Coder Diary #2 - Hot keys!

John Tiller's Campaign Series exemplifies tactical war-gaming at its finest by bringing you the entire collection of TalonSoft's award-winning campaign series. Containing TalonSoft's West Front, East Front, and Rising Sun platoon-level combat series, as well as all of the official add-ons and expansion packs, the Matrix Edition allows players to dictate the events of World War II from the tumultuous beginning to its climatic conclusion. We are working together with original programmer John Tiller to bring you this updated edition.

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berto
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Coder Diary #2 - Hot keys!

Post by berto »


Coder Diary #2 - Hot keys!


John Tiller games are clickfests. Too much mousing around! For example:

[*]To highlight disrupted units, one has to mouse sweep up to the top-level menu, then click the menu items Display->Highlight->Disrupted Units. (And if the menu is not showing, hit the M Toggle display of program menu beforehand.) To remove the highlight, one has to repeat the mouse movements and clicks.

Instead, how about:

[*]To highlight disrupted units, press the D hot key. To unhighlight, press the D hot key again. Simple.

Hot keys should be implemented for all Display->Highlight(s).

And so they are! (Or will be, in all future Campaign Series game releases. [:'(])

Here are the newly revised hot key assignments, not just the traditional ones, but also (virtually) all Display->Highlight(s), and several other useful hot key assignments besides:

"1", ON_DISPLAYIN, VIRTKEY
"2", ON_DISPLAYIN50, VIRTKEY
"3", ON_DISPLAYIN25, VIRTKEY
"4", ON_DISPLAYNORMAL, VIRTKEY
"5", ON_DISPLAYOUT, VIRTKEY
"A", ON_ADDASSAULT, VIRTKEY, CONTROL
"A", ON_HIGHLIGHTAA, VIRTKEY
"B", ON_BANZAI, VIRTKEY, CONTROL
"B", ON_DISPLAYBASES, VIRTKEY
"C", ON_CLEARASSAULT, VIRTKEY, CONTROL
"C", ON_DISPLAYCON, VIRTKEY
"D", ON_DIGGINGIN, VIRTKEY, CONTROL
