NTVDM / Dos window going fullscreen automatically

[Guest]

Hi all.
Have a DOS database which we need to run in a window, which is switching to
fullscreen mode everytime we start it. If the user hits ALT+TAB it switches
back to a window and works fine. The problem is that there are many parts to
the database, and whenever the user selects a different part (eg. accounts,
clients, invoices) it starts another .exe and then the screen again switches
back to fullscreen. This leaves the user having to switch from full screen to
window mode many times a day, which is driving them mad!
We have successfully used this database in W2K for years in a window without
any problems. Im not sure of how to define the exact graphics output, but it
looks just like the dos text editor... (blue background, big dos looking
text).
Is there some way i can intercept or disable the call which triggers the
fullscreen switch? i've tried using SOLVBE which is a VESA emulator
application, and it resolves the window-switching issue, but introduces other
mouse issues.
We don't want to run this app in an emulator (like dosbox), as we are
running many other applications all day, like outlook, word, etc. and the
overheads kill the performance of the workstation.
Someone please help!
Is there someway i can intercept the call which is causing the window to go
fullscreen?

 

[Jerry Ed]

After you ALT+TAB to switch from full screen to a window,
right click the title bar, select properties, select Options tab, select
Window,
select Save properties for future windows with the same title, click OK...

 

[Jerry Ed]

BTW, ALT+ ENTER instead of ALT+TAB toggles Full and Window on my machine...

 

[Guest]

Thanks Jerry.
Unfortunately the issue is far from that easy.
I have set PIF options to default to window, with and without the program
running. All this does is provide a window when the app exits back to the
command prompt. From all of the online sources i have read, there were
changes made to the NTVDM in Windows XP which offered VESA support for
graphical apps. as parts of this, whenever a graphics call was made by a dos
application, the window would immediately be switched to fullscreen mode.
However, this application runs perfectly in window mode, but the OS still
interprets it as a graphical application when it's started, and switches it
to fullscreen.
I also said that i was using ALT+TAB in error... I have actually been using
ALT+ENTER.

Anyone got any other ideas?

The closest i have come to a solution is using Microsoft Virtual PC, but i
would much rather use NTVDM as it runs the program perfectly (aside from this
fullscreen issue!)