Hotkeys - change any button's key
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The Hotkeys tab of the studio lets you change the key of any command button in Command & Conquer: Generals – Zero Hour, for every faction and general. You type a new letter, the studio warns you about clashes, and the installer writes only the keys you changed into your own game, keeping every other key and mod as it was.
What the Hotkeys tab can do
- Give any build, unit, upgrade or power button a new letter.
- Start from a ready-made layout ("Start from"), then change single keys.
- Show where two buttons in the same menu share a key.
- Draw each button's hotkey letter on its picture ("Letters on buttons").
- Work in your game's own language, not only English.
You can browse the studio as a guest, but seeing and changing the hotkeys needs a free account. Your work so far is kept and comes back after you sign in.
How to change a button's key
- Open the studio and choose the Hotkeys tab.
- Pick a Faction (USA, China, GLA or Other) and, if you like, a General, or use Search buttons (for example "Laser" or "Barracks").
- Click the key box of a button and type the new letter.
- Check the Your changes list. Each change shows what the key was, and you can Undo one change or Undo all.
- Save your design, then press Make my installer and keep Hotkeys ticked.
A key belongs to a button name, and the same name can be used by several menus (shown as ×N). When you change it, the new key applies everywhere that name is used, so a shared button stays consistent across generals.
A suggested change is offered as a tick box above the list: Change "Laser Missile Attack" to R (Laser Lock, the USA Missile Defender ability). It is off by default; tick it if you want it.
Start from a preset (like GenPatcher's hotkeys)
The Start from menu loads a whole layout at once:
- Game default - the original Zero Hour keys.
- Presets added by the site admin, such as GenPatcher's Leikeze or Legionnaire hotkey profile. Each one shows how many keys it changes.
Picking a preset replaces your current hotkey changes (the studio asks first). After that you can still change any single key. The studio shows which layout you started from.
Clash warnings
Two buttons in the same menu should never share a letter, or one of them becomes unreachable. The studio marks such menus with "Two buttons in this menu use the same key". The summary line counts clashes caused by your changes separately from clashes that already exist in the original game, and Only menus with clashes filters the list so you can fix them quickly.
Non-English games and the [R] marker
Zero Hour stores a hotkey as a marked letter inside the button's name. The installer changes keys inside your game's own language. Under How to write the key you choose:
| Option | What you see in the game |
|---|---|
| Inside the name | The name stays the same; the key moves to that letter. If the letter isn't in the name, [R] is added. |
| After the name [R] | The key is shown after the name, for example "Laser Missile Attack [R]", which helps you learn new keys. |
So a German or French copy gets the same keys, with [R]-style markers only where the letter isn't part of the translated name.
Letters on buttons
Under Letters on buttons you can show each button's hotkey letter right on its picture in the game, like GenPatcher's "Show hotkeys on the control bar". It is off by default; turn it on to see a live preview on sample buttons. You can set:
- Box color and Letter color
- Box strength (how solid the box is) and Size
- Position - top left, top right, bottom left or bottom right
- Style - square, rounded, circle or letter only
The installer draws the letters on your own game's button pictures using your final keys. The same pictures also appear in the build queue, so letters show there too.
GenPatcher's own letters (its "Show hotkey icons on the control bar" option) are not removed by our installer, so if you use them you would see two letters, or old keys, on some buttons. Turn that option off in GenPatcher first: Additional Content → hotkey presets, untick it and press Apply. The installer also warns you when it finds GenPatcher's letters.
What the installer does with your hotkeys
- It changes only the keys you changed. All other keys, and changes made by other mods, stay.
- If it finds a GenPatcher (or other) hotkey profile, it tells you and lets you replace it with your hotkeys or keep the profile. You can switch later from Generals Style in the Start menu.
- Hotkeys don't need Control Bar Pro, and only button labels change, so they don't cause a mismatch online.
See the installer guide for backups and restore, the Tab shortcuts guide for worker keys, and our Zero Hour hotkeys list for the default keys.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use GenPatcher's hotkeys and still change a few keys?
Yes. Choose GenPatcher's profile under Start from, then change only the keys you want. The installer writes the result as your hotkeys.
Will my hotkeys work in a German, French or other language copy?
Yes. Keys are changed inside your game's own language. Where the letter isn't in the translated name, it is added like [R].
Why does the studio say a menu has a clash?
Two buttons in that menu use the same letter, so pressing it can only reach one of them. Change one of the two keys, or use Only menus with clashes to find them all.
Do I need Control Bar Pro for hotkeys or letters on buttons?
No. Control Bar Pro is only needed for the control bar style. Hotkeys and letters on buttons work without it.
Can I go back to the original keys?
Yes. Pick Game default in the studio, or use Restore my original files from Generals Style in the Start menu to put back your game's own files.
Make Zero Hour look and play your way
Design your control bar, loading screen, hotkeys and maps pack in the studio, then install it with one click.