2 simple ideas from an end-user \ VOGONS

2 simple ideas from an end-user

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First post, by turbolad

Posted on 2012-01-07, 01:25

turbolad Offline

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Hi I have 2 simple ideas:

1)
If DOSBox could automatically match the keyboard layout according to the system locale, users would not need to manually edit the .conf file to do this. For instance, if a user has a UK keyboard and they use Windows, Ubuntu or any supported OS with the UK system locale, DOSBox could automatically select the UK keyboard layout. If the user changes the locale, DOSBox could adapt the keyboard layout accordingly the next time DOSBox is started.

2) When the user opens DOSBox they see a blue box with basic information about DOSBox, such as how to adjust the CPU speed etc. Since fullscreen is used a lot in gaming, consider adding this line of info at the bottom of that blue box:

Hold Alt and press Enter to toggle between fullscreen and windowed size at any time.

Reply 1 of 11, by Dominus

Posted on 2012-01-07, 07:41

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1. I think that is already in with keyb=auto but for some reason this doesn't work reliably.

2. Isn't a bad idea though mostly the whole readme should be in that blue box 😉
What I mean is, where to stop adding stuff to the blue box?

Windows 3.1x guide for DOSBox
60 seconds guide to DOSBox
DOSBox SVN snapshot for macOS (10.4-11.x ppc/intel 32/64bit) notarized for gatekeeper

Reply 2 of 11, by h-a-l-9000

Posted on 2012-01-07, 13:07

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Auto is windows only I think

1+1=10

Reply 3 of 11, by turbolad

Posted on 2012-01-08, 12:22

turbolad Offline

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Would be nice if "auto" would work in Ubuntu. 😀 Maybe this is something they could consider for the next DOSBox release?

The blue box could easily grow and grow. I think the most common thing newbies do is think "how do I make this fullscreen"?

Reply 4 of 11, by Dominus

Posted on 2012-01-08, 13:17

Dominus Offline

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The most common thing newbies should do is read the readme. Really you open something like dosbox without a fancy menu, the thing you are wondering what are the keyboard shortcuts? Answer is easy - read the manual 😉

Windows 3.1x guide for DOSBox
60 seconds guide to DOSBox
DOSBox SVN snapshot for macOS (10.4-11.x ppc/intel 32/64bit) notarized for gatekeeper

Reply 5 of 11, by ripsaw8080

Posted on 2012-01-08, 13:35

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The blue box (aka the welcome message) suggests that new users run "intro", so the info is already there... sort of.

Reply 6 of 11, by turbolad

Posted on 2012-01-08, 22:25

turbolad Offline

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The blue box says this of the README:

"For more information read the README file in the DOSBox directory."

It could say something like "Please read the README file for help and tips. It is located in the DOSBox directory."

Does anyone know where to find the DOSBox README file in Ubuntu? I can find the "dosbox-0.74.conf" file by going into /home and pressing CTRL and H, then opening .dosbox - but I can't find the README for DOSBox! 🙁

Reply 7 of 11, by Dominus

Posted on 2012-01-08, 23:00

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the most important thing is mentioned right away with new users type intro.

No idea where the readme goes in ubuntu. Where do readmes go?

Windows 3.1x guide for DOSBox
60 seconds guide to DOSBox
DOSBox SVN snapshot for macOS (10.4-11.x ppc/intel 32/64bit) notarized for gatekeeper

Reply 8 of 11, by collector

Posted on 2012-01-09, 02:18

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Did it get named "Manual", instead?

The Sierra Help Pages -- New Sierra Game Installers -- Sierra Game Patches -- New Non-Sierra Game Installers

Reply 9 of 11, by bloodbat

Posted on 2012-01-09, 18:38

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In the official package there's a manual, and there's also a readme in the usual location:
/usr/share/doc/

Reply 10 of 11, by turbolad

Posted on 2012-01-12, 14:23

turbolad Offline

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Thanks for the info. 😁

Maybe the Linux versions of DOSBox could indicate that the readme is located in /usr/share/doc/dosbox/README.gz ?

I'm still learning Ubuntu. 😜

Hopefully these ideas will be looked at by the developers? I love DOSBox and it works perfectly for me.

Reply 11 of 11, by bloodbat

Posted on 2012-01-12, 19:19

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Well, most programs place their readmes there...

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