v1.2-alpha43

Alpha. Use with caution.

💾 Click the Assets link below to download a ZIP file containing disk images. Each ZIP file contains 800k .2MG, 800k .HDV, and 140k .PO disk images for use with a real Apple II or emulators.

Select the package for your preferred language:
de = Deutsch,
en = English,
es = Español,
fr = Français,
it = Italiano,
pt = Português.

📖 See https://a2desktop.com/docs for comprehensive documentation.

A full list of changes since 1.1 (the last official release) can be found in the Release Notes.

⚠️ NOTE: The location of configuration files has changed in this version. They are now in the LOCAL/ subdirectory. You can move your existing DESKTOP.CONFIG and SELECTOR.LIST file into that folder to preserve previous settings.

General

• New folder structure. App modules are in MODULES/, configuration files in LOCAL/, optional components now in EXTRAS/.
• IIgs: Enable monochrome composite display
• Menu bar clock is right-aligned.
• Text input fields:
  • Mouse cursor obscured when typing.
  • Appearance and movement of insertion point is improved.
  • Control+X (or Clear key on IIgs) clears text.
• File pickers:
  • Ignore non-pathname characters typed in pathname fields.
  • Ignore control characters typed in fields.
  • Performance of scrolling improved.
  • Correct issues with path updates when changing selection.

DeskTop

• Fix selection order with left/up arrow keys.
• Fix hang when desktop icons are removed by Check Drive / Format / Erase.
• Improved appearance of File > Get Info and Special > Get Size dialogs.
• Fix regression causing Special > Get Size to report 0K for files.
• Mark volume/folder icons as open when windows are restored or launched via path.
• Open-Apple+Solid-Apple+Down opens selection and closes current window. #660
• Open-Apple+Solid-Apple+Up opens parent window (or selects volume icon) and closes current window. #661
• Improved mouse responsiveness when no dialog is showing.
• Add icon for ShrinkIt and Binary II archives, based on file types and filename extensions.
• Support expanding ShrinkIt archives using AUTO UnShrinkIt by Andrew E. Nicholas.
• Fix shortcuts set to copy to RAMCard on first use.
• Add ` as an alias for Tab for selecting the next icon alphabetically, and ~ (Shift+`) for reverse. #671
• Fix clearing DHR screen to black before showing. Again.
• Fix erasing long pathnames during multi-file operations.

Selector

• Don't hide SELECTOR file; just don't run it by default.
• Improve progress dialog appearance when copying to RAMCard.
• Show startup volume first in the file picker. #663
• Fix clearing DHR screen to black before showing. Again.

Disk Copy

• Support up to 13 devices
• Improve alert dialog appearance.
• Disk Copy moved to a separate file that can be optionally removed. #216
• Support drives in Slot 3 Drive 1, if present.

Desk Accessories

• Date and Time: Respects 12/24-hour setting. #596
• Date and Time: Month length enforced appropriately.
• 12/24-hour clock setting moved from Control Panel to Date and Time.
• Sort Directory: Increase buffer size to 10k to handle any supported directory size. (Note that DeskTop is still limited to 127 icons total. #86)
• This Apple: Detect Uthernet II card in slot 3, and avoid resetting state if active.
• Matrix: Exit on mouse click. #618
• Electric Duet: Add alternate playback code, activated by holding Open-Apple or Solid-Apple when launching.
• New DA: Scientific Calculator. #211
• New DA: Sounds control panel, for setting the alert sound. #283

v1.2-alpha42

Alpha. Use with caution.

NOTE: The format of the settings file used by Control Panel DAs has changed. If you install updates to an existing disk image, you will need to re-apply any settings changes again after installing this version.

💾 Click the Assets link below to download disk images. Select the disk image image for your preferred language:de = Deutsch, en = English, es = Español, fr = Français, it = Italiano, pt = Português. You probably want ...-_800k.2mg

📖 See https://a2desktop.com/docs for comprehensive documentation.

