BZFlag Configuration

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About the Configuration File

Introduction
When you use the BZFlag client (GUI or commandline), the options you set and selections you make are saved in a configuration file. Some of these options also can be set using the BZFlag Parameters.

This page describes the format of the configuration file and the options that BZFlag understands and uses. Not all of these options are available through the BZFlag client.

File Location
On Windows systems, this file is bzflag.bzc and is typically located in your profile directory (My Documents).

On Linux and UNIX systems, this file is ~/.bzflag or ~/.bzflag.$(HOST); the latter is used only if HOST is defined.

File Format
The format of the file is the same regardless of the platform.

Each line in the file begins with a name (containing no whitespace) followed by a whitespace, followed by a value. The value begins at the first non-whitespace character and includes all characters to the end of the line.

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callsign <value>
Last callsign.

email <value>
Last email.

interface <value>
Last multicast interface.

list <value>
Set the server list server url.

port <value>
Last server port number.

server <value>
Last server.

startcode <value>
Used for start server menu. Use the GUI to modify this.

team <value>
Last team color.
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bigfont {yes|no}
Turns big font on or off.

blend {yes|no}
Turns blending on or off.

coloredradarshots {yes|no}
Turns colored radar shots on or off.

dither {yes|no}
Turns dithering on or off.

enhancedradar {yes|no}
Enables blending of buildings on radar based on height.

eyesep <value>
Sets the distance between the eyes for stereo rendering.

focal <value>
Sets the distance to the focal plane for stereo rendering.

gamma <value>
Sets the gamma correction value.

geometry <geometry>
Sets the window geometry; uses standard geometry format (example: 640x480x60x40).

lighting {yes|no}
Turns lighting on or off.

linedradarshots {0-3}
Sets the length of a shot on the radar.

maxlod <value>
Sets the maximum level of detail to render; Walls are meshed when lighting is on and this limits the number of polygons that will be generated.

quality {low|medium|high}
Sets the rendering quality level.

panelopacity {0.000000-1.000000}
Sets the opacity for the panel and radar.

resolution <resolution>
Sets the default screen resolution (example: 1024x768 @85Hz 32 bits).

shadows {yes|no}
Turns shadows on or off.

showflaghelp {yes|no}
Turns flag help on or off.

showlabels {yes|no}
Turns tank labels on or off.

showscore {yes|no}
Turns the scoresheet on or off.

smooth {yes|no}
Turns point & line antialiasing on or off.

texture {no | nearest | linear | nearestmipmapnearest | linearmipmapnearest | nearestmipmaplinear | linearmipmaplinear}
Sets the texturing filter or turns texturing off.

view {normal|stereo|three}
Specifies how to render a screen.

zbuffer {yes|no|disable}
Turns the zbuffer algorithm on or off; No zbuffer is allocated when disabled.

zbuffersplit {yes|no}
Uses a hack to clear the zbuffer less often, at expense of depth resolution.

zoom {1-8}
Renders at a low resolution and zooms pixels by this factor.
Team Tank Colors

redcolor {r g b}
Three floating point numbers between 0 and 1 (inclusive); Gives the red, green, and blue proportions (respectively) of a red team tank's color; This is mainly intended for colorblind users to adjust team colors to something they can unambiguously perceive.

greencolor {r g b}
Like redcolor but for green team tanks.

bluecolor {r g b}
Like redcolor but for blue team tanks.

purplecolor {r g b}
Like redcolor but for purple team tanks.

roguecolor {r g b}
Like redcolor but for rogue team tanks.
Team Tank Radar Colors

redradar {r g b}
Three floating point numbers between 0 and 1 (inclusive); Gives the red, green, and blue proportions (respectively) of a red team tank's color on radar; This is mainly intended for colorblind users to adjust team colors to something they can unambiguously perceive.

greenradar {r g b}
Like redradar but for green team tanks.

blueradar {r g b}
Like redradar but for blue team tanks.

purpleradar {r g b}
Like redradar but for purple team tanks.

