You can't print to a printer using the official version of DOSBox.

Try CON. Mabye that works.

I'm not trying to print, I'm trying to create a simple file on disc.
The actual problem I have is that programs I try to run can't create files, and thus they don't work.

well be sure that the subdirectories exists (the leading ones)

Ofcourse I made sure they exist. I tried both, being an administrator, and from non-priviledged account - both ways I can't create files into directories accessible to everyone.

Post your system specs, dosbox configuration (especially the exact mounting) etc.

well dosbox does really a simple fopen(filename, "wb+");
so if it doesn't work then dosbox doesn't have enough access to that folder.

Log:

DOSBox version 0.72
Copyright 2002-2007 DOSBox Team, published under GNU GPL.
---
CONFIG:Loading primary settings from config file C:\Program Files\DOSBox-0.72\do
sbox.conf
MIDI:Opened device:win32
SHELL:Redirect output to PRN
Warning: file creation failed: C:\DOS_C\PRN

Config (standart one, didn't change anything):

[sdl]

fullscreen=false
fulldouble=false
fullresolution=original
windowresolution=original
output=surface
autolock=true
sensitivity=100
waitonerror=true
priority=higher,normal
mapperfile=mapper.txt
usescancodes=true

[dosbox]

language=
machine=vga
captures=capture
memsize=16

[render]

frameskip=0
aspect=false
scaler=normal2x

[cpu]

core=auto
cycles=auto
cycleup=500
cycledown=20

[mixer]

nosound=false
rate=22050
blocksize=2048
prebuffer=10

[midi]

mpu401=intelligent
device=default
config=

[sblaster]

sbtype=sb16
sbbase=220
irq=7
dma=1
hdma=5
mixer=true
oplmode=auto
oplrate=22050

[gus]

gus=true
gusrate=22050
gusbase=240
irq1=5
irq2=5
dma1=3
dma2=3
ultradir=C:\ULTRASND

[speaker]

pcspeaker=true
pcrate=22050
tandy=auto
tandyrate=22050
disney=true

[joystick]

joysticktype=auto
timed=true
autofire=false
swap34=false
buttonwrap=true

[serial]

serial1=dummy
serial2=dummy
serial3=disabled
serial4=disabled

[dos]

xms=true
ems=true
umb=true
keyboardlayout=none

[ipx]

ipx=false

[autoexec]

don't try to create PRN.
That will never work under windows as that is device.
try
echo hi > test

well,
I have a program, which tries to create file named "PRN", and crashes because it can't do that.

it tries to print, which is not supported, and the "bug" is what QBix said,
namely that PRN is a reserved filename

ah yes. well I can add support for that device to dosbox(1 codeline). That isn't very hard.
However the printing itself won't be possible.

Any idea then how I could make that program run ?

well I could provide you with a build that allows PRN to be created. As long as you are happy with the fact that you can not print then.

if you need to print then google for h-a-l-9000 dosbox and get his mega build.

Yeah, please, I need that program to run.

(btw, if anyone wants to take a look at what the program does, I can send it over, it is about 6 megs).

Thanks a lot!

Sergey.

send and email to address on the crew page of dosbox.com. I'll send you a build from there then

Done.
(I hope you don't mind that I've attached it compressed - rared it takes 1 meg).

Waiting for new dosbox build.

Thanks a lot,
Sergey.

Thanks for the awesome build!

It works now!

And I have to say that your response time blew me off my chair!

Though I've found an issue. All combinations of keys including shift, ctrl, and alt seem to be captured by dos-box, and target application doesn't receive them. Anyone knows how to fix this ?

Thanks,
Sergey.