A full list of changes since 1.1 (the last official release) can be found in the Release Notes.

Big thanks for @peterferrie for contributions, primarily performance and code size improvements.

General

• Laser 128: Fix default double click speed.
• One more attempt at clearing text screen before showing. #639
• Performance improvements by changing MGTK configuration.
• File Picker: Clear to right of IP when changing drive.
• File Picker: Verify paths are not volumes. #656
• Fit & Finish: Improve text box appearance and file picker layout.
• Fit & Finish: Improve border appearance in modal dialogs.
• Fit & Finish: Alert dialog border and icon improved.

DeskTop

• Fix bad replacement checks for File > Copy a File... #635
• Handle operations with contained forked files. #631
• Don't allow File > Duplicate... to replace existing files. #642
• Message tweaks when filename not changed in copy dialog. #643
• Update windows after failed operations. #644
• Handle renaming volumes/folders DeskTop depends on. #467
• Close affected windows after a folder deletion. #654
• Prevent creation of vol shortcut copied to RAMCard. #651, #652, #653
• Error message tweaks. #449
• Eliminate "splash menu".
• Show startup vol in top right icon spot. #468
• Restrict Format/Erase dialog to 12 volumes. #326
• Prefix folders in list views with folder glyph. #318
• Added support for type-down and Tab selection. #275

Selector

• Error message tweaks. #450

Disk Copy

• Tweak case for File menu reference in label.
• Eliminate "splash menu".

Desk Accessories

• New DA: Calendar. #231
• Puzzle: Don't scramble until button is clicked.
• Force showing clock after DAs exit. #646
• Run Basic Here: Fix path lookup when running from RAMCard. #645
• Rename Startup to Startup.Options. #649
• Put DAs in alphabetical order by default.
• Eyes: Improve quality of the eyeball ovals. #83
• Control Panel: Separate default pattern and active pattern. #453
• Control Panel, Startup and Date: Prompt to save changes if write fails, even if not running from RAMCard.

v1.2-alpha41

Alpha. Use with caution.

💾 Click the Assets link below to download disk images. Select the disk image image for your preferred language: de = Deutsch, en = English, es = Español,fr = Français, it = Italiano, pt = Português. You probably want ...-_800k.2mg

📖 See https://a2desktop.com/docs for comprehensive documentation.

A full list of changes since 1.1 (the last official release) can be found in the Release Notes.

General

• Consistently clear text screen when exiting apps. #621
• File Pickers:
  • Enable Apple+letter selection for lowercase filenames. #615
  • Allow type-down selection when holding Apple key. #610
  • Don't require exact match for Apple+letter selection. #609
  • Allow Shift to reverse device order, when detectable. #605
  • Make scrollbar position correctly proportional. #607
• MouseKeys mode activation/deactivation changed. #185
  • Enter mode by holding down OA and SA, then press Space. A sound will play.
  • Use arrow keys to move, and SA as the mouse button.
  • Exit mode by pressing Escape. A sound will play.
• Y-clamping fixed while in MouseKeys mode.

DeskTop

• Show correct path when editing a volume shortcut. #614
• Make check for moving/copying a folder into itself case sensitive. #619
• Fix truncating new volume name at IP when formatting/erasing a disk. #616
• Don't dismiss File > Duplicate dialog on unchanged name. #617
• Fix clearing DHR screen to black on launch.
• Show better error when copying a file onto itself. #630
• Show better error when failing to copy or delete a non-ProDOS 8 file (e.g. GS/OS forked). #631
• Add OA+SA+O as shortcut for open-then-close-parent. #625
• Add OA+SA+W as shortcut for close all. #626
• Show error when trying to replace an item with itself or an item it contains. #634, #635, #636.
• Show error during enumeration if an invalid target is found. #629

Selector

• Clear DHR screen to black before showing to avoid garbage.

Desk Accessories

• Control Panel: Fix cursor flash when changing tracking speed. #612
• Control Panel: Allow clicking on text labels for radio/checkboxes. #620

v1.2-alpha40

Alpha. Use with caution.

