Welcome to the ActiveGS Support page

Latest build #

Sample

Here come a simple test page to test the installation process : ActiveGS Sample.
If it works, check for more images on the fta web site ;)

Installation

Plugin

Waterfox Classic : download ActiveGS-4.00.xpi and install it through the AddOns menu

Requires a 64Bits NPAPI Compatible plugin

Chrome : Not supported .
Firefox : Not supported

Safari : Not supported

Stand-alone Application

Even if the primary usage of ActiveGS is to be used as a in-browser plugin, a stand alone version is available for people who want to keep accessing their images offline.

MACOSX/WIN32 : download ActiveGS.zip
Linux : download ActiveGS.zip and use Wine to launch it

usages
- Modify the default.activegsxml file using a plain text editor to define which disk image(s) you want to launch. Image can be in .DSK, .PO, .2MG or .ZIP for format. Filepath can be a local file path or an internet path (http://)
- Create a specific .activegsxml file for each application you want to launch, and pass the name of the configuration file as a command-line parameter to the application
- If you want to launch a single disk image, you can directly specifiy pass the filename to the application : the emulator will automatically configure itself according to the disk format
- Win32: after the first launch of the emulator, .2MG, .PO, .DSK and .activegsxml file are automatically assigned to the emulator application. By double clicking directly on such files, automatically execute them

iOS

Install the application through iTune : ActiveGS - Best Of FTA
Download the latest IPA (for registered users only) : ActiveGS.ipa

Un-Installation (Troubleshooting)

Plugin

Internet Explorer/Firefox :just go in the Tools>Manage Add-Ons menu and uninstall the plugin
Chrome : just go in settings/tools/extension and uninstall the plugin
Chrome/Opera/Safari : you will have to manually delete the plugin from the install directory (cf. above)

ActiveGS Cache

ActiveGS caches locally the images that have been downloaded from the Internet. This cache can be either the Internet Explorer Cache, or a local cache in your HOME directory :
- Windows : c:/users/<username>/My Documents/ActiveGSLocalData
- MacOSX : /users/<username>/ActiveGSLocalData
If you want to fully uninstall the plugin, or if you have some corrupted images, you can safely destroy the ActiveGSLocalData folder

Source code

ActiveGS is a front-end based on the Kegs 0.91 emulator.
The Kegs kernel has been *slightly* modified to integrate some improvement and bug fixes (cf. below), but the compatibility with the original interface has been maintained to easily share back those modifications.
Here comes the source code of the kernel to let other people benefit from those improvements (and hopefully add their own ;))

kegs_3_0_242.zip

Changelog 4.0.0000 (October 24th 2020)

* Support 64Bits NPAPI compatible plugins
* Updated deployment script to install Waterfox Classic

Changelog 3.7.1019 (January 31th 2014)

* Preventing ActiveGS to be installed on non supported platform (Linux)
[Win] * Disabling Mouse capture when Options window is displayed

Changelog 3.7.1013 (January 6th 2014)

[Win] * Updated installation procedure for Windows 8.x
[Win] * Fix Mouse Cursor support in F8 Mode

Changelog 3.6.1307 (March 19h 2013)

+ Color scheme can now be changed when the emulator is in pause mode
+ [Win32] Saved State can be stored to/reload from disk
+ Deploy ActiveGS through the Chrome Web Store
+ Preliminary support for HDV file extension
* Updated documentation
* [OS/X] Fix Joystick support
* [iOS] Fix manual installation of disk images from the Documents Directory

Changelog 3.5.894 (July 11h 2012)

+ Added support for .DO disk image

Changelog 3.5.891 (July 7h 2012)

+ [iOS] Added 1-4 on the quick keyboard
+ [iOS] Submitted to the appstore

Changelog 3.5.881 (June 15th 2012)

+ [iOS] Added Airplay support
* [iOS] Fixed crash when clicking on link
+ [iOS] Build with SDK 5.1
+ [iOS] Upgraded to v1.30 - preparing appstore submission

#3.5.864 (April 22nd 2012)

