0.72:
it parses (if present) the configuration file in $HOME
next it parses(if present) dosbox.conf in the localdirectory
lastly it parses all configuration files that you pass to it using -conf switches
finally it parses the environment for DOSBOX_SECTION_PARAMETER=value settings.

Thank you for that very quick response.

So let me see if I have this right: If you have the default dosbox.conf and a gamespecific.conf in the install directory for dosbox, then dosbox will first process doxbox.conf, then it will process gamespecific.conf. Any settings in gamespecific.conf will effectively overwright the settings in dosbox.conf.

Am I way off base here?

As long as you specify the gamespecific.conf with the switch then yes, it will overwrite the dosbox.conf settings.

the name is important.
automaticly parsing of configfiles only happends ($home and localdirectory) if it is called dosbox.conf
if you want to have a gamespecific.conf then you need to use -conf switches

Thank you Qbix and DosFreak. That was the information I need. I have only recently discovered DOSBox and find it an excellent program.

Let me tell you what I need to do so I know if I am going about it in the correct way. I want to use a cordless Logitech Rumblepad 2 to play these games. It seems easiest to set up by using the keymapper and mapping button presses from the Rumblepad to relevant control keys for the game. However, different games use different keys for the same functions, so each game needs to be mapped differently. I'm assuming that mapping these keys in separate configuration files and saving each configuration file in the install directory will do the trick.

Does this sound correct, or is there a better way to do it?

I would create a folder for each game. Inside each game-folder, I would keep a file called dosbox.conf (or maybe game-name.conf) and a mapper.txt (or you could call it game-name.mappings, or whatever).

In the dosbox.conf file, you set mapper=X:\full\path\to\name-of-mapper-file.

You can then start DOSBox with

dosbox.exe -conf "X:\full\path\to\dosbox.conf"

(and watch the console window for messages about which files gets loaded)

Once you get this to work, you can try to experiment with getting rid of the full paths, and only using simple, relative names for the files.

Thank you all for your help.

@MiniMax: I think your suggestion of putting each config and mapper file in a separate game folder is cleaner than putting them in the install directory, and since I have game folders anyway, this is what I will do. But just for my education, is there any other reason why you advocate separate folders?

I find it quite enjoyable to play Duke Nukem again after all these years.

It is just the way I do it (see Re: D-Fend Reloaded (new frontend)). I install each game in a folder called C-drive beneath the game-folder. Makes it very easy to completely wipe a game without risking the configuration files.