💾 Click the Assets link below to download disk images. You probably want ...-en_800k.2mg
📖 See https://a2desktop.com/docs for comprehensive documentation.

A full list of changes since 1.1 (the last official release) can be found in the Release Notes.

General

• File Pickers: use Apple key to reverse Change Drive order.
• Added Portuguese localization (c/o Google Translate - fixes welcome!)
• Improve Spanish localization (font now includes áéíóú characters)

DeskTop

• Mark folders as open when a window is refreshed.
• Update folder's window when file dragged into folder. #594
• Fix date display in About Apple II DeskTop dialog.
• Close "About Apple II DeskTop" dialog on any keypress. #579

Desk Accessories

• This Apple: Detect VidHD card
• Added Matrix screen saver. Inspired by https://github.com/neilk/apple-ii-matrix by @neilk

v1.2-alpha39

Alpha. Use with caution.

💾 Click the Assets link below to download disk images. You probably want ...-en_800k.2mg
📖 See https://a2desktop.com/docs for comprehensive documentation.

A full list of changes since 1.1 (the last official release) can be found in the Release Notes.

General

• Various improved strings / translations. (#593 and more)
• Loaders: fix display on Franklin ACE 2X00 machines.

DeskTop

• Fix free space calculation when re-trying a copy on error.
• Preserve aux-bank interrupt vectors.
• Recognize JBrooks' RAM.DRV.SYSTEM's ramdisk as such.

Desk Accessories

• Joystick DA: Slow when reading paddles on Mac IIe Card.
• Text Preview: Fix handling of tab character on first visible line.
• Text Preview: Use fixed-width font rather than hacking proportional font.
• This Apple DA: Tweak model names

v1.2-alpha38

Alpha. Use with caution.

💾 Click the Assets link below to download disk images. You probably want ...-en_800k.2mg
📖 See https://a2desktop.com/docs for comprehensive documentation.

A full list of changes since 1.1 (the last official release) can be found in the Release Notes.

General

• Use language-specific thousands separators.
• Various string updates.
• Loaders:
  • Add background to loading screens progress indicators, if MouseText supported
  • Only show tip with Apple glyph if MouseText characters are supported

DeskTop

• Show clock immediately when menu bar changes. #586, #587
• Make renaming a file with the same name a no-op. #584
• Don't clear input field if File > New Folder alerts. #583
• Prevent crash when Apple+Down invoked with no selection.
• Fix crash when closing windows.
• Fix alert shown when selector Menu is full.
• Update confusing "run list"/"other run list" strings.
• Renamed "Selector" menu to "Shortcuts". #378
• Improved Disk II detection.
• Detect ADTPro's VEDRIVE and VSDRIVE, use file share icon.
• Allow Shift+Apple+Tab to cycle windows in reverse, if detectable. #230
• Make alert messages wrap automatically, rather than manually.
• Fix arrow key highlighting after a view change. #592

Selector

• Show clock immediately when menu bar changes. #588

Disk Copy

• Improved Disk II detection.
• Improved disk eject code, and SmartPort handling in general.

Desk Accessories

• Support localized DA filenames
• Date: Expanded to include both date and time. #11
• ED Player / System Speed: Ensure DHGR mode is not exited when resuming full speed.
• Calculator: Change title to "Calcolatrice" in IT.
• ED Player: Update IT strings. #582
• Font Preview: Verify file size before trying to show.
• Text Preview: Center the Proportional/Fixed toggle label.
• Joystick: Slow processor when reading paddle on IIgs.

v1.2-alpha37

Alpha. Use with caution.

💾 Click the Assets link below to download disk images. You probably want ...-en_800k.2mg
📖 See https://a2desktop.com/docs for comprehensive documentation.

A full list of changes since 1.1 (the last official release) can be found in the Release Notes.