+ Added TCP/IP support through the Marinetti Stack (cf. Marinetti Test Page)
+ F5 now pauses the emulator
+ Added Read/Write/Execute/patch breakpoints
+ Added "runtime" tag in XMLConfig to modify memory on the fly
+ [iOS/OSX] Added ejection sound - thanks to Benzebut!
* [iOS] Fix keyboard layout when swtiching between portrait/landscape mode

#3.5.772 (February 13th 2012)

* [OSX/NPAPI] Fix CAPSLOCK issue

#3.5.762 (Januray 21st 2012)

* [Chrome] Fix Chrome extension deployment

#3.5.750 (December 22nd 2011)

* [Firefox] Updated package for Firefox 9.0 and beyond
+ [Chrome] Added icons
* [OSX/Safari] Restored Async Window refresh - Thanks to Apple for having fixed that bug in less than 9 months!

#3.5.704 (November 23rd 2011)

* Fix overscan border - XMas demo now rocks! -- Thanks to Benzebut
* [win32/IE] Fix installation script
* [iOS] Refactor memory management for improved stability

#3.5.686(November 7th 2011)

+ Added Firefox 8.x support

#3.5.664(October 31st 2011)

* Fix videofx control from Javascript (crt|lcd)

#3.5.650 (October 28th 2011)

* [iOS] Fix missing pad/keyboard after cycling through inputs
* [Firefox] Fix plugin automatic update

#3.5.620 (October 22nd 2011)

+ Added Apple2E Rom for improved compatibility; use emulatorParam = apple2erom:1
+ .PO disk images are now mounted in slot5 if their size is > 140Kb
+ improved ActiveGSXML support in javascript:
- + added #id= parameter to select the corresponding config while parsing .activegsxml
- + replaced ?n by #pos= to select the corresponding file in a .zip archive (compatibility with the former method has been kept)
- + version upgrade to 3.5 to reflect change in the API
+ deployactive.js updated to force the update when minimum version is not satisfied
+ [iOs] periodic check of the availability of new database
* [iOS] Fix missing FTA Tab icons
+ [iOs] compiled with XCode 4.2
+ [win32] .Po disk images are associated with the standalone-version of the emulator

#3.4.565 (July 28th 2011)

* [OSX] Emergency update to fix rendering issue with Safari 5.1
* [OSX] Standalone version now using OpenAL for sound support
+ [OSX] Added zoom support for Mac Plugin (first implementation, a bit slow...)
+ [iOS] Added Retina icons
+ [iOS] Added "Arcade" input mode (WIP!)
+ Upgraded XPI to support Firefox 6.* and Firefox 7.*

#3.4.540 (June 21st 2011)

+ Added patch to support Zoyon Patrol (without to have to add the simulate6502:0 system paramater)
+ Upgraded XPI file for Automatic installation on Firefox 4 & 5
+ Added fallback installation hook in deployactivegs.js to let the host page install alternate widget

#3.4.508 (April 25th 2011)

+ Packaged ActiveGS as a Chrome Extension to smooth the installation process [Thanks to Ross Nye for the initial implementation]

#3.4.467 (April 25th 2011)

+ [win32] Fix Return key issue on Internet Explorer
+ [ios] Set 60hz by default on iPad 1 & 2, and iPhone 4

#3.4.459 (April 20th 2011)

+ version upgraded to v3.4.x!
+ New SystemParam propery to set parameters that are only read when the emulator is launched/rebooted
+ Improved .ActiveGSXML error checking

#3.3.443 (March 29th 2011)