"D", ON_HIGHLIGHTDISRUPT, VIRTKEY
"E", ON_HIGHLIGHTMINE, VIRTKEY
"F", ON_BUYBULLET, VIRTKEY, CONTROL
"F", ON_HIGHLIGHTFIRED, VIRTKEY
"G", ON_DAMAGE, VIRTKEY, CONTROL
"G", ON_DISPLAYRANGE, VIRTKEY
"H", ON_DISPLAYMOVABLE, VIRTKEY
"I", ON_HIGHLIGHTIND, VIRTKEY
"I", ON_OPTIONSICONS, VIRTKEY, CONTROL
"J", ON_DISPLAYJUMP, VIRTKEY
"K", ON_DISPLAYUNITS, VIRTKEY
"L", ON_HIGHLIGHTLEADERS, VIRTKEY
"L", ON_LOAD, VIRTKEY, CONTROL
"M", ON_HIGHLIGHTMOVED, VIRTKEY
"M", ON_OPTIONSMENU, VIRTKEY, CONTROL
"N", ON_NEXTSTACK, VIRTKEY
"O", ON_DISPLAYOBJECT, VIRTKEY
"O", ON_SHOWODDS, VIRTKEY, CONTROL
"P", ON_PREVSTACK, VIRTKEY
"Q", ON_DOUBLETIME, VIRTKEY, CONTROL
"Q", ON_HIGHLIGHTHQ, VIRTKEY
"R", ON_DISPLAYFLIP, VIRTKEY
"R", ON_RESOLVE, VIRTKEY, CONTROL
"S", ON_FILESAVE, VIRTKEY, CONTROL
"S", ON_HIGHLIGHTSPOT, VIRTKEY
"T", ON_DISPLAYTHERMO, VIRTKEY
"T", ON_TURNNEXT, VIRTKEY, CONTROL
"U", ON_BUYWHEEL, VIRTKEY, CONTROL
"U", ON_OPTIONSLIST, VIRTKEY
"V", ON_DISPLAYVISIBLE, VIRTKEY
"V", ON_REMOVE, VIRTKEY, CONTROL
"W", ON_DISPLAYCOMMAND, VIRTKEY
"X", ON_HIGHLIGHTFIXED, VIRTKEY
"X", ON_OPTIONSOUTLINE, VIRTKEY, CONTROL
"Y", ON_HIGHLIGHTNOAMMO, VIRTKEY
"Y", ON_TOTOP, VIRTKEY, CONTROL
"Z", ON_HIGHLIGHTORG, VIRTKEY
"Z", ON_TOBOTTOM, VIRTKEY, CONTROL
VK_DELETE, ON_COUNTERCLOCK, VIRTKEY
VK_DOWN, ON_SCROLLDOWN, VIRTKEY
VK_END, ON_BACKWARD, VIRTKEY
VK_F1, ON_GENERAL, VIRTKEY
VK_F2, ON_HANDBOOK, VIRTKEY
VK_F3, ON_DATA, VIRTKEY
VK_F4, ON_PLATOON, VIRTKEY
VK_F5, ON_WEAPON, VIRTKEY
VK_HOME, ON_FORWARD, VIRTKEY
VK_LEFT, ON_SCROLLLEFT, VIRTKEY
VK_NEXT, ON_CLOCKWISE, VIRTKEY
VK_NUMPAD0, ON_LOAD, VIRTKEY
VK_NUMPAD1, ON_MOVEDOWNL, VIRTKEY
VK_NUMPAD2, ON_MOVEDOWN, VIRTKEY
VK_NUMPAD3, ON_MOVEDOWNR, VIRTKEY
VK_NUMPAD4, ON_COUNTERCLOCK, VIRTKEY
VK_NUMPAD6, ON_CLOCKWISE, VIRTKEY
VK_NUMPAD7, ON_MOVEUPL, VIRTKEY
VK_NUMPAD8, ON_MOVEUP, VIRTKEY
VK_NUMPAD9, ON_MOVEUPR, VIRTKEY
VK_RIGHT, ON_SCROLLRIGHT, VIRTKEY
VK_SPACE, ON_RECENTER, VIRTKEY
VK_UP, ON_SCROLLUP, VIRTKEY
VK_NUMPAD5, ON_AIRATTACK, VIRTKEY

