Key def.dat
From Populous Wiki
Change Populous default keys using programming or hex editor. The file was decoded on November 23rd 2013.
Information
Key def.dat is a file that you have to create by using the Populous Key editor included in the game (DOWNLOAD: key def.dat). Once you save, the file is created and located in ./save/Key def.dat. The file is structured similar to the header format(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 http://home.paulschou.net/tools/xlate/ (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 !!SECTION!! 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 http://www.penticoff.com/nb/kbds/ibm104kb.htm, 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 Combo 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 = Combo key
Encyclopaedia key
0x38 = Key
0x39 = Combo key
Set Map Marker 1 key
0x35 = Key
0x36 = Combo key
Set Map Marker 2 key
0x68 = Key
0x69 = Combo key
Set Map Marker 3 key
0x83 = Key
0x84 = Combo key
Set Map Marker 4 key
0x88 = Key
0x99 = Combo key
Goto Map Marker 1
0x113 = Key
0x114 = Combo key
Goto Map Marker 2
0x128 = Key
0x129 = Combo key
Goto Map Marker 3
0x143 = Key
0x144 = Combo key
Goto Map Marker 4
0x158 = Key
0x159 = Combo key
Zoom view in key
0x173 = Key
0x174 = Combo key
Zoom view out key
0x188 = Key
0x189 = Combo key
Quick Load key
0x203 = Key
0x204 = Combo key
Quick Save key
0x218 = Key
0x219 = Combo key
Zoom to shaman key
0x233 = Key
0x234 = Combo key
Chat message key
0x248 = Key
0x249 = Combo key
Command Tracking key
0x263 = Key
0x264 = Combo key
* Had problems w/ this key
Release guarding people key
0x278 = Key
0x279 = Combo key
Toggle Level Stats key
0x293 = Key
0x294 = Combo key
Rotate building key
0x308 = Key
0x309 = Combo key
Assign people to group 1 key
0x323 = Key
0x324 = Combo key
Assign people to group 2 key
0x8 = Key
0x9 = Combo key
Assign people to group 3 key
0x8 = Key
0x9 = Combo key
Assign people to group 4 key
0x8 = Key
0x9 = Combo key
Assign people to group 5 key
0x8 = Key
0x9 = Combo key
Assign people to group 6 key
0x8 = Key
0x9 = Combo key
Pause key
0x8 = Key
0x9 = Combo key
Pause key
0x8 = Key
0x9 = Combo key
Pause key
0x8 = Key
0x9 = Combo key
Pause key
0x8 = Key
0x9 = Combo key
Pause key
0x8 = Key
0x9 = Combo key
Pause key
0x8 = Key
0x9 = Combo key
Pause key
0x8 = Key
0x9 = Combo key
Pause key
0x8 = Key
0x9 = Combo key
Pause key
0x8 = Key
0x9 = Combo key
Pause key
0x8 = Key
0x9 = Combo key
Pause key
0x8 = Key
0x9 = Combo key
Pause key
0x8 = Key
0x9 = Combo key
Pause key
0x8 = Key
0x9 = Combo key
Pause key
0x8 = Key
0x9 = Combo key
Pause key
0x8 = Key
0x9 = Combo key
Pause key
0x8 = Key
0x9 = Combo key
Pause key
0x8 = Key
0x9 = Combo key
Pause key
0x8 = Key
0x9 = Combo key
Pause key
0x8 = Key
0x9 = Combo key
Pause key
0x8 = Key
0x9 = Combo key
Pause key
0x8 = Key
0x9 = Combo key
Pause key
0x8 = Key
0x9 = Combo key
Pause key
0x8 = Key
0x9 = Combo key
Pause key
0x8 = Key
0x9 = Combo key
Pause key
0x8 = Key
0x9 = Combo key
Pause key
0x8 = Key
0x9 = Combo key
Pause key
0x8 = Key
0x9 = Combo key
Pause key
0x8 = Key
0x9 = Combo key
Pause key
0x8 = Key
0x9 = Combo key
Pause key
0x8 = Key
0x9 = Combo key
Pause key
0x8 = Key
0x9 = Combo key