+ Added memorySize option to control the amount of available memory at launch (2MB as default)
+ [iOS] v1.22 submitted to the AppStore!
+ Disable ZipGS hardware detection when running in normal speed (check ZIPGS CDA!)
* Fixed border refresh when changing runtime options
+ [osx] Display alert on new version availability
+ [ios] Access keys now available on iOS 3.1 (at the top of the screen though!)
+ [ios] High-DPI thumbnails for Retina screen
* [ios] Fixed 44Khz Audio support on iPad
+ [ios] Added access key iPad resolution
+ [ios] Added support for external keyboard (with an option to manually activate it for the Appstore version)
+ [ios] Added SPC, J & K to access keys for faster game configuration
+ [ios] Last tab selected is saved for next launch
+ [ios] accessory keys have infinite scroll
+ [ios] Added 15fps support for older iOS devices
+ [ios] input mode now scroll from keyboard+accessory, accessory only, joypad, joypad+accessory
+ Refactor parameters priority (from low to high) : 1-xml, 2-conf, 3-javascript
* memorySize can be defined in .activegsxmlfile (in <emulatorparam> section
* added minimal Marinetti/Sweet16 support : return ERR for any TCP/IP request !!!

#3.3.365 (March 14th 2011)

+ Added memorySize option to control the amount of available memory at launch (2MB as default)
+ [ios] Added iTunes icon for ActiveGS Ad-hoc distribution
+ [ios] Fix mouse control for iPhone4
+ [ios] Accessory key is now scrollable (+ improved display)
+ [ios] Option menu now larger & scrollable to be easily extended
+ Disable Transwarp hardware detection when running in normal speed (does not display the infamous Transwarp Speed Failure in Nucleus Original!)
+ Added memory & audio control to the configuration file
+ [win32] Added preliminary VS2010 support : application size multiplied by 4 :-(((
+ Clear download cache on emulator exit
+ Refactor plugin initialization for improved stability
* "reboot" command now restarts the emulator using the initial xmlconfig file (while bootslot=. does not change the current config)
* [osx] Fix browser crash (or blank screen) at launch
* [ios] Fix Favorites tab management
+ Added TouchScreen mouse emulation
* [win32] Restored Mouse Warp Mode (F8)
+ [ios] Browse menu bar displayed by default not to lost new users...
* [ios] Fix ZoomLock deadlock!
* [ios] Default ratio for landscape mode on iPhone change to reduce antialias artefacts in CRT mode

#3.3.303 (February 26th 2011)

* [osx] Fix browser crash at plugin startup (in some special occasion)
+ [ios] External keyboard support on iPad (still fuzzy due to a bug in the iOS SDK!)
+ [ios] Added option menu to control runtime parameters (speed, framerate, ...)
+ [ios] Added spinning loader when thumbnails are being downloaded
* [ios] Fix paddle button detection (cf. dig dug)
+ [ios] Added "Zoom Lock" option (to prevent the zoom from interfering with the inputs)
+ [ios] 60hz refresh on iPad and iPhone4 : scrollings are now smooth!
+ [ios] Emulator screen is refreshed even during zooming
+ [ios] tweak the zoom command in order to be able to easily return to default view
+ [ios] FTA Database updated to 1.12
* [ios] Fixed: list could be corrupted after an update
+ added "sendkey" commmand to simulate keyboard entries : ^ctrl; ^alt; ^option; ^reset
* Removed memory leaks in XML parsing
+ Added savestate status in "runtime" command
+ Added "defaultOption" command to restore the emulator to default options
+ Added vbl count of the latest savestate
* Discard save state on disk configuration change (to maintain the emulator integrity)
* Fix some XML Parsing issue
* Memory limit restored to 2MB to run the MegaDemo!
+ [win32] Switched to QueryPerformanceTimer for better timing accuracy
+ [osx] Using synchronous refresh when possible for smoother animation
+ [ios] Implemented Update Mechanism in list management (deleting former versions in Cache)
+ Added "pauseresume" command to toggle emulator state accordingly
+ [win32] nicer error message when multiple instances are running
* Fix possible crashes when multiple instances have been run

#3.3.201 (January 27th 2011)

