Sharing expanded additional.command.buttons mod

[Ouaz]

Hello,

First of all, many thanks for this repo. Really nice mods in there.

Playing mainly the Android version of ES (ES that I discovered only recently... yeah), I modified additional.command.buttons, then I thought that it could interest some other Android players.

Updated Sept 25, 2026: version 1.0.29 available on main page.

Details

1. Modified files

• data/buttons.txt
• data/hud.txt

2. Added files

• images/ui/buttonbox3
• images/ui/icon_fleet_turret.png
• images/ui/icon_fleet_turret_d.png

What's new ?

With the mini-map on

Playing on a 10" tablet, the main idea is to have most of the buttons reachable with the right thumb and/or index, while piloting the flagship with the left thumb.

Top left

• Call is basically Shift+T (Talk to selected planet command being recently added in the Android version). It prevents the edge case related in the issue, and only works if a planet is selected (otherwise it triggers the message "Unable to send hail: no target selected"), so it is placed right under the navigation panel.
• Log and Info stay there, as they are also related to navigation and ship/fleet status.
• I kept the Esc button, as it seems some players requested it (I have a physical Back button, so it is not much use for me)

Bottom right

• Zoom buttons are moved next to the ship hud, where they are easily reachable during action (or if one is lazy to pinch the screen... like me).
• Fast Forward and Pause buttons are moved to the right edge of the screen, next to the ship hud, again to make them easily reachable (without having to cross the screen with the right hand).

Top right

• Added two situational fleet commands : Fleet: Scan my target (if some escorts have radars not mounted in the flagship, or simply to speed up the scan) and Toggle turret tracking (to switch between focused and opportunistic).
  As there's 10 fleet command buttons, they are now on two rows: the first row is global Flight commands/settings, while the second row is Movement and Combat commands.
  Removed the "Fleet commands" label, as it was a height placeholder in the previous layout, I guess.
• Control groups number buttons: hey ? Control groups can't be set on Android, unless using a physical keyboard...

Or using Hacker's Keyboard (the rest of the post is a tutorial on how to set escort groups with this open source virtual keyboard, if some Android players are interested):

A) Install Hacker's Keyboard depending on your android version

Hacker's Keyboard is somewhat unique (at least, I don't know any other virtual keyboard, open source or not, having this feature): a permanent notification allows to call the keyboard on any apps, at any moment.

• If you are on Android 5 to 11 : get the legacy Hacker's Keyboard 1.41.1 (https://github.com/klausw/hackerskeyboard/releases/tag/1.41.1).
  Using it on my tablet 8.1 (mainly to play some PC ports) for ages, works like a charm.

• If you are on Android 12 and above: you need the updated Hacker's Keyboard 1.42.1 (https://github.com/codenameberyl/hackerkeyboard/releases).
  Android 12 removed the Permanent Notification feature, therefore the legacy HK 1.41.1 does not work (the permanent notification does not appear). This new 1.42.1 version (mainly coded with AI, it seems) replaces the permanent notification with a pending activity notification, so it should work (I tested this build on Android 10 - as I don't have a device above - so I can't confirm the notification works on Android 12 and above)

B) Set Hacker's Keyboard for Endless Sky (and any games actually)

Once the keyboard is set as default and active, here's the recommended settings:

• Keyboard height (landscape) : 30%
• Keyboard mode (landscape) : Full 5-row layout
• Uncheck Suggestions in landscape mode
• Theme and label : Key label scaling : 80%, Keyboard theme : Transparent
• Show Settings key : Always (Automatic is also OK)
• Typing languages : English (on 1.42.1, also set this to "Swipe the space bar to switch the language")
• Uncheck Double-tap Shift mode so the setting is Shift Lock (and NOT Caps Lock)
• Key feedback settings : check "Sound for each key press"
• Gesture actions : Swipe down = Close Keyboard ; Swipe Left = Decrease Height ; Swipe Right = Increase height
• Uncheck Show suggestions and Press to correct suggestions
• Check Use permanent notification (of course... of course)

Now the tutorial screenshots:

C) How to use Hacker's Keyboard in Endless Sky

0. Call the keyboard with the notification

1. Set Escort group 1 (Shipyard or Outfitter)

2. Set Escort group 2 (Shipyard or Outfitter)

3. Set an Escort group in Player Info screen (1)

4. Set an Escort group in Player Info screen (2)

5. Select Group 1 in flight

6. Select Group 2 in flight and where it's possible to set Control groups

7. Hacker's Keyboard can be used for any missing PC hotkeys

Example with Spaceport Mission Event :

8. Spaceport Mission Event map example

Android screenshot

Set the same hotkeys than PC version in "Preferences > Controls > Show keys" and enable "Always underline shortcuts" if you want to use additional hotkeys while the keyboard is active (useful on a few screens)

EDIT: oops, I forgot:

• Swipe down anywhere on the keyboard to hide it (I usually swipe down near the Backspace key, as it does nothing in-game, so no accidental key press). To re-open the keyboard, swipe down at the upper edge of the screen, to make the notification appears.
• Swipe left or swipe right anywhere on the keyboard to respectively decrease or increase the keyboard's height (the default height value can also be set in the keyboard settings, by clicking the "Gear" icon)

9. Unfortunately, the 'Shift' key does not work to compare items on the Outfitter map.

For that, another keyboard is needed (open source too), but it's another story (and this post is already too long).

Android screenshot

Maybe a 'Shift' button could be added there, as a 'Shift' command is in the android source code, but no declared:

// These commands are not in the preferences panel, and do not have keys
// assigned to them, but may have descriptions as needed to facilitate
// assignments in downstream ports like endless-mobile.
const Command Command::SHIFT(ONE << 41, "");

// Check whether the `Shift` modifier key was pressed for this step.
	if(SDL_GetModState() & KMOD_SHIFT)
		*this |= SHIFT;

I'll open a "request feature" issue.

---

Phew, done.

Good game to all.

[zuckung]

wow, nice work.
i like most of your ui adjustments. there is just this little problem with different sceen sizes. i played on a tablet, but many others play on a smartphones with super mini display. fast forward, pause and the zoom probably are problematic at this position. any idea for a better position?

[Ouaz]

fast forward, pause and the zoom probably are problematic at this position. any idea for a better position?

Ah yes, they will probably overlap on a tiny screen with a high main zoom factor.

Hmmm... I'm bit out of ideas.

I could squeeze the 4 buttons vertically at the right of the Ship Hud (and shift it ~50 pixels to the left).

Here's a rough mockup, for brainstorming mainly.
Of course, x3 will be replaced by a new FF icon (only the two arrows, no circle) and Pause by a new Pause icon (only the two bars).

EDIT: Arf, it seems there's an image upload limit. The image link appears as broken.
EDIT 2: Well it works now because of the first edit.

[zuckung]

yes, thats better.

[Ouaz]

Done. I didn't go with the 4 buttons placed vertically, as it wasn't handy.

Zip file and screenshots updated in the first post.

[zuckung]

ok, it is realeased. many thanks for your work! :)

[Ouaz]

Nice, thank you.

In case some users may prefer the bigger buttons, I kept the previous button layout and relevant code commented out at the end of buttons.txt.

So they would just have to remove the unwanted changes, and uncomment the previous buttons.