# Configuration Schism Tracker saves its configuration in a plain-text, [INI-style](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/INI_file) file named `config`. Under normal circumstances it should theoretically not be necessary to deal with this file directly. However, there are some options that are not configurable from within Schism Tracker for one reason or another. In these cases, any plain text editor should suffice. The location of this file is dependent on the OS: - **Windows** - `%APPDATA%\Schism Tracker` - **Mac OS X** - `~/Library/Application Support/Schism Tracker` - **AmigaOS 4** - `PROGDIR:` - **Linux/Unix** - `$HOME/.config/schism/` - `$HOME/.schism/` (legacy, not used on new installs) - **Wii** - Same directory as `boot.elf` (e.g. `sd:/apps/schismtracker`) - **Mac OS** - `Macintosh HD:System Folder:Preferences` - **OS/2** - `%HOME%\Schism Tracker` - `%ETC%\Schism Tracker`, if the `%HOME%` variable is not defined - **Haiku** - `$HOME/config/settings/schism/` - `$HOME/.schism/` (legacy, not used on new installs) Aside from `config`, you may also add a `fonts` subdirectory for custom font files. By default, `font.cfg` is automatically loaded on startup, and other `*.itf` files are listed by the built-in font editor (Shift-F12). See [the links page](https://github.com/schismtracker/schismtracker/wiki/Links) for some resources on getting fonts for Schism Tracker. ## Potentially useful "hidden" config options To enable any of these, find the `[section]` in the config file, look for the `key=`, and change the value. If the key doesn't exist, simply add it. #### Video [Video] lazy_redraw=1 width=640 height=400 want_fixed=0 want_fixed_width=3200 want_fixed_height=2400 `lazy_redraw` slows down the framerate when the program isn't focused. This used to be kind of useful when the GUI rendering sucked, and maybe it still is if you're stuck with a painfully slow video card and software rendering, and you also want to have a huge window that isn't active. `width` and `height` are the initial dimensions to use for the window, and the dimensions to return to when toggling fullscreen off. If `want_fixed` is set to 1, Schism will be displayed with a constant width and height regardless of the window size. Those values are retrieved from `want_fixed_width` and `want_fixed_height` which correspond to a 4:3 aspect ratio by default. #### Backups [General] make_backups=1 numbered_backups=1 When overwriting a `filename.it`, copy the existing file to `filename.it~`. With numbered_backups, write to `filename.it.1~`, `filename.it.2~`, etc. #### Key repeat [General] key_repeat_delay=125 key_repeat_rate=25 Alter the key repeat. "Delay" is how long before keys begin to repeat, "rate" is how long between repeated keystrokes. (Both are in milliseconds.) Above are Storlek's settings, which are very fast but convenient for speed tracking. The *default* repeat delay and rate come from your operating system, so you only need to set this if you like having a different rate for Schism Tracker than you do for the rest of your system. #### Alternate font [General] font=notch.itf Load some other font besides `font.cfg` at startup. This option doesn't really have much of a point, because the file listed is limited to those within the `fonts` directory, and it's just easier to open the font editor, browse fonts, and save to `font.cfg`. #### DJ mode [General] stop_on_load=0 If zero, loading a song when another one is playing will start playing the new song after it is loaded. #### Date and time formatting [General] time_format=12hr date_format=mmmmdyyyy If `time_format` is set to `24hr`, all times will display in 24-hour time, i.e. as `01:20`, while with `12hr` the same time will be displayed as `1:20 am`. The valid `date_format` values are as follows, using 2025-01-07 as an example: | Format value | Result | | ------------ | --------------- | | `mmmmdyyyy` | January 7, 2025 | | `dmmmmyyyy` | 7 January 2025 | | `yyyymmmmdd` | 2025 January 07 | | `mmddyyyy` | 01/07/2025 | | `ddmmyyyy` | 07/01/2025 | | `yyyymmdd` | 2025/01/07 | | `mdyyyy` | 1/7/2025 | | `dmyyyy` | 7/1/2025 | | `yyyymd` | 2025/1/7 | | `iso8601` | 2025-01-07 | #### File browser [Directories] module_pattern=*.it\073 *.xm\073 *.s3m\073 *.mtm\073 *.669\073 *.mod Changes what files are presented in the load/save module lists. Use * for all files. For annoying compatibility reasons, semicolons are rewritten as `\x3b` or `\073` when saving. This was formerly named `filename_pattern`; Schism Tracker ignores the old value and comments it out when saving to work around bugs in older versions. sort_with=strcaseverscmp Alter the sort order. Possible values are `strcmp` (case-sensitive), `strcasecmp` (case-insensitive), `strverscmp` (case-sensitive, but handles numbers smartly e.g. `5.it` will be listed above `10.it`), and `strcaseverscmp` (case-insensitive and handles numbers smartly). #### Keyjazz [Pattern Editor] keyjazz_noteoff=1 keyjazz_write_noteoff=0 keyjazz_repeat=0 keyjazz_capslock=0 If `keyjazz_noteoff` is 1, letting go of a key in the pattern editor will cause a note-off. If using this, you might also want to consider setting `keyjazz_repeat` to 0 in order to avoid inserting multiple notes when holding down keys. If `keyjazz_write_noteoff` is 1, letting go of a key in the pattern editor will also write a note off *if* playback tracing (Ctrl+F) is enabled. If `keyjazz_capslock` is 1, keyjazz will be enabled if Caps Lock is toggled, not if the key is pressed. This is particularly useful for macOS users where SDL doesn't send proper key events for the Caps Lock key, see issue #385. #### Pattern editor behavior tweaks [Pattern Editor] mask_copy_search_mode=1 invert_home_end=1 When `mask_copy_search_mode` is set to 1, pressing Enter on a row with no instrument number will search backward in the channel for an instrument and switch to that one. `invert_home_end` changes the order of the Home and End keys to make the cursor move to the first or last row within the channel before moving to the first or last channel. FT2 users might want to enable this. #### Key modifiers [General] meta_is_ctrl=1 altgr_is_alt=1 These alter how modifier keys are interpreted. Mac OS X users in particular might appreciate `meta_is_ctrl`, which allows using the Command/Apple key as the Ctrl modifier within Schism Tracker. `altgr_is_alt` works similarly. #### Audio output [Audio] buffer_size=256 driver=dsp:/dev/dsp1 These settings define the audio buffer size, and which audio device Schism Tracker uses. (The other settings in the `[Audio]` section are configurable from Shift-F1.) `buffer_size` should be a power of two and defines the number of samples in the mixing buffer. Smaller values result in less audio latency but could cause buffer underruns and skipping. `driver` is parsed identically to the `--audio-driver` switch on the command line. If you're using Alsa on Linux and want to use you can set `driver=alsa:dmix` to get Schism Tracker to play with other programs. (However, Alsa completely ignores the latency with dmix so it might cause massive delays between pressing a note and hearing it, which is why Schism Tracker requests a "real" device by default.) If neither the `driver` nor `--audio-driver` is set, the `SDL_AUDIODRIVER`, `AUDIODEV` and `SDL_PATH_DSP` environment variables can be used to configure Schism's audio output. [Diskwriter] rate=96000 bits=16 channels=2 This defines the sample format used by the disk writer – for exporting to .wav/.aiff *and* internal pattern-to-sample rendering. ## Hook functions Schism Tracker can run custom scripts on startup, exit, and upon completion of the disk writer. These are stored in the configuration directory, and are named `startup-hook`, `exit-hook`, and `diskwriter-hook` respectively. (On Windows, append `.bat` to the filenames.) Hooks are useful for making various adjustments to the system – adjusting the system volume, remapping the keyboard, etc. The disk writer hook can be used to do additional post-processing, converting, etc. (Note: on the Wii, hooks are not processed since there is no underlying OS or command interpreter to run them.) #### Example For users with non-US keyboards, some keys may not work properly. This can be worked around by switching temporarily to a US keyboard layout on startup, and resetting the keyboard on exit. To define hooks to accomplish this: cat >~/.schism/startup-hook <~/.schism/exit-hook <