This section explains some of the less obvious controls from the Controls menu in the game.

Hold C (by default) and then click and hold left mouse button on sand in order to paint excavation markers only on the specific type of sand clicked on:

This is very useful if, for example, you want to dig some terrain around a body of water, but want to avoid collecting the water.

While holding a unit under your cursor - whether you are moving an existing ship or placing a new one - press Alt over sand in order to paint excavation markers on sand in the exact shape of the unit being held:

This section explains some of the special key combinations in IXE that help during gameplay.

In addition to the Erase Dig control (Ctrl by default) you can also hold middle mouse button to erase digging markers.

Hold Shift and then click on a ship in your inventory to select all instances of this ship present in the level.

Hold left mouse button to paint excavation markers and then use the camera movement controls (default WASD) to paint straight lines.

Hold Shift and then click ships to select multiple ships at once.

Hold Ctrl and click and drag units in your inventory to rearrange them. The game will attempt to remember your arrangements so they will persist in other missions.