Microsoft Windows specific help file for NetHack 3.4.0 Copyright (c) NetHack PC Development Team 1993-2002. NetHack may be freely distributed. See license for details. (Last Revision: March 10, 2002) This file details specifics for NetHack built for Windows 95, 98, NT, Me, 2000, and XP. Users of really early 16-bit Windows versions should use the MSDOS NetHack. Please note that "NetHack for Windows - Graphical Interface" requires an installation of Internet Explorer 4 or an installation of version 4.71 of the common controls. See the following internet page: http://www.nethack.org/v340/ports/download-win.html#cc for more information. If the game runs for you, you are not affected. New players should be sure to read GuideBook.txt which contains essential information about playing NetHack. It can be found in the same directory as your NetHack executable. The Windows port of NetHack supports some additional or enhanced commands as well as some defaults.nh file options specific to configuration choices used during the building of NetHack for Windows. Listed below are those commands and defaults.nh file options. Some options are applicable only to the graphical port. These are discussed separately in their own section. Contents 1. Boolean options 2. Graphical Port Complex options 3. Graphical Port Additional/Enhanced Commands 4. Available ALT Key Combinations 5. Graphical Port Menus 1. Boolean Options ------------------ Listed here are any options not discussed in the main help, options which may be slightly different from the main help file, and options which may need a slightly more explanatory note: color Use color when displaying non-tiled maps. Tiled maps (available in the graphical port) are always rendered in color. Default: [TRUE] IBMgraphics Use IBM extended characters for the dungeon Default: [TRUE] use_inverse Use inverse color for detection (similar to hilite_pet). Default: [FALSE] msg_window When ^P is pressed, it shows menu in a full window. Default: [FALSE] 2. Graphical Port Complex Options --------------------------------- "NetHack for Windows - Graphical Interface" recognizes the following additional options, which the non-graphical (tty) version will silently ignore: Window Alignment options: | align_message Specifies at which side of the NetHack screen the message window is aligned. This option can be used to align the window to "top" or "bottom". "left" or "right" are possible, but not properly supported in the Microsoft Windows port. Default: [TOP] align_status Specifies at which side of the NetHack screen the status window is aligned. This option can be used to align the window to "top" or "bottom". "left" or "right" are possible, but not properly supported in the Microsoft Windows port. Default: [BOTTOM] Other Window options: These are options that specify attributes of various windows. These include the menu windows (such as the inventory list), the text windows (such as "It is written in the book of ..." screens), the message window (where events of the game are displayed), and the status window (where your character name and attributes are displayed). font_menu Specifies the name of the menu font. font_message Specifies the name of the message font. font_status Specifies the name of the status font. font_text Specifies the name of the text font. font_size_menu Specifies the size of the menu font. font_size_message Specifies the size of the message font. font_size_status Specifies the size of the status font. font_size_text Specifies the size of the text font. Map Window options: map_mode Specifies which map mode to use. The following map modes are available: tiles (uses tiles to display things on the map), ascii4x6ascii6x8, ascii8x8, ascii16x8, ascii7x12 ascii8x12, ascii16x12, ascii12x16, ascii10x18 (which use that size font to display things on the map), or fit_to_screen (which forces things to fit on a single screen display whether tiled or ascii). Default: [tiles] scroll_margin Specifies the margin of scrolling the map. Recommended to be set to 1 or greater. If set to 80, this will keep your character centered on the map. Default: [5] tile_file An alternative file containing bitmap to use for tiles. This file should be a .bmp file and should be organized as 40 rectangular tiles wide. It is beyond the scope of this document to describe the exact contents of each tile in the .bmp which may even be dependent on the options that your version of NetHack was built with. If you are interested in creating a tile file of your own, create a regular build of NetHack using the graphical version and examine the file tiles.bmp in the src or build directory. This option may only be specified in the defaults.nh config file. Default: [default] tile_height Used with tile_file to specify the width of each tile in pixels. This option may only be specified in the defaults.nh config file. Default: [16] tile_width Used with tile_file to specify the height of each tile in pixels. This option may only be specified in the defaults.nh config file. Default: [16] Miscellaneous options: vary_msgcount Number of lines to display in message window. 3. Graphical Port Additional/Enhanced Commands ---------------------------------------------- The following function keys are active in the "NetHack for Windows - Graphical Interface": F4 Toggle level overview mode on/off This key will toggle the map between a view that is mapped to fit exactly to the window, and the view that shows the various symbols in their normal size. This is useful for getting an idea of where you are in a level. F5 Toggle tiled display on/off. This key switches between the tiled and the traditional ASCII display. This is equivalent to using the "map_mode" option. F10 Activate menu bar. This key will activate the menu bar, allowing you to select between the menus: File, Map, Window Settings, and Help. 4. Available ALT Key Combinations --------------------------------- While playing NetHack under Windows you can press the ALT key in combination with another key to execute an extended command as an alternative method to pressing a # key sequence. (The non-graphical (tty) version is always running in NetHack mode, but "NetHack for Windows - Graphical Interface" can be toggled): Alt-a adjust - adjust inventory letters. Alt-c chat - talk to someone or something. Alt-d dip - dip an object into something. Alt-e enhance - enhance your skill with a weapon. Alt-f force - force a lock. [works in NetHack mode only] Alt-i invoke - invoke an object's powers. Alt-j jump - jump to a location. Alt-l loot - loot a box on the floor. Alt-m monster - use a monster's special ability. [works in NetHack mode only] Alt-n name - name an item or type of object. Alt-o offer - offer a sacrifice to the gods. Alt-p pray - pray to the gods for help. Alt-q quit - quit the game. (Same as #quit) Alt-r rub - rub a lamp. Alt-s sit - sit down. [works in NetHack mode only] Alt-t turn - turn undead. Alt-u untrap - untrap something. Alt-v version - list compile time options for this version of NetHack. Alt-w wipe - wipe off your face. 5. Graphical Port Menus ----------------------- File Save - Allows you to save and exit the game Quit - Allows you to quit the game Map - Provides for selection of map mode. Equivalent to using the map_mode option. Window Settings - Changes your logged-on user's settings for NetHack. In 3.4.0, only one setting is available: NetHack mode (or not). NetHack mode allows you to use ALT-f, ALT-m, and ALT-s for game key commands [see list above]. You can use F10 to access the menu bar while in NetHack mode. You can also clear your logged-on user's settings for NetHack. Settings in this window are saved in your logged-on user's registry. Help - Provides help about various portions of NetHack.