You will note that every letter of the alphabet, from A to Z, has been assigned. Virtually without exception, nearly every Menu Bar Display->Highlight(s) option is covered. No more hunting through the top-level game menu to briefly toggle one display or another. They are now all there instantly, at your fingertips! Hooray, more for the left hand to do! (I'm a lefty. [;)])

Here is a screenshot, showing

[*]Unit Bases
[*]Visible Hexes
[*]On-Map Thermometers
[*]Organization

with all of those Display->Highlight ooptions activated/toggled on by way of hot keys, not via menu clicks, else Tool Bar button clicks.

Image

With hot keys, imagine how easy it will be to customize on the fly your unit display exactly as you want it. Toggle this on, toggle that off, ... in hundreds of different combinations. Hot key to your heart's content!

Here are the diffs between the older, traditional hot keys (signified by '<') and the new ones (signified by '>'):

Robert@roberto /cygdrive/c/Temp
$ diff /cygdrive/c/Temp/hotkeys.old /cygdrive/c/Temp/hotkeys.newer
6,7c6,10
< "A", ON_ARRIVED, VIRTKEY
< "B", ON_BANZAI, VIRTKEY
---
> "A", ON_ADDASSAULT, VIRTKEY, CONTROL
> "A", ON_HIGHLIGHTAA, VIRTKEY
> "B", ON_BANZAI, VIRTKEY, CONTROL
> "B", ON_DISPLAYBASES, VIRTKEY
> "C", ON_CLEARASSAULT, VIRTKEY, CONTROL
9,10c12,18
< "D", ON_OPFIRE, VIRTKEY
< "F", ON_RELEASE, VIRTKEY
---
> "D", ON_DIGGINGIN, VIRTKEY, CONTROL
> "D", ON_HIGHLIGHTDISRUPT, VIRTKEY
> "E", ON_HIGHLIGHTMINE, VIRTKEY
> "F", ON_BUYBULLET, VIRTKEY, CONTROL
> "F", ON_HIGHLIGHTFIRED, VIRTKEY
> "G", ON_DAMAGE, VIRTKEY, CONTROL
> "G", ON_DISPLAYRANGE, VIRTKEY
12,13c20,27
< "I", ON_SCENINFO, VIRTKEY
< "M", ON_OPTIONSMENU, VIRTKEY
---
> "I", ON_HIGHLIGHTIND, VIRTKEY
> "I", ON_OPTIONSICONS, VIRTKEY, CONTROL
> "J", ON_DISPLAYJUMP, VIRTKEY
> "K", ON_DISPLAYUNITS, VIRTKEY
> "L", ON_HIGHLIGHTLEADERS, VIRTKEY
> "L", ON_LOAD, VIRTKEY, CONTROL
> "M", ON_HIGHLIGHTMOVED, VIRTKEY
> "M", ON_OPTIONSMENU, VIRTKEY, CONTROL
15a30
> "O", ON_SHOWODDS, VIRTKEY, CONTROL
16a32,33
> "Q", ON_DOUBLETIME, VIRTKEY, CONTROL
> "Q", ON_HIGHLIGHTHQ, VIRTKEY
18c35,37
< "S", ON_SCHEDULED, VIRTKEY
---
> "R", ON_RESOLVE, VIRTKEY, CONTROL
> "S", ON_FILESAVE, VIRTKEY, CONTROL
> "S", ON_HIGHLIGHTSPOT, VIRTKEY
19a39,40
> "T", ON_TURNNEXT, VIRTKEY, CONTROL
> "U", ON_BUYWHEEL, VIRTKEY, CONTROL
21a43
> "V", ON_REMOVE, VIRTKEY, CONTROL
23,24c45,50
< "X", ON_FILEEXIT, VIRTKEY
< "Z", ON_DISPLAYRANGE, VIRTKEY
---
> "X", ON_HIGHLIGHTFIXED, VIRTKEY
> "X", ON_OPTIONSOUTLINE, VIRTKEY, CONTROL
> "Y", ON_HIGHLIGHTNOAMMO, VIRTKEY
> "Y", ON_TOTOP, VIRTKEY, CONTROL
> "Z", ON_HIGHLIGHTORG, VIRTKEY
> "Z", ON_TOBOTTOM, VIRTKEY, CONTROL

As you can see, the following game functions have lost hot-key assignments:

[*]A, ON_ARRIVED
[*]D, ON_OPFIRE
[*]F, ON_RELEASE
[*]I, ON_SCENINFO
[*]S, ON_SCHEDULED
[*]X, ON_FILEEXIT

But those relatively little-used functions can still all be accessed via the Menu Bar.

Here are the reassignments:

[*]G, ON_DISPLAYRANGE (was Z; think: RanGe)
[*]Ctrl-B, ON_BANZAI (was B)
[*]Ctrl-M, ON_OPTIONSMENU (was M)

Here are the brand new assignments:

[*]A, ON_HIGHLIGHTAA (Anti-Aircraft units)
[*]B, ON_DISPLAYBASES
[*]D, ON_HIGHLIGHTDISRUPT
[*]E, ON_HIGHLIGHTMINE (think: Engineers)
[*]F, ON_HIGHLIGHTFIRED
[*]I, ON_HIGHLIGHTIND (Indirect Fire units)
[*]J, ON_DISPLAYJUMP (Jump Map; just like the newer JT games)
[*]K, ON_DISPLAYUNITS (think: Kill unit display)
[*]L, ON_HIGHLIGHTLEADERS
[*]M, ON_HIGHLIGHTMOVED
[*]Q, ON_HIGHLIGHTHQ
[*]S, ON_HIGHLIGHTSPOT (Spotted units)
[*]X, ON_HIGHLIGHTFIXED
[*]Y, ON_HIGHLIGHTNOAMMO (think: No SupplY)
[*]Z, ON_HIGHLIGHTORG (think: OrganiZation)

And still more brand new Ctrl-key combos:

