Console variables

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The World of Warcraft game client stores all of its configurations in the so-called console variables (CVars). These variables affect many aspects of the game, such as the graphics engine, the interface, and the sound system.

There are several ways of setting the configuration variables:

Config.wtf - The World of Warcraft directory contains a Config.wtf file in the WTF folder, which provides settings mostly relevant to game startup, such as gxResolution for the screen resolution to use and locale for the language.
/console command - Settings can be changed in-game using the /console command, which uses the same syntax as the file Config.wtf described above. Any modifications done using this command will be saved to this file.
WoW.exe -Console - This will allow you to call the debug console ingame by pressing ~.
SetCVar API command - for changing settings using addons

The syntax for the first two ways of changing a variable is:

SET variableName "value"

Manually changing a CVar may permanently override the settings made on the in-game configuration menu. For example, having cameraDistanceMax set in the file Config.wtf renders the "Max Camera Distance" slider useless. You will have to quit the game and manually remove the CVar line from the file.

List of CVars

This is a categorized list of console variables, along with a short explanation for each CVar.

The list is not complete; for a complete list, see Console variables/Complete list.

Startup

These are general variables that are only relevant for starting the game (or which are only read during startup).

accountName - Saved account name for login screen

accountList - Saved account name for login screen (For use with Battle.net accounts only)

checkAddonVersion - Disable loading of out-of-date addons

coresDetected - cores detected

expansionMovie - Display Burning Crusade intro at startup (This variable is reset to 0 after the video has been shown)

lastCharacterIndex - Number of last character that was used for logging in (initial selection for character screen)

locale - Game language code (e.g. "enGB", "enUS", "deDE", "frFR" ...)

heapAllocTracking - Enables/disables allocation tracking & dumping in SMemMalloc

movie - Display intro movie at startup (doesn't work in Burning Crusade game client)

movieSubtitle - Display subtitles for intro movies

readContest - Whether the user has accepted the PTR contest rules

readEULA - Whether the user has accepted the EULA

readScanning - Whether the user has accepted the system scanning terms

readTOS - Whether the user has accepted the Terms of Use

realmList - Realm list server to use (e.g. "eu.logon.worldofwarcraft.com")

realmName - Name of most recently used realm (displayed in the lower right corner)

showToolsUI - Enable the WoW Launcher

timingMethod - Sets the CPU timing method used. 0 is none, 1 is normal precision(fps limited to 64), 2 is high precision

processAffinityMask - Which processor core to start WoW on

Console

These are commands that only affect the drop down menu

help - Displays help and information for any command. (Eg. Help debug)

fontcolor - Console Font Color

bgcolor - Backdrop color

highlightcolor - Console text highlight color

fontsize - Font Size

font - Name of Font to use in console

consolelines - How many lines to display on screen at once

clear - clears all console text

proportionaltext - Spaces text out to cover the entire screen (E x a m p l e !)

spacing - specifies inter-character spacing, in pixels

settings - lists current console settings

default - returns console to default settings

closeconsole - closes console

repeat - repeats a command when entered

cvarlist - lists all cvars with their current & default settings

cvar_default - sets all cvars to their defaults

cvar_reset - resets config.wtf file to the settings you use when you log in for the first time

Camera

cameraBobbing

cameraBobbingFrequency

cameraBobbingLRAmplitude

cameraBobbingSmoothSpeed

cameraBobbingUDAmplitude

cameraCustomViewSmoothing

cameraDistance - Fixed value?

cameraDistanceD - Camera distance (zoom). May or may not show forced camera movements from camera-world collisions (untested).

cameraDistanceMax

cameraDistanceMaxFactor - Sets factor by which cameraDistanceMax is multiplied

cameraDistanceMoveSpeed

cameraDistanceSmoothSpeed - Default is 8.33. Values range from 0.002778-50. Changes speed at which you scroll-wheel zoom in/out.

cameraDive - Default is 1.

cameraFlyingMountHeightSmoothSpeed

cameraFoVSmoothSpeed

cameraGroundSmoothSpeed

cameraHeightIgnoreStandState

cameraHeightSmoothSpeed

cameraPitch - Fixed value?

cameraPitchD - Camera pitch. Doesn't seem to take forced camera movements because of camera-world collisions into consideration.

cameraPitchMoveSpeed

cameraPitchSmoothSpeed

cameraPitchSmoothMin

cameraPitchSmoothMax

cameraPivot - Default is 1. (no idea what it does)

cameraSmoothStyle - Default is 0. Possible values 0-2.

