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Keyboard And Mouse Controls

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Errors edited this page Jun 24, 2026 · 1 revision

Local VTT uses mouse and keyboard controls for map navigation, selection, drawing, fog editing, ruler measurement, token movement, and scene tools.

This page collects the common controls used during live play and session prep.

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Canvas Navigation

The GM canvas is where maps, tokens, fog, drawings, templates, and effects are edited.

Common canvas actions include:

  • Pan around the scene.
  • Zoom in and out.
  • Select scene objects.
  • Drag tokens or placed objects.
  • Open context menus.
  • Use active tools from the Tools menu.

Mouse Controls

Common mouse actions include:

  • Click to select an object or use the active tool.
  • Click and drag to move, draw, measure, or place depending on the active tool.
  • Right-click to open context menus or remove the last active point for some tools.
  • Scroll wheel to zoom the canvas when supported.
  • Drag on empty canvas to pan when using the appropriate navigation mode or gesture.

Exact behavior can depend on the selected tool.

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Selection

Selection is used to manage placed scene objects.

Selectable objects may include:

  • Tokens.
  • Fog shapes.
  • Weather masks.
  • Animated effects.
  • Drawings.
  • Templates.

Selection can happen from the canvas or from the relevant layer sub-list.

Use the layer list when an object is hard to select directly on the map.

Context Menus

Right-clicking scene objects can open context menus.

Context menus may include actions such as:

  • Rename.
  • Duplicate.
  • Delete.
  • Toggle visibility.
  • Open settings.
  • Assign token conditions.
  • Add token to turn order.
  • Edit object-specific options.

Context menu options depend on the selected object type.

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Escape

Escape is commonly used to cancel or clear active interactions.

Depending on the current tool, Escape may:

  • Cancel polygon drawing.
  • Clear active ruler measurement.
  • Cancel an in-progress placement.
  • Dismiss an active tool interaction.
  • Close or back out of a temporary editing state.

If a tool feels stuck, Escape is usually the first key to try.

Shift

Shift is used for waypoint and constraint behavior in several tools.

Shift can be used to:

  • Add ruler waypoints while dragging.
  • Add token movement waypoints while dragging.
  • Constrain rectangle drawing to a square where supported.

Use Shift when a path or shape needs more control than a single drag.

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Ctrl Or Cmd

Ctrl on Windows/Linux or Cmd on macOS is commonly used for snapping behavior.

Depending on the active tool and grid mode, Ctrl/Cmd may show or use snap points such as:

  • Square grid centers.
  • Square grid corners.
  • Square side centers.
  • Hex centers.
  • Hex corners.

Use Ctrl/Cmd when you want placement, measurement, or drawing to line up cleanly with the grid.

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Enter

Enter is used by some drawing workflows.

For polygon drawing, Enter can finish the active polygon.

This is useful when drawing irregular fog shapes, drawings, or other polygon-based areas.

Double-Click

Double-click can finish some polygon drawing workflows.

Use double-click when you want to complete the active polygon at the current point.

Right-Click During Polygon Drawing

While drawing a polygon, right-click can remove the last active point.

This is useful when:

  • You clicked the wrong spot.
  • The shape needs a small correction.
  • You want to step backward without canceling the whole polygon.

Token Movement Controls

Tokens are moved from the GM canvas.

Common token movement controls include:

  • Click a token to select it.
  • Drag a token to move it.
  • Hold Shift while dragging to add movement waypoints.
  • Use grid snapping where supported.
  • Release the token to place it.

In Player View, visible token movement can animate along the GM's waypoint route.

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Ruler Controls

The ruler is used to measure distance from the GM View.

Common ruler controls include:

  • Click and drag to measure.
  • Hold Shift while dragging to add waypoints.
  • Right-click to remove the last active waypoint.
  • Escape to clear the active ruler measurement.
  • Use Ctrl/Cmd for snapping where supported.

The ruler uses the scene's grid and measurement settings.

Fog Tool Controls

Fog tools are used to reveal or hide areas of the scene.

Common fog controls include:

  • Brush drag for freehand fog editing.
  • Rectangle drag for rectangular areas.
  • Circle drag for round areas.
  • Polygon clicks for custom fog shapes.
  • Enter or double-click to finish polygon shapes.
  • Escape to cancel polygon drawing.
  • Right-click to remove the last polygon point.
  • Ctrl/Cmd to preview or use snapping where supported.
  • Shift-drag to constrain rectangle tools to a square where supported.

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Drawing Tool Controls

Drawing tools create annotations and visual markings.

Common drawing controls include:

  • Brush drag for freehand marks.
  • Line drag for straight lines.
  • Rectangle drag for box shapes.
  • Ellipse drag for oval or circular shapes.
  • Triangle drag for triangle shapes.
  • Polygon clicks for custom shapes.
  • Enter or double-click to finish polygon drawings.
  • Escape to cancel active drawing.
  • Ctrl/Cmd to use snapping where supported.

Template Tool Controls

Template tools create measured areas.

Common template controls include:

  • Drag to place line, radius, cube, or cone templates.
  • Use settings to configure length, width, radius, and visual style.
  • Use Ctrl/Cmd for snapping where supported.
  • Select placed templates to move, resize, rotate, duplicate, hide, or delete them.

Template behavior depends on the scene's grid and measurement settings.

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Layer List Controls

The layer list can be used to manage scene content without selecting it directly on the canvas.

Layer list actions may include:

  • Expand or collapse layers.
  • Select sub-layer items.
  • Rename items.
  • Reorder items.
  • Toggle GM visibility.
  • Toggle Player View visibility.
  • Duplicate items.
  • Delete items.
  • Open settings.

Use the layer list when a canvas object is small, overlapped, hidden, or difficult to click.

Modal And Panel Controls

Local VTT uses panels and draggable modals for several workflows.

Examples include:

  • Dice Bag.
  • Turn Order.
  • Settings.
  • Map Calibration Assistant.
  • Token Crop Dialog.
  • Token Library drawer.
  • Player View Setup.

Some panels can be resized, collapsed, or moved depending on the workflow.

Common Control Problems

If you cannot select an object:

  • Check whether the correct layer is visible.
  • Try selecting it from the layer list.
  • Check whether another object is on top.
  • Zoom in and try again.
  • Confirm the active tool is not preventing selection.

If snapping does not work as expected:

  • Check the scene grid mode.
  • Check whether the active tool supports snapping.
  • Hold Ctrl or Cmd while placing or drawing.
  • Confirm the grid is calibrated.

If a polygon is wrong:

  • Right-click to remove the last point if still drawing.
  • Press Escape to cancel and start again.
  • Finish the polygon, then delete or redraw it if needed.

If a token movement path is wrong:

  • Use Shift to add waypoints.
  • Check snapping behavior.
  • Confirm the scene grid and measurement settings.
  • Try the movement again from the token's current position.

Quick Reference

Common controls:

  • Click: select or use active tool.
  • Drag: move, draw, measure, or place.
  • Right-click: context menu or remove last active point in some tools.
  • Escape: cancel or clear active interaction.
  • Shift-drag: add waypoints or constrain some shapes.
  • Ctrl/Cmd: snapping behavior where supported.
  • Enter: finish polygon drawing where supported.
  • Double-click: finish polygon drawing where supported.

Related Pages

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