Keys Configuration Format

The Populous Keys configuration file remains mostly unknown. It is believed to be clustered in 15 byte blocks, unknown if any of these blocks contain the arrow keys configuration.

Introduction

The Populous Key configuration file is located in ./saves/Key def.dat (Key def download) after you use the built in keys editor inside the game. The keys configuration file uses the systems keycode map to determine what keys are available to use. This website has the key codes that seem to work wit most US QWERTY keyboards keycode list for US QWERTY.

Inside the key blocks contains a modifier and a key. The modifier is optional and can be removed by setting it to 0. The modifer keys have no pitucalr pattern associated with them, it could very well be hard coded.

All numbers are stored in big-endian format!

Block Format
Data Type	Length	Position (DEC)	Description
INT32	4	0x0
	15	0x4
	15	0x19
	15	0x34
	15	0x49
	15	0x64
	15	0x79
	15	0x94
	15	0x109
	15	0x124
	15	0x139
	15	0x154
	15	0x169
	15	0x184
	15	0x199
	15	0x214
	15	0x229
	15	0x244
	15	0x259
	15	0x274
	15	0x289
	15	0x304
	15	0x319
	15	0x334
	15	0x349
	15	0x364
	15	0x379
	15	0x394
	15	0x409
	15	0x424
	15	0x439
	15	0x454
	15	0x469
	15	0x484
	15	0x499
	15	0x514
	15	0x529
	15	0x544
	15	0x559
	15	0x574
	15	0x589
	15	0x604
	15	0x619
	15	0x634
	15	0x649
	15	0x664
	15	0x679
Total	709 Bytes

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