustUp"/>
    <bind key="d" command="ThrustDown"/>
    <bind key="s" command="ThrustLeft"/>
    <bind key="f" command="ThrustRight"/>
    <bind key="cursor-up" modifier="shift" command="ThrustUp"/>
    <bind key="cursor-down" modifier="shift" command="ThrustDown"/>
    <bind key="cursor-left" modifier="shift" command="ThrustLeft"/>
    <bind key="cursor-right" modifier="shift" command="ThrustRight"/>


    <bind key="function-9" modifier="none" command="VolumeInc"/>
    <bind key="function-10" modifier="none" command="VolumeDec"/>
    <bind key="function-11" modifier="none" command="MusicVolumeInc"/>
    <bind key="function-12" modifier="none" command="MusicVolumeDec"/>

    <bind key="v" modifier="ctrl" command="NewShader"/>

    <bind key="cursor-insert" modifier="none" command="Cockpit::SwitchLVDU"/>
    <bind key="cursor-home" modifier="none" command="Cockpit::SwitchRVDU"/>
    <bind key="cursor-delete" modifier="none" command="Cockpit::SwitchLVDU"/>
    <bind key="cursor-end" modifier="none" command="Cockpit::SwitchRVDU"/>
    <bind key="q" modifier="none" command="Cockpit::PitchDown"/>   
    <bind key="cursor-up" modifier="ctrl" command="Cockpit::PitchDown"/>
    <bind key="cursor-down" modifier="ctrl" command="Cockpit::PitchUp"/>
    <bind key="cursor-right" modifier="ctrl" command="Cockpit::YawLeft"/>
    <bind key="cursor-left" modifier="ctrl" command="Cockpit::YawRight"/>
    <bind key="cursor-pagedown" modifier="none" command="Cockpit::ScrollDown"/>
    <bind key="cursor-pageup" modifier="none" command="Cockpit::ScrollUp"/>
    <bind key="keypad-3" modifier="none" command="Cockpit::ScrollDown"/>
    <bind key="keypad-9" modifier="none" command="Cockpit::ScrollUp"/>

    <bind key="function-1" modifier="ctrl" command="ConsoleKeys::BringConsole"/>

    <bind key="p" modifier="none" command="SetVelocityRefKey"/>
    <bind key="P" modifier="none" command="SetVelocityNullKey"/>
    <bind key="x" modifier="alt" command="SetVelocityRefKey"/>
    <bind key="X" modifier="alt" command="SetVelocityNullKey"/>
    <!-- <bind key="keypad-7" modifier="none" command="SetVelocityRefKey"/>
    <bind key="keypad-1" modifier="none" command="SetVelocityNullKey"/> #disabled because 1 3 7 9 should be more directional keys and to make testers find P -->

    <bind key="esc" modifier="none" command="Cockpit::Quit"/>

See also the vegastrike.config from SVN. The keys are stored between the <bindings> and the </bindings> tag.

See also

• Manual:Keyboard layout
• Manual:Keyboard layout:US