DOSBoxWiki - User contributions [en]

Configuration:DOSBox

2012-10-03T19:32:53Z

Trlkly: added info on other mentioned graphics (machine) modes. Standardized formatting.

The '''[dosbox]''' section contains various settings that do not pertain to any other section (e.g. setting the language used in DOSBox help texts, where to store screen captures, etc.)

;language = path-to-language-file
:Select another [[Language File|language file]].
:The default value empty ''(language= )''.
:(since 0.??)

;memsize = nn
:Amount of high memory (in megabytes) available to programs.
:Note: DOSBox always allocates 1 MB of low memory, so the total amount of memory equals 1 MB of low memory, plus whatever is allocated for high memory.
:The default value is 16 ''(memsize=16)''.
:(since 0.??)

;machine = hercules | cga | tandy | cga | tandy | pcjr | ega | vgaonly | svga_s3 | svga_et3000 | svga_et4000 | svga_paradise | vesa_nolfb | vesa_oldvbe
:(since 0.73)
:(previously '''machine = hercules | cga | tandy | vga''')
:The type of machine (specifically the type of graphics hardware) DOSBox tries to emulate.
:The default value is svga_s3 ''(machine=svga_s3)'' (was previously vga)
:Definitions are as follows:

::'''svga_s3''' ('''vga''' on DOSBox 0.71 and 0.72) is ''SVGA (Super Video Graphics Array)'': A loose standard designed to allow graphics modes superior to that of VGA. This option emulates an S3 Trio64, one of the most compatible SVGA cards, supporting 256 colors at up to 1600x1200 and full (32- or 24-bit) color at up to 1024x768. It is nearly 100% backwards compatible with VGA, and thus is backwards compatible with EGA and CGA (except 16-color composite mode). It is not backwards compatible with special Tandy, PCjr or Hercules Monochrome graphics modes.
::(info taken from http://ipggi.wordpress.com/2008/03/16/dosbox-graphic-and-machine-emulation-cga-vga-tandy-pcjr-hercules/ and http://www.datasheetarchive.com/S3%20TRIO%2064-datasheet.html)
:: 
:: '''vgaonly''' ('''vga''' on DOSBox 0.70 and previous) is ''VGA (Video Graphics Array)'': IBM's graphics system introduced with the PS/2. True VGA supports 16 colors at 640x480 resolution, or 256 colors at 320x200 resolution (and not 256 colors at 640x480, even though many people think it does). VGA colors are chosen from a palette of 262,144 colors (not 16.7 million) because VGA uses 6 bits to specify each color, instead of the 8 that is the standard today.
::(info taken from http://www.pcguide.com/ref/video/stdVGA-c.html. See also [[wikipedia:Video Graphics Array]] and http://members.chello.at/theodor.lauppert/games/vga.htm)
:: 
::'''CGA''' (''Color Graphics Adapter''): Refers to IBM's first color graphics card. The CGA supports several different modes; the highest quality text mode is 80x25 characters in 16 colors. Graphics modes range from monochrome at 640x200 (which is worse than the Hercules card) to 16 colors at 160x200 in composite mode. However, for gaming, by far the most common mode was 4 colors at 320×200 pixels. While various hacks allowed substitution of one of the 16 colors above, there were only two official palettes for this mode:
::*Magenta, cyan, white and background color (black by default). (much more common for gaming)
::*Red, green, brown and background color (black by default). (Can sometimes be selected as an alternate on some games).
::Note that SVGA fully supports most CGA modes (except the 16-color composite mode), so you should be able to leave DosBox in SVGA mode and play most CGA games.
::(info taken from [[wikipedia:Color Graphics Adapter]], http://www.pcguide.com/ref/video/stdCGA-c.html, and http://members.chello.at/theodor.lauppert/games/cga.htm)
:: 
::'''Tandy''': Refers to the additional graphics modes available on a Tandy 1000 or PCjr, which included 160x100x16, 160x200x16, 320x200x16, and 640x200x4. The Tandy RL/SL/TL series also added a 640x200x16 mode. Also backwards compatible with CGA, except for 16-color composite mode.
::(info taken from http://www.mobygames.com/attribute/sheet/attributeId,31/)
:: 
::'''PCjr''': Refers not to a graphics mode but an entire system developed by IBM, and the company's first attempt at a home computer. Its graphics modes are identical to that of the Tandy, but it is not 100% compatible with any other IBM computer. Allows the user to boot cartridge files specifically designed for this system (.jrc).
::(infofrom [[wikipedia:IBM PCjr]] and www.dosbox.com/DOSBoxManual.html)
::'''Hercules''': Refers to a graphics card developed by Hercules Computer Technology as a competitor to CGA for monochrome monitors. Hercules systems generate both high-resolution text and graphics. The resolution is 720 by 348 and only a two colors (foreground and background) are supported.
::(info taken from http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/H/Hercules_graphics.html and [[wikipedia:Hercules Graphics Card]])
:: 
::'''EGA''' (''Enhanced Graphics Adapter''): Refers to a graphics card developed by IBM between the CGA and VGA, and thus has capabilities between the two. It supports 16 colors at a time from a set of 64 possible in resolutions up to 640x350. It also supports all the color modes of CGA except 16-color composite mode. This mode is rarely needed as VGA and SVGA can handle all the same modes.
::(info taken from [[wikipedia:Enhanced Graphics Adapter]])
:: 
::Aditional SVGA modes (only necessary if '''svga_s3''' doesn't work.)
::*'''vesa_oldvbe''' the same as svga_s3, but uses a lower version of VESA (1.3), the code used to interface with SVGA cards. This is necessary for some older SVGA programs.
::*'''vesa_nolfb''' the same as svga_s3 introduces a no-line frame buffer hack. Sometimes runs faster than plain svga_s3. Only needed in a few games due to either a bug in DOSBox or the line-frame buffer mode of the game.
::*'''svga_paradise''' emulates the Paradise PVGA1A and is only capable of the SVGA resolutions of 256 colors at 640×480 and 16 colors at 800×600. Like all SVGA modes, it is nearly 100% backwards compatible with VGA.
::*'''svga_et3000''' emulates the Tseng Labs ET3000, which can handle everything the Paradise card can plus 256 colors at 800×600 and 16 colors at 1024×768.
::*'''svga_et4000''' emulates the Tseng Labs ET4000, which is the same as the ET3000 except it can also handle 256 colors at 1024×768.
::(info taken from http://ipggi.wordpress.com/2008/03/16/dosbox-graphic-and-machine-emulation-cga-vga-tandy-pcjr-hercules/)