[*]Ctrl-A, ON_ADDASSAULT
[*]Ctrl-C, ON_CLEARASSAULT
[*]Ctrl-D, ON_DIGGINGIN
[*]Ctrl-F, ON_BUYBULLET (Save AP's for Firing)
[*]Ctrl-G, ON_DAMAGE (think: DamaGe Wall or Bridge)
[*]Ctrl-I, ON_OPTIONSICONS (Graphical Unit Icons)
[*]Ctrl-L, ON_LOAD (Load/Unload)
[*]Ctrl-O, ON_SHOWODDS
[*]Ctrl-Q, ON_DOUBLETIME (think: Quicken)
[*]Ctrl-R, ON_RESOLVE (Resolve Assault)
[*]Ctrl-S, ON_FILESAVE
[*]Ctrl-T, ON_TURNNEXT
[*]Ctrl-U, ON_BUYWHEEL (Save AP's for Unloading)
[*]Ctrl-V, ON_REMOVE
[*]Ctrl-X, ON_OPTIONSOUTLINE (think: HeX Outlines)
[*]Ctrl-Y, ON_TOTOP
[*]Ctrl-Z, ON_TOBOTTOM

Any letter/function not listed (such as C, Show Countours; or N, Next Unit; etc.) should be the same as before.

Generally speaking, any simple key presses (no Ctrl- or any other key prefix) should toggle Display->Highlight(s) or some other aspect of the game display only. You can freely press simple hot keys without worrying you will impact units or the game state beyond its appearance. So if you "misremember" or guess wrong, no big deal: You haven't really changed anything; you've just altered the game display.

If there are any functions that might impact the game state -- for example: Double Time unit(s); Load/Unload unit(s); Resolve Assault; etc. -- in general such functions are assigned to Ctrl- key combos. The idea here is: It takes more physical and mental effort to do a Ctrl- key combo, so where you might want to think twice before acting, save that for the Ctrl- key combos.

I decided to use the Ctrl- prefix rather than the Shift- prefix (or even more elaborate prefixes such as Ctrl-Shift-), because -- being at the extreme lower left and lower right of the standard PC keyboard -- the Ctrl- key is easier to see and access than the Shift- key (which is one row up from the Ctrl- key).

Mnemonics. In general, and as much as possible, I tried to have the hot key letter suggest the function. For example, 'M' signifies the Moved Units toggle. But when you've already assigned one key, say 'Ctrl-D' for Digging In, you don't have that letter for some other function, say for Double Time. So you try something otherwise suggestive, such as 'Ctrl-Q' for Quicken. Or maybe use an embedded letter, such as: Display RanGe.

You do the best you can.

These key assignments are generally settled. No second guessing! [:-] [:'(]

I don't know about you, but: I have played around with these new hot keys some, and they are a game changer. With Display->Highlight(s) now so much more easy and convenient -- simple key presses vs. laborious, tiresome mouse sweeps/menu hunt-and-pecks -- I will do them much, much more often. I will become much more aware of: Moved Units, Disrupted Units, Fired/Fought Units, Indirect Fire Units, Headquarter Units, Out of Supply Units, etc., etc. And being more aware, I will be a better player for it. As I said, a game changer.

Eventually, I will implement an in-game Hot Key Reference screen, accessible via the F6 key (likely), to summarize all hot keys. No more hunting through the game docs for the Hot Keys reference. It will be right there, in-game!

BTW, the Tool Bar buttons will have a makeover too. New ones added, perhaps some dropped, maybe all reduced in size so that we have room for more of them. For future development.

Oh, I have something else to show you ... but not now, as it's not quite finished yet. Soon. But in any case, Thank God It's Friday, right?

Until the next time ...
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RE: Coder Diary #2 - Hot keys!

Post by scottintacoma »

Berto,

Arrived and Scheduled need hot keeys, I use them regularly, and recently ended up with units ariveing on 10 different turns of a 15 turn game. And to select which unit of multiple units arriving on a turn arrive first.

That said, the new key assignments look good.

Scott in tacoma

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RE: Coder Diary #2 - Hot keys!

Post by berto »


Good feedback. I'll reassign those functions to Ctrl- key combos.
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RE: Coder Diary #2 - Hot keys!

Post by scottintacoma »

Berto,

I normally play DCG's, so use Scheduled at the begining of each game, and sometime thorughout. I use the Arrived anytime I get reinforcements, as would anyone getting reinforcements.

Keep up the good work.

Scott in Tacoma
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RE: Coder Diary #2 - Hot keys!

