DonutKing wrote:

I use Quikmenu 3 which gives you a full windowed GUI with mouse and icons.
I've never come across a game that didn't work when launched out of Quikmenu. I was using it on our family computer back in the 90's.

Same here. Very good stuff.

I myself am using XX (access). It's damn simplistic but for a gaming machine it's perfect.

^ any link on that?

My approach is to create a !start.bat file in each game's directory, that runs the game.

The explanation mark makes the bat appear at the beginning of directory listing in programs like DOS Navigator.

http://members.quicknet.nl/blankendaalr/

I am trying access and I think it's what I needed.

I will have to try all my games now. It will take some time.

Thanks for advice.

Anyone still interested in Access (XX) can now find it at https://dbgl.org/access

Access is really, really nice! Now I'm working on getting some game icons in there to match my game selections!

I've used LaunchBox for a few years. It's awesome. 😀

New MS-DOS Games Launcher / Menu System App

I'll give it a look! Thanks for the link!

For those of you using Access 3.01 (which uses text mode), you might be interested to hear I'm currently rewriting the application using Borland's Turbo C. I noticed that 3.01 fails to run on the Mister PC/XT core, AFAIK because of incompatibilities between Borland Turbo Basic and the XTIDE BIOS. Also, 3.01 doesn't show the correct colours on CGA systems.

This new release will work properly on 8088 CGA systems such as the one PC/XT tries to replicate. MDA, EGA, VGA and Tandy should also work fine. DOS 3.30 or newer is required. The main executable (access.exe) is a drop-in replacement for the Access 3.01 one, all other files from 3.01 have remained the same. Pretty much all features from the old version have been redone, except for mouse support which is still in the works.

If you want to try it out, you can download it here. Source is available here.
Just extract to a directory of your liking (for example, C:\XX) and add that folder to your DOS PATH. Start with XX.

rcblanke wrote on 2023-01-29, 18:04:

For those of you using Access 3.01 (which uses text mode), you might be interested to hear I'm currently rewriting the applicati […]
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For those of you using Access 3.01 (which uses text mode), you might be interested to hear I'm currently rewriting the application using Borland's Turbo C. I noticed that 3.01 fails to run on the Mister PC/XT core, AFAIK because of incompatibilities between Borland Turbo Basic and the XTIDE BIOS. Also, 3.01 doesn't show the correct colours on CGA systems.

This new release will work properly on 8088 CGA systems such as the one PC/XT tries to replicate. EGA, VGA and Tandy should also work fine. DOS 3.30 or newer is required. The main executable (access.exe) is a drop-in replacement for the Access 3.01 one, all other files from 3.01 have remained the same. Pretty much all features from the old version have been redone, except for mouse support which is still in the works.

If you want to try it out, you can download it here. Source is available here.
Just extract to a directory of your liking (for example, C:\XX) and add that folder to your DOS PATH. Start with XX.

Thank you! I'll try it out!

I used to use ViewMAX a lot, 'coz it came free on a DRDOS install disk, don't think it complained about DOS version unless you went earlier than 5 or something.

Noting for ppl who are familiar with "a" commander, for other OS, like midnight commander or total commander etc, that the original commander was a DOS prog, Norton Commander which I think was part of Norton Utilities. I think there were DOS clones too.

Anyway, I either go on a "every utility I could possibly want" thing and end up with a couple hundred MB of crap in the command path which doesn't sit well on small and low speed DOS systems, like type a command and have it chug 15 secs, or I just deal with whatever I needed previously on the system. So often the defacto file mangler is LapLink 5 used on local directories, or DOSshell if there, etc.

If you want a really really different interface, one that was on simtel or funet back in the day was called "JDOS" aka Jurassic DOS, designed as an emulation of the interface on Nedry's machine in Jurassic Park. You need a faster 486 or above for it though unless you like chug. It's basically a wireframe 3D representation of your files and dirs, not super useful but more "fun".

BitWrangler wrote on 2023-01-29, 23:13:

If you want a really really different interface, one that was on simtel or funet back in the day was called "JDOS" aka Jurassic DOS, designed as an emulation of the interface on Nedry's machine in Jurassic Park. You need a faster 486 or above for it though unless you like chug. It's basically a wireframe 3D representation of your files and dirs, not super useful but more "fun".

I'd like to try Jurassic DOS, where it could be found?

Thanks

I'll second the request for the Jurassic DOS - I've found several things called JDOS, but none of them are what you are describing.

All my computer use Volkov Commander 4.05. It just works and is small.