cameraSmoothTrackingStyle

cameraSmoothYaw

cameraSmoothTimeMin

cameraSmoothTimeMax

cameraSubmergeFinalPitch

cameraSubmergePitch

cameraSurfacePitch

cameraSurfaceFinalPitch

cameraTargetSmoothSpeed

cameraTerrainTilt

cameraTerrainTiltTimeMin

cameraTerrainTiltTimeMax

cameraView

cameraViewBlendStyle - Default is 1. Possible values 1-2. Camera moves from saved positions smoothly or instantly.

cameraWaterCollision

cameraYaw - Fixed value?

cameraYawD - Camera yaw. May or may not show forced camera movements from camera-world collisions (untested).

cameraYawMoveSpeed - Default is 230. Possible values 1-360. Changes the speed at which the camera can spin.

cameraYawSmoothMax

cameraYawSmoothMin

cameraYawSmoothSpeed

Controls

assistAttack - Start attacking automatically after using /assist

autoClearAFK - Clear AFK upon movement

autoDismount - Dismount when trying to use an ability

autoDismountFlying - ...even when flying

autoStand - Stand up when trying to use an ability [Introduced in Patch 2.3]

autoUnshift - Unshift/Unstealth/Leave shadowform when using an ability only usable "unshifted" [Introduced in Patch 2.3]

AutoInteract - Right-click to move

automoveturnspeedwide - ?

automoveturnspeednarrow - ?

autoRangedCombat - Automatically switch between ranged and meelee attack

autoSelfCast - Automatic self-casting

deselectOnClick - Sticky targetting

Joystick - Enable Joysticks

mouseInvertYaw - Invert left-right mouse motion

mouseInvertPitch - Invert up-down mouse motion

mouseSpeed - Mouse speed

stopAutoAttackOnTargetChange - Stop attacking when switching targets

Graphics

baseMip - base level for mip mapping ("Texture Resolution" slider)

bspcache - Binary Space Partition Caching

characterAmbient - Set the ambient value for characters. This CVar accepts nil as a value with a notable effect, but WoW does not save nil variables. /console characterAmbient without any parameters can be used to set this CVar to nil.

DesktopGamma - Matches Windows' Gamma Settings

DistCull - Sets distance for culling of objects near farclip

extShadowQuality - Enables Dynamic Shadows (WoW 3.0)

environmentDetail - Controls model draw distance for doodads (WoW 3.0)

farclip - Set detailed draw distance; sets the fog distance. Only terrain will be visible past this distance.

farclipoverride - Allows overriding of preset limit for farclip (WoW 3.0)

fixedfunction - Force fixed function pixel and vertex processing

ffx - Enable all pixel shaders

ffxDeath - Enable full screen death effect

ffxGlow - Enable full screen glow effect

ffxSpecial - Enables alternative on screen effects. (WoW 3.0

)

ffxNetherWorld - Enable full screen "nether world" effect, e.g. for a Mage's Invisibility

ffxRectangle - Enables Widescreen Framebuffer

hwPCF - Use hardware based Percentage Closer Filtering for shadows (Default on)

footstepBias - ?

Gamma - Gamma level

gxApi - Graphics API to use

gxAspect - Preserve aspect ratio for windowed mode

gxColorBits - Color bits

gxCursor - Enable hardware cursors

gxDepthBits - Depth bits

gxFixLag - Smooth mouse cursor

gxMaximize - When using windowed mode, maximize the window

gxMultisample - Enable anti-aliasing (e.g. "4" for 4x multisampling)

gxMultisampleQuality - Quality for anti-aliasing (?)

gxOverride - ?

gxResolution - Screen resolution (e.g. "1280x1024")

gxRefresh - Refresh rate in Hz

gxTripleBuffer - Enable Triple Buffering

gxVSync - Enable VSync

gxWindow - Windowed mode

horizonfarclip - Set draw distance for the horizon (terrain). When larger than farclip, will show 'shadows' of terrain in the distance.

hwDetect - Perform hardware detection for best values

mapObjOverbright - Enables Color Bleeding for Bright Lights

mapObjLightLOD - ?

mapShadows - Toggle map shadows

MaxLights - Maximum number of hardware lights

MaxFPS - Framerate Limitation

M2UseZFill - Enabled Z-Fill on transparent objects

M2UseClipPlanes - use clip planes for sorting transparent objects

M2UseThreads - multithread model animations

M2UsePixelShaders - Enable pixel shaders for models

M2BatchDoodads - Enable handling of Detail Doodads in batches (combine doodads to reduce batch count)