Post by berto »


Scott, I don't doubt that those functions are used; I use them myself. It's a question of how often they are used relative to other functions that might be assigned to the high-value S & A keys. As stated, I will re-assign the Scheduled & Arrived functions, just to different key combos.
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RE: Coder Diary #2 - Hot keys!

Post by Crossroads »

Thanks Berto, great news, I use keyboard a lot!

My pet peeve is the numpad-5 for air attack. I play mostly with 3D views, and I've accidentally called an air attack on a friendly unit while attempting a move or to just neatly have them facing a certain hex side so many times.

Would it be possible to make air attack a key-combo function too?
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RE: Coder Diary #2 - Hot keys!

Post by berto »

ORIGINAL: Crossroads

My pet peeve is the numpad-5 for air attack. I play mostly with 3D views, and I've accidentally called an air attack on a friendly unit while attempting a move or to just neatly have them facing a certain hex side so many times.

Would it be possible to make air attack a key-combo function too?
More great feedback. I too am fond of using the keypad numbers to change unit facing etc.

One of my design principles is that no simple key press, no "accidental" key press, should change the game state; rather should just alter its appearance; and should change back to the former appearance by the very same simple key press.

I will indeed change that key to a Ctrl-numpad5 combo. I'll review and switch as necessary any others like that too.

Another mini-project: As much as possible, all key press actions should be toggles. Press the key, perform the function. Press the key again, reverse the function. (Where that makes sense, and is permissible. The Double Time rule doesn't allow that undo, for example.) No more having to undo any key press by instead hitting the Esc key. To do and undo, your finger should be able to hover over one key and press, unpress, press, unpress, ... as long as you have the desire to do so.

Having to move your finger from a key, then to the Esc key, then back to the key, ...; or worse, having to undo your key press action via a mouse sweep and click on a window 'x' control (requires more thought, too) -- bad, bad UI design. [:-]

That's the plan anyway.
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RE: Coder Diary #2 - Hot keys!

Post by Crossroads »

I am with you with everything you said :)

While on the subject, well, sort of, there's two more "anomalies" in the system: firing smoke, and firing flares.

Not hot-keys as such, but a bit complex to use.

I often play in a semi-dark room and have managed to call friendly arty on my troops when I thought I had Alt-key pressed down too, in addition to Crtl when in firing mode. But had kept another key down instead.

And flares are so rare I can't even remember how to fire them... Maybe it was the same?

This is a bit tougher nut to crack? Can't think of a solution I am afraid. Maybe this is just me, and the should be left as-is?
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RE: Coder Diary #2 - Hot keys!

Post by berto »

ORIGINAL: Crossroads

I am with you with everything you said :)

While on the subject, well, sort of, there's two more "anomalies" in the system: firing smoke, and firing flares.

Not hot-keys as such, but a bit complex to use ...
I have thought of those too. Especially when I drift away to play some other games ([:-]) ... then drift back to play the Campaign Series, I too forget how to launch star shells, or fire smoke. And, yes, the key combos for those things are obscure and ungainly. I will likely retain the current key combos -- old habits die hard, old grognard habits die even harder -- but I will think about offering easier to remember, easier to use options also. Maybe more Tool Bar buttons.

I'm working hard on UI fix-ups. (Working to apply consistent use of '...' in Menu Bar options right now in fact.)

Ease of use and consistency!
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RE: Coder Diary #2 - Hot keys!

Post by scottintacoma »

Berto,

Tool bar options for Smoke and Star shells would be great. I can never remember how to fire smoke, so rarely/nefer use smoke. Sometimes it would be nice to use.

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RE: Coder Diary #2 - Hot keys!

Post by berto »


For the Assault Menu Bar options, I have reassigned them to Alt- key combos, as in:

[*]Alt-C, Cancel Assault
[*]Alt-A, Add to Assault
[*]Alt-R, Resolve Assault
[*]Alt-O, Show Odds

Think: Assault. [;)]

This frees up the Ctrl- C,A,R,O combos for other purposes (such as restoring Reinforce->Arrived & Reinforce->Releases, assigned to Ctrl-A & Ctrl-R respectively). [:)]
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RE: Coder Diary #2 - Hot keys!

