User Interface
This guide explains how to use the NexQuake shell overlay (the gear button in the top-right corner) for local files, config editing, and CD audio controls.
Open and Close
Mouse / keyboard: Click the gear icon (NexQuake Settings) in the top-right corner. Close the overlay by clicking the gear again, pressing Esc, or clicking back into the game canvas. When the overlay opens, pointer lock is released so you can use the mouse normally.
Touch devices: The gear button is fixed in the top-right corner of the screen (always visible). Tap it to open or close the settings panel. See Controls for the full touch layout and button configuration.
Touch text entry: When Quake asks for text (console, chat, or a menu field), a text bar appears at the top on touch devices. Tap it to focus, type on the system keyboard, and press enter/send to submit. Tap outside the bar to hide it; Esc (back button) cancels in-progress text.
Overlay Layout
| Area | Purpose |
|---|---|
Game tabs (GAME) |
Switch between game directories (id1, mods). |
Game Files list |
Shows local user files for the selected game directory. |
| Config scope toggle (globe icon) | Switch between shared cfg files and per-mod cfg files. |
| CD controls row | Open CD track list, play/pause, stop, and CD on/off. |
| Upload button | Upload files to the current mode (game files or CD tracks). |
| Join code | Displays the current server's join code when connected. See Join Code below. |
| Close button (✕) | Closes the panel. Equivalent to clicking the gear again or pressing Esc. |
To open or collapse the directory sidebar (tabs drawer), click the current directory name beside Game Files at the top of the panel (for example id1 or ctf). This toggle is only available in game-file mode (not in CD mode).
Game File Mode
In normal mode (not CD track view), the file list shows user-managed files under your browser storage.
Supported upload file types:
.cfg.sav.dem.pcx.pak
Available actions:
| Action | How |
|---|---|
| Edit | Double-click a .cfg file to open the editor, then use Save or Cancel. |
| Download | Click the download button beside a file. |
| Delete | Click the delete button and confirm. |
| Move | Drag a file from the list and drop it onto another game tab. |
Notes:
- Existing files prompt for overwrite before upload.
- All writes (upload/edit/delete/move) are synced to browser storage.
Local Files Override Server Files
For the same path, local user files override server-provided files. If both exist, the client uses your local copy.
Example:
- Server provides /ctf/config.cfg
- You upload /ctf/config.cfg
- The uploaded local file is the one Quake loads
Config Scope Toggle
The globe button controls cfg scope:
- Global cfgs enabled: shared cfg files across mods.
- Global cfgs disabled: per-mod cfg files.
The selection is saved in browser storage and reused on next load.
| Mode | Behavior | Choose This When |
|---|---|---|
| Global cfgs enabled | config.cfg/autoexec.cfg are treated as one shared setup across mods. |
You want one consistent control/video/HUD setup everywhere. |
| Global cfgs disabled (per-mod) | Each mod keeps its own cfg state and can diverge. | Different mods need different binds, sensitivity, aliases, or HUD/cvar setups. |
Practical tradeoff:
- Global mode is simpler and predictable for everyday play.
- Per-mod mode keeps cfgs siloed and runs quake.rc on every server join.
CD Mode and Native Quake CD Commands
Click the eject button to switch into CD track view (/cd/):
- Local user CD tracks are listed first.
- Server-provided tracks are shown under
Server CD tracks. - Local tracks with the same track number override server tracks.
Supported CD upload file types:
.ogg.mp3
The CD controls are a UI for Quake's native cd console commands, not a separate audio control system. Quake's native BGM system plays tracks based on the map; each map specifies a track number 2-11. Track 1 was the data track (install files) on the original Quake CD.
CD controls:
| Button | Native Command |
|---|---|
| Eject | UI-only toggle for CD track view (no cd command). |
| Play/Pause | cd resume or cd pause (state-dependent). |
| Stop | cd stop. |
| Power | cd on / cd off. |
Track interaction:
- Click a track row (or its play/pause button) to run
cd loop <track-number>, or pause/resume if that track is already active. - Track filenames must include a track number at the start or end (for example
02-theme.oggortrack02.mp3).
Because the overlay sends native Quake commands to the game, console-driven cd commands and overlay state stay aligned.
Upload and Status Messages
Upload progress and status appear in the overlay footer:
- Progress messages during file reads and sync.
- Info messages on success.
- Warning/error messages for invalid extension, sync failures, or command failures.
Join Code
When connected to a server, a join code appears in the overlay footer. The code is the server's port number — the same value you would use with connect <port> at the console.
Share the code with other players so they can join the same server without browsing the server list or being directed to a different server in the pool. The join code is hidden when not connected to a game server.
Persistence
Overlay-managed user files and settings are stored in browser persistent storage (IndexedDB via Emscripten FS sync), so they survive page reloads.