Issues with dimensions of DOS BATCH file on my Windows 7

[adi2012]

Hello,

I have recently bought my new laptop on which I have installed some (old) software which is used for accounting. That software is made in DOS. Maximum resolution of my laptop display is 1280 x 720

When I open my software using BATCH file (as I always did), DOS window becomes streched, specially by height which oversizes my display height and I can't see content-data of my software. Please see screen bellow

and this is how code of my BATCH file looks like:

PATH=C:\;C:\DLL1.9;C:\DBASE
cd..
CD mpsg
CD MP2014
DATE
MPSW

Problem is that I can't figure ot how to change the code of the BATCH file in order to show screen of my software in controlled size (for example 640x480)?

Any help is appreciated and many thanks in advance for prompt reply!

Adi

 

[matts6887]

Well the biggest problem here is windows 7 does not use DOS. DOS was eliminated after XP i believe. So with that being said you probably will encounter some compatibility issues which may require you to update to a much more modern accounting program. While that may not be what you really want to hear it is the truth; as no one(well very very few people) use DOS anymore as its ancient and beyond its time. Again biggest reason here is compatibility issues which is most likely why you cant see anything.

 

[adi2012]

Hello Matt,

I understand that really but thing is that my software is working almost perfect on Win7 (same as on XP) *except* that I can't see 20% of of my screen (bottom height). I don't see any reason why would it be impossible to control size of DOS window in Win7 using BATCH file?

Thank you,
Adi

 

[andrew129260]

Well the biggest problem here is windows 7 does not use DOS. DOS was eliminated after XP i believe. So with that being said you probably will encounter some compatibility issues which may require you to update to a much more modern accounting program. While that may not be what you really want to hear it is the truth; as no one(well very very few people) use DOS anymore as its ancient and beyond its time. Again biggest reason here is compatibility issues which is most likely why you cant see anything.

That is wrong. If dos wasn't there you would not be running anything. A batch file uses a MS dos prompt. Dos has been in windows and was never taken out of it. Every time you open a command prompt you are running a ms dos emulation prompt.

See here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DOS

Having said that, if you have a 64 bit windows system you will have a very hard time running dos software.

See this for reference: http://www.pcworld.com/article/243718/run_dos_programs_in_windows_7.html

@adi2012

Please see these threads I found useful. Google is your friend.

https://stackoverflow.com/questions...-size-in-dos-command-prompt-from-batch-script

How to change the size of the window in a batch file

 

[LMiller7]

We must be very clear what is meant by "DOS". DOS is a very old operating system. The term is also incorrectly used to refer to the command line.

The 16 bit subsystem (necessary to run DOS applications) has been a part of 32 bit NT class operating systems from the beginning. But it is not an essential part of the OS and in fact has been totally removed from 64 bit systems. It could be removed from 32 bit systems as well and most people would never notice the difference.

By default batch files run under cmd.exe which even in 32 bit system does not operate in an emulated DOS environment. Most batch files operate in the 32 or 64 bit environment of the OS and know nothing of DOS. cmd.exe can launch 16 bit DOS applications which then run in an emulated environment.

command.com (available in 32 bit Windows) does operate in an emulated DOS environment. It was provided for better compatibility with DOS programs.

 

[andrew129260]

@LMiller7

Thank you for that information. I would rep you but i have to spread it around. Could you give a link with more information? I searched but cannot seem to find it saying exactly what you said.

 

[Alejandro85]

Try using DosBox to run your program. The DOS emulation Windows provides is quite bad since many versions ago so that problems like that might happen.
DOSBox, an x86 emulator with DOS

 

[matts6887]

ok so maybe I was a bit off. Oh well. at least i tried

 

[LMiller7]

@LMiller7

Thank you for that information. I would rep you but i have to spread it around. Could you give a link with more information? I searched but cannot seem to find it saying exactly what you said.

I don't think I can provide a link. These are things I learned from various sources over the years and from experimentation.

 

[andrew129260]

No problem, thank you.