JOYEMU and JOYEM are keyboard emulators for joystick and mouse: they are two TSR programs that let you use your input devices with software that accepts only keyboard input, or with those programs that have weak support for other kind of input. They're shipped with JoyCP, a full featured and easy to use external interface.

JoyEmu and JoyEm are two TSR programs that, when installed, poll joystick port and mouse and stuff keyboard buffer simulating keypresses according to device movements; keys to be stuffed, autofire rates, joystick sensibility and read mode, mouse sensibility are only a few of the many settings that can be changed. The emulators can also be removed when no more necessary.

For easier configuration, an external program is provided: JoyCP. This Control Panel (that's what 'CP' stands for) allows to set parameters for emulation and save them to files for later use; it can also load previously saved configurations and update resident emulators with new settings; the intuitive interface can be operated with both mouse and keyboard.

JOYEMU and JOYEM are essentially the same program, but JOYEM lacks hot keys support. Hot keys let you change on the fly many parameters of the emulation, but are not strictly necessary -- both JOYEMU and JOYEM accept command line parameters to update the status of the resident emulator; moreover, JOYCP can be used to change all the settings of TSR emulator.

JOYEMU and JOYEM can be easily uninstalled and reinstalled as needed.

To configure the emulators for you system, JOYCP is provided; it can be used to:

• calibrate your joystick(s) and define common emulation parameters such as the number of fire buttons, joystick sensibility and interface read mode;

• set mouse tolerance for both axis;

• define emulated keys (i.e. keys associated with joystick directions and fire buttons), autofire and repeat delay for each fire button and various other settings that depend on the application to run in foreground (hold mode, force break mode, shift mode, 8 way mode, sampling delay, switch keys);

• swap emulated keys between the two joysticks;

• create separate configuration files and load them as needed;

• update resident emulator with new settings.

Special care has been taken to ensure great compatibility and robustness; both emulators could be cut down in size and made faster if I removed all the checks and workarounds that I left to make them work on as many hardware configurations as possible. Neverthless, it is possible that these programs don't work on your system -- I'm sorry if they don't, but I really don't know what else I could change to make them more compatible. If you have troubles, read the TROUBLE SHOOTING section and, if you don't solve the problem, try messing around with BIOS settings for the keyboard (but ONLY if you know what you are doing!!).

JJOYEMU was inspired from an original utility with the same name written by Pin Fei Sun (version 1.01); this program, however, is completely different and was rewritten from scratch; no part of the actual code resembles the source written by Pin Fei.

This is not to say the original code wasn't noteworthy: it really helped me in developing this package and was the spring that made me start this project -- this is the reason why I kept the original names for the emulator and utilities. I wish to thank once more Pin Fei for sharing his efforts with the Internet community -- without him, you wouldn't be reading this notes.

JOYCP was written from scratch by me (Simone Zanella), to create a modern interface both easy to use and pleasant to see.

JOYEMU takes up about 27K of memory while resident; JOYEM about 26K.

Most important features in version 4.1 include:

• Up to two digital and/or analogue joysticks are supported (2 buttons)
• Support for joysticks with four buttons
• Support for a single joystick with six or eight buttons
• Up to two switch buttons, which change the keys stuffed by all other buttons and directions; with an 8-button joypad, you can now stuff 56 different keys (40 different keys with a 4-button joypad, 24 keys not counting diagonals)!
• Support for mouse input: 4 direction movements, 3 fire buttons, autofire individually set for each button; the mouse can be used alone or together with one or two joysticks
• Capability of emulating all normal and extended keystrokes (arrow keys, Ctrl, Alt, Shift ..)
• Emulation of shifted keys, i.e. keys combined with Ctrl, Alt, Shift (both left and right)
• Two joystick reading modes (full or timed), to match your hardware
• Autofire and repeat delay individually set for each fire button
• Hold mode setting, for games that require to hold directional keys instead of pressing and releasing them
• Shift mode setting, to enter single keystrokes or allow shifted keys
• Selective key stuffing: you can set to "none" the key stuffed by a certain direction/button (e.g. for games which don't require fire buttons)
• 8 way mode to have different keys stuffed when joystick is moved in diagonal (instead of stuffing keys for the two directions)
• Two separate configuration files: one keeps joystick calibration, number of buttons, sensibility and read mode (usually set once and for all); the other keeps key settings, sampling interval, force release mode, hold mode, shift mode, diagonal mode, switch keys, mouse tolerance for both axis and autofire settings, which are subject to change depending on the application to run
• Configuration files (JOYSET.JS and KEYSET.KS) are searched first in current directory and, if not found, in the directory of the emulator
• While JoyEmu is running, through hot keys you can:

  1. increase/decrease joystick sensibility
  2. increase/decrease joystick sampling interval
  3. increase/decrease tolerance for each mouse axis
  4. switch 'force release mode' on/off
  5. switch autofire on/off for each joystick
  6. switch hold mode on/off
  7. turn the emulation on and off
  8. reload key settings from file in current directory
  9. uninstall the emulator, if no other TSR was loaded on its top

• Support of command line parameters to:

  1. print parameters list (both hot keys and command line parameters)
  2. detect resident emulator (for batch processing)
  3. uninstall TSR
  4. set emulation on/off
  5. reload key settings (from a file in current directory or from a specified file)
  6. reload joystick settings (from a file in current directory or from a specified file)
  7. set key associated with a direction/fire button (normal or switched)
  8. set hold mode for directional keys
  9. set joystick sensibility to a specified value
  10. set 'force release mode' on or off
  11. set 'shift mode' on or off
  12. set '8 way mode' on or off for each joystick
  13. set autofire on/off and repeat delay for each button of every joystick
  14. set sampling interval to a specified value
  15. turn hot key support on or off
  16. set number of switch keys
  17. set button corresponding to a switch
  18. set tolerance for each mouse axis
  19. turn on/off mouse keyboard emulation

• Command line parameters can be used to install emulator with specified settings or update resident emulator (same syntax)
• JoyEm, a version of JOYEMU without hot keys, is also provided, to better compatibility and speed up keyboard response
• Errors and confirmations signaled through different sounds from internal speaker
• JOYEMU/JOYEM can be easily uninstalled, freeing up its memory
• Greatly improved compatibility and robustness
• Works under Dos (real mode) and Windows 9x/ME; Windows 3.1 is untested
• JoyCP, a control panel for both emulators, let you change all the parameters for resident emulator, create and manage configuration files, uninstall the emulator, all through an intuitive interface with repositionable windows that allows the use of both mouse and keyboard

Requirements:

• Dos 5.0+ or Windows 9x/ME; probably Windows 3.1 is also supported (but untested);
• analogue or digital joystick/joypad, mouse;
• Pentium class computer (reccomended 100+ Mhz).

Joyemu is a freeware joystick/keyboard utility, subject to the following special license:

1. This product comes with no warranty. It is freeware, but use it at your own risk; the author takes no responsibilities of any sort related to the use of this product.
2. Everyone that receives a FULL copy of the package can freely install, duplicate and distribute the package, as long as:

1. FULL, unmodified package is duplicated;
2. no additional fee is requested, apart from the cost of the media necessary for the copy;
3. the package is not distributed with other software or hardware.

3. Any WEB/FTP site can freely distribute the package as long as FULL, unmodified package is downloadable in a single, compressed file (any archiver will do).
4. The user acquire the right of using the package, but he can not alter, disassemble or sell the software and the documentation that comes with it.
5. Simone Zanella retains intellectual property and copyright over the whole package.
6. Written permission is required from Simone Zanella if you want to:

1. sell this package;
2. distribute the package together with other software;
3. include the package in a compilation of software;
4. bundle the package with any hardware device (especially joysticks, joypads and hardware interfaces).

The concept of 'written permission' applies also to digitally signed text, i.e. a plain text file that I'll send through e-mail, signed with my private PGP key.

Simone Zanella reserves the right to charge money for releasing said permission.

7. Inclusion of the package in shareware/freeware collections follows this special policy: a written permission will be granted as soon as a full and detailed list of the programs that will be distributed with the package is received by Simone Zanella; the author of the collection is bound to send a copy of the collection for which permission was granted to Simone Zanella at the address specified in the permission as soon as the collection becomes commercially available. Simone Zanella reserves the right to deny or revoke said permission at his will.
8. Any other form of distribution must be previously agreed upon with Simone Zanella and requires a special, written license, which can be subject to payment.

