I'm trying to setup a script to run DOSBox using a specific conf file. It was easy enough in Windows with batch files, and most of the Linux distros I've run since then weren't much different by comparison (as far as the process goes). But now when running Debian version, the console simply reads loading the default. I've made sure the paths are correct, but no change. Yes, I know how to create a conf, and I know where to find it. But when I 'Save as' and try to load it (for example, arena.conf), DB doesn't even acknowledge it - it simply loads the default.

shows us what you have - scripts written, files edited, commands issued, messages received.

At one time, what worked for me was the syntax in the form dosbox -conf path-to-game.conf. Sometimes the OS required the path-to-dosbox in order to function. But now if I run the script, it returns the DB window with the Z:\ prompt.

#!/bin/bash
#

dosbox -conf ~./arena.conf

exit

Running the script (as in clicking on it) has the same result whether I run it from the desktop or game folder - the Z: prompt. Running it in a terminal (from either place) says 'Command not found' or 'No such file or directory'.
I changed bash in the first line to sh and now it runs in either place by clicking on it - but I still get the Z prompt and it still won't run in the terminal. I have chmodded it (both +x and u+x) with no change.
I have tried this with the arena.conf in the default ./dosbox folder and in the game directory and editing the conf path accordingly - still no change.
I've found that opening the game directory in a terminal and running 'dosbox -conf arena.conf' loads correctly - but why doesn't the script work? Why is it that this is the only instance where DOSBox recognizes the game.conf file as opposed to the default?

Anyway - even if this isn't resolved... thanks for responding.

this is nonsense.
if arena.conf is at the base of your $HOME folder, it should read:

Seems your confused about what each shortcut mean. The . can either mean hidden or current working directory. if it leads the directory name i.e. .dosbox the directory is hidden. If it leads the path i.e ./ then it refers to the current working directory i.e. the directory where the terminal is currently located. Look at the output of the pwd command.

The ~ is a shortcut for your home directory i.e. /home/username. To make things simple use the absolute path to the arena.conf file without any shortcuts i.e

dosbox -conf /home/username/.dosbox/arena.conf

It works because the arena.conf file is located in the same directory where you start dosbox.

1 members found this post helpful.

But the tilde ~ is just used like ~/ to specify the users home. I do not know what ~./ even means. Each directory has at least 2 hidden links . and .. The single dot is a link to the directory it's in. The dotdot is a link to the directory one level higher. The / means path. ./ means CWD path. ls ./ is the same as ls.

But, if a command program or file is not in a directory included in the $PATH environment variable, then you must specify the path to the file. If the file is in the CWD, all you must do is type ./file.

Long story short (which due to some 'site error' failed to post):

dosbox -conf ~/.dosbox/arena.conf works - either sh or terminal command.

dosbox -conf ~/.dosbox/noctis.conf doesn't.

Putting /Noctis in my username directory works - for @ a minute. Why is it I can run -

mount c ~/Games

c:

cd DOSSET

chdir Arena

ARENA.BAT

but DB won't recognize /modules if /Noctis is in my DOSSET directory? Loading the conf in a terminal has DB exit with "Segmentation Fault". I've had enough experience with developer admin to know that there is about as much chance of this getting fixed as there is that the Slitaz team will fix the Alsa bug (which they've been farting around with for a number of years now).

Thanks to all who responded.

Is noctis.conf in your .dosbox directory?

Not familiar with the game. Without knowing your directory structure or what the game expects its impossible to answer your questions. All I can say is that there is something in the conf file that DosBox does not like...

NOCTIS.EXE (as far as running the game) expects to be found in NOCTIS/modules/.