Post by berto »

ORIGINAL: Crossroads

My pet peeve is the numpad-5 for air attack. I play mostly with 3D views, and I've accidentally called an air attack on a friendly unit while attempting a move or to just neatly have them facing a certain hex side so many times.

Would it be possible to make air attack a key-combo function too?
Done. ON_AIRATTACK reassigned to Ctrl-K (think: Air AttacK). (The Numpad5 key is now unassigned.)

No more accidentally launching air attacks as your fat fingers use the numpad to change unit movement and facing! [:D]

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RE: Coder Diary #2 - Hot keys!

Post by berto »


DOH! Why didn't I think of this before?

Look at the Help Menu Bar selections. They all tell you how to summon the help screens, as in 'Unit Handbook (F2)'.

The place in-game to document the hot keys is (in parenthesis) immediately following the corresponding Menu Bar option. (In addition to the proposed new F6 hot key reference screen.) This follows the standard practice Windows UI conventions also.

So, for example, the Menu Bar option should say 'On-Map Thermometers (T)'. And 'Display->Range (G)'. And so on.

...

Image

Done!

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RE: Coder Diary #2 - Hot keys!

Post by Crossroads »

Well done!
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RE: Coder Diary #2 - Hot keys!

Post by wings7 »

berto,

The new hot key layout is fantastic...thank you!

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RE: Coder Diary #2 - Hot keys!

Post by TJD »

I hope this new hotkey routine can be incorporated into other Tiller titles. They all need it.
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RE: Coder Diary #2 - Hot keys!

Post by berto »


Here are the revised Hot Key assignments:

Robert@roberto /cygdrive/c/Documents and Settings/Robert/My Documents/Games/Matrix Games/CS/devel/Campaign Series
$ egrep "VIRTKEY" engine/Engine.rc | sed '1,$ s/, NOINVERT//' | sed '1,$ s/VIRTKEY, //' | sed '1,$ s/VIRTKEY//' | sort

"1", ON_DISPLAYIN,
"2", ON_DISPLAYIN50,
"3", ON_DISPLAYIN25,
"4", ON_DISPLAYNORMAL,
"5", ON_DISPLAYOUT,
"A", ON_ADDASSAULT, ALT
"A", ON_ARRIVED, CONTROL
"A", ON_HIGHLIGHTAA,
"B", ON_BANZAI, CONTROL
"B", ON_DISPLAYBASES,
"C", ON_CLEARASSAULT, ALT
"C", ON_CLEARLZ, CONTROL
"C", ON_DISPLAYCON,
"D", ON_DIGGINGIN, CONTROL
"D", ON_HIGHLIGHTDISRUPT,
"E", ON_HIGHLIGHTMINE,
"E", ON_REMOVE, CONTROL
"F", ON_BUYBULLET, CONTROL
"F", ON_HIGHLIGHTFIRED,
"G", ON_DAMAGE, CONTROL
"G", ON_DISPLAYRANGE,
"H", ON_BUILDBRIDGESIDE, CONTROL
"H", ON_DISPLAYMOVABLE,
"I", ON_HIGHLIGHTIND,
"I", ON_OPTIONSICONS, CONTROL
"J", ON_BUILDBARRIER, CONTROL
"J", ON_DISPLAYJUMP,
"K", ON_AIRATTACK, CONTROL
"K", ON_DISPLAYUNITS,
"L", ON_HIGHLIGHTLEADERS,
"L", ON_LOAD, CONTROL
"M", ON_HIGHLIGHTMOVED,
"M", ON_OPTIONSMENU, CONTROL
"N", ON_LAYMINEFIELD, CONTROL
"N", ON_NEXTSTACK,
"O", ON_DISPLAYOBJECT,
"O", ON_DISPLAYOPAQUE, CONTROL
"O", ON_SHOWODDS, ALT
"P", ON_OPFIRE, CONTROL
"P", ON_PREVSTACK,
"Q", ON_DOUBLETIME, CONTROL
"Q", ON_HIGHLIGHTHQ,
"R", ON_DISPLAYFLIP,
"R", ON_RELEASE, CONTROL
"R", ON_RESOLVE, ALT
"S", ON_HIGHLIGHTSPOT,
"S", ON_SCHEDULED, CONTROL
"T", ON_DISPLAYTHERMO,
"T", ON_TURNNEXT, CONTROL
"U", ON_BUYWHEEL, CONTROL
"U", ON_OPTIONSLIST,
"V", ON_BUILDVEHBRIDGESIDE, CONTROL
"V", ON_DISPLAYVISIBLE,
"W", ON_ARTDIALOG, CONTROL
"W", ON_DISPLAYCOMMAND,
"X", ON_HIGHLIGHTFIXED,
"X", ON_OPTIONSOUTLINE, CONTROL
"Y", ON_HIGHLIGHTNOAMMO,
"Y", ON_TOTOP, CONTROL
"Z", ON_HIGHLIGHTORG,
"Z", ON_TOBOTTOM, CONTROL
VK_DELETE, ON_COUNTERCLOCK,
VK_DOWN, ON_SCROLLDOWN,
VK_END, ON_BACKWARD,
VK_F1, ON_GENERAL,
VK_F2, ON_HANDBOOK,
VK_F3, ON_DATA,
VK_F4, ON_PLATOON,
VK_F5, ON_WEAPON,
VK_HOME, ON_FORWARD,
VK_LEFT, ON_SCROLLLEFT,
VK_NEXT, ON_CLOCKWISE,
VK_NUMPAD0, ON_LOAD,
VK_NUMPAD1, ON_MOVEDOWNL,
VK_NUMPAD2, ON_MOVEDOWN,
VK_NUMPAD3, ON_MOVEDOWNR,
VK_NUMPAD4, ON_COUNTERCLOCK,
VK_NUMPAD6, ON_CLOCKWISE,
VK_NUMPAD7, ON_MOVEUPL,
VK_NUMPAD8, ON_MOVEUP,
VK_NUMPAD9, ON_MOVEUPR,
VK_RIGHT, ON_SCROLLRIGHT,
VK_SPACE, ON_RECENTER,
VK_UP, ON_SCROLLUP,

