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C-Menu/32 v5.0
The Advanced Menuing System
User's Manual
Copyright (c) 1994 by C-Vision
All Rights Reserved.
5866 Via Cuesta Dr.
El Paso, TX 79912-6608
Voice: (915) 833-6778
CIS: 72223,2016
_______
____|__ | (R)
--| | |-------------------
| ____|__ | Association of
| | |_| Shareware
|__| o | Professionals
-----| | |---------------------
|___|___| MEMBER
All products mentioned in this manual
are trademarks of their
respective companies.
*> Warranty <*
C-VISION DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES RELATING TO THIS SOFTWARE, WHETHER
EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY IMPLIED
WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE,
AND ALL SUCH WARRANTIES ARE EXPRESSLY AND SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMED.
NEITHER C-VISION NOR ANYONE ELSE WHO HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THE
CREATION, PRODUCTION, OR DELIVERY OF THIS SOFTWARE SHALL BE LIABLE FOR
ANY INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR
INABILITY TO USE SUCH SOFTWARE EVEN IF C-VISION HAS BEEN ADVISED TO
THE POSSIBILITY ANY DAMAGES EVEN EXCEED THE PRICE PAID FOR THE LICENSE
TO USE THE SOFTWARE, REGARDLESS OF THE FORM OF CLAIM. THE PERSON USING
THE SOFTWARE BEARS ALL RISK AS TO THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE
SOFTWARE.
Some states do not allow the exclusion of the limit of liability for
consequential or incidental damages, so the above limitation may not
apply to you.
This agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Texas and
shall inure to the benefit of C-Vision and any successors,
administrators, heirs and assigns. Any action of proceeding brought by
either part against the other arising out of or related to this
agreement shall be brought only in a STATE or FEDERAL COURT of
competent jurisdiction located in El Paso County, Texas. The parties
hereby consent to in personal jurisdiction of said courts.
By using this software, you agree to these terms.
*> Copyright Notice <*
THIS SOFTWARE AND THE DISKS ON WHICH IT IS CONTAINED IS LICENSED TO
YOU, FOR YOUR OWN USE. THIS IS COPYRIGHTED SOFTWARE. YOU ARE NOT
OBTAINING TITLE TO THE SOFTWARE OR ANY COPYRIGHT RIGHTS. YOU MAY NOT
SUBLICENSE, RENT, LEASE, CONVEY, MODIFY, TRANSLATE, CONVERT TO ANOTHER
PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE, DECOMPILE, OR DISASSEMBLE THE SOFTWARE FOR ANY
PURPOSE. YOU MAY MAKE AS MANY COPIES OF THIS SOFTWARE AS YOU NEED FOR
BACK-UP PURPOSES ONLY. YOU MAY USE THIS SOFTWARE ON MORE THAN ONE
COMPUTER, PROVIDED THERE IS NO CHANCE IT WILL BE USED SIMULTANEOUSLY
ON MORE THAN ONE COMPUTER. IF YOU NEED TO USE THE SOFTWARE ON MORE
THAN ONE COMPUTER SIMULTANEOUSLY, PLEASE CONTACT C-VISION FOR MORE
INFORMATION ABOUT SITE LICENSES.
