Detecting DOSBox (from shell)? \ VOGONS

Detecting DOSBox (from shell)?

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First post, by Zup

Posted on 2025-01-02, 09:31

Zup Offline

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Posts: 1693
Joined: 2003-10-04, 12:16

I've got some games installed in my dosbox folder, using CUE+BIN (i.e. Red Alert) or CUE+BIN+OGG to enable CD Audio (i.e.: HoMaM 2), and also a "pure" DOS system (a Toshiba Laptop). So I'd like to use the same start-up method everywhere. The logic would be

1IF dosbox_present THEN
2  (use imgmount)
3ELSE
4  (no thanks, I will use shsucdx)

So, is there any method of detecting DOSBox from .BAT files? I'm thinking of using something like...

1...
2VER | FIND "DOSBox"
3IF ERRORLEVEL 1 GOTO use_imgmount
4(mount the drive using shsucdx)
5GOTO start_game
6
7:use_imgmount
8(mount the drive using imgmount)
9GOTO start_game
10
11:start_game
12...

But find is not a DOSBox tool (although it's present on DOSBox-x).

Is there any command that can detect if DOSBox is running and report via errorlevel?

(BTW, I've been unable to find documentation about internal commands that list errorlevel outputs)

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Sometimes going all the way is just a start...

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Reply 1 of 3, by Grzyb

Posted on 2025-01-02, 09:46

Grzyb Offline

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"if exist imgmount.com ..."

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Reply 2 of 3, by jmarsh

Posted on 2025-01-02, 09:53

jmarsh Offline

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Rank: Oldbie
Posts: 1700
Joined: 2014-01-04, 09:17

1@echo off
2if exist z:\intro.com goto in_dosbox
3echo DOSBox: No
4goto end
5
6:in_dosbox
7echo DOSBox: Yes
8
9:end
10

Alternatively just set an environment variable on one platform and not the other.

Reply 3 of 3, by Grzyb

Posted on 2025-01-02, 14:05

Grzyb Offline

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Location: CET-1CEST-2

Zup wrote on 2025-01-02, 09:31:

BTW, I've been unable to find documentation about internal commands that list errorlevel outputs

In DOS, internal commands don't set the ERRORLEVEL.

ERRORLEVEL = exit code returned by the previously running program.
Internal commands are handled by COMMAND.COM, which never exits, hence no exit code.

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