And here is a composite screenshot, documenting most of those Hot Key assignments right in the Menu Bar:

Image

Every letter of the alphabet has been hot-keyed, either as a simple key press or as a Ctrl- (and in a few cases, an Alt-) key combo. (Not all Hot Keys -- for example Ctrl-M, which toggles the Menu Bar -- are displayed in the screenshoft.)

Smoke, Starshells (and any other new features that the CS developer team might dream up) -- these might get the Hot Key treatment (probably extending the list of Alt- key combos). Some corresponding Menu Bar items might be added also.

But aside from that, what you see is likely what you'll get. The Hot Key assignments are pretty much settled.

The sharp-eyed among you will observe a few Menu Bar changes -- a bit of rearranging mostly. If you're really observant, you'll detect the topic of the next Coder Diary (due out later this week). [;)]
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junk2drive
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RE: Coder Diary #2 - Hot keys!

Post by junk2drive »

With the tool bar hotkeys references it may not be necessary for an on screen list of them all but I like one. Another game has a transparent overlay that is accessed with the K key. Since you have used K and crtl K, I suggest Alt K. F# is ok too but F keys are harder to remember.

There are a lot of left hand gamers and anything that can be mirrored on the right side of the keyboard/numpad is appreciated.

Scroll wheel zoom is always asked for. Something better than my autohotkey script in the mod forum. Maybe tilt wheel can scroll the screen as well.

Thanks
Conflict of Heroes "Most games are like checkers or chess and some have dice and cards involved too. This game plays like checkers but you think like chess and the dice and cards can change everything in real time."
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Crossroads
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RE: Coder Diary #2 - Hot keys!

Post by Crossroads »

I again triggered the Air Assault on a friendly unit by accident with the damn Numpad 5 key! And there's no Undo. I hate it!

Hate it, hear me! [;)]

Can't wait to have this version you are building Berto!
Visit us at: Campaign Series Legion
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CS: Vietnam 1948-1967 < Available now
CS: Middle East 1948-1985 2.0 < 3.0 In the works
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junk2drive
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Location: Arizona West Coast

RE: Coder Diary #2 - Hot keys!

Post by junk2drive »

bump 2
Conflict of Heroes "Most games are like checkers or chess and some have dice and cards involved too. This game plays like checkers but you think like chess and the dice and cards can change everything in real time."
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