*> Table of Contents <*
WHAT IS SHAREWARE, AND HOW DOES IT WORK? ................... 1
The Ombudsman Statement................................... 1
INTRODUCTION ............................................... 2
What is C-Menu/32? ....................................... 2
What is 32-bit? .......................................... 2
REGISTERING C-MENU/32....................................... 4
CHAPTER 1 - INSTALLATION ................................... 5
System requirements ..................................... 5
Using INSTALL ........................................... 5
CHAPTER 2 - INTERACTING WITH C-MENU/32 ..................... 7
C-Menu/32 Concepts ...................................... 7
Controlling C-Menu/32 ................................... 7
CHAPTER 3 - USING C-MENU/32 ................................ 9
Choosing and Launching Applications ..................... 9
Accessing other C-Menu/32 components .................... 10
Configure ............................................ 10
DOS Shell ............................................ 10
Exit ................................................. 10
Address Book ......................................... 10
About ................................................ 10
The C-Menu/32 QuickNote Pad ............................. 10
Special C-Menu/32 Hot-keys .............................. 11
C-Menu/32 User and Administrative Modes of operation .... 11
CHAPTER 4 - CONFIGURING C-MENU/32 .......................... 13
Adding Entries .......................................... 13
Description .......................................... 13
Drive, Path, Filename ................................ 13
Browse button ........................................ 13
Arguments ............................................ 13
Folder ............................................... 13
Password ............................................. 13
Icon ................................................. 14
Launch Type .......................................... 14
Ask for Runtime Args ................................. 14
Pause on Return ...................................... 14
Password button ...................................... 14
Folder button ........................................ 15
Editing Entries ......................................... 15
Deleting Entries ........................................ 16
Sorting Entries ......................................... 16
Folders ................................................. 16
Add Folder ........................................... 17
Edit Folder .......................................... 17
Delete Folder ........................................ 18
Changing Colors ......................................... 18
System Configuration .................................... 18
System Time/Date ..................................... 18
Screen Saver ......................................... 18
Screen blankout time ................................. 18
Time between random change ........................... 18
DOS Shell Added Prompt String ........................ 18
'User' Mode Folder ................................... 19
Administrative Password .............................. 19
CHAPTER 5 - C-MENU/32 PERSONAL ADDRESS BOOK ................ 20
Adding Records .......................................... 20
Editing Records ......................................... 20
Deleting Records ........................................ 20
Scrolling Through Records ............................... 20
Sorting Records ......................................... 20
Finding Records ......................................... 20
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ........................................ 21
ABOUT C-MENU/32 ............................................ 22
*> What is Shareware, and how does it work? <*
Shareware distribution gives users a chance to try software before
buying it. If you try a Shareware program and continue using it, you
are expected to register. Individual programs differ on details --
some request registration while others require it, some specify a
maximum trial period. With registration, you get anything from the
simple right to continue using the software to an updated program with
printed manual.
Copyright laws apply to both Shareware and commercial software, and
the copyright holder retains all rights, with a few specific
exceptions as stated below. Shareware authors are accomplished
programmers, just like commercial authors, and the programs are of
comparable quality. (In both cases, there are good programs and bad
ones!) The main difference is in the method of distribution. The
author specifically grants the right to copy and distribute the
software, either to all and sundry or to a specific group. For
example, some authors require written permission before a commercial
disk vendor may copy their Shareware.
Shareware is a distribution method, not a type of software. You should
find software that suits your needs and pocketbook, whether it's
commercial or Shareware. The Shareware system makes fitting your needs
easier, because you can try before you buy. And because the overhead
is low, prices are low also. Shareware has the ultimate money-back
guarantee -- if you don't use the product, you don't pay for it.
[* The Ombudsman Statement *]
This program is produced by a member of the Association of Shareware
Professionals (ASP). ASP wants to make sure that the shareware
principle works for you. If you are unable to resolve a
shareware-related problem with an ASP member by contacting the member
directly, ASP may be able to help. The ASP Ombudsman can help you
resolve a dispute or problem with an ASP member, but does not provide
technical support for members' products. Please write to the ASP
Ombudsman at 545 Grover Road, Muskegon, MI 49442-9427 USA, FAX
616-788-2765 or send a CompuServe message via CompuServe Mail to ASP
Ombudsman 70007,3536.
Page 1
*> Introduction <*
[* What is C-Menu/32? *]
It is not uncommon for people of today to have several software
applications installed on their computers. They have their favorite
word processor, spreadsheet, accounting software, games, and so on.
The number of applications installed on a typical computer system of
today is great. As more and more applications are placed on a
computer, the harder they are to keep track of. The problem then
arises of remembering the locations (drives, directories, executable
files) of the applications. It is also difficult for the novice
computer user to use a computer in this manner. It would be convenient
if all these applications could be accessed from one location. A
menuing system would accomplish this. However, it would be nice if the
menuing system was easy to configure, easy to use, and looked good
too. If you require any of these things, C-Menu/32 is for you.
C-Menu/32 is a powerful yet easy to use 32-bit graphical menuing
system. C-Menu/32 has many powerful and unique features. You can
configure an unlimited number of entries and place them in different
folders that you can create. It contains an unique Windows application
launcher. There is complete context sensitive on-line help in case you
need assistance. You may attach icons (pictures) to your application
entries for easier identification and secure them with password
protection. C-Menu/32 has two modes of operation: User and
Administrative. The user mode is an easy mode of operation for novice
computer users that is set up in administrative mode. In user mode,
only certain applications can be made accessible. Also, running an
application is simplified as much as possible. Instructions are always
on the screen as to how to do so. This is ideal for people needing to
make a computer's resources accessible by novice computer users.
