Mapper files was renamed intentionally to break since usually people would have broken mapper files.

The mapper file is dumped in the profile because that's where it should go by default.

For more than one game you should either point them all to the same mapperfile (specified in DOSBox.conf) or have multiple config & mapper files if needed.

But, using the default config, how come Game X saves it in its own folder, while Game Y saves it in the profile's folder?

hmm good question.
I can only answer how they are loaded.
If you use a relative path in the configuration file, then it should use the directory where the configfile is located as base.

Ok, here's the trick. You must use a local dosbox.conf file - even a dummy (i.e. empty) one - in order to save the mapping locally.

Having a dummy dosbox.conf around is a special requirement that wasn't needed in previous versions.

But another problem is that once you do this and exit, using CTRL-F1 later on doesn't load the local mapping. That is, you can create local mappings, but not edit them.

Can you post the location of your games and a file listing of where your .conf's and mapperfiles are stored.

Also if Vista/7 post the contents of your DOSBox APPDATA folder.

I use XP SP3. My games look like %USERPROFILE%\My Documents\games\DOS\gameX\

If the GameX folder itself contains just mapper-0.74.map (or no DOSBox files at all), then DOSBox ignores it, and saves changes to the profile's folder.
If it contains dosbox.conf (even a dummy one), then it saves changes to the local mapper-0.74.map. But it can't edit it.

where is/what is profile's folder?
where is dosbox?
how do you start dosbox?
how do you start a game?
where is .conf?
how do you load that .conf?

Answare for both cases.

robertmo wrote:

where is/what is profile's folder?

lwc wrote:

Also, it sometimes insists on putting mapper-0.74.map in %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data\DOSBox\ - it did not happen in older versions with the same games.

where is dosbox?

%programfiles%\dosbox\

how do you start dosbox?

%programfiles%\dosbox\dosbox.exe

how do you start a game?

%programfiles%\dosbox\dosbox.exe "%USERPROFILE%\My Documents\games\DOS\gameX\game.exe"

where is .conf?

%USERPROFILE%\My Documents\games\DOS\gameX\dosbox.conf

how do you load that .conf?

It's loaded automatically.

you are using a bit different from most people 😀

maybe read up on the -userconf parameter

how EXACTLY do you start a game (you click on what? or what do you do?)?

Qbix wrote:

you are using a bit different from most people 😀

I just run the defaults. How are the defaults not the default way?

maybe read up on the -userconf parameter

The manual neither defines "user's specific configuration file" (it originally misses a ') nor explains what happens without it. In actuality, not using it just uses the default config (i.e. in the profile's folder) plus the local one.

robertmo wrote:

how EXACTLY do you start a game (you click on what? or what do you do?)?

I create a shortcut for the aforementioned command or run it from the command prompt.

lwc wrote:

The manual .... "user's specific configuration file" ... nor explains what happens without it. In actuality, not using it just uses the default config (i.e. in the profile's folder) plus the local one.

Manual explains it all. Read it! And than post.

The manual niether defines "user's specific configuration file"

Then check the sources, everything's there, write it up into nice flow charts
and post them on wikipedia for everybody's information.
Btwh. niether is a typo.

Powerpoint man. Powerpoint.

Qbix wrote:

you are using a bit different from most people 😀

Why? 😉

I don't understand your cynicism. If you provided any information here, I'd be happy to write a page about it in the Wiki, like I did many times in the past.

i wonder what can you write in the wiki if you don't even know what is in the official manual...
have you red the:
=====================================
13. The configuration (options) file:
=====================================
in the manual first and is there anything you don't understand?

I used the same command as you and in both dosbox's (0.73 and 0.74) it works exactly the same. Always properly as described in the manual.