configuration application always runs with built-in DOSBox

[Matthew Noel]

I Have a custom DOSBox version set for all my MS-DOS games (DOSBos-X), but when I try to run a configuration application for a game it uses built-in DOSBox 0.74. Also the "Open DOSBox..." menu option is the same. It's important to run the config programs in the same DOSBox as the game itself, especially if it lets you test or auto-detect hardware.

[Matthew Noel]

My workaround for this is so dumb. Please help.

I made a custom EXE that just redirects to DOSBox-x and overwrote the built-in one. Yes, I know I could just put DOSBox-x in the built-in folder and rename the EXE, but I'm stubborn.

Here's the code if anyone's interested:

Spoiler

#include <cstring>
#include <Windows.h>

bool hasSpace(char *str) {
	while (*str != 0) {
		if (*str == ' ') {
			return true;
		}
		str++;
	}
	return false;
}

int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {

	char *command = static_cast<char *>(malloc(32767));

	memset(command, 0, 32767);

	strcat_s(command, 32767, "dosbox-x.bat");

	for (int i = 1; i < argc; ++i) {
		strcat_s(command, 32767, " ");

		if (hasSpace(argv[i])) {
			strcat_s(command, 32767, "\"");
			strcat_s(command, 32767, argv[i]);
			strcat_s(command, 32767, "\"");
		} else {
			strcat_s(command, 32767, argv[i]);
		}
	}


	// additional information
	STARTUPINFOA        si;
	PROCESS_INFORMATION pi;

	// set the size of the structures
	ZeroMemory(&si, sizeof(si));
	si.cb = sizeof(si);
	ZeroMemory(&pi, sizeof(pi));

	// start the program up
	if (!CreateProcess
			(
					R"(..\..\..\DOSBox-X\0.83.6\bin\x64\Release SDL2\dosbox-x.bat)", // Path to executable
					command,                                            // Command line
					nullptr,                                            // Process handle not inheritable
					nullptr,                                            // Thread handle not inheritable
					FALSE,                                              // Set handle inheritance to FALSE
					INHERIT_CALLER_PRIORITY,                            // Inherit parent's priority
					nullptr,                                            // Use parent's environment block
					R"(..\..\..\DOSBox-X\0.83.6\bin\x64\Release SDL2)", // Starting directory
					&si,                                                // Pointer to STARTUPINFO structure
					&pi                                                 // Pointer to PROCESS_INFORMATION
			)) {
		// Close process and thread handles.
		CloseHandle(pi.hProcess);
		CloseHandle(pi.hThread);

		return 1;
	}

	free(command);

	auto exitcode = STILL_ACTIVE;
	while (exitcode == STILL_ACTIVE) {
		WaitForSingleObject(pi.hProcess, INFINITE);
		GetExitCodeProcess(pi.hProcess, &exitcode);
	}

	// Close process and thread handles.
	CloseHandle(pi.hProcess);
	CloseHandle(pi.hThread);

	return exitcode;
}

 

EDIT: Code cleanup.

Edited October 12, 2020 by Matthew Noel