M2BatchParticles - combine particle emitters to reduce batch count

M2UseShaders - Enable vertex shaders for models

M2Faster - end user control of scene optimization mode - (0-3)

M2FasterDebug - Enables developer dynamic control (programmer control of scene optimization mode)

M2OverrideModel - replace one model with another

M2ForceAdditiveParticleSort - force all particles to sort as though they were additive

UIFaster - UI acceleration level

nearclip - Clipping range for small detail doodads

occlusion - Disables rendering of objects that are entirely blocked by other graphics

particleDensity - Particle density

pixelShaders - Enable pixel shaders

playerTextureLevels - Number of mip levels used for component texture.

PlayerFadeInRate - fade in rate for player mouseover

PlayerFadeOutAlpha - min fade out alpha for player mouseover

PlayerFadeOutRate - fade out rate for player mouseover

shadowBias - Blob Shadow transparency levels

shadowcull - ?

shadowinstancing - Shadow optimization which prevents flickering

shadowLevel - Level of detail for shadow mip maps

shadowLOD - Enables or Disables Blob Shadows

shadowscissor - ?

showshadow - ?

showfootprints - Enable footprints

showfootprintparticles - ?

showsmartrects - Deprecated in WoW 3.0

SkyCloudLOD - Level of detail for Sky

SmallCull - Affects the hiding ('culling') of small objects. Setting to 0 disables.

specular - Enable specular shading

spellEffectLevel - Spell Effect level

SplineOpt - Loading Screen Spline for travel

texLodBias - Texture Level of Detail Bias (?)

textureFilteringMode - Texture filtering mode (?)

textureCacheSize - Caches in memory textures when they are not in use for quick loading. (Min: 8388608, Max: 536870912, Default: 33554432)

triangleStrips - Deprecated in WoW 3.0

unitDrawDist - Unit draw distance

useWeatherShaders - Enable weather shaders

violenceLevel - Changes the violence level of the game

waterLOD - Level of Detail for water (Locked)

weatherDensity - Level of weather effects

lod - Level of detail, toggles the level of detail option in the graphics menu

Interface

BlockTrades - Block trade requests

ChatBubbles - Enable chat bubbles

ChatBubblesParty - Enable party chat bubbles

CombatDamage - Enable damage display over target

CombatHealing - Enable healing display over target

combatLogOn - Enable combat log (?)

CombatLogPeriodicSpells - Enable periodic spells in combat log (?)

gameTip - Determine which Loading Screen tip will display next (increments per character Login)

guildMemberNotify - Display notification when guild members log in or out

minimapZoom - Minimap zoom level (?)

minimapInsideZoom - Minimap inside zoom level (return the same zoom level as Minimap:GetZoom() when in indoors)

ObjectSelectionCircle - Size of the targeting circle ('0' disables)

PetMeleeDamage - Show pet meelee damage

PetSpellDamage - Show pet spell damage

predictedHealth - Enables the Smooth filling Health Bar ('0' disables)

predictedPower - Enables the Smooth filling Energy/Mana/Rage/Runic Bar ('0' disables)

profanityFilter - Enable profanity filter

rotateMinimap - Rotate minimap

secureAbilityToggle - Keeps players from accidentally toggling off by hitting the button more than once in a short (3 sec?) period of time

spamFilter - Enable spam filter

screenshotFormat - Screenshot format

screenshotQuality - Screenshot quality (0-10)

showGameTips - Toggles displaying of loading screen game tips ('0' disables)

showLootSpam - Show a message in the combat log with the amount of money looted when auto-looting

ShowTargetCastbar - Show your target's cast bar

ShowVKeyCastbar - Show target's cast bar under nameplates

scriptErrors - Show script errors (?)

scriptProfile - ?

statusBarText - Show the Player status bar values as text on top of the normal HP/MP/Energy/Rage bars

synchronizeSettings - Toggles the saving of UI settings to the server (0-1)

UberTooltips - Show "extended" tooltips

uiScale - Interface scale

UnitNameRenderMode - ?