+ Options are now saved in activegs.conf and activegs.ext -- config version updated to v3
+ CRT Mode implemented (not available in iOS yet) : default mode for the emulator
+ added support for various color schemes : auto, b&w, green, amber
+ Added saveOptions in JS Commands
+ Restored hi-frequenccy mouse and keyboard polling for more accurate user control
+ implemented *memory* save and restore state
+ implemented rewind mode : user can now go back in time and restart the emulation when needed (in pause mode, use the arrow keys to go back to time)
* Fix zipped image extraction when run from command line
* [ios] Fix image name display in browser view
* [osx] Added information about downloading and mount status (was broken for months...)
* [osx] Fix emulator screen refresh when the plugin window was clipped
+ [osx] compiled using SDK 10.6 (but maintaining compability with 10.5)
+ [osx] now using OpenAL (as iOS)

#3.3.101 (January 5th 2011)

+ added accurate 6502 simulation by NOPping unsupported opcodes when running pure Apple 2 programs (cf. Adventure on Atlantis, Flobynoid Demo, Microbe, ... now work:)
+ Disabled Apple 2GS detection in pure Apple 2 emulation (Flobynoid does not display GS.Mode anymore!)
+ [win32] Removed IE Cache usage on Windows : disk images are now stored in $home/ActiveGSLocalData for every platform
+ DoubleClick (instead of single click) now simulates space key (when there's no mouse activity)
+ Sound initialization performed on the main thread for improved stability

#3.2.619 (December 6th 2010)

+ Change emulator speed to 2.6 to better match the original 2GS Speed (thanks to Benzebut!)
+ [macosx] display warning message if the emulator is being run within multiple browser windows
+ [win32] Added screenshot button within ActiveGS ControlPanel
* Fix crash when trying to create screenshot with not disk mounted
* Fix mouse button buffering code (cf. Space Harrier with a low framerate)
* Remove SCC warning that was flooding the console

#3.1.486 (October 12th 2010)

* Restored MacOSX 10.5 display that was broken... due to iphone optimisation :-(

#3.1.469 (October 4th 2010)

* Fix language suppport in Control-Panel
* Fix Joystick support -- was broken since the 3.1 release :-(
+ Allow joystick to be manageable even at hi-speed
+ Refactor event system to be fully asynchronous
* Extended .exe command line to support all the plugin parameters : use -Slot51 <filename>, -Bootslot <slot number>, ...
* If hosting program does not support mouse, Left mouse button now simulates SPACE key

#3.1.399 (September 6th 2010)

* WIN32: Fix rendering issue while dragging the window
* Fix screen capture color scheme on MacOSX
+ Opera is now fully supported (both MacOSX & WIn32)
+ Refactor NPAPI/MacOSX to use CoreGraphics API
* Debug mouse management on SuperHires/Mac
* Can now use zipped images as command line parameter for the Mac Standalone app
* Fix crash when Mac Standalone app was about to exit
+ Updated installation script to support Firefox 4 & Minefield - manual installation though
+ Updated IE loading page to cope with missing certificate
* Fix some memory leaks in win32
* fix download aborted when restarting the emulator
+ delete downloaded file if download failed
+ delete zip file if unzip failed
* fix interrupt handling after having rebooted the emulator
* fix zip subdirectory management (cf. Arkanoid)
* fixed ratio calculation when size was exactly the double
* fixed command line support when using relative path
* improved .2mg size evaluation
* Known issues : xpi & activex are not signed!

#3.0.246 (April 29th 2010)

* Emergency fix to solve broken Firefox / MacOSX build

#3.0.242 (April 26th 2010)

+ Full .NIB support (cf. Zoyon Patrol)
* Minor Improvement on file selector
+ Kegs kernel source code available

#3.0.213 (April 16th 2010)

* Fix Firefox/Win32 space key

#3.0.209 (April 15th 2010)

* Fix Firefox/Win32 Apple ][ display
+ Reduced by 30% .xpi size for faster download

#3.0.184 (April 13th 2010)

+ Upgraded Kegs to 0.91 to match the latest available version
+ Added Transwarp support on Mac OSX
* Fix Safari rendering on Snow Leopard

#2.4.26 (December 14th 2009)

* Fix a nasty deadlock issue that was crashing Firefox on both Mac & Win32
+ Support Firefox 3.6
x Known Issue : Safari plugin does not work on SnowLeopard (use Firefox in the meantime)

