Software mode - increase screen size

[Infinite_Data]

By default, software mode runs in a tiny window that corresponds to the exact resolution of the game. I'd like to change that so that it would stretch to a desired size (4:3 aspect ratio but a screen size at the very least twice as big) while retaining the same resolution. Which configuration file should I try to achieve this in? When playing the 3dfx mode, I managed to get a 3:4 window that fits my (1920x1080) screen by modifying the dosboxCARMA.conf file but I don't really know how to configure it for the kind of setup I want with the software mode.

[damson]

Software mode shouldn't run in a tiny window that corresponds to exact resolution of the game (320x200 for VGA mode would make a tiny screen on 1080p screen). Are you sure you increased the screen size in-game (+ and - signs next to backspace key). Also check out the guide I posted recently if you want to use SVGA resolution in software mode: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2398785840

[Infinite_Data]

I've seen your guide before and now I've tested both your solution and some modifications of my own. By setting the resolution in dosboxCARMA.conf to "800x600" I can force the game to run in what looks like a reasonable window (although I have to decrease the screen size in-game because those pixels are just too chunky in 800x600). It doesn't really look like 4x3 to me (yes, I have "aspect" set to "true") but whatever, it's not too stretched. Now I tried adding -hires the way you described because it would really help (software mode's standard resolution looks worse than vanilla Doom) but then after the logos I get a black screen, the music plays but the game becomes completely unresponsive.

Edit: I finally managed to get a semi-decent setup. I think I'll write my own little guide instead of leaving it here; I'll make sure to credit you, though, as I did not actually know about the -hires option until I read your guide and I appreciate the help you've given me here.

[damson]

What is your GPU brand? With output set to overlay and fullscreen to true I don't have your issue with the screen not being scaled to full screen size. I can use original res with no -hires switch which will give 320x200 and will display fully on my monitor (with black bars at the sides because of 4:3 aspect) just fine. Same goes with -hires (640x480) option.

Also just read thorugh your guide and have some thoughts:
• the nglide config tool does work, when resolution is left as original it will be displayed at 640x480, btw the same as with software -hires option, 3dfx version of Carma did not used higher res, there was no 2d art prepared for anything higher than this. You can bump up that resolution with nglide config, but the 2d art will be scaled (and may not look pretty if end resolution is not integer multiply of 640x480) however the 3d world will be drawn at that specified higher res, that's the cool feature of those glide wrappers. I can confirm this by capturing footage and checking the resolution of the capture. I added screenshot from Splat Pack running at 1280x960 to my guide as a proof it working. Also I'm pretty sure 3dfx version doesn't use the dosbox conf settings regarding to drawing graphics.
• seems you have problems with fullscreen, if you have AMD GPU you may want to try experimenting with different setting for output, try opengl, openglnb or ddraw. On my laptop with AMD GPU I usually use output=ddraw, while on my desktop with nVidia I use output=overlay for my DOSBox gaming. You shouldn't have issues with fullscreen setting.
• there are some strange DOS video modes which may give the end result as you describe (small screen on black background) but usually setting fullresolution to original and correct output mode will force your monitor to switch to that "original" resolution in fullscreen mode. I don't know what happens if your monitor doens't support so low resolutions (like 320x200) might be the culprit of this whole situation?

[Infinite_Data]

I use a GTX980. I've experimented with the nGlide settings quite a bit, it really didn't matter what I did there, I never saw any changes. This isn't the only game I've done that with, I remember also not seeing any effect in Star Wars: Dark Forces.
I'm not sure what you mean with "3dfx version doesn't use the dosbox conf settings regarding to drawing graphics". I assume you're implying you can't change the screen settings in 3dfx mode with those config files but I'm quite convinced I did just that when I was trying to set up hardware accelerated mode.
I don't really know what to say about the way fullscreen works for me. Since you've seen my guide, you know what configuration I ended up using for nGlide and the DOSBox config files, and that's just the way it works for me. I generally try to avoid playing bad DOSBox ports so I haven't had that much experience with setting it up. I've tried both the default "surface" output mode and "overlay"; "overlay" allowed me to set the exact window resolution, so that's great, but other than that, I saw practically no difference. And hires fullscreen is just broken for me, I've seen other people complaining about it before as well. Not a big deal, it's not like playing at that resolution stretched to fullscreen would be an improvement.

Also I've sent you a friend invitation; if you accept, I'll be able to add you as a contributor to the guide.

[damson]

That's odd that you have issues with nVidia card - I have GTX970 and it works just fine for me.

And yeah, to change resolution in 3dfx I used nglide config tool. And since it uses external 3dfx wrapper (nGlide which is not part of DOSBox) I doubt it uses dosbox.conf variables to set up how DOSBOX handles graphics. I added some examples to my guide how it looks with different settings.

I've been using DOSBox for over a decade (one and a half specifically, IIRC since 0.5x version) so I had some experience setting it up for running many DOS games. But even if something works for me, the sheer number of PC specs permutations can easily mean it may not work for you. Anyway I hope your method works fine for you.

I'll accept that invite right away ;) but there's no need in adding me as a contributor.

Also seeing that you're using polish Windows interface (Notatnik) are you by any chance from Poland. If so: Ja też ;)