;captures = path-to-capture-directory
:Directory where things like music (wave and MIDI) and screenshots are captured when special keys CTRL-F5 and CTRL-F6 are used. Screenshots will be captured and saved as (PNG) files with a resolution of 320x200.
:Note: <s>The capture directory will not be created automatically - you must create it before you start capturing music and screenshoots, otherwise nothing will be saved.</s> As of v0.73 (possibly prior) it is created automatically on first use.
:The default value is capture ''(captures=capture)''.
:(since 0.62).

DOSBox FAQ

2008-10-23T13:49:19Z

Trlkly:

= Performance =

'''Q.''' My game runs fine at first then an error message pops up on dosbox saying that the video file format is wrong. How or what can I do to fix this, if there is anything known?

'''Q.''' My game/application runs slowly, how do I improve speed?

'''A.''' Increase cycles. Use core=dynamic. Try different output modes (e.g. output=overlay). Increase Frameskip. Disable unneeded components in the [[dosbox.conf]] such as [[Sound]], mouse or joystick emulation. A nice speedup can be achieved by using a [[Other compilers|different compiler]] than GCC. If all else fails, find a faster computer to run DOSBox on.
Also be sure to check the compatibility section of this FAQ as some game/applications are more trouble (or resource hogs) than others.

'''Q.''' The Sound/Music for my DOS game/application sounds terrible what can I do?

'''A.''' This is a complicated issue covered in the [[Sound]] section of the wiki. It's important to remember to install or setup game/applications correctly to use the correct sound devices (<tt>INSTALL.EXE</tt>, <tt>SOUNDSET.EXE</tt> and <tt>SETUP.EXE</tt> are popular program names to look for). The capabilities of the hardware as well as the preferences of the programmer vary: Therefore what may sound "best" on one particular game may not be the "best" for another. Sometimes changes need to be made to the [[dosbox.conf]] file (or a new conf file) to get the best results.
Also, game sound/music may have an impact on the speed at which the game/application runs and running DOSBox with limited resources may result in incomplete or 'choppy' sound being heard. (see previous question)

'''Q.'''How do I change the memory size so that I can run programs that require more than the default settings (eg. Windows 1.01 or some other demanding OS)?