UnitNameOwn - (0/1) Toggle Own Name

UnitNameNPC - (0/1) Toggle NPC Name

UnitNamePlayerGuild - (0/1) Toggle Guild Tags

UnitNamePlayerPVPTitle - (0/1) Toggle Titles

UnitNameFriendlyPlayerName - (0/1) Toggle Friendly Player Names

UnitNameFriendlyPetName - (0/1) Toggle Friendly Pet Names

UnitNameFriendlyCreationName - (0/1) Toggle Friendly Creation Names

UnitNameEnemyPlayerName - (0/1) Toggle Enemy Player Names

UnitNameEnemyPetName - (0/1) Toggle Enemy Pet Names

UnitNameEnemyCreationName - (0/1) Toggle Enemy Creation Names

UnitNameCompanionName - (0/1) Toggle Companion Names

useUiScale - Enable interface scaling

Sound

Sound_ChaosMode - Plays random sounds depending on what it is set to (needs to be enabled)

Sound_EnableSoftwareHRTF - Enables headphone designed sound subsystem

Sound_VoiceChatInputDriverIndex - Device for voice input (Microphone)

Sound_VoiceChatOutputDriverIndex - Device for voice output (Headset or secondary speakers)

Sound_OutputDriverIndex - Audio Device Selected

Sound_DSPBufferSize - Sound buffer size

Sound_EnableSFX - Enables SoundFX

Sound_EnableErrorSpeech - Enable error sounds ("Can't cast that yet!")

Sound_EnableMusic - Enables Music

Sound_EnableAllSound - Enables All Sound

Sound_ListenerAtCharacter - Set sound center to player

Sound_EnableEmoteSounds - Enable emote voices

Sound_EnableArmorFoleySoundForSelf - Enable armor damage sounds for player

Sound_EnableArmorFoleySoundForOthers - Enable armor damage sounds for NPCs and other PCs

Sound_MaxCacheableSizeInBytes - Max sound size that will be cached, larger files will be streamed instead

SoundMemoryCache - Sound cache memory size in MB

Sound_EnableMode2 - Enables Alternate sound processing

Sound_EnableMixMode2 - Enables and controls PCM Audio Quality

Sound_EnableHardware - Enable Audio Hardware Acceleration

useEnglishAudio - override the locale and use English audio

Combat Log

CombatDeathLogRange - Defines the range in which players/mobs dying will be recorded in the combat log or not

Battle.net

decorateAccountName - ? (0 or 1)

realmListbn - Battle.net realm list server to use (default: "beta.logon.battle.net")

Unknown

It is unknown what these settings do and which category they would belong to. They have not been tested and might be variables for internal/debugging use only.

CombatModeMaxDistance - Range for combat auto target

Errors - ?

ErrorFileLog - ?

ErrorLevelMin - ?

ErrorLevelMax - ?

ErrorFilter - ?

PlayerAnim - ?

ShowErrors - ?

TargetAnim - ?

timingTestError - ?

AwindowResizeLock - ?

asyncHandlerTimeout - Engine option: Async read main thread timeout (?)

asyncThreadSleep - Engine option: Async read thread sleep (?)

flatFileSystem - Flatten the on-disk hierarchy (?)

dbCompress - Database compression (?)

Deprecated

frillDensity - Replaced by groundEffectDensity

frilldistance - Replaced by groundEffectDist

Anisotropic - Anisotropic filtering

Trilinear - Enable trilinear filtering

doodadAnim - Toggle animated geometry

fullAlpha - Enable full alpha on terrain doodads

AmbienceVolume - Ambience volume

ChatAmbienceVolume - ?

ChatMusicVolume - ?

ChatSoundVolume - ?

EmoteSounds - Replaced by :Sound_EnableEmoteSounds

EnableAmbience - Enable ambient sounds

EnableGroupSpeech - Enable voice emotes (?)

EnableErrorSpeech - Replaced by :Sound_EnableErrorSpeech

EnableMusic - Enable music

EnableSoundWhenGameIsInBG - Enable sound while the game is minimized

FootstepSounds - Enable footstep sounds

MapWaterSounds - Enable water sounds

MasterVolume - Master volume

MasterSoundEffects - ?

MusicVolume - Music volume

SoundBufferSize - Sound buffer size

SoundDriver - Sound driver

SoundInitFlags - Initialization flags for sound system (?)

SoundListenerAtCharacter - Play sounds at character

SoundMixer - Sound mixer to use

SoundMixRate - Sound mix rate

SoundNumChannels - Number of sound channels

SoundOutputSystem - Sound system

SoundReverb - Enables sound reflections depending on room size

SoundRolloffFactor - Sound rolloff factor (?)

SoundUseHardware - Enable hardware acceleration

SoundVolume - Sound volume

SoundZoneMusicNoDelay - Enables music looping

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