Menu Reference¶
This page maps the current kat5200 GUI menus to the guide sections that explain them in more detail.
Status panel¶
Alongside the main menu, the GUI shows a status panel summarizing the current session:
- System — the emulated machine (Atari 5200 / 400/800 / XL/XE).
- OS — the OS / BIOS variant in use.
- ROM — the currently attached ROM, or None.
- Port 1–Port 4 — the controller type on each port, plus which PC device is driving it (Mouse, Keyboard, or Not attached).
It is read-only; change these values under Options.
Main menu¶
| Item | What it does |
|---|---|
| Load ROM from file | Opens the file browser, attaches the selected image, and launches it immediately. |
| Load ROM from Launcher | Opens the ROM Launcher. |
| Options | Opens the tabbed Options window. |
| Reset | Resets the emulated machine. |
| Load State | Opens the state-load menu. |
| Save State | Opens the state-save menu. |
| Exit | Quits kat5200. |
State menus¶
Load State contains:
- From File - open a named state file.
- Quick State 1 through Quick State 9 - shown only for quick-save slots that already exist.
Save State contains:
- To File - save a named state file.
- Quick State 1 through Quick State 9 - write one of the quick-save slots.
The default in-emulation shortcuts are covered in Quick Start.
Options menus¶
The Options window uses top-level tabs:
| Tab | Submenus and related pages |
|---|---|
| System | Machine, media, BIOS, controller ports, and Pokey POT Values. See System. |
| Graphics | Display, palette, NTSC Artifact Setup, and Shader Setup. See Graphics. |
| Sound | Audio enable, frequency, sample and buffer controls, and volume. See Sound. |
| Input | Player 1 through Player 4 for enabled controller ports, UI, and A800 Keys for 8-bit machines. See Input. |
| Misc | Setup, Configuration, Palette, Debugger when available, Create Media, Log, and Manual. See Misc. |
Some menu entries are conditional. For example, 8-bit-only controls are hidden while the emulated system is Atari 5200, the manual GUI Scale control appears only when Auto GUI Scale is off, and Buffer Size appears only when Auto Buffer Size is off.
Launcher menus¶
The Launcher has four sections:
| Section | What it contains |
|---|---|
| ROM List | Searchable list of known ROM entries. |
| ROM Actions | Attach To, Launch, Launch - No Reset, Attach, and read-only ROM info. |
| ROM Options | Editable Name, File, Mapping, favorites, delete, clear filename, clear custom settings, and add-from-file actions. |
| View Options | View by ROM type filter, including Favorites when present. |
See the Launcher pages for launch, attach, scanning, and per-ROM override details.
File browser¶
Several places open the built-in file browser: Load ROM from file, the File fields on the System tab and in the Launcher's ROM Options, palette import, and others. Inside it:
- The path field at the top is editable — type or paste a path and press Enter to jump there directly.
- Up moves to the parent directory; double-click (or press Enter on) a folder to enter it.
- With the list focused, Up / Down move the selection, Right enters the selected directory, and Left goes up one level.
- Ok accepts the selected file, Cancel closes without choosing.
When loading a ROM, the browser also shows a Mapping selector so you can override the cartridge mapping (normally Auto) for the image before it is attached — useful for titles the automatic guess misidentifies.