Yes you can change config options in DOSBox. Read the README.

Very little needs changing between games though but if for some reason you require alot of changes between games then it's recommended to use a frontend since you can organize it alot better unless for some readon you really like using a DOS menu system or like maintaining tons of batch files.

There are also games which leave DOSBox in an instable state after quitting.

DosFreak

I mean on the fly. Can I run dosbox with "default" config. Then, without closing dosbox, load another totally different config file?

I know I can edit dosbox.conf but as far as I can tell, this is only loaded upon opening of dosbox. And I know I can use a -conf switch to load alternate config files upon OPENING dosbox.

I want to load a config file AFTER dosbox is open and running. aka RELOAD configs without closing and reopening dosbox.

Is this possible at this time or is that purely set for front ends?

h-a-l-9000

Ahhh, okay, that would be why no "load" config command is available.

Looks like I'll just take some time to setup some batch files and custom config files.

I don't want to take the time to learn a front end and setup one. I enjoy the old dos feel and experience of dosbox.

Thank you for the info.

And not all dosbox.conf items can be changed without restart.

Why do you want to load a new configuration file?

OBS: Note the exact wording of my question before you answer.

Not every game works with the exact same config settings.

So once I get done playing one game, I'd like to (in dosbox) type a load command then goto (cd) the game directory and run different game.

But h-a-l-9000 explained why that was never implemented. So I did what I know and made custom named config files and short batch files that delete the dosbox.conf and copy the custom config to dosbox.conf. Probably similiar to what a front end does.

I just didn't want to take the time to learn a front end and configure it. I'm already used to the command line. And working in a DOS mentality with dosbox, I don't need to convert it to the assisted windows UI method. 😀

Now if DosBox had a restart or reboot command, then I wouldn't have to use the mouse in windows at all. I could just run batch file then restart and dosbox would close and reopen.

No worries though, as it is, I just have to double click the dosbox shortcut on my desktop after running the batch file so it's not a biggy.

Since you did not get the hidden meaning in my question, I will spell it out here:

You don't really want to load a new configuration file. You want to change the configuration and erroneous thought that loading a configuration file was the way to do it. A typical example of describing the step, and not the goal:

http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html#goal

If your goal really is to change the internal configuration of DOSBox, then that is indeed supported. Simply type core=normal, cycles=1234 and you can change most settings (but not all). I don't like that method, and instead prefer the more elaborate method of
config -set cpu core=dynamic or config -set render scaler=normal3x. And nothing prevents you from putting those command into a BAT-file that you execute from DOSBox.

Indeed. Thank you.

Yes, I totally missed your point in your question. I like the FAQ you pointed me to. I will read it more thoroughly once I'm off of work.

Thank you for the point in the right direction.

The goal is to change resolution settings for each game so that the full screen fits the entire screen for each game. Also there may be other settings that may need tweaking but so far I haven't had any issues.

I will have to take a closer look at dosbox console commands.

I was thinking along the lines of old DOS days. I had a DOS boot disk with several autoexec.bat and config.sys files for various games I played. On it also had a reboot executable. I would run a bat file for the game I desired that would delete the current autoexec and config files. Copy the ones needed to autoexec.bat and config.sys then reboot the machine, which in turn would load the game with the best settings for the game.

That was my whole thought process with dosbox and was totally blind to straight console commands, eliminating the need to "restart/reboot" altogether.

Once again I thank you for all the very helpful information. It seems you understood more than I could possibly have hoped.

Ciao.