The Manual: The Many Menus
Starting from the main dwarf fortress screen, there are many options, and it can
be difficult to sort things out at first. Here each choice will be described.
General Notes
Use
8
2
4
6
7
9
1
3
SHIFT+,
SHIFT+. to move the view window around.
Use
TAB to cycle through different arrangements of the view windows.
Keep in mind that you can pause the game at any time using
SPACE. If you want to step through
the game Very slowly, use
.. It takes about ten presses of this key for the average dwarf to move one square,
but it lets you watch battles very precisely if you like.
If you ever get lost as you scroll around, press
F1. This key zooms you to your starting wagon. You can change the zoom hotkeys by pressing
h.
Every announcement made at the bottom of the screen is saved for you. Press
a to view them.
Placing Buildings
Press
b to place a building. Most buildings require some kind of material and a dwarf
with the proper profession settings to build them. Note that many buildings first need to be designed
by a dwarf with the Architecture profession. Follow the link for more information.
Building Placement Specifics
Designations
Press
d to designate areas for digging, detailing, plant gathering and wood cutting.
If a dwarf has the appropriate profession and equipment, work will begin immediately.
Designation Specifics
View Units
Press
v to view unit information. Move the cursor to a unit and you'll see a menu.
This is where you set professions, view thoughts and wounds, view skills and set soldier preferences,
among other things.
Unit Viewing Specifics
Create Building Tasks
Press
q to view the task lists for your buildings. You also create rooms and set
some other settings using the menus that arise from this selection.
Building Task Specifics
View Building Items
Press
t to view the objects that are in a building. You'll often find objects
you thought were missing inside a building.
Building Item Specifics
Activity Zones
Press
i to create a new activity zone.
Activity Zone Specifics
Stockpiles
Press
p to create a new stockpile.
Stockpile Specifics
Overall Status
Press
z to view the overall status of your fortress. You can check your population and
your food stores. At first you can also get advice and set preferences for your kitchens and animals.
Later on several additional menus open up as you attract specialized dwarves.
Overall Status Specifics
Set Standing Orders
Press
o to set the standing orders for your dwarves. Follow the link for descriptions.
Standing Order Specifics
Room/Building List
Press
r to view the list of rooms and buildings. You can also check
how a dwarf values a room from here.
Room List Specifics
Job List
Press
j to view a list of jobs. This is similar to the Unit List screen. If you have a manager,
you can get to the manager screen from here.
Job/Unit List Specifics
Unit List
Press
u to view a list of units. This is similar to the Job List screen. If you have a manager,
you can get to the manager screen from here.
Job/Unit List Specifics
Military
Press
m to view and change your military. You can access the menus of individual squads and set the
chain of command from this screen.
Military Specifics
Command Squads
Press
x to order your squads to station at a new location or to send them on patrols.
Command Squad Specifics
Look Around
Press
k to look at everything that is in a map square. You can select many of these objects for further descriptions.
Look Around Specifics
Nobles and Administrators
Press
n to view your nobles and appoint administrators.
Noble Specifics
Civilizations
Press
c to view your neighbors.
Civilization Specifics