Product DescriptionDOSBox Tools is Perfect Sync's development tool
for programmers who work with DOS and Console
applications, including legacy programs.DOSBox Tools Main Page
Authorized Resellers
Perfect Sync's DOSBox Tools is not associated in any way
with the now-popular Source Forge project called DOSBox.
We named our product DOSBox before Open Source became popular,
and in 2006 we adopted the name "DOSBox Tools" to avoid confusion.
DOSBox Tools makes it possible to...
DOSBox Tools is a "wrapper" program that can link itself to virtually any DOS or Console Application -- even if you didn't write it -- through a "Control File". By placing commands in the Control File, a DOS or Console Application can tell DOSBox Tools to do things like:
...and MUCH, MUCH MORE!Perhaps even more importantly, any program can open the Control File and tell DOSBox Tools what to do!
For example, you could use the DOSBox Tools package with any programming language -- from the free QBasic interpreter to tomorrow's super-compiler -- to write a program that can launch any DOS or console application and "ghost control" it by reading its screen (in real time) and sending simulated keystrokes to it.
Imagine being able to take that old DOS program and write a Windows program to "drive" it the way it needs to be driven today. Or take an existing DOS program that somebody else wrote, and write a new DOS program to "fly" it!
DOSBox Tools can also add professional features to any DOS or Console Application. Programmers that have used Perfect Sync's popular Console Tools package have told us how valuable features like these are:
DOSBox Tools can do all of those things, and more! (By the way, Console Tools provides an even larger set of functions, but it can’t be used with DOS programs. DOSBox Tools can be used with DOS and console applications.)
Imagine a DOS program that can do things like these:
And DOSBox Tools works as a command line utility, so your batch files can do things like...
DOSBOX /USERYN Do you want to Continue?
DOSBOX /FULLSCRN...to display a message box or switch the console to the fullscreen mode!
Best of all, it's FREE!
DOSBox Tools is available in a 95%-functional Shareware Version, or you can register the software for just $35 and receive:
(The Shareware Version also displays copyright messages and is slower than the Registered Version, so it is not appropriate for "professional" applications.)
Even though the Shareware Version of DOSBox Tools is available at no charge, the entire DOSBox Tools package is Copyright © 2000 Perfect Sync, Inc., All Rights Reserved. The use of DOSBox Tools is limited by a Software License Agreement which is available for review before the package is downloaded.
The Shareware Version of DOSBox Tools
You can download the Shareware Version of DOSBox Tools right now! The Shareware Version is very similar to the Registered Version, except:
Download the Shareware Version of DOSBox Tools
The Registered Version of DOSBox Tools
First, review the DOSBox Tools License Agreement. Then visit one of our Authorized Resellers and order your copy of the Registered Version of DOSBox Tools for just $35. The Registered Version does not display any copyright messages, and it operates significantly faster than the Shareware Version. It also allows your programs to operate in the Fullscreen Mode, which isn't possible with the Shareware Version.
Technical Notes
DOSBox.EXE is a fully self-contained 32-bit Windows executable file (approx. 74k bytes). No additional runtime modules are required.
DOSBox.EXE does not reduce the amount of memory or other resources that are available to DOS and Console Applications.
DOSBox Tools is a 32-bit Windows application, so it can be used only on Microsoft Windows systems. DOSBox Tools cannot add Windows features to DOS programs that are run on DOS systems. DOSBox Tools works with all currently-available 32-bit versions of Microsoft Windows, including 95, 95b, 98, 98SE, ME, NT4, 2000, XP, Vista, and Win7.
When two programs occupy the same console window, such as when a DOS or Console Application is "ghost controlling" another DOS or Console Application, only the program that is being controlled can 1) PRINT or otherwise access the screen, and 2) access the keyboard. The controlling program can do those things before the controlled program has started, and after it has stopped, but while the controlled program is running the controller program cannot access the console (except via DOSBox Tools). If necessary, this limitation can be bypassed by running the two programs in separate console windows.
Because of a limitation in Windows 95/98/ME, it is not possible for DOSBox Tools to read the screen of an application while it is operating in the fullscreen (Alt-Enter) mode. So DOSBox Tools automatically detects Windows 95/98/ME and switches a controlled application to the window mode before reading its screen. (This limitation does not apply to applications that are run on Windows NT, 2000, and XP systems.)
While DOSBox Tools can allow DOS programs to use Long File Names, the Universal Naming Convention (UNC) is not supported. Windows cannot reliably convert UNC names to 8.3-format names that can be used by DOS programs. This means that DOSBox Tools can only be used on local drives, and on "mapped" network drives.
