This section describes the basic things you can do once the emulator has been fired up.
When the emulator is run, the screen of the emulated machine is displayed in a standard X Window which we will call the emulation window. This window will be updated in real time, displaying the same contents that a real monitor or TV set would.
Below the emulation window there is an area which is used to display information about the state of the emulator; we will call this area the status bar.
On the extreme left of the status bar, there is a performance meter. This displays the current relative speed of the emulator (as a percentage) and the update frequency (in frames per second). All the machines emulated are PAL, so the update frequency will be 50 frames per second if your system is fast enough to allow emulation at the speed of the real machine.
On the extreme right of the status bar, there is a drive status indicator. This is only visible if the hardware-level ("True") 1541 emulation is turned on. In that case, the drive status indicator will contain a rectangle emulating the drive LED and will display the current track position of the drive's read/write head.
It is possible to execute some commands and change emulation parameters while the emulator is running: when the pointer is over the emulation window, two menus are available by pressing either the left or right mouse buttons. The left mouse button will open the command menu from which several emulation-related commands can be executed; the right mouse button will open the settings menu from which emulation parameters can be changed. The basic difference between the command and the settings menu is that, while commands have only effect on the current session, settings can be saved and later used with the "Save settings" and "Load settings" right-button menu items, respectively. "Restore default settings" restores the factory defaults. See section 6 Settings and resources for more information about how settings work in VICE.
Sometimes commands can be reached via shortcuts or hotkeys, i.e., it is possible to execute them by pressing a sequence of keys instead of going through the menu with the mouse. Where shortcuts exist, they are displayed in parentheses at the right edge of the menu item. In VICE, all shortcuts must begin with the Meta or Alt key. So, for example, to attach a disk image to drive #8 (the corresponding menu item displays "M-8"), you have to press the Meta (or Alt) and then 8.
Note that no other key presses are passed on to the emulated machine while either Meta or Alt are held down.
Note that no other key presses are passed on to the emulated machine while either Meta or Alt are held down.
Note that no other key presses are passed on to the emulated machine while either Meta or Alt are held down.
Note that no other key presses are passed on to the emulated machine while either Meta or Alt are held down.
Note that no other key presses are passed on to the emulated machine while either Meta or Alt are held down.
Note that no other key presses are passed on to the emulated machine while either Meta or Alt are held down.
Note that no other key presses are passed on to the emulated machine while either Meta or Alt are held down.
Note that no other key presses are passed on to the emulated machine while either Meta or Alt are held down.
Note that no other key presses are passed on to the emulated machine while either Meta or Alt are held down.
Note that no other key presses are passed on to the emulated machine while either Meta or Alt are held down.
Note that no other key presses are passed on to the emulated machine while either Meta or Alt are held down.
Note that no other key presses are passed on to the emulated machine while either Meta or Alt are held down.
Note that no other key presses are passed on to the emulated machine while either Meta or Alt are held down.
Note that no other key presses are passed on to the emulated machine while either Meta or Alt are held down.
Note that no other key presses are passed on to the emulated machine while either Meta or Alt are held down.
Note that no other key presses are passed on to the emulated machine while either Meta or Alt are held down.
Note that no other key presses are passed on to the emulated machine while either Meta or Alt are held down.
Note that no other key presses are passed on to the emulated machine while either Meta or Alt are held down.
Note that no other key presses are passed on to the emulated machine while either Meta or Alt are held down.
Note that no other key presses are passed on to the emulated machine while either Meta or Alt are held down.
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