RedTop's Config Armory - Explanation of the RTCW autoexec.cfg file

Config Armory - The autoexecute file

Yes, it's probably taking it a bit too far to explain the use of the autoexec file, but this resource is meant to be definitive. Besides, hopefully this will help rookies ("n00bs" is a bit degrading) get on their way to playing with the big boys. Some people do not know how RTCW handles its configurations. A large config such as this one, which contains no less than 13(!) separate files, will probably be a bit daunting to them. An explanation of how one can tell RTCW to use configs is given here.

The autoexec.cfg file basically tells RTCW what to do when it first starts up. Similar to the autoexec.bat your computer uses when you boot it. The autoexec.cfg is basically a listing of one or more config files. RTCW will try to find the listed files in the game directory. After you install RTCW no config files are listed in the autoexec.cfg at first. RTCW creates wolfconfig_mp.cfg if it cannot find one and uses the settings in that file each time afterwards. If you want RTCW to use other, customized config files you will have to tell the game that they are around. This is done by listing them in autoexec.cfg. You can tell RTCW to look for more than one file by adding more files to the list, each on a new line.

RTCW reads the settings from the configs starting with the first config listed in autoexec.cfg. If a setting is mentioned in two separate configs, RTCW will remember the setting it read last.

Picture - Screenshot from the game Return to Castle Wolfenstein

index
autoexec.cfg
client.cfg
memory.cfg
graphics.cfg
adapter.cfg
basicserver.cfg
personal.cfg
superteam.cfg
demo.cfg
screenshot.cfg
fovtoggle.cfg
volume.cfg
osp.cfg
changelog

set devdll 1	Hmmm... unclear what this does, but it is default so keep it in there to be sure.
exec client.cfg	First things first... This file contains settings that affect the game client, the program, itself.
exec memory.cfg	Time to tell Mr. RTCW how much memory he may use.
exec graphics.cfg	This is where we start optimizing the performance. This file defines the level of detail on graphics.
exec adapter.cfg	The settings in this file influence more basic functions and options of the RTCW engine. Big time optimizing going on here!
exec basicserver.cfg	Hopefully you'll never use this and just go for Red's OSP server configuration pack, which offers more options to admins... Very basic server configuration in this file.
exec personal.cfg	Game and engine options have been set... this file contains all the things that are important to an individual user. Binds, class selector scripts, nickname and most importantly... individual hardware settings! Make sure you edit this file!
exec superteam.cfg	Now the game knows its ABC it is time to teach it some useful tricks. Super Team Selector is a very good team and spawn point selection script.
exec demo.cfg	This script helps you easily start and stop recording of demo's... those lovely pieces of evidence of your skills.
exec screenshot.cfg	The built in screenshot options of RTCW get the job done, but they give you all the clutter as well. This script takes all 2D crap from the screen, takes a nice screenshot and then puts all the crap back again... thankfully.
exec fovtoggle.cfg	A zoom script to help target opponents when fighting those awesome long distance battles... sweet!
exec volume.cfg	This script gives the possibility to adjust volume in-game... which is nice if you want to adjust RTCW volume and keep your Winamp running in the background unaffected.
exec osp.cfg	The OSP mod gives players a lot of freedom and useful options. Look at this file to make sure it's set to suit your preferences.

Author.	Richard van Kooten, a.k.a. RedTop.
Latest update.	June 27th, 2004.
Changes to settings.	None.
Changes to text.	Removed links to weapontoggle script page.