Can I issue commands to dosbox from outside of the process? \ VOGONS

Can I issue commands to dosbox from outside of the process?

Topic actions

Post a reply

First post, by agent_js03

Posted on 2019-01-06, 21:35

agent_js03 Offline

Rank Newbie

Rank: Newbie
Posts: 9
Joined: 2015-04-26, 05:15

I am wondering, if I have an existing dosbox process running, can I have an external process send a command to that process without me actually typing it in?

Specifically what I am wanting to do is write a script on my Linux box that detects when a cd-rom is inserted, for example, and automatically sends a 'mount' command to dosbox, and similarly sends the unmounts command when the cd-rom is ejected.

I can't find anything in the man page for this, was wondering if anyone knew of any hacks or something.

Reply 1 of 5, by Dominus

Posted on 2019-01-06, 22:00

Dominus Offline

Rank DOSBox Moderator

Rank: DOSBox Moderator
Posts: 9147
Joined: 2002-10-03, 09:54
Location: Ludwigsburg

I know on Windows you can have programs that send keystrokes to another program, like Dosbox. For example AutoIt can do that. I'm sure there is something like that on linux as well.

Windows 3.1x guide for DOSBox
60 seconds guide to DOSBox
DOSBox SVN snapshot for macOS (10.4-11.x ppc/intel 32/64bit) notarized for gatekeeper

Reply 2 of 5, by Mr. horse

Posted on 2019-01-06, 23:47

Mr. horse Offline

Rank Newbie

Rank: Newbie
Posts: 86
Joined: 2018-12-20, 21:10

Why not mount the CD drive to say, /home/dosbox/CDdrive and mount that folder as the D: drive in dosbox?

No sir I don't like it!

Reply 3 of 5, by agent_js03

Posted on 2019-01-07, 15:45

agent_js03 Offline

Rank Newbie

Rank: Newbie
Posts: 9
Joined: 2015-04-26, 05:15

Mr. horse wrote:
Why not mount the CD drive to say, /home/dosbox/CDdrive and mount that folder as the D: drive in dosbox?

I mean that's fine, but if I unmount and re-mount that, say if I eject a CD and put in a different one, will it update in dosbox? My experience would tell me no.

Reply 4 of 5, by Dominus

Posted on 2019-01-07, 16:12

Dominus Offline

Rank DOSBox Moderator

Rank: DOSBox Moderator
Posts: 9147
Joined: 2002-10-03, 09:54
Location: Ludwigsburg

with ctrl-F4 it should rescan the mounting but then it's again, how to send keystrokes to Dosbox 😀

Windows 3.1x guide for DOSBox
60 seconds guide to DOSBox
DOSBox SVN snapshot for macOS (10.4-11.x ppc/intel 32/64bit) notarized for gatekeeper

Reply 5 of 5, by dr_st

Posted on 2019-01-07, 18:53

dr_st Offline

Rank l33t

Rank: l33t
Posts: 3350
Joined: 2015-04-09, 07:18

In Windows at least, if a physical CD drive is mounted in DOSBox, it will detect when the CD is changed without you having to do anything; it's a simple passthrough - if the CD was changed in Windows, it will change inside DOSBox. I think.

https://cloakedthargoid.wordpress.com/ - Random content on hardware, software, games and toys

Go to top of page Go to top of page

Back to DOSBox General

Main menu

Common searches