#2.3.440 (August 26th 2009)

* Finally fixed overflow issue when using very long disk names
* Setting up a new XML file now unmounts all previously inserted disks
* Fix directory issue when changing slot after having configured the emulator with an activegsxml file
* Ignore __MACOSX directory when parsing zip file
* Ignore non disk extensions (ie: 2mg, dsk, po & nib) while parsing zip file
+ Added preliminary download window to show the user that a donwload is in progress(MacOs)

#2.3.425 (August 12th 2009)

* Fix keyboard support on Firefox Mac : CTRL, CLOSED-APPLE, and OPEN-APPLE should now work fine
+ Improved javascript control (json support, error checking, extended information availability,...)
+ Added "system", "runtime" and "status" commands to retrieve various information about the emulator
+ EmulatorParam can now be modified on the fly by the web page : _joystickMode, _PNGBorder, ...
* Fixed emulator controls when several pages with the emulator were being loaded
+ Added Joystick support (MacOSX)

#2.3.400 (July 31th 2009)

* Fixed the broken display on first launch on Firefox 3.5 (Win32)
* Fixed a crash in the plugin while refreshing the window : version should now be pretty stable
* Fixed a memory leak when capturing screenshot
+ Added support url beginning by file://localhost/... for better Opera compatibility
+ Added "_PNGBorder" parameter to specify the border whitdh while capturing screenshot
+ run-time parameters set by the deployment script now appears in the "variable" tabs (win32)

#2.3.387 (July 29th 2009)

+Added "status" command to include lights & track information for each drive, speed and pause status
+Added parameter "_doNotShowDiskStatus" in the EmulatorParam property to disable disk status in ActiveGS (to let the html page decide about its display as in this page)
+"swap" command available to easily swap disk for multiple-disk application
+"screenshot" command to capture a .PNG of the current screen
*NIB disk images are no more write-protected
*Remove the constraint on the number of available Slot7 drives : up to 8 are now supported. Use the .xml file to set those additional drives
*Associated .NIb file to the stand-alone app (Win32)
*Added "pause" and "resume" commands
+Auto-update mechanism for the Firefox plugin
+Both .XPI and .CAB files are now digitally signed for improved security

#2.3.319 (July 9th 2009)

+ First public release with MacOSX support ;)
+ Added command 'Reboot'
+ Firefox upgrade mechanism integrated
+ Upgrade messages for Safari/Chrome/Opera added (to compensate the lack of Upgrade mechanism)
+ "First launch" message added to brief the user of the status of the current version
+ installation script deployactivegs.js to easily integrate the plugin into your web page and cope with the various installation procedures
+ Mouse cursor is now translucent only if the emulator has the keyboard focus (WIN32)
+ .2MG and .2DSK are associated to the ActiveGS stand-alone version (Win32)
+ Standalone application window can be resized (Win32)
* Support for high dpi resolution & zoom (Win32)
* New scripting support to work with Chrome/Opera/Safari
+ Added icons for Standalone application and disk images (Win32)
* Fix Emulator default size to 704x462
+ Added generic "Command" function to communicate with the plugin from javascript
* Names have been unified: ActiveGS is now the universal filename for every version (ActiveGS.Cab, ActiveGS.Xpi, ActiveGS.Exe, ActiveGS.App, ActiveGS.dll ActiveGS.plugin)
+ Added 1.5 second delay when swapping disk to allow the emulator to catch the eject event
+ Persistent directory moved to "my documents" to bypass administration privilege requirement on Window Vista
* Fix freeze when launching 2 instances of the emulator at the exact same time
* Fixed image loading if there were some trailing space(s) in the name
* Fixed Stack Overflow in case of too long image names
+ New disk interface to better control the emulator while running
+ Windows key are only captured when the emulator has the focus (Win32)!
* Improved status/Disk window clipping (Win32)
* Fix refresh issue with firefox : no more blue screen when hitting the refresh button
* Standalone application now matching the plugin code base

Contact

webmaster@freetoolsassociation.com