'''A.'''See the memsize option detailed in [[Configuration:DOSBox]].

= Usage =

'''Q.''' Using Mac OS X 10.5.3 without a problem (MOO) and when upgraded to 10.5.4 MOO started flashing rainbow colors instead of the normal background in full screen mode (works fine in windowed mode.) I have a warning about the quickdraw capability being deprecated in my console window. Any suggestions?

'''A.''' Apple updated the video drivers for certain NVidia cards in 10.5.4. This update also disabled 256 color mode support resulting in many graphical errors in programs that run in that mode. The only known solution is to downgrade your video drivers to the pre-10.5.4 release. Instructions for doing so are available in this thread: http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=490676 . Alternatively an installer package has been made to automate the process; this package is available from: http://70.181.80.166:82/blog/archives/2008/07/mac-os-10531054-nvidia-256-colors.html

'''Q.''' My backslash key is mapped to ']' with DOSBox in Vista. Is there a workaround?

'''A.''' Press <tt>CTRL-F1</tt> to enter the [[keymapper]] and select the backslash with your mouse. Press the <tt>DELETE</tt> button that will show up on your screen. Then press <tt>ADD</tt> to bind backslash to another key. Simply press an unused key to bind it to this. Press <tt>SAVE</tt> and then <tt>EXIT</tt> to return to the main screen.

'''Q.''' My cursor is trapped within the DOSBox window when I click inside. How do I get the cursor out?

'''A.''' DOSBox will capture your mouse when you click inside the display window (and you have '''<tt>autolock=true</tt>''' set in the [[Dosbox.conf]]). Simply press '''<tt>CTRL-F10</tt>''' to release the mouse.

'''Q.''' I have set Gnome to load DOSBox when I click on .COM files. How do I script it to exit DOSBox when I quit from the game?

'''A.''' with -exit as commandline parameter for DOSBox.

'''Q.''' How do I access my hard drive/cdrom in DOSBox?

'''A.''' See the information on the [[MOUNT]] command, or type <tt>intro mount</tt> or <tt>intro cdrom</tt> in DOSBox for the basics.

'''Q.''' I have an ISO image I made of files for backup purposes. How do I access it in DOSBox?

'''A.''' See the information on the [[IMGMOUNT]] command

'''Q.''' How do I unmount or change images? I need to swap CD images in the drive.

'''A.''' You may assign more than one image file to [[IMGMOUNT]], to swap images use <tt>CTRL-F4</tt>. You can also unmount images by using the -u switch. See [[IMGMOUNT]] for more information.

'''Q.''' I have created an image from a CD that includes CD audio tracks, when I access it in DOSBox only the first (data) track is available.

'''A.''' Be sure to use the bin/cue format for mixed mode CDs (CDs with a data and audio tracks) and always pass the cue file to [[IMGMOUNT]].

'''Q.''' When I write '':'' it turns out ''>'' or when i write ''å'' ''ä'' ''ö'' or any other non standard us character. How can I fix this for my keyboard?

'''A.''' Use the [[KEYB]] command to change your [[Keyboard layout]].

'''Q.''' I can't find the ":" symbol anywhere in my dosbox. I am using Vista on a laptop. Please advice me how to fix the problem.

'''A.''' Use the left shift instead of the right shift. A number of keys are affected by this problem. For a workaround for other keys like "\", see the second answer.

'''Q.''' How do you/I scroll up to see text that is not visible in the DOSBox window? Certain apps will print a long string of text, and you can't see it all.

'''A''' Unlike the DOS window in Windows 2000, XP and Vista, DOSBox exactly emulates a full screen DOS session. Hence it doesn't support scrolling up and down. However, MS-DOS included a program to allow you to 'press any key' to scroll down called MORE.COM. This is how to do it on Windows:
# Try and find a copy of MORE.COM from MS-DOS 5.0 (good luck)
# Put it in C:\C
# Edit C:\Program Files\Dosbox\dosbox.conf in Notepad
# Go to the bottom of the file, where it reads <tt>[autoexec]</tt>. Add to it or change it to read: <tt>[autoexec] MOUNT C C:\C PATH=%PATH%;C:\</tt> 
# Save it, close DOSBox and then re-open DOSbox.
# Now, say you wanted to use this command: <tt>C:\> type readme.txt</tt> Instead type this: <tt>C:\> type readme.txt | more</tt>