Is there some way i can set up a shortcut, or something, for arena and daggerfall so that i dont have to edit the dosbox config everytime I want to play one of them?

thanks

There are different ways of doing this. I like to put batch files in my home DOS folder (whatever directory you mount as the C drive) for each game, and when I boot DOSbox, I can just pick which file I want to run and it will enter the rest of the commands for me.

For instance, if you make a new blank text file and enter the following:
cd dagger
fall.exe z.cfg
and then save it as DF.bat in your home DOS or GAMES folder, then you've made a batch file. Boot up DOSbox, type DF and press enter, and it will run those commands.

However, if you actually need to alter DOSbox settings (like resolution, scalers, cycles, etc.) between your games, then you'll have to do this:
1. Make a copy of your dosbox.conf file and name it Arena.conf or Dagger.conf or whatever.
2. Change the settings to fit that game (you can even go ahead and enter commands into the autoexec setting to run the game automatically while you're at it)
3. Make a shortcut to the DOSbox.exe application, right click->properties on it, and add " -conf Arena.conf" to the end of the target line so it says "dosbox.exe -conf Arena.conf"
4. Now that shortcut will start DOSbox and tell it which config file to use.

You can also use a http://www.dosbox.com/wiki/DOSBoxFrontends.

I use a bunch of different dos application and games. However, I specifically wanted to be able to click a Daggerfall icon on my desktop in order to launch the game, yet still be able to use DOSBox for my other apps and games without having to mess around with the config file all the time.

I managed to do this by installing a second instance of DOSBox v.73 in my C: drive. The two separate installs will not interfere with one another. At least, I haven't had any trouble with it. To do this run the DOSBox installer and specify a different folder during the install process. It doesn't matter where. I put mine in C:Program Files\DFDosbox to differentiate it from the default which is C:\Program Files\DOSBox-0.73.

Once the program is installed you will have to create a new config file. So, next you will want to fire up your new install of DOSBox. At the Z prompt type the following: "config -writeconf dosbox.conf". A new config file will appear in the folder you created. You can modify the config file so that it will automatically launch Daggerfall when you run DOSBox.

Create a desktop shortcut to the DOSBox Application icon. Change the shortcut's icon to the one included in the download, or there are some better ones available online if you look hard enough. I created a custom icon using the box art. If anyone is interested in using my custom icon I'd be happy to share it. PM me if you're interested.

I have used separate config files for each game that you can load through icon shortcuts, and I have also used frontends. Currently I am using dbgl (DosBox Game Loader) which works fine under Windows 7 (64 bit).


JimC

For Daggerfall, you can create a DOSBox shortcut and change the target (right-click > properties > shortcut tab) to the following:

"C:\Program Files (x86)\DOSBox-0.73\dosbox.exe" C:\DOSBox\dosbox.exe -c "mount c c:\dosgames -freesize 1000" -c "mount d c:\dosgames\dfcd -t cdrom -label Daggerfall" -c "c:" -c "cd dagger" -c "dagger"

Your Daggerfall folders might not be under C:\dosgames; alter accordingly. Likewise, your DOSBox folder might be elsewhere.

You don't need to run Daggerfall with the CD. I don't know if this works for the official Bethesda download, but it should. Only works if you installed Daggerfall with the "Huge" installation*.

1) Copy all the .VID files within DFCD's ARENA2 folder into DAGGER\ARENA2.
2) Edit z.cfg within your DAGGER folder - it shoujld have two directories near the top, a game and a cd directory. Edit the cd directory to point to DAGGER'S ARENA2 folder, as opposed to DFCD's.
3) Run Daggerfall by typing "fall z.cfg", as opposed to "dagger".

*If you used a smaller installation, ruthlessly copying the entire ARENA2 folder over should work - or rather, whatever files are omitted in the installation. But I'm not sure which as nobody in this day and age should have to use a smaller installation size.

Stupid question... is the version of Daggerfall up on Bethesda's site for free download the exact same as the one that comes on the retail disc? Just wondering if I should download the re-released version and use it instead of my retail version.

Pretty sure it's identical to the retail version, probably even utilizing the same version that the retail distribution, though I'm sure there were multiple reprints with varying versions applied. DAG213.exe is included in the download but not applied by default.

For reference, all the ARENA2 files are dated as last being modified 9/5/1996.