Documentation

VChar64 is an character / tile editor for the Commodore 64 / 128. But it runs on Mac, Windows and Linux.

Keyboard Shortcuts

VChar64 was designed to be used with the keyboard, although everything can be done with the mouse as well. If there is a keyboard shortcut that is missing, let me know!

Global shortcuts

File

• Ctrl + n: New empty project
• Ctrl + o: Open file (RAW, c64, Charpad) or VChar64 project
• Ctrl + s: Save project
• Ctrl + Shift + s: Save project as...
• Ctrl + e: Export project (using previously used parameters)
• Ctrl + Shift + e: Export project as... (raw, or c64 or asm)
• Ctrl + w: Close current project
• Ctrl + Shift + w: Close all open projects

Edit

• Ctrl + x: Cut region
• Ctrl + c: Copy region
• Ctrl + v: Paste region

Tile manipulation

• Ctrl + t: Change Tile properties
• Ctrl + Cursor_right: Select next tile
• Ctrl + Cursor_left: Select previos tile
• Ctrl + Shift + c: Clear tile
• Ctrl + Shift + i: Invert tile
• Ctrl + Shift + r: Rotate tile 90 degrees clockwise
• Ctrl + Shift + x: Flip tile horizontally
• Ctrl + Shift + y: Flip tile vertically
• Ctrl + Shift + Cursor left: Shift tile one bit to the left
• Ctrl + Shift + Cursor right: Shift tile one bit to the right
• Ctrl + Shift + Cursor up: Shift tile one bit upwards
• Ctrl + Shift + Cursor down: Shift tile one bit to the downwards

Color manipulation

• Ctrl + 1: Select background color ($d021)
• Ctrl + 2: Select foreground color (Color RAM)
• Ctrl + 3: Select multicolor color #1 ($d022)
• Ctrl + 4: Select background color #2 ($d023)
• Ctrl + m: Toggle multicolor mode

Tile edit window

• 1: Paint with background color ($d021)
• 2: Paint with foreground color (Color RAM)
• 3: Paint with multicolor #1 color (if multicolor is enabled) ($d022)
• 4: Paint with multicolor #2 color (if multicolor is enabled) ($d023)
• space: Cycle current color. If current color is...:
  • Background, then paint using Foreground
  • Foreground, then paint using Multicolor #1 (or Background if multicolor is disabled)
  • Multicolor #1, then paint using Multicolor #2
  • Multicolor #2, then paint using Background
• Cursors: Move cursor

Charset window

• Cursors: Move cursor
• Cursors + Shift: Select region

Tileset window

• Cursors: Move cursor
• Cursors + Shift: Select region

Map window

• Cursors: Move cursor
• Cursors + Shift: Select region
• Alt + tile_number: Paint tile_number in cursor. Also move cursor one to the right.
  • eg: Alt + 192 will use tile 192 to paint the current position in the map.
• Alphanumeric: paint map tile with alphanumeric value. Also move cursor one to the right.
  • eg: If 'A' is pressed, the ASCII value of A (65) is converted to screen code (1) and tile_number 1 will be used. If using the default charset, it will paint an A.
• space:
  • If Select mode is selected, behaves as previos item
  • If Flood Fill mode is selected, it fills the map with the selected tile
  • If Paint mode is selected, it paints the current map tile with the selected tile