SimCity 4 Hotkeys & File Locations Guide

AntMag.NET

Hey there! So, you've jumped into SimCity 4 and are ready to build your dream metropolis. This section is all about getting you familiar with some of the game's nitty-gritty details, like handy keyboard shortcuts and where all your game files hang out. Don't worry if some of this seems a bit much at first; it's totally normal. The guide suggests you might want to play a bit first and then come back here. It's a good idea, as understanding the basics will make this stuff click way easier.

Think of this as your quick reference for making things happen faster in the game. We'll cover how to use the query tool, a bunch of useful hotkeys that'll save you clicks, and how to manage your saved games and custom content like music and animations.

A1.01.1: Query the Hottest Keys

The Query tool is your best friend for getting info. Click on any building to see details, and you can even rename them (though they can still be redeveloped by the game later). Want to follow a Sim, a car, or mess with traffic lights? Just use [Query] + [Shift] + [click on object]. While the manual lists a ton of hotkeys, most are pretty niche. But there are some real gems that will speed up your gameplay significantly.

Here are the most useful hotkeys:

[Home or End]: Spins buildings around when you're placing them. Handy for getting the orientation just right!
[Shift]: This is super useful for drawing zones or roads. Hold it down after you start dragging but before you release the mouse button to turn off auto-roads. Make sure you've got the latest patch for this to work smoothly.
[Alt]: Lets you switch the zoning layout before you lay it down. Great for planning out your city blocks efficiently.
[Esc]: Your quick undo button, but only if you haven't released the mouse button yet. Cancels zones, roads, and other placements instantly.
[G]: Toggles the grid on and off. This is a lifesaver for precise counting and planning out your city's layout.
[/]: This is the Query hotkey. Using it with the Bulldoze tool ([B]) can help prevent accidental demolitions.
[B]: The Bulldoze tool. Use with caution!
[Control] + [F]: Quickly dispatches your firefighters.
[Control] + [P]: Dispatches the police.
[Control] + [Shift] + [S]: Takes a snapshot of your city exactly as it appears on screen. Way faster than clicking through menus!
[Spacebar]: Centers the camera on your cursor.
[Control] + [Shift] + [C]: Toggles terrain contours on and off.
[Control] + [S]: Saves your current city. Always keep this handy!
[F12]: Exits the game.
[Control] + [Shift] + [Alt] + [R]: Starts recording a video clip of your city.
[Control] + [Shift] + [O]: The infamous obliterate hotkey. Use this one *very* carefully!

A1.01.2: Multiple City Save Games and File Locations

Worried about running out of save slots? Here's a neat trick: you can manually copy your region folders to back them up or create new save slots. Just head over to:

MyDocuments > SimCity 4 > Regions

This is also where you'll drop any cities you download from others. Make sure to place them in the specific region folder you want them to appear in.

Here's a breakdown of important file locations:

Album: MyDocuments > SimCity 4 > Album (for screenshots)
Bug Report: MyDocuments > SimCity 4 > Exception Reports (if the game crashes)
Recorded Animation: MyDocuments > SimCity 4 > Recorded Animation (where your video clips are saved)
Original Regions: C:\(Your Install Directory) > SimCity 4 > Regions (useful if you mess up the default regions and need to restore them)
Music for the game / Custom Tunes:

For Region Music: SimCity 4 > Radio > Stations > Region > Music
For City Music: SimCity 4 > Radio > Stations > Mayor > Music