DeskTop

• Ensure copies after moves are really copies. #562
• Clear selection when opening a window via path. #566
• Add Electric Duet icon and file type/auxtype ($D5/$D0E7).
• Don't paint folders in inactive windows as open. #568
• Only show "save the new list..." prompt if needed. #567
• Optimize menu bar clock to only redraw if changed.
• Optimize volume icon repaints. #554
• Prevent renaming a volume the same as another. #570
• Update window paths following folder moves. #569
• Fix redraws for icons with very short names.
• Fix freeze when Apple+Up activates list view window. #572
• Format/Erase: Show alert on duplicate volume name. #577
• Format/Erase: Fix block size code for non-Disk IIs.
• Format/Erase: Fix formatting with RAM-based drivers.
• Fix selection following Apple+Up activating volume window.

Selector

• Fix copy countdown for entries in the root of a volume. #564
• Show clock on menu bar. #444

Disk Copy

• Ensure Escape key cancels a copy more reliable. #429

Desk Accessories

• New Preview DA: Electric Duet player.
  • Files must have type $D5 and auxtype $D0E7.
• Eyes: Add a move threshold to reduce flicker.
• Startup: Allow clicking on label to toggle option.
• System Speed
  • Remove redundant desktop icon repaint when closing.
  • Make setting persist on Laser 128EX.
• Control Panel, Startup and Date: Prompt to save changes on the system disk if needed.

v1.2-alpha36

Alpha. Use with caution.

💾 Click the Assets link below to download disk images. You probably want ...-en_800k.2mg
📖 See https://a2desktop.com/docs for comprehensive documentation.

A full list of changes since 1.1 (the last official release) can be found in the Release Notes.

A big shout-out to @apple2geek for submitting the fix to #557. That issue, fixed in this release, means that any disk or disk image over 20MB that was formatted with previous versions of Apple II DeskTop or MouseDesk (going back to 1986!) will have subtle corruption. You should copy all files over to a new disk and reformat. Although the fix was thoroughly tested, be careful with your data and always keep backups. Since more lingering bugs may be present, using Copy II Plus backing up critical data is advised.

DeskTop

• Use SmartPort device names for Special > Format a Disk.../Erase a Disk... dialogs. #325
• Fix corruption/crash following if using modified-select in window with volume selected. #551
• Expand directory window list view row height to fit all characters.
• Avoid closing windows when renaming files/volumes. #469
• Select child folder icon when parent window opened with Open-Apple+Up. #314
• Open-Apple+Up in volume window selects volume icon. #254
• Fix corrupted selection after deselecting file icon. #553
• Significant improvement to icon clicking performance, and changes to modifiers:
  • Clicking to select should feel much more responsive.
  • Click modifiers changed: Open-Apple or Shift are for modifying selection. Solid-Apple (a.k.a. Option) is reserved for other actions.
  • Double-clicking while holding selection modifier (Open-Apple or Shift) just toggles selection quickly.
  • Double-clicking without modifier opens all selected volumes/folders, same as File > Open.
  • To open BIN file by double-clicking, hold Solid-Apple (a.k.a. Option).
  • To close parent window after double-clicking a folder, hold Solid-Apple (a.k.a. Option).
• Eliminate duplicate window and desktop repaints for better performance.
• Fix what File > Get Info shows as Type for volumes; broken at some point in the past.
• Add File > Duplicate... command. #228
• Fix edge cases around un-shading of parent icons when closing windows.
• Prevent painting glitches/crashes if window is offscreen. #555
• Fix closing of windows for Special > Check Drive
• Drag selecting with modifier (OA or Shift) now toggles the selection of enclosed items, rather than just adding them.
• Enable extending drag select of desktop icons, using modifier (Open-Apple or Shift).
• Show watch cursor when opening directory.
• If opening window from icon, show as shaded if window already existed.
• Don't leave garbage after "files remaining" count. #556
• Special > Format a Disk... now constructs correct volume bitmap for volumes over 20MB. #557
• Special > Format a Disk... now sets the creation date for new volumes.

