# 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](options/index.md).

## 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](launcher/index.md). |
| **Options** | Opens the tabbed [Options](options/index.md) 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](quick-start.md).

## 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](options/machine.md). |
| **Graphics** | Display, palette, **NTSC Artifact Setup**, and **Shader Setup**. See [Graphics](options/video.md). |
| **Sound** | Audio enable, frequency, sample and buffer controls, and volume. See [Sound](options/sound.md). |
| **Input** | **Player 1** through **Player 4** for enabled controller ports, **UI**, and **A800 Keys** for 8-bit machines. See [Input](options/input.md). |
| **Misc** | **Setup**, **Configuration**, **Palette**, **Debugger** when available, **Create Media**, **Log**, and **Manual**. See [Misc](options/misc.md). |

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](launcher/index.md) 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](options/machine.md) tab and in the Launcher's
[ROM Options](launcher/rom-settings.md), 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, ++arrow-up++ / ++arrow-down++ move the selection,
  ++arrow-right++ enters the selected directory, and ++arrow-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.
