Running in a window or full screen? a screenshot demonstrating the problem would help.

Thanks for the response. I'm running teh DOS app in a window. The fonts are legible, but just not sharp. I prefer not to run in Full screen.

I attached screen shot of Win32 to this post and DOSBox in the next post. It is hard to tell the difference, but you will have to trust me that the larger the DOSBox resolution is set, the more I'm able to see blurred edges on the fonts. Any Suggestions?

App screen shot in DOSBox

OK, try windowresolution=original, and either "scaler=none" or "scaler=normal2x forced", depending on how large you want your window.
You can try other "2x" scalers to smooth out the fonts while keeping them sharp, but make sure to append "forced" as it is important for text modes.

The best choices seem to be "advinterp2x" or "hq2x"
That seems to have fixed the blurred edges of the fonts by rounding out the fonts. Fonts look a bit funny now but I think we can get used to it.

Is there a way to scale smaller than 2x? I tried 1.5x but it reverted back to the same size as "none". 2x is about 30% too big for me and takes up my whole 19" screen width. It was nice to use "Windowresolution" because it allowed me to make size adjustments to accomodate vision issues for older and younger staff.

If you look at my original Win32bit screen shot (post#4) you will see that the new scaled version has a very puffy font. Is there a way to get to a more tight looking font? Is there any other settings I can try that will allow me to have a tight/slender font and also have the option of adjusting windows size like "Windowsresolution" option.

My other option is to reinstall all 10 Dell PC's that arrived to use Win 7 32bit. Not terrible, but I would rather move forward onthe OS not backwards.

The built-in scalers can only work at integer factors, so it's either none or 2x.

To change the text mode font in DOSBox you'll have to find a DOS program that does this. There should be a few of them around, but the win32 console is more flexible in the font department, so my advice is to look into virtualization (VirtualBox, VMWare, etc.) instead of DOSBox. That would let you run a 32-bit "guest" OS that supports your software, and is the preferred solution for business apps anyway (DOSBox is intended for games).

I'm trying to avoid having users have to deal with a seprate VM desktop. It is confusing for now tech savy staff. DOSBox emulator is hardly noticable running our DOS app except for the fotn issue.

I may just bite the bullet and roll back to Win 7 32bit before deploying the new PCs.

Thanks for all your help. If there are any other settings to play with please let me know.

sc1975 wrote:

Thanks for all your help. If there are any other settings to play with please let me know.

Try openglhq or one of the 4x scalers.

I think I am missing something. I don't see any options for openglhq under output and I don't see any scaler options for 4x.
I tried the follwing changes inthe conf file.
1)
output=openglhq
scaler=hq4x forced

2)
output=openglhq forced
scaler=hq4x forced

They both gave me a small window. Am I not updating the conf file correctly?

sc1975 wrote:

I think I am missing something. I don't see any options for openglhq under output and I don't see any scaler options for 4x.

Perhaps try this but try output=openglhq scaler=none:
http://www.emucr.com/2013/05/ykhwongs-dosbox- … d-20130506.html

If that doesn't work, then there are 4x and higher scalers which could go along with another output mode.

sc1975 has mentioned that the window is already too large with 2x, so any of the (experimental) 4x scalers wouldn't do much good.
But yes, openglhq is a solution if one is willing to work fullscreen.

VileRancour wrote:

sc1975 has mentioned that the window is already too large with 2x, so any of the (experimental) 4x scalers wouldn't do much good.
But yes, openglhq is a solution if one is willing to work fullscreen.

I did read that part, but it was my oversight in the reply. However, he could try fractional scaling with openglhq: SDL_OPENGLHQ_WINRES.

truth5678 wrote:

rhaps try this but try output=openglhq scaler=none

No difference. Still opens up as a small window that is too small

truth5678 wrote:

However, he could try fractional scaling with openglhq: SDL_OPENGLHQ_WINRES.

Not sure how to set this one up.

sc1975 wrote:

output=openglhq scaler=none
No difference. Still opens up as a small window that is too small

Try the attached batch file with Daum's build of DOSBox (openghlq, no scaler).

Just in case the there is still issues, I suggest these:

1# Note: You can try playing with this; Shouldn't be larger than the desktop resolution. For many resolutions it is *not* going to represent the exact dimensions of the window's contents in pixels, due to aspect ratio considerations. Nevertheless, just try playing with this.
2windowresolution=1280x800
3# For having the desired window resolution, or at least not far from it, with no much additional blurring that comes from scaling.
4output=openglnb
5# Try this and play with that later if you wish.
6scaler=none

As written before, though, the motivation behind writing DOSBox is the ability to run DOS games. So, just if everything fails, you may still revert to the VM path (with automatic boots of DOS or so, for being relatively simple to get these running when/if these are ready).

Another alternative might be TameDOS, which is more focused on running text-mode DOS applications in Windows.

VileRancour wrote:

To change the text mode font in DOSBox you'll have to find a DOS program that does this. There should be a few of them around

This might also be worth looking into before you do anything drastic.

Try:
TEXT font size
DOSBox BIOS Font

Setting machine=cga in DOSBox.conf might get you somewhere as well.

sc1975 wrote:

I'm trying to avoid having users have to deal with a seprate VM desktop. It is confusing for now tech savy staff.

I understand "XP mode" in Windows 7 Premium and Ultimate is rather tightly integrated and should cause a minimum of confusion.

P.S. Please do not write subject lines in all caps ever again.

Jorpho wrote:

I understand "XP mode" in Windows 7 Premium and Ultimate is rather tightly integrated and should cause a minimum of confusion.

Yes, an XP Mode app runs almost like it is a native app. At first it looks strange to see an XP window on a Win7 desktop. You can launch the VM to install the app in the XP VM. If a proper installer is used in the XM, it will appear in the Win7 Start Menu. When you run it from Win7, it does not launch the entire VM, just the app Window. If the user's machines are Pro, I would say that XP Mode would absolutely be the way to go, if it works as desired in the XP NTVDM.