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Re: Batch for running software in DOS

Posted on 2024-03-30, 22:19

Things like this need to be solved with a boot menu. I had a boot menu with about 5-6 entries where I could cover all cases (with and without XMS, EMS, CD-ROM, Win3.1, etc.). The problem with a boot menu is that you're forced to make a choice on start, and you could pick a game that will require …

Re: Batch for running software in DOS

Posted on 2024-03-30, 03:22

I wish there was a reference online to all these commands from DOS which indicated when the command itself and various parameters were introduced, I often find myself having to look this stuff up! I agree, such a reference would be very helpful. My recollection is that you need to put quotes on …

Re: Batch for running software in DOS

Posted on 2024-03-30, 03:01

SScorpio wrote on 2024-03-29, 16:47: Any issue is some game need specific memory manager loaded, or some don't work with them at all. Things like this need to be solved with a boot menu. I had a boot menu with about 5-6 entries where I could cover all cases (with and without XMS, EMS, CD-ROM, Win3 …

Re: Batch for running software in DOS

Posted on 2024-03-29, 16:26

then having game specific variables get populated and used, based on what the user picks. How does the picking part work? Using the CHOICE command, which was only introduced in MS-DOS 6? Accepting a command-line parameter, which means you have to type more? Or something nicer? Sorry if I missed …

Re: Batch for running software in DOS

Posted on 2024-03-29, 15:44

One could do this: set PATH=c:\dos set PATH=%PATH%;c:\bin set PATH=%PATH%;c:\windows This works in MS-DOS 5 at least. You can't execute set commands that expand a variable like that at the prompt though, it only works in batch files (thanks to whoever pointed this out in a post somewhere). That's …

Re: Batch for running software in DOS

Posted on 2024-03-28, 17:15

By the way, the suggestion to increase the permitted size of the environment variables so that the PATH variable can be longer becomes quite ugly if you then want to edit the PATH variable in the AUTOEXEC.BAT with EDIT from MS-DOS 6.x to add about 60 game folders. Although EDIT allows you to read …

Re: Batch for running software in DOS

Posted on 2024-03-28, 15:49

At least with DA5, it (the launcher) does not close. It remains in memory as a TSR, and initiates programs with a private shell. This allows it to 100% catch program termination, as the program returns to shell, which it traps, and then cleans up for. The amount of memory is very small, just a few …

Re: Batch for running software in DOS

Posted on 2024-03-28, 15:16

There are other issues one will come into contact with, concerning batch files, such as some programs not resuming batch execution after termination, which CAN be a dealbreaker, especially if you are doing something clever to make them run, such as emulating a cdrom with an iso file, since you wont …

Re: Batch for running software in DOS

Posted on 2024-03-28, 14:23

wierd_w wrote on 2024-03-28, 14:20: This is, until you learn you need to change the common installed location on 1000+ batch files, and come to realize that blindly stabbing with regex replacement might 'not be ideal'. This will be no different with a program starter.

Re: Batch for running software in DOS

Posted on 2024-03-28, 14:15

Beyond a certain threshold, maintaining a massive collection of batch files becomes onerous. No, because you can use variables in batch files and thus use the same structure of a batch file for everything. For example, if you define a variable for the game directory and the executable at the …

Re: Batch for running software in DOS

Posted on 2024-03-28, 14:11

Your last sentence and personal attack is pathetic. Look, I don't know what "personal attack" you're seeing here, but better off learn how things work in good old DOS. There's no need to reinvent the wheel, even if you're from oversensitive virtual generation Z. This is a personal attack and it is …

Re: Batch for running software in DOS

Posted on 2024-03-28, 13:33

The length of the PATH variable is limited in DOS. So you can't add as many directories as you want. Well, the PATH variable length is limited by number of characters, but the memory space for variables can be set with COMMAND.COM. Also you may use "the power" of SUBST or other tricks to shorten …

Re: Batch for running software in DOS

Posted on 2024-03-28, 12:16

This seems more like "the power" of PATH variable :D Well, you need both. The length of the PATH variable is limited in DOS. So you can't add as many directories as you want. In addition, you need a way to differentiate between Wing Commander 2 (WC2.EXE) and Warcraft 2 (WC2.EXE) and therefore you …

Re: DOS games and Windows 3.11

Posted on 2024-03-27, 21:34

What is the purpose of @ECHO OFF, I have never understood why is it used? If you write a batch file without @ECHO OFF, all commands you run in the batch file will be repeated in the output. Is the only purpose to turn screen of for the patch to run? If so that's stupidest thing one could do. If …

Re: New forum suggestions/Feedback

Posted on 2024-03-26, 17:21

in Milliways
... To justify a new forum or forums there needs to be traffic for it, otherwise it'll be yet another forum without much traffic or yet another we will have to move posts too due to user laziness. A new forum section for programming would help bring together all the programming topics or topics …

Batch for running software in DOS

Posted on 2024-03-25, 14:44

The best solution you're going to get is to either have to put the time in to re-learn or learn DOS basics or just install win9x. There are too many reasons why windows 3.11 won't just exit and run any old DOS game.... To be honest, I've already figured out DOS, and typing all commands i need. ... …

Re: New forum suggestions/Feedback

Posted on 2024-03-24, 22:30

in Milliways
Suggestion for a new forum section: How about a section specifically for retro programming in general ? By retro I mean DOS, possibly also Windows 3.x and Win9x. There you could then discuss things like algorithms and techniques that were important back then. Or programming close to the hardware. …

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