Introduction

AutoMenus is an extension/cdev which automates the selection of your menus. With AutoMenus, you no longer have to click the mouse button more than once and your chances of accidentally selecting the wrong menu item is dramatically reduced. This is clearly a feature Apple should have included in the system software.

CDEV controls

—AutoMenus On

This checkbox allows you to turn off AutoMenus. This produces the same results as using the AutoMenus pop-up menu.  See ‘Disabling AutoMenus’ below.

—Show Icon At Startup

When this check box is selected, the AutoMenus icon will appear at startup, notifying you that AutoMenus was loaded. 

Settings

Menu Activation Time :  The MAT is how long AutoMenus will delay before it drops the menu down once the mouse cursor is positioned in the menu bar. It will take some experimentation to decide which speed is best for you.

Automatic Dismissal :  When checked, menus will be dismissed automatically whenever the mouse cursor moves outside the menu.

Automatic Selection :  When this checkbox is not checked, a single click of the mouse button will drop the menu down and hold it for you.

Reserve Top Pixel :  When checked, a one pixel buffer will be left at the top of the menu bar.  This is for users of utilities such as SteppingOut II or MAZ which allow you scroll the entire screen.  It is not available if the Automatic Selection feature is not enabled.

Extend Menu Bottoms :  When this is checked, AutoMenus will add a buffer to the bottom of menus.  It is only used when the Automatic Dismissal feature is enabled.

Menu Bar Settings :  Pressing this button will present you with the Menu Bar Activation Areas dialog.  Use this dialog to choose where in the menu bar AutoMenus will activate and drop menus.

Auto Termination :  Pressing this button brings up the Auto Termination Settings dialog.  Auto Termination is a feature which prevents AutoMenus from “stalling” your Mac.  When a menu is selected, you Mac basically stops processing everything and concentrates solely on working the menus.  You don't want to walk away from your Mac with a menu pulled down thinking it will be searching through your large data base or downloading a file. The default setting is 1 min.

Disabling AutoMenus

You can disable AutoMenus at any time on the fly simple by holding down the special modifier key (set via the Settings dialog) while clicking in the menu bar.  If you are using the Automatic Selection option, you must have the modifier key held down before you position the mouse in the menu bar.  A pop-up menu will appear allowing you to deactivate or activate AutoMenus.  You can also turn off AutoMenus at any time by unchecking AutoMenus On in the Control Panel.