Remember:

1. You may distribute the package only in its integrity.
2. Under no circumstances you can charge money for the product, unless a reasonable amount to cover copying and handling (mass distribution is not covered by this point).
3. The package cannot be distributed with other software/hardware unless a written permission for the distribution has been previously obtained from Simone Zanella.

Download JoyEmu 4.1

Latest version: 4.1 / english

Fixes in version 4.1:

JoyCP

• changed joystick detection to avoid bios bugs
• ifdef-ed the code used to wait on the joystick port until ready (it caused problems on a few configurations).

JoyEm / JoyEmu

• ifdef-ed the code used to wait on the joystick port until ready (it caused problems on a few configurations).
• now emulation is de-activated (if active) before loading configuration files and re-activated immediately afterwards, both when using command line parameters 'J'/'K' and hot key Shift-F8
• added to the package the program JCMPTST which can be used to determine if your system is compatible with JoyEmu.

Fixes in version 4.0:

JoyCP

• added support for Windows 9x/ME long file names;
• added support for mouse keyboard emulation;
• added support for 8-button joysticks;
• changed definitions for 'num /' and 'num enter' (were incorrect);
• exchanged buttons 5 and 6 in calibration;
• added hot key support switch;
• added detection and report of type and version of emulator in memory;
• changed window handler (glitches when windows near end of screen);
• added switch buttons and configuration of additional keys;
• changed load and save setting dialog;
• changed set directory dialog.

JoyEm / JoyEmu

• faster!
• added support for mouse keyboard emulation; this feature was suggested by "KMoon" (kmoon@geocities.com) and others;
• added support for switch fire buttons (change keys stuffed by every other button/direction);
• added support for 8-button joysticks; this feature was suggested by "Mr.M" (dlugosz@polbox.com) and others;
• added FIFO key queue;
• added command line parameters N (set number of switch buttons) and W (set switch button number);
• changed hot key shift-F4: it now switches on/off autofire for mouse (Ctrl-F7 has become the hot key for switch force break mode on/off);
• added hot keys Shift/Ctrl-F11 and Shift/Ctrl-F12 (tolerance for mouse axis);
• fixed a bug: autofire on button 5 would not work if force break mode was off and button 6 did not use autofire;
• fixed shift mode (now the break for the shift keys is sent on button release);
• added command line parameter 'Y' to turn on/off hot key support (JoyEmu only); removed additional keyboard handler (JoyEm only);
• changed values for b in E and R command line parameters;
• extended values for j in E, to set also switched keys;
• added joystick check on start/re-activation;
• added a page to on-line help (both JoyEm and JoyEmu).

Fixes in version 3.3:

JoyCP

• fixed a stupid bug that locked the computer in a strict loop with interrupts disabled if just one joystick was connected to the PC.

JoyEm / JoyEmu

• "unrolled" functions and definitions in JoyEm and JoyEmu: should be faster (even though they take up a little more memory now..).

Fixes in version 3.2:

JoyCP / JoyEm / JoyEmu

• added support for joysticks with 6 fire buttons; this feature was suggested by "Mr.M" (dlugosz@polbox.com) and others.

Fixes in version 3.1:

JoyCP

• changed definitions for right ctrl and alt gr (were incorrect);
• introduceded the possibility of setting to "none" the key stuffed by a certain direction/button (e.g. for games which don't require fire buttons); this feature was suggested by Patrick Belleau (pbelleau@vsf-p1.fabrik.com);
• added auto update mode: in this mode, when you change an option the resident emulator is updated immediately;
• added "swap key bindings" to key settings menu, to exchange emulated keys between the two joysticks;
• added "swap fire buttons" to exchange key bindings between the first two fire buttons of current joystick;
• added "8 way mode": in this mode, you can specify keys to be stuffed for diagonals as well as for straight directions.

JoyEm / JoyEmu

• added support for undefined keys (keys set to 'none');
• added "8 way mode" (stuff different keys for diagonals);
• added command line parameter 'X', to switch "8 way mode" on or off for each joystick;
• modified 'E' parameter to accept setting of diagonal keys;
• added second help page (only for JoyEmu);
• modified '?' parameter syntax to accept help page number (only for JoyEmu).
   

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