You would have to look if SDL supports some sort of dumb screen mode.
DOSBox asks on SDL for a screen to draw on. DOSBox can't be easily changed and it doesn't match the goal of DOSBox which is to run DOS games.

Can't you edit the line that launches DOSBox to use the Windows "Start" command instead of DOSBox.exe directly? I'm pretty sure the "Start" command has switches that allow you to launch a program minimized.

I think that there should be a version of dosbox specifically made for running old business/scientific/industrial applications.

mr_bigmouth_502 wrote:

I think that there should be a version of dosbox specifically made for running old business/scientific/industrial applications.

It does seem that there is significant user demand for that purpose, but the DOSBox developers have their own philosophies and goals. Fortunately it's open source, so someone could always fork it.

I think that there should be a version of dosbox specifically made for running old business/scientific/industrial applications.

No there shouldn't.

OK, thanks a lot to everyone. I can understand your point, that DOSBox is not the right tool for my application... (actually I did not choose it myself).
I tried almost all what was suggested, but DOSBox keeps on 😀 jumping in the foreground.
Never mind. If some readers know an emulator that could do the same job, but not oriented to games emulation, I would be grateful of an indication.
Best regards
Claudio

CheckOut AutoHotKey (if you are on Windows). I am sure you can script AHK to minimize the DOSBox window(s).

There's a executable for Windows that "hides" the NTVDM window. I use it for scripts in Windows.

Funnily enough it's called "dosbox".

AFAIK, it's a free utility.

MiniMax,
yes I'm on Windows. I did not know the AutoHotKey, I am checking it, but is that true that it needs "active" action from the user (i.e. pressing a combination of keys)? My problem is that the application keeps launching two (!) DosBox(es) at a time, and their windows keep popping up, for hours (it is a long-running CPU intensive job). An hotkey could help, but if I am understanding correctly would not not be the solution I am looking for. Nevertheless I'll have a look.

DosFreak,
thanks... would that executable close also the DosBox window? I'm afraid 🙁 I don't know what the NTVDM window is....

Thanks to both for your suggestion and advice
Claudio

pedrazzisoilmec wrote:

but is that true that it needs "active" action from the user (i.e. pressing a combination of keys)?

Not really. AHK scripts can run in the background and automatically check for certain events, like a window popping up.

Here is something I cobbled together once that might serve as a starting point for you. Its purpose is to always make the DOSBox window appear in the top-left corner of the screen. It should not be that difficult to make it hide the window instead:

1#NoEnv                                          ; Avoid looking up empty variables in the environment.
2#Persistent                                     ; This script should always be running.
3
4SetTimer, DOSBoxMonitor, 1000                   ; Look for a new DOSBox window every 1 sec.
5return
6
7DOSBoxMonitor:
8IfWinNotExist, DOSBox,,DOSBox Status Window     ; If no DOSBox window exist, start an automatic
9  SetTimer, DOSBoxRepos, 500                    ;   re-position timer.
10return                                          ; Otherwise, we assume that is has already been
11                                                ;   been re-positioned.
12DOSBoxRepos:
13IfWinExist, DOSBox,,DOSBox Status Window        ; If a DOSBox window is detected,
14{                                               ;    re-position both windows.
15  WinMove, DOSBox,,0,0,,,DOSBox Status Window   ; Move the main window to top-left corner.
16  WinMove, DOSBox Status Window,,0,450          ; Move the status window below the main window.
17  SetTimer, DOSBoxRepos, Off                    ; Now that this DOSBox has been re-positioned,
18                                                ;   stop with the re-positioning.
19}
20return

The "NTVDM" window is actually a CMD window. CMD.exe is the command line interface to Windows NT (like COMMAND.COM for DOS and WIN9x). That window is used by DOSBox for log and error messages, but it is optional. You can reduce the number of windows to one by using the "-noconsole" argument, or by launching the "DOSBox (no console) shortcut.

To instantly minimize the DOSBox window, you can use the Windows scripting host.

Save this in the DOSBox folder as dbx.js:

1var WshShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell");
2WshShell.Run("dosbox.exe -noconsole",7);
3WScript.Sleep(100);
4WshShell.AppActivate("DOSBox");
5WshShell.SendKeys("% n");

If you don't use an english version of windows, replace the "n" in the "% n" line by the appropriate letter (it's the keyboard shortcut for "minimize" from the ALT+Space menu).

the .js file can be launched like any windows executable file .exe file (double click from the explorer, or by calling it from the command line).

Don't know where my head is today. Must have NTVDM on the brain. I think I saw he was running a DOS app and threw NTVDM in there. heh.

This utility I mentioned is only is for the Windows command prompt, not for DOSBox.

My method doesn't actually work... I think I got it to work the first time I tested it, but I cant reproduce it anymore, and I'm starting to think that I hid the DOSBox window under another one by accident... or it is perhaps timing sensitive, and I got it to work out of luck the first time... But I'm messing with the sleep delay (milliseconds) but it doesn't seem to help.

The script works with other notepad, though, so this seems a DOSBox (or SDL?) problem. DOSBox seems to be deaf to the SendKeys command... Weird stuff.

Edit: Apparently, it's an SDL issue, ScummVM is affected as well.

The DOSBox shell actually captures the ALT+Space combo (which is understandable), but you can't send any key to DOSBox through the SendKeyx command. I guess DOSBox captures the keyboards events at a lower level... What's more surprising is the fact that the SDL window is also deaf during the splash screen.

MiniMax, did you try your method? Is it working?

The following ahk script launches DOSBox and minimizes it.
It needs to be in the DOSBox folder, or you can optionally use the SetWorkingDir option.

1#NoEnv  ; Recommended for performance and compatibility with future AutoHotkey releases.
2SendMode Input  ; Recommended for new scripts due to its superior speed and reliability.
3;SetWorkingDir %A_ScriptDir%  ; Ensures a consistent starting directory.
4
5Run dosbox.exe -noconsole
6WinWait DOSBox
7WinActivate DOSBox
8WinMinimize DOSBox

I've attached a compiled version (put it in the DOSBox directory as well).

Thanks Zorbid,
I'm going to try it...
Best regards
Claudio

I had a similar requirement to run a small 16-bit command-line utility (ENVTIME.EXE) in x64 using DOSBox.
I couldn't start DOSBox minimized but managed to run DOSBox from a batch file without having the GUI window:

SET SDL_VIDEODRIVER=dummy
{path_to_DOSBOX_exe}\DOSBox.exe ENVTIME.EXE -noconsole -exit

The "dummy" videodriver will cause the GUI window not to popup. The -noconsole causes the console not to popup and -exit causes DOSBox to exit after running the executable (ENVTIME.EXE in this case). Replace ENVTIME.EXE with whatever executable or batch file for your case.