A couple of Dosbox questions

[ffutures]

I want to run a Dos program on my netbook using Dosbox - it works OK, but getting it to start is a pain because I have to set the path etc. and the netbook's ~ key doesn't work under Dosbox, it comes out as an @ instead. Can't find ~ at all under DOS. I can get round it by using CD ../ to get to the top of the file system, then changing directories down, but it's a bit of a pain. Any easy alternative?

What I would ideally like to do is set up a link that starts Dosbox and loads the program automatically - is there any simple way to do that?

Comments

[gbsteve.livejournal.com]

I used DOSShell.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

Yes, but that really just adds another level of complexity - ideally I'd like to be able to click on an icon and immediately get into the program I want to use.

I suppose I could just write an autoexec.bat script or similar but I'm not sure how to make Dosbox run it by default, and in any case I may want to use more than one Dos program eventually.

[nojay.livejournal.com]

The "@" thing will be because Dosbox thinks you have an American keyboard by default. There's a DOS setting I can't remember now ("keybuk"?) that would switch it to UK keyboard mode.

Why not write a simple batch file and run that at the Dosbox prompt? It would set the PATH string, move to the relevant directory and then fire up the program you want to use. Call it a.bat, put it in the default directory and then all you need to do after starting Dosbox is to type "a" "return" and away you go. Any other DOS programs you want to use get b.bat, c.bat etc. You can also put the "keybuk" command in there too.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

It's probably the easiest answer, just doesn't feel very elegant.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

Keyb UK - I remembered once you mentioned it.

[ggreig]

Looks like there's an autoexec section in the dosbox.conf file.

You may not want to run your program from there if you're contemplating others, but at least it would save you retyping keyb uk every time (or having to remember to include it in multiple batch files).

Edit: and here's where to find it on Linux.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[thermalsatsuma.livejournal.com]

There are several front end type programs for Dosbox that allow you to configure and launch it with the right settings for each program. I use one called 'Boxer' on my Mac and there are equivalents for Windows and Linux as well.

[thermalsatsuma.livejournal.com]

There's a list of front ends here http://www.dosbox.com/wiki/DOSBoxFrontends - worth trying a few until you find one that suits you.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

Looks like none of them are in the Mint software repository - in view of my relatively poor linux skills I'm a bit reluctant to try installing any of them in case I can't fix any mistakes.

Maybe bat files are the simpler answer.