rogueradar {r g b}
Like redradar but for rogue team tanks.
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Other Options

directory <value>
The directory where the data files are.

fakecursor {yes|no}
BZFlag draws a cross hair where the cursor is; Primarily useful on 3D pass-through cards like the 3Dfx Voodoo.

joystick {yes|no}
Turns joystick support on or off.

joystickname <name>
The name of the joystick device.

latitude <latitude>
The latitude used for celestial calculations.

longitude <longitude>
The longitude used for celestial calculations.

mousegrab {yes|no}
When off BZFlag will not grab the mouse under any circumstances; BZFlag will otherwise grab the mouse when it thinks not grabbing it may interfere with the game..

volume {0-10}
Sets the sound effect volume.
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Key Bindings

Function Key Bindings
Key values are either a single key's name or two key names separated by a slash (e.g. =/+). The mouse buttons are treated as keys and named `Left Mouse', `Middle Mouse' and `Right Mouse'. Special keys are named by the label on the US keyboard. For example, F1, Tab, Home, etc. The spacebar uses the name `Space'. Other keys use their face character; for example, A, B, Z, 4, =, }.

Note that BZFlag uses some keys that don't have options, so they cannot be customized. The frames per second toggle (T) and time delay toggle (Y) are such keys. These functions are masked if a customizable key uses that key.

binocularsKey
Toggles binoculars on or off
Default key is B.
destructKey
Initiate 5 second countdown to selfdestruct, press again cancels
Default key is Delete.
dropFlagKey
Drops a good flag
Default key is Middle Mouse or Space.
fireKey
Fires your weapon
Default key is Left Mouse or Enter.
flagHelpKey
Toggles flag help
Default key is F or +.
identifyKey
Identify player / lock-on a target (for Guided Missile)
Default key is Right Mouse or L.
jumpKey
Jumps
Default key is TAB.
labelsKey
Toggles tank labels (only while roaming in @spectator mode)
Default key is L.
longRangeKey
Sets the radar to long range
Default key is 3.
mediumRangeKey
Sets the radar to medium rage
Default key is 2.
pauseKey
Pauses the game
Default key is Pause.
quitKey
Exits the game
Default key is F12.
scoreKey
Toggles the score sheet
Default key is S.
scrollBackwardKey
Scrolls the messages in the message window backwards
Default key is Page Up.
scrollForwardKey
Scrolls the messages in the message window forwards
Default key is Page Down.
sendAllKey
Sends a message to everybody
Default key is N.
sendNemesisKey
Sends a private message to last victim or killer
Default key is ,.
sendRecipientKey
Sends a private message to a player (use identifykey to select player)
Default key is ..
sendTeamKey
Sends a message to teammates
Default key is M.
shortRangeKey
Sets the radar to short range
Default key is 1.
slowKeyboardMotion
Slows the motion if you use the keyboard for directional tank control

Default key is A.
timeBackwardKey
Changes the time of day backward
Default key is = or _.
timeForwardKey
Changes the time of day forward
Default key is - or P.
Message Key Bindings
Alt-F1 to Alt-F10 lets you send predefined messages to all players. Configuration examples:

quickMessage1 {arbitrary text} : defines quick message for Alt-F1
quickMessage2 {arbitrary text} : defines quick message for Alt-F2
quickMessage3 {arbitrary text} : defines quick message for Alt-F3
...
quickMessage10 {arbitrary text} : defines quick message for Alt-F10

Team Message Key Bindings
Ctrl-F1 to Ctrl-F10 lets you send predefined messages to all players on your team. Configuration examples:

quickTeamMessage1 {arbitrary text} : defines quick team message for Ctrl-F1
quickTeamMessage2 {arbitrary text} : defines quick team message for Ctrl-F2
quickTeamMessage3 {arbitrary text} : defines quick team message for Ctrl-F3
...
quickTeamMessage10 {arbitrary text} : defines quick team message for Ctrl-F10

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