Selector

• Clip pathname in Copying to RAMCard... dialog. #558
• Right-align OK button in copy failure dialog. #559

Desk Accessories

• Add a new DA: "Darkness", a development/debugging tool.

v1.2-alpha35

Alpha. Use with caution.

💾 Click the Assets link below to download disk images. You probably want ...-en_800k.2mg
📖 See https://a2desktop.com/docs for comprehensive documentation.

A full list of changes since 1.1 (the last official release) can be found in the Release Notes.

DeskTop

• Fix list views showing as empty (regression in alpha34).
• Use more consistent alerts for all DeskTop warnings/errors. #207
• Correctly restore all 14 devices in ProDOS DEVLST table on exit. #549
• Make selection when opening items more consistent. #415, #544
  • Volume icons remain selected, regardless of method.
  • Folder icons are immediately de-selected, regardless of method.
• Fix operations on directories with more than 255 entries. #548
• Fix hit testing in the Format/Erase volume picker.
• Fix Special > Get Size not showing results for empty volumes.
• Fix Special > Get Size showing error for volumes if aux memory is not zero'd.
• Render drag-selection outline in windows with dotted lines.
• Fix desktop drag-select after window restore. #547
• Allow drag-select with modifier to extend selection. #546
• Ignore double-click on empty space when holding modifier. #545
• Show alert when two volumes have the same name. #542
• Process re-inserted disks in reverse-DEVLST order. #540
• Repaint windows properly after "must be closed" warning. #539
• Fix crashes after adding files to folder that surpasses icon limits. #538
• Fix maximum icon count calculations. #537
• Prevent "System Error" alert after ejecting disks. #536
• Ensure "files remaining" decreases if copy skipped. #534

Launcher

• Fix copying to RAMCard on directories with more than 255 entries.

Selector

• Fix Startup menu items. #535
• Fix copying to RAMCard on directories with more than 255 entries.
• Fix copying to RAMCard for certain specific directory sizes.
• Don't show Apple menu after dismissing alert with Esc key.
• Show correct alert message when copying fails.
• Show correct alert message when swapping ejectable disks.

Desk Accessories

• Fix path and directory handling for Preview DAs shown from Apple menu. #543
• This Apple
  • Improve Mockingboard detection when accelerated.
  • Fix display of SmartPort with many volumes.
  • Max out at 8 SmartPort devices on a controller.
• Control Panel
  • Hide cursor when blinking IP. #533
  • Don't warp cursor when changing tracking speed.

v1.2-alpha34

Alpha. Use with caution.

💾 Click the Assets link below to download disk images. You probably want ...-en_800k.2mg
📖 See https://a2desktop.com/docs for comprehensive documentation.

A full list of changes since 1.1 (the last official release) can be found in the Release Notes.

General

• Tweak spacing for Cancel/Try Again labels in FR/DE/IT/ES

DeskTop

• Only require holding an Apple key to run BIN files when double-clicking. #530, #531
• Update Selector menu from file content; fixes menu corruption if file changed out of band. #526, #518
• Handle edge cases around max icons (127). #527, #528, #529
• Tweak right padding of window headers. #523
• Tweak highlight offsets in Selector picker dialog. #520
• Use case insensitive compare for volume name when test for drag vs. move. #517
• Fix menu highlighting after non-menu DA invocation. #516
• Make initial window widths consistent. #514

Disk Copy

• Fix regression in copying over non-ProDOS disks. (Would show success message but not do anything.)

Selector

• Allow launching unknown file types via BASIS.SYSTEM (same as DeskTop; for both entries and File > Run)
• Flash DeskTop button when activated with keyboard. #519
• Align file dialog metrics with DeskTop. #513

Desk Accessories

• System Speed: Tweak button label spacing. #525
• Find FIles/Run Basic Here/Sort Directory: Show 'No windows open' alert if there aren't any. #521

MGTK

• Fix for text rendering when clipped on both left and right sides (affected DeskTop). #505
• Fix GetWinFrameRect to leave window_id parameter unmodified