Auto and Arcade Key Definition

To simplify 'game play' hex and decimal keypads can be mapped to two sets. The second set (blue ellipse) can be shown by pressing the 'Switch Set' (yellow ellipse) button on the Key Mapping window.

The window header (orange ellipse) will indicate if set 1 or 2 is shown. Additionally 'Auto Key Definition' (red ellipse) can be selected to load key settings from the 'keydefinition.txt' file. Definitions in this file try (where possible) to map as in the following table (listed keys are valid if Default Keyboard 'US' is selected):

Game key / action	Player A	Player B (Numpad)	Player B (no Numpad)	Player B (no Numpad, Studio II clones)
Up	Arrow up	Numpad 8	Y	W
Left	Arrow left	Numpad 4	G	A
Right	Arrow right	Numpad 6	H	S
Down	Arrow down	Numpad 2	N	Z
Fire	Space	Numpad Enter	TAB	TAB
0 to 9	0 to 9	Numpad 0 to 9	Numpad 0 to 9	P, Q, W, E, R, T, Y, U, I, O
A	A	Numpad /	Numpad /	Not applicable
B	B	Numpad *	Numpad *	Not applicable
C	C	Numpad -	Numpad -	Not applicable
D	D	Numpad +	Numpad +	Not applicable
E	E	Numpad Enter	Numpad Enter	Not applicable
F	F	Numpad .	Numpad .	Not applicable

The arcade mapping (fire and direction keys) will always be shown in the key map window (magenta ellipse). To switch from player 1 to 2 press the 'SwitchPlayer' button (green ellipse) or on the Cosmac VIP (with VP590 or VP 580), RCA Studio II, RCA Studio III / Victory MPT-02 and Visicom COM-100 press the 'Switch Pad' button.

Auto Key Definition is not supported for the Elf 2000 and Cosmicos.

The 'keydefinition.txt' file can be found in the data directory, for location details please see Directory and File Structure). The 'keydefinition.txt' file lists most games and required mapping. To add games use the following format:

name: game_filename
pad aX: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A, B, C, D, E, F
pad bX: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A, B, C, D, E, F
pad aX npp: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A, B, C, D, E, F
pad bX npp: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A, B, C, D, E, F
in: PC key
game keys: up1, left1, right1, down1, fire1, up2, left2, right2, down2, fire2
sim a2
sim b2

• X: is key set 1 or 2
• 0 to F: for 'pad' definitions specify the PC key values, value 0 is 'not used'.
• game keys: up1 for 'up player 1', left1 for 'left player 1' etc. Values are keys 0 to F. 10 is 'not used' and 11 is the Elf IN button. The game key definition is just to visualise the correct arcade keys in the key map window.
• Definitions for 'nnp' are for use without numeric keypad.
• in: defines the PC key value for the Elf IN key.
• sim a2 and sim b2 define diagonal directions for Studio II clones, i.e. up/left direction when pressing both arrow up and arrow left for player A.

For example:

name: paddles.ch8
pad a2:0,0,0,32,328,0,330,370,314,0,316,0,0,0,0,0
game keys:20,4,6,20,F,20,7,9,20,E

Additionally any value can be represented by a text string. All text strings have to be defined in the keyboard layout files as described in the Default Keyboard chapter.