I had refound it online a few years back for someone, but damn google* is so eager to jump outside of your search parameters now, and there's some false leads, I might have to dig out the shareware CD I originally came across it on.

(* I've been testing it lately on obscure stuff I stumbled on by accident, and direct pastes from the page in the search terms don't get google finding it, not even burying it in irrelevance often, like "whoa whoa TMI, I'm pretty sure no page exists on earth that matches that" )

Edit: Having another thrash, omg it's like trying to dress a toddler, "where's your shoe?" "No that's a fire truck" "The shoe you had two minutes ago" "No that's your rain boots" "The other red shoe" "yes that's red but it's not a shoe" "That is also red but not a shoe" "No no, I didn't want every red object in the house.."

EditII: I only had one slightly promising candidate, not definite, and I picked it from a site have never visited without full shields so dunno what you get if you rawdog it. I was intending to eyeball it first, but I think it's gonna need a plainish MSDOS 6.xx to run on, and I do not have anything running with that right now. Tried it on DOSbox but it locked, so suspect it's doing something a bit hacky with system calls and crap in command.com (back that up in case) anyway, if anyone wants to try it with extreme caution, it's here. https://oldsoftware.club/download/jdos-zip

I am faintly wondering if Universal gatling gunned takedowns at anything with the word Jurassic in when World released, and it prolly did't feel worth the $50,000 in lawyers to save one file even if they were wrong.

BitWrangler - thanks for the link! I think it's something I found already on another site, though - this is from the readme and doesn't sound like what we're looking for, or at least doesn't describe it that way:

"About Jdos:
Jdos' major advancement is that it permits the use of the mouse in DOS. It
has worked properly with every recent DOS version I've tested it with. It
does not replace DOS, but merely runs on top of it. It is not a TSR, but
actually loads Jdos, then saves the data each time you run a command, then
loads it up again afterwards. What this means to you is that it takes up less
than 0.09K of memory, and you do not need to exit from it to run a memory
intensive program or game. Using SMARTDRV should increase the speed at which
Jdos runs commands. (Windows 95 automatically runs its disk caching utility,
so running smartdrive from Win 95 would be wasteful)."

I'll give it a test if I get some time this week, just to see.

I gave it a try in a virtual machine, definitely is not what we are looking for:

Dug out the shareware CD which gave me the name of it, and textfiles had it too..
Doh, was looking for the wrong filename..
http://cd.textfiles.com/goldmedal/volume5/UTI … S2/VR_DOS12.ARJ

Welcome to JurassicDOS (ver 1.1).(c) 1994, Golden Crater Software All Rights Reserved […]
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Welcome to JurassicDOS (ver 1.1).(c) 1994, Golden Crater Software
All Rights Reserved

WHAT IS IT?

With the big push toward Multi-Media and Virtual Reality in the computer
industry today, both the old DOS prompt and DOS tree utilities have become
a bit of a dinosaur. JurassicDOS is a exciting, fun way to move around and
explore your disk in Virtual Reality! Yes, a useful Virtual Reality utility.
JurassicDOS (JD) will allow you change directories and execute files in a
more natural way.Please press a key.


INSTRUCTIONS

JurassicDOS will read in the directory tree each time it is started
and then display the Disk-World (VR representation of the drive.)
You may use your mouse to move around by moving the pointer all the
way to the left/right/up/down.

You may also use the arrow kays on your keyboard.

To move faster (run) press and hold the CTRL key or the primary mouse
button (normally left.)

When the directory is in your sights (grey box in lower center,) and the
directory name is in large bright text, you will see the full name under
the compass.

You may click in the box with your mouse or press SPACEBAR to change to
that directory -- or -- use the alternate mouse button or ENTER/RETURN to
list the files in that directory.

While files are listed, your may select one to execute.

JD can be taught how to load other files. If you are using Lotus 123
(for DOS) you can tell JD to execute Lotus 123 whenever you select a
listed file with the .WK1 extension. See INI File Settings.

The compass area will show you several things. A heading of 0 normally
heads towards sub-directories. Also, there are rotating North/South/
East/West headings displayed. There is a vertical bar that is always
above the root directory, (\) even when that directory is not visible
(you will not see the bar if the root is behind you.) Rotate until the
bar is directly ahead and walk toward it.

SHAREWARE
You may try this product for 10 days, after which you must register
it or discontinue use. Please register each installed copy.
GCS will forward proof of purchase. Thank You.