C-Menu/32 also includes a set of beautiful 256 color screen savers and
an address book for you to keep important numbers, addresses, and
other information. There is also a QuickNote pad for you to leave
yourself reminders and the like. C-Menu/32 will run all your programs.
It also frees all memory upon program launch so your application will
have as much memory as possible to run. All these features are in a
system that is easy to install, configure, and use.
[* What is 32-bit? *]
C-Menu/32 is a 32-bit program, as compared to DOS, which is 16-bit (a
real mode program). When DOS was written, the computers of the day
were 16-bit Intel 8088 based computers. These computers became very
popular and a great deal of software was being developed for them.
These software packages were also 16-bit, and because of this, they
could only access 640KB of memory (also known as Conventional Memory).
As time went on, Intel started coming out with more advanced and
faster processors. Intel knew that it must keep backward compatibility
with the previous generations of microprocessors. If not, all the
software already written could not be used with the new processors.
So, when they developed the 80386 32-bit processor, it was designed to
also operate in 16-bit real mode for compatibility. The 386 also had
Page 2
the ability to run in 32-bit protected mode. Intel continued
increasing the speed with the 80486 and then the Pentium line of
processors. All these processors are 32-bit that can also operate in
16-bit real mode the keep compatibility.
Today, DOS is still extremely popular and so are many of the 16-bit
programs written for it even though a majority of the people are using
32-bit processors. There are 32-bit operating systems such as OS/2 and
Windows NT, but DOS is still popular nonetheless.
Now, there is something called DOS Extenders. If a DOS program is
written with a DOS Extender, the program will run in 32-bit protected
mode under DOS. When you run a DOS Extended program, the program
places the processor in protected mode and executes all instructions
in protected mode. It returns to real mode only when it needs to
interface with real mode code such as DOS or hardware interrupt
handlers. The end result is a program that runs faster, has code that
is smaller, and has access to what is known as a linear address space.
A linear address space means the program can access up to 4GB
(gigabytes) of RAM automatically! In protected mode, the 640KB barrier
does not exist. Essentially, you are operating in a 32-bit DOS. A DOS
Extended program (like C-Menu/32) will not run on anything except a
386 or above.
Page 3
*> Registering C-Menu/32 <*
If you decide to continue using C-Menu v4.0 after a trial period of 30
days you are obligated to register it.
When you do register C-Menu/32 you receive the following:
o The lastest version of C-Menu/32
o Removal of all "Unregistered" notices and personalized with your
name
o Free telephone and mail support, support through CompuServe
o Free evaluation disk of ACZAR (another excellent ASP program)
o Discount coupon toward one registration of ACZAR
o Professional printed bound C-Menu/32 v5.0 User's Manual
To register C-Menu/32, please see the registration instructions
contained within the file REGISTER.DOC.
If you wish to use this software on more than one computer, a site
license is required. For more information about Site-Licenses, please
see SITELNSE.DOC.
Page 4
*> Chapter 1 - Installation <*
[* System requirements *]
o PC compatible 386 or above
o DOS v3.0 or higher
o 640KB RAM installed
o Color VGA graphics video card
o 1.4MB hard disk space
o 100% Microsoft compatible mouse recommended
[* Using INSTALL *]
C-Menu/32 comes with an installation program that will automatically
install the C-Menu/32 package, all its components, and setup C-Menu/32
for run on your system. Use the following procedure to insure proper
installation.
C-Menu/32 is distributed in one of two ways: on disk, in an archive
file called CMENU500. Use the first procedure if you are installing
from disk. Use the second if you are installing from an archive file.
(1) Installing from disk...
o Place your C-Menu/32 v5.0 disk into your floppy drive.
o Type A:INSTALL (or B:INSTALL) <enter> at your DOS prompt.
o Press <enter> to move past the opening screen.
o Enter the drive that you want C-Menu/32 installed to, by default,
it is C. Press <enter> to accept.
o Enter the directory that you want C-Menu/32 placed in, by default,
it is C-MENU. Press <enter> to accept.
o Enter the location you are installing from. By default, it is the
disk drive that your are installing from. If, for some reason, you
are installing from a different location, enter it here.
o INSTALL will then copy and decompress the files. Be patient, this
process takes time.
o After the installation is completed, INSTALL will ask you if you
want your AUTOEXEC.BAT file updated. This is recommended so
you can start C-Menu/32 from anywhere on your system and have it
load automatically at bootup. Press Y