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Menu

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This article is about the current version of DF.
Note that some content may still need to be updated.


Dwarf Fortress is a complex game, and a complex game requires a complex user interface. The purpose of this page is to help players look up the meaning of user interface elements, and it functions like a basic reference of the functions; specific menu items are (mostly) discussed in more detail in their own pages.

If you find a menu where the words have been cut off due to the menu width, press the Tab key to cycle through menu display options.

Main menu

Main menu v0.44.03.png
The default in-game menu; can be hidden/shown with <tab>


Building Menu

Building menu 0.34.11.png
This menu lists objects/buildings that can be placed. Some require dwarves to have a specific hauling labor set, others require dwarves to have another labor set.


Workshops Menu

Workshop menu 0.34.11.png


Furnaces Menu

Furnace menu 0.34.11.png


Combat reports screen

Report screen v0.44.03.png

Hit r to enter the report screen, then go through the listing until you find the desired victim.

Civilizations/World Info screen

World info screen v0.44.03.png

c opens the Civilizations/World Info Screen.

  • w to swap to World
    • y to recenter the map on your fort
  • m to view a list of ongoing Missions
  • n to view News and rumors
  • p to view list of recoverable missing citizens
  • a to view a list of known Artifacts
  • c to view a list of Civilizations


Designations Menu

DesignateMenu2014.PNG

The Designations Menu (accessed by d) provides the means to mark tiles with various designations including Mining, Wood Cutting, Plant Gathering, Stone Detailing as well as removing constructions, controlling traffic and other miscellaneous designations. This menu is mouse-enabled.

Standing Orders Menu

See Standing orders.


Job List

Job list screen v0.44.03.png

Shows a list of current jobs. Accessed with j.

  • - Move between jobs
  • v - View unit (brings up the unit information screen)
  • z - Zoom to unit (recenters screen on unit)
  • j - View job (brings up job information screen)
  • b - Go to building (zoom to building for selected job)
  • r - Repeat job (toggles job repeat status)
  • s - Suspend job (toggles job suspend status)
  • c - Cancel job
  • x - Remove worker from job
  • m - Open job manager screen


Job Manager Screen

Job manager screen v0.44.03.png

Shows a list of current manager work orders. Accessed with m from the job list or unit list.

  • - Move between work orders
  • q - Create a new work order
  • r - Remove selected work order
  • p - Increase priority of selected work order
  • t - Maximize priority of selected work order
  • Enter - Set maximum workshops for selected work order
  • c - Set conditions for selected work order
  • d - Set details for selected work order
  • Esc - Exit manager screen


Squads Menu

SquadsMenu2010.png
This menu allows you to manage your squads.


Notes Menu

NotesMenu2010.png
Allows the placement of notes, also referred to as “points”. Required to create patrol routes, often used to label levers so you can remember what they are connected to.
  • p: Place - Places a note on the cursor
  • d: Delete - Deletes notes on the cursor
  • n: Name - Name/label the note placed at this point
  • t: Note text - Add additional information for the note
  • c: Change symbol selector - Change which part of the symbol is being modified with +- */, forecolor, backcolor, or symbol.
  • s: Adopt selected symbol - Makes all future notes use the selected options .
  • +- */ - Modify currently selected (using c) part of the symbol
  • r:Routes – #Routes Menu allows linking of Notes/points together to form routes for patrols.


Routes Menu

RoutesMenu2010.png
  • a: Add route - Create a new route.
  • e: Edit waypts - Edit points that make up the route.
    • a: Add waypt - Add current point to route.
    • d: Add waypt - Delete current point from route.
    • p: Add waypt - Finish editing route.
  • d: Del route - Delete currently selected route.
  • n: Name route - Name current route
  • c: Center - Center on route.
  • +- */ - Select different routes
  • p: Back to points/notes - Return to Notes menu


Burrows Menu

Burrows menu v0.44.03.png
This menu allows the creation and use of Burrows, which help to organize where dwarves are allowed to move/work
  • a: Add new burrow - Create a new burrow
  • d: Delete - Delete currently selected burrow
  • +- */: Change selection - Switch burrows
  • Enter: Define this burrow - Select areas that make up burrow, multiple areas can be created.
    • c: Change symbol selector - Change which part of the symbol is being modified with +- */, forecolor, backcolor, or symbol.
    • +- */ - Modify currently selected (using c) part of the symbol
  • c: Add citizens to burrow - Allows you to select which citizens are restricted to this burrow.
  • w: Enable workshop resource restrictions on all workshops in burrow
  • z: Center on burrow
  • Esc: Done


