Difference between revisions of "DOSBox FAQ"
Alanprocter (talk | contribs) |
(Cleaned up formatting, reordered questions, added 2 questions about learnign more that shoudl address the common questiosn getting added about specific games and applications. Linked to the Forum.) |
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| + | = Compatibility = | ||
| + | '''Q.''' Where can I learn about the compatibility of a specific game or application? | ||
| + | |||
| + | '''A.''' The DOSBox Wiki has two pages devoted to compatibility and configuration. | ||
| + | * [[GAMES|Games]] | ||
| + | * [[Software|Applications]] | ||
| + | You can also search the [http://vogons.zetafleet.com/index.php?c=7 DOSBox community forums] if you cannot find what you are looking for. If you can find the answer to your question, please help out the rest of the DOSBox community by writing an article about how you made your game or application work. Be sure to include the version of DOSBox you used. | ||
| + | |||
| + | '''Q.''' What if I cannot find any information about a specific game or application? | ||
| + | |||
| + | '''A.''' This might be a bit harder but you can try and find similar applications to the one your looking for. For instance, games produced by Sierra around the same time tend to use the same engine, and issues with one game can often be seen in other games. If your application is built on top of a larger platform like GWBasic, you can look for help by searching for that platform. If your trying to write an article about how you made your complex application work, try to reference the platform in your article so it can show up in search results for people trying to solve other issues. | ||
| + | |||
'''Q.''' Does DOSBox support non QWERTY keyboard layouts and will it have the KEYB command? | '''Q.''' Does DOSBox support non QWERTY keyboard layouts and will it have the KEYB command? | ||
'''A.''' It already does. Since 0.70 | '''A.''' It already does. Since 0.70 | ||
| + | '''Q.''' How do you print out of the DOS Box? Can you use the program's print to a parallel or serial printer? | ||
| + | |||
| + | '''A.''' If your application can print to a file, you can redirect the file to a printer. On Windows at a command prompt or at the Run option, you can use | ||
| + | <code><pre>COPY /B [FILE NAME] LPT1</pre></code> to send a file to a printer (connected or mapped to LPT1). If the application can print in Postscript format, utilities like [http://www.ghostscript.com/awki Ghostscript/Ghostview] can be used to send the file to the printer. Also, some custom builds of DOSBox have the ability to capture print data to a image. More information about this beta feature can be found at [http://home.arcor.de/h-a-l-9000/dbdl.html HAL9000's webpage] | ||
| + | |||
| + | = Performance = | ||
'''Q.''' My game/application runs slowly, how do I improve speed? | '''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. | '''A.''' Increase cycles. Use core=dynamic. Try different output modes (e.g. output=overlay). Increase Frameskip. | ||
| + | = Usage = | ||
'''Q.''' My backslash key is mapped to ']' with DOSBox in Vista. Is there a workaround? | '''Q.''' My backslash key is mapped to ']' with DOSBox in Vista. Is there a workaround? | ||
| − | + | '''Q.''' My cursor is trapped within the DOSBox window when I click inside. How do I get the cursor out? | |
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | '''Q.''' My cursor is trapped within the DOSBox window | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | ''' | + | '''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. |
Revision as of 18:24, 23 January 2008
Compatibility
Q. Where can I learn about the compatibility of a specific game or application?
A. The DOSBox Wiki has two pages devoted to compatibility and configuration.
You can also search the DOSBox community forums if you cannot find what you are looking for. If you can find the answer to your question, please help out the rest of the DOSBox community by writing an article about how you made your game or application work. Be sure to include the version of DOSBox you used.
Q. What if I cannot find any information about a specific game or application?
A. This might be a bit harder but you can try and find similar applications to the one your looking for. For instance, games produced by Sierra around the same time tend to use the same engine, and issues with one game can often be seen in other games. If your application is built on top of a larger platform like GWBasic, you can look for help by searching for that platform. If your trying to write an article about how you made your complex application work, try to reference the platform in your article so it can show up in search results for people trying to solve other issues.
Q. Does DOSBox support non QWERTY keyboard layouts and will it have the KEYB command?
A. It already does. Since 0.70
Q. How do you print out of the DOS Box? Can you use the program's print to a parallel or serial printer?
A. If your application can print to a file, you can redirect the file to a printer. On Windows at a command prompt or at the Run option, you can use
COPY /B [FILE NAME] LPT1
to send a file to a printer (connected or mapped to LPT1). If the application can print in Postscript format, utilities like Ghostscript/Ghostview can be used to send the file to the printer. Also, some custom builds of DOSBox have the ability to capture print data to a image. More information about this beta feature can be found at HAL9000's webpage
Performance
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.
Usage
Q. My backslash key is mapped to ']' with DOSBox in Vista. Is there a workaround?
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 autolock=true set in the Dosbox.conf). Simply press CTRL-F10 to release the mouse.