Please register by sending $5.00 to:
Golden Crater Software
4380 Wellington Rd. S.
#42014
London, Ont. Canada.
N6E 3V1

Address questions through InterNet to:
fnord@cml.com

From compuserve: GO MAIL. As you create your message, type:
>INTERNET:fnord@cml.com
exactly as shown in the address area.

Please distribute this program freely.

If you bought this program at a store, or part of a collection, it
still must be registered. See paragraphs below.

If you include this program as part of a system, it must appear in it's
unaltered form with this documentation.

This version is not CrippleWare. You may copy this program, upload it,
download it, trade it, or otherwise distribute it so long as:

1. You do not change it, the documentation, or any associated in ANY way.
2. You do not charge more than $5.00 for it, to cover duplication cost or
On-Line transfer time.
3. You may include this as part of a ShareWare CD-ROM collection.
4. If you include it as part of any package, you notify the user of this
program's origin and author. Direct the user to the complete and unaltered
documentation to this program.
5. The receiver is notified that this product is shareware and must be registered.

Disclaimer
Golden Crater Software (GCS) specifically disclaims all warranties, expressed or
implied, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability and
fitness for a particular purpose with respect to defects if the product and
program licence granted herein. With respect to the use of this product, in no
event shall GCS be liable for any loss of profit, special, incidential,
consequential or other damages.

INSTALLATION

This will create a directory called C:\\JD where JurassicDOS will
be installed. The product will work without any other changes, however:

. Your system must be at least a 386 and you must have a EGA/VGA/SVGA

. If you use Windows, you may be able to use MODERN.FON in the
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory.

. You may wish to teach JD what to do with other types of files.

. If your machine is slow, you may exclude line clipping

. If you move JD, you may have to change your path and update the
JD DOS environment variable in the AUTOEXEC.BAT (SET JD=)
so JurassicDOS can find JD.INI. Be sure JD.EXE is in the current
DOS PATH.

See INI File Settings.

Changes will be made to your AUTOEXEC.BAT file (add 2 lines to the end)
and will not take effect until you re-boot your system. Pressing
CTRL-ALT-DELETE together will re-boot. You can also turn off your system
and turn it back on again, or press the reset button.

This program was written using graphic routines from the C++ compiler and should
work on any standard VGA, however, with page swapping active, you will require
version 7.0 or better of the Microsoft Mouse driver (should you desire to use
the mouse.)

INI FILE SETTINGS

. To have JD execute files with extensions, edit the JD.INI file to
add lines with PROG:XXX=program_name where XXX is the extension
and program_name is the drive, path and program to run.
Example
PROG:WKS=C:\123R23\123.COM
PROG: INI = C:\DOS\EDIT.COM

JD will already execute files ending in .COM .EXE .BAT .TXT .DOC .ME
and .INI

JD will use DOS's EDIT.COM by default.

. If you have Windows you may move use the MODERN.FON in your
WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory. Change the path in JD.INI.
FONTDIR=C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM

. Slower machines may set the Clipping= line to:
Clipping=FULL - all lines displayed
Clipping=PARTIAL - distant lines not displayed
Clipping=NONE - no lines displayed

. You may change JD's colours through the INI file. Default 16 DOS colours.

. All invalid lines in the INI file are ignored.

ABOUT GOLDEN CRATER SOFTWARE (GCS)

GCS began as the dream of several University of Waterloo Math/Computer Science
students to create quality Shareware Games.

Although our focus has changed, we still proudly sport our original name: A good
game with smooth animation and sound requires some of the most demanding
programming.

As you see, we still produce Shareware, but we've also moved to writing custom
software and Object Oriented Design in C++. One of us even contracts out as a
Microsoft certified C++ and MFC trainer.`

We have one 'off the shelf' product, Pittbull. This package requires a hardware
'probe' to scan and read a cars on-board computer to help diagnose your car.

WealthSave is a Mutual Fund, savings, mortgage advisor for the Canadian market.
Mortgages are calculated and compared the Canadian way, down weekly payments.

We are currently working on two other products, while not writing contract
software. (We contract within the London and Toronto area.)

. Cyborg Centurian is a virtual-reality game that will hook up to VR devices
on the market (such as Nintendo's Power Glove, 3D, etc.) These devices will not
be required. The game should be available as Shareware.`

. In the design phase is a program that will likely be an 'off the shelf' product
with a Personal edition available as Shareware.

Any musicians or graphics artists out there that could communicate through
Internet, please let us know.

INTERNET: fnordcml.com
CompuServe: >INTERNET:fnord@cml.com

This program was written in Microsoft Visual C++ with 386 optimizations and
standard compiler graphics library. All 3D math was written with our fixed
point notation math class.