Key def.dat

Change Populous default keys using programming or hex editor. The file was decoded on November 23rd 2013.

All the addresses are correct, but my typing is not. If there is a typo or wrong address let me know or correct it!

Introduction

Key def.dat is a file that you have to create by using the Populous Key editor included in the game (Key def download). Once you save, the file is created and located in ./save/Key def.dat. The file is structured similar to the Header Format. Each key is stored in a single hexadecimal address, the combination key is always 1 in front of it. So if 0x1 is pause 0x2 will be the combination key. The combination key is like shift + key but in the file format it reads key + shift.

Each key needs to be converted to hexadecimal to a integer. This can be done in programming by simply reading information from the address, else if you're using a hex editor (like HxD) you'll have to do it by hand using a converter like Paulschou (use the values from CHAR), once you got the number it should range from 1-105, if it exceeds that, you're reading the wrong location or you got your math wrong. In #In Programming you will be told how to convert the values from keycode (the integer number you just got) to ASCII using programming methods. If you want to change them by hand without programming, all the key definitions are on this list keycode list for US QWERTY, remember that you have to convert those numbers back to hex from the Paulschou's link, or by programming.

This is not a complete decode of the file, however its most of the common key commands for Populous, if you find more, feel free to add them!

Combination keys

The combination keys use a different keycode format. I don't know if there is a pattern to this or if the game has custom keycodes for these.

Not all of these are tested.

    No modifier key = 0
    Shift = 1
    Shift + CTRL (or App button?) = 3
    CTRL = 4
    Shift + ALT = 5
    Ctrl + alt = 6
    Shift + ctrl + alt = 7
    Alt = 20

Available keys

Toggle view key

    0x23 = Key
    0x24 = modifier key

Encyclopaedia key

    0x38 = Key
    0x39 = modifier key

Set Map Marker 1 key

    0x35 = Key
    0x36 = modifier key

Set Map Marker 2 key

    0x68 = Key
    0x69 = modifier key

Set Map Marker 3 key

    0x83 = Key
    0x84 = modifier key

Set Map Marker 4 key

    0x88 = Key
    0x99 = modifier key

Goto Map Marker 1

    0x113 = Key
    0x114 = modifier key

Goto Map Marker 2

    0x128 = Key
    0x129 = modifier key

Goto Map Marker 3

    0x143 = Key
    0x144 = modifier key

Goto Map Marker 4

    0x158 = Key
    0x159 = modifier key

Zoom view in key

    0x173 = Key
    0x174 = modifier key

Zoom view out key

    0x188 = Key
    0x189 = modifier key

Quick Load key

    0x203 = Key
    0x204 = modifier key

Quick Save key

    0x218 = Key
    0x219 = modifier key

Zoom to shaman key

    0x233 = Key
    0x234 = modifier key

Chat message key

    0x248 = Key
    0x249 = modifier key

Command Tracking key

    0x263 = Key
    0x264 = modifier key
    * Had problems w/ this key

Release guarding people key

    0x278 = Key
    0x279 = modifier key

Toggle Level Stats key

    0x293 = Key
    0x294 = modifier key

Rotate building key

    0x308 = Key
    0x309 = modifier key

Assign people to group 1 key

    0x323 = Key
    0x324 = modifier key

Assign people to group 2 key

    0x338 = Key
    0x339 = modifier key

Assign people to group 3 key

    0x353 = Key
    0x354 = modifier key

Assign people to group 4 key

    0x368 = Key
    0x369 = modifier key

Assign people to group 5 key

    0x383 = Key
    0x384 = modifier key

Assign people to group 6 key

    0x398 = Key
    0x399 = modifier key

Select people in group 1 key

    0x413 = Key
    0x414 = modifier key

Select people in group 2 key

    0x428 = Key
    0x429 = modifier key

Select people in group 3 key

    0x443 = Key
    0x444 = modifier key

Select people in group 4 key

    0x458 = Key
    0x459 = modifier key

Select people in group 5 key

    0x473 = Key
    0x474 = modifier key

Select people in group 6 key

    0x488 = Key
    0x489 = modifier key

Zoom to people in group 1 key

    0x503 = Key
    0x504 = modifier key

Zoom to people in group 2 key

    0x518 = Key
    0x519 = modifier key

Zoom to people in group 3 key

    0x533 = Key
    0x534 = modifier key

Zoom to people in group 4 key

    0x548 = Key
    0x549 = modifier key

Zoom to people in group 5 key

    0x563 = Key
    0x564 = modifier key

Zoom to people in group 6 key

    0x578 = Key
    0x579 = modifier key

Zoom to Reincarnation site key

    0x593 = Key
    0x594 = modifier key

Toggle Local Selection key

    0x608 = Key
    0x609 = modifier key

Reselect last selection key

    0x623 = Key
    0x624 = modifier key

Reorient view key

    0x638 = Key
    0x639 = modifier key

Display last dialog key

    0x653 = Key
    0x654 = modifier key

Toggle auto deselect key

    0x668 = Key
    0x669 = modifier key

Call to arms key

    0x683 = Key
    0x684 = modifier key

Scatter people key

    0x698 = Key
    0x699 = modifier key

In Programming

VB .NET

This is code that will decode all the unknown keys seen above to ACSII, table

Imports System.Runtime.InteropServices
Imports System.IO

Module Module1
    Public Declare Function GetKeyboardLayout Lib "user32" (ByVal idThread As UInteger) As IntPtr

    <DllImport("User32.dll")> _
    Public Function GetKeyboardLayout(idThread As Integer) As IntPtr
    End Function

    <DllImport("user32.dll")> _
    Public Function MapVirtualKeyEx(uCode As Integer, uMapType As Integer, dwhkl As Integer) As Integer
    End Function

    <DllImport("user32.dll")> _
    Private Function GetKeyboardState(ByVal keyState() As Byte) As Boolean
    End Function

    <DllImport("user32.dll")> _
    Public Function ToAsciiEx(uVirtKey As Integer, uScanCode As Integer, lpKeyState As Byte, lpChar As Integer, uFlags As Integer, dwhkl As Integer) As Integer
    End Function

    Dim strings = New String() {"Pause", _
                                "Toggle View", _
                                "Encyclopaedia", _
                                "Set map marker 1", _
                                "Set map marker 2", _
                                "Set map marker 3", _
                                "Set map marker 4", _
                                "Goto map marker 1", _
                                "Goto map marker 2", _
                                "Goto map marker 3", _
                                "Goto map marker 4", _
                                "Zoom in", _
                                "Zoom out", _
                                "Quick load", _
                                "Quick save", _
                                "Goto shaman", _
                                "Chat/Message", _
                                "Command tracking", _
                                "Release Guarding", _
                                "Toggle level stats", _
                                "Rotate building", _
                                "Assign units to group 1", _
                                "Assign units to group 2", _
                                "Assign units to group 3", _
                                "Assign units to group 4", _
                                "Assign units to group 5", _
                                "Assign units to group 6", _
                                "Select units to group 1", _
                                "Select units to group 2", _
                                "Select units to group 3", _
                                "Select units to group 4", _
                                "Select units to group 5", _
                                "Select units to group 6", _
                                "Goto units to group 1", _
                                "Goto units to group 2", _
                                "Goto units to group 3", _
                                "Goto units to group 4", _
                                "Goto units to group 5", _
                                "Goto units to group 6", _
                                "Goto reincarnation site", _
                                "Toggle local selection", _
                                "Reselect last selection", _
                                "Reorient view", _
                                "Display last dialog", _
                                "Toggle auto deselect", _
                                "Call to arms", _
                                "Scatter people"}

    Dim keys = New Integer() {8, 23, 38, 53, 68, 83, 98, 113, 128, 143, _
                          158, 173, 188, 203, 218, 233, 248, 263, 278, _
                          293, 308, 323, 338, 353, 368, 383, 398, 413, _
                          428, 443, 458, 473, 488, 503, 518, 533, 548, _
                          563, 578, 593, 608, 623, 638, 653, 668, 683, _
                          698}

    Dim populousin As String = My.Computer.Registry.GetValue("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Bullfrog Productions Ltd\Populous: The Beginning", "InstallPath", "")

    Sub Main()

        Dim i = 0
        For Each Strs In strings

            Dim modifier = Reader(keys(i) + 1).ToString
            On Error Resume Next
            If modifier = 0 Then
                modifier = "NONE"
            ElseIf modifier = 2 Then
                modifier = "CTRL"
            ElseIf modifier = 3 Then
                modifier = "SHIFT + CTRL"
            ElseIf modifier = 5 Then
                modifier = "SHIFT + ALT"
            ElseIf modifier = 6 Then
                modifier = "CTRL + ALT"
            ElseIf modifier = 7 Then
                modifier = "SHIFT + CTRL + ALT"
            ElseIf modifier = 3 Then
                modifier = "APP"
            ElseIf modifier = 20 Then
                modifier = "ALT"
            ElseIf modifier = 1 Then
                modifier = "SHIFT"
            Else
                modifier = "NONE"
            End If
            Console.WriteLine(Strs & " = " & modifier & " + " & (scan2ascii(Reader(keys(i)))).ToString & vbNewLine)
            i = i + 1
        Next

        Console.ReadLine()
    End Sub

    Public Function scan2ascii(ByVal scancode)
        Dim hKL As IntPtr = GetKeyboardLayout(0)

        Dim State = New Byte(255) {}

        If GetKeyboardState(State) = False Then
            Return 0
        End If

        Return MapVirtualKeyEx(scancode, 1, hKL)
    End Function

    Private Sub Writer(ByVal value As Byte, ByVal position As Integer)
        Dim Keysconfig As Boolean = My.Computer.FileSystem.FileExists(populousin & "\SAVE\key_def.dat")

        If Keysconfig = False Then
            Console.Write("Error: Populous keys configuration file could not be loaded, download it off the wiki and place it into ./saves/ file of pop.")
            Console.ReadLine()
            End
        End If

        Dim writer As New BinaryWriter(New FileStream(populousin & "\SAVE\key_def.dat", FileMode.Open))
        writer.BaseStream.Position = position
        writer.Write(value)
        writer.Close()
    End Sub

    Function Reader(ByVal position As Integer)
        Dim Keysconfig As Boolean = My.Computer.FileSystem.FileExists(populousin & "\SAVE\key_def.dat")

        If Keysconfig = False Then
            Console.Write("Error: Populous keys configuration file could not be loaded, download it off the wiki and place it into ./saves/ file of pop.")
            Console.ReadLine()
            End
        End If

        Dim breader As New BinaryReader(New FileStream(populousin & "\SAVE\key_def.dat", FileMode.Open))
        breader.BaseStream.Position = position
        Dim output = breader.Read
        breader.Close()
        Return output
    End Function

End Module

C++

To be added