Controls (OpenApoc)

OpenApoc aims to implement all controls from the original game while introducing new hotkeys to improve interface usability. A key addition is the improved city control scheme — a completely new, consistent control system using modifier keys. This can be disabled via the "Improved city control scheme" option in the More Options menu to restore vanilla behavior.

For debug and cheat hotkeys, see Hidden Features (OpenApoc).

General UI Hotkeys

Key	Action
Mousewheel	Scroll lists
Esc	Go back, close form, "Cancel" option
Enter	Go forward, "Confirm" option, first option (e.g., real-time in briefing)
Space	Skip, second non-cancel option (e.g., turn-based in briefing, equip button in squad assignment)

General Hotkeys

Key	Action
Middle Click	Move camera to location
Arrow Keys	Move camera around
Tab	Toggle map
Space	Pause / Resume time (including turn-based)
Esc	Options menu
C	Toggle follow mode
M	Show message log
Home	Zoom to last event

Cityscape Controls

Vanilla Controls Note

The original game's city controls were inconsistent and limited:

• Right-clicking moved the map in city but not in battle
• No quick access to frequently used screens (equipment, location, base)
• Alt/Shift hotkeys acted as if clicking a corresponding button — missing a target changed your selection mode

OpenApoc introduces a new, consistent control scheme explained below. To restore vanilla controls, disable "Improved city control scheme" in the More Options menu. With vanilla controls:

• Right click moves screen to cursor
• Alt + Left Click orders vehicle attack
• Shift + Left Click orders moving to building
• Left-clicking on building always opens building screen
• No OpenApoc mouse controls will function

Cityscape Mouse (Improved Scheme)

Input	Action
Left Click on building	Open building screen (base screen if it contains a base)
Right Click on building	Open building screen
Shift + Left Click	Order attack vehicle
Shift + Right Click	Order follow vehicle / go to location
Alt + Shift + Left Click	Order attack building
Alt + Shift + Right Click	Order go to building
Alt + Left Click	Open UFOpaedia for object (vehicle type, building function, or projectile source)
Alt + Right Click	Open UFOpaedia for object's owner (vehicle or building)

Modifier Keys

Modifier	Effect
Ctrl (agent move orders)	Force agents to move on foot (never call taxi); allows use of personal teleporter
Ctrl (vehicle move orders)	Allow manual use of city teleporter buildings
Ctrl (attack orders)	Force vehicles to attack target (instead of recovering UFOs or escorting owned vehicles)

Note: In vanilla, attacking owned vehicles was impossible. OpenApoc enables this via the "Allow attacking owned vehicles" toggle (on by default).

Cityscape Mouse on Vehicle / Agent Icons

Input	Action
Shift + Right Click	Open location screen
Ctrl + Shift + Right Click	Open equipment screen
Alt + Shift + Right Click	Open equipment screen

Cityscape Unit Selection

Input	Action
Left Click	Select agent/vehicle (as the only object selected)
Ctrl + Left Click	Add agent/vehicle to selection and make it first in the list
Right Click	Remove agent/vehicle from selection

Cityscape Keyboard

Key	Action
0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5	Control game speed
N	Manual control (with vanilla scheme: M is manual control and there is no way to open message log)

Vehicle Equipment

Input	Action
Shift + Click	Auto-equip item into first available slot, or auto-remove to base stores

Agent Equipment

Standard selection controls apply, with the option to de-select with right click.

Input	Action
Shift + Click	Auto-equip item into first available slot, or auto-remove to base stores / ground
Ctrl + Click on weapon	Remove clip from weapon
1 through 0	Apply saved equipment template to every selected agent
Ctrl + 1 through 0	Remember current agent's equipment set as a template

Battlescape Mouse

Input	Action
Left Click	Order unit to execute action (move / throw / psi attack / teleport), open probed unit's screen, use item
Right Click	Turn towards cursor, focus enemy (real-time), use item's "auto" function (e.g., prime grenade for impact)
Shift + Left Click	Force-fire at target tile, shot moving parallel to ground
Shift + Alt + Left Click	Force-fire at target tile, shot aimed at tile's ground

Modifier Keys

Modifier	Effect
Alt (movement)	Unit keeps facing the target while moving (strafing or moving backwards)
Alt (firing at tile)	Shot aims at the ground of the tile rather than at the unit's level
Shift	Turns cursor into attack mode

Battlescape Unit Selection

Input	Action
Left Click	Select unit (as the only unit selected)
Ctrl + Left Click	Add unit to selection and make it first in the list
Right Click	Remove unit from selection

Battlescape Keyboard

Movement and Fire Modes

Key	Action
PgUp / PgDown	Change map levels
V	Toggle layering
F2	Prone mode
F3	Walk mode
F4	Run mode
F5	Cease fire mode
F6	Aimed mode
F7	Snap mode
F8	Auto mode
F9	Evasive mode
F10	Normal mode
F11	Aggressive mode
Backspace	Kneel mode

Squad and Unit Selection

Key	Action
1 through 6	Select squad
Shift + 1 through 6	Select unit in current squad (as the only unit selected)
Shift + Ctrl + 1 through 6	Add unit to selection and make it first in the list
Alt + 1 through 6	Cycle through spotted enemies of the selected unit

Actions

Key	Action
Enter	Open inventory
[	Throw right hand item
]	Throw left hand item
'	Drop right hand item
\	Drop left hand item
Y	Confirm priming
N	Cancel priming
E	End your turn (turn-based mode)
S	Open save menu
L	Open load menu
J	Make unit jump (down from a cliff)

See Also

• Hidden Features (OpenApoc) — debug hotkeys and cheat system
• Improvements (OpenApoc) — toggle-able gameplay improvements
• OpenApoc Wiki: Controls — Extended controls documentation
• OpenApoc — main OpenApoc page