Stockpiles Menu

StockpilesMenu2010.png
Creates stockpiles, dwarves will place items in the appropriate stockpile if they have the correct hauling labor.
  • a: Animal - Stores animals in cages/traps, empty cages/traps
  • f: Food - Stores food and food by-products (Meat/Fish/Plants/Drinks/Cheese/Seeds/Leaves/Milled plants/Fat/Blood/Lye/etc.)
  • u: Furniture Storage - Stores furniture and siege ammo
  • y: Graveyard - Stores dead dwarves
  • r: Refuse - Stores garbage/dead animals/bones/skulls/shells
  • s: Stone - Stores stone/ore
  • w: Wood - Stores wood
  • e: Gem - Stores rough/cut gems
  • b: Bar/Block - Stores bars (Metal/Coal/Potash/Ash/Pearlash/Soap), and Blocks (Stone/Glass)
  • h: Cloth - Stores cloth/thread
  • l: Leather - Stores leather
  • z: Ammo - Stores Bolts/Arrows/Blowdarts
  • n: Coins - Stores coins
  • g: Finished Goods - Stores finished goods (chains/crafts/clothing (not armor)/splints/crutches/more)
  • p: Weapons - Stores weapons/trap components
  • d: Armor - Stores armor
  • c: Customer Stockpile - Build custom stockpile (define with t)
  • t: Custom Settings - Define custom stockpile
  • / *: Reserved Barrels - Global setting for the number of barrels that will be reserved for workshop jobs (such as the brewing).
  • -:+: Reserved Bins - Global setting for the number of bins that will be reserved for workshop jobs (no vanilla jobs use bins, so reserved bins will remain unused).
  • x: Remove Designation - Remove stockpiles
  • Enter: Select - Place start/end corner of stockpile.

Zones Menu

Zones menu v0.44.03.png
Allows the creation and editing of activity zones.
  • Enter: Start a selection (for creation or removal)
  • x: Toggle between creating and removing zones
  • e: Toggle how the zone selection is defined

With an activity zone selected:

  • w: Toggle use as a water source
  • f: Toggle use as a fishing zone
  • g: Toggle use for fruit gathering
  • d: Toggle use as a garbage dump
  • n: Toggle use as a pasture
  • p: Toggle use as a pit or pond zone
  • s: Toggle use for sand collection
  • c: Toggle use for clay collection
  • m: Toggle use as a meeting area (allows assignment to a location)
  • h: Toggle use as a hospital
  • t: Toggle use for animal training
  • a: Toggle active/inactive status for the zone
  • l: Assign zone to a location
  • X: Remove selected zone (only in Remove Zones mode)



Hot Keys Menu

HotKeysMenu2010.png
Allows the editing of hotkeys. Pressing a hotkey, F1-F8 or Shift F1-F8 zooms to that location.
  • F#: Select line F#
  • Shift+F#: Select line Shift+F#
  • n: Change Name - Name this hotkey
  • z: Zoom Here - Set screen to zoom the current location when selected hotkey is pressed.


Locations Screen

Locations screen v0.44.03.png
In this screen various locations can be viewed and occupations can be assigned.
  • r: Change restriction - Scrolls through location restrictions (All visitors welcome, Citizens and long-term residents only, and Citizens only)
  • n: Rename location - Renames location
  • X: Retire location - Removes location


Nobles Screen

NoblesScreen2010.png
In this screen various nobles can be assigned/removed. See the nobles article for details on nobles, their requirements/demands/mandates.
  • Enter: View Unit/Fill Vacancy - Assigns a unit to the position if it's empty, otherwise opens the View screen for that unit.
  • r: Replace - Replace the current position if possible, or place if empty.
  • s: Settings - Only available for the bookkeeper


Status Screen

StatusScreen2010.png
Shows basic Fortress status.
  • A - Animals
  • B - Kitchen
  • C - Stone
  • D - Stocks
  • E - Health
  • F - Justice
  • G - Date - Day Month, Year, Early/Middle/Late Season - Trade caravans arrive late in the month. Elves/Humans/Dwarves : Spring/Summer/Autumn
  • H: Summary of your wealth, requires Broker with Appraisal skill to see - More wealth often leads to larger groups of immigrants, and sieges. The wealth of unground structures you can't see is listed here. “?” at the end of a value means you haven't had your bookkeep keep records precise enough to know the exact value yet.
  • I: How much wealth you have acquired through trade, or traded away (Import/Export)
  • J: How much food you have. Other contains prepared meals, as well as some inedible plants.
  • - Move sub-menu
  • Enter - Select sub-menu


Animals Screen

Animals screen v0.44.03.png
This shows information about all tame animals at your fortress.
  • A: Category: toggles between individual creatures and overall training status.
  • B: Training status, and trainer assigned (if any)
  • C: Animal type. Stray Animals can be toggled to become pets, Tame animals are not hostile to your dwarves. Also indicates gender: Amulet is Female, Bag (circle with arrow) is male.
  • D: Training orders: indicates animals awaiting training.
  • E: Who owns the animal. Animals marked unavailable can't be adopted. Animals marked “Ready for Slaughter will be slaughtered by a butcher at a butcher's shop. Cats are marked as Uninterested and can't be set as available, cats will adopt dwarves themselves.
  • - Change category view
  • - Move between animals
  • Enter - Toggle pet availability (not possible on untamed or cats)
  • b - Slaughter
  • x - Geld (males only)
  • t - Select trainer
  • w - schedule for war training
  • h - schedule for hunting training


Kitchen Screen

Kitchen screen v0.44.03.png
This screen allows you to control what food is processed in which manner.
  • A: Ingredient categories: switch with <tab>
  • B: Available ingredients (those currently on-site)
  • C: Count for that food. “?” at the end of a value means you haven't had your bookkeep keep records precise enough to know the exact value yet.
  • D: Whether a food is available to be cooked if possible. Blue=Yes/Red=No
  • E: Whether a food is available to be brewed if possible. Blue=Yes/Red=No
  • tab - Switch categories
  • - Move between food items
  • c - Toggle cook.
  • b - Toggle brew.


Stone Screen

Stone screen v0.44.03.png
This screen lets you restrict usage of stone to specific tasks. All possible stones are listed here.
  • A: Stone categories: switch with <tab>
  • B: Stones/ores.
  • C: Stone properties
  • D: Various reactions that the selected stone can be used in (these can be selected for more information)
  • tab - Switch categories
  • - Select stone
  • - View reaction info / return to stone list
  • Enter - Toggle usage restrictions on selected stone


Stocks Screen

Stocks screen v0.44.03.png
This screen lists every item in your fortress.
  • A: Categories
  • B: Count of each general type. The white number counts usable items, the red number (if any) counts items that cannot be used, including those which belong to others (such as a caravan) and those which have been forbidden. A “?” at the end of a value means you haven't had your bookkeeper maintain records precise enough to know the exact value yet.
  • C: individual kinds of items. Items of the same kind but different quality are grouped together unless Tab is pressed.
  • tab: Mode - Changes between listing single items, and grouping items of different quality but same type together.
  • z: Zoom - only available after pressing tab, zooms screen to selected item.
  • v: View - only available after pressing tab, views information on selected item.
  • m: Melt - Marks/unmarks item or group to be melted
  • f: Forbid - Marks/unmarks item or group to be forbidden
  • d: Dump - Marks/unmarks item or group to be dumped
  • h: Hide - Marks/unmarks item or group to be hidden


Health Screen

HealthScreen2010.png
Main article: Health screen
Lists all types of Healthcare information about tamed animals and dwarves in your fortress. Only visible if you have appointed a Chief medical dwarf.


Justice Screen

JusticeScreen2010.png
Lists information about Justice at your fortress.
  • A - Any criminals currently wanted or being punished are listed here
  • B - Shows details about the currently selected criminal - crimes committed, punishment sentenced, and the officer currently assigned to carry out punishments.
  • C - This lists the number of cages and chains marked for jailing criminals.


Unit List

Unit list screen v0.44.03.png

Shows a list of all units on site. Accessed with u.

  • A: Unit categories: switch with arrow keys
  • B: List of units in the selected category (in order of arrival on site)
  • C: Current job (status for animals)
  • D: Available (white) and unavailable (gray) controls
  • - Switch categories
  • - Move between units
  • v - View unit (brings up the unit information screen)
  • z - Zoom to unit (recenters screen on unit)
  • j - View job (brings up job information screen)
  • b - Go to building (zoom to building for current job)
  • r - Repeat job (toggles job repeat status)
  • s - Suspend job (toggles job suspend status)
  • c - Cancel job
  • x - Remove worker from job
  • m - Open job manager screen


Help Screen

HelpScreen2010.png

Shows basic help on Dwarf Fortress. Accessed by pressing ?.

  • Introduction: What you will be doing in the game.
  • Creating Your World: What happens during world generation.
  • Preparing For The Journey: Covers site selection, unit preparation and equipment selection.
  • Your First Outpost: What happens when the game starts, and how to use designations, get food and drinks, make crafts, defence and a few more important topics.
  • The Many Menus: Navigating through the game's many menus, and explanation of every of them.
  • Icons: A small list of game's ASCII icons and their meaning.
  • Tables: There is currently only one table, "Item Designations", which explains what do various symbols around item names (eg. -Steel Sword-) mean.
  • The Adventurer's Manual: Information on Adventure Mode.
  • Technical: Backing up saves, using them in newer versions, changing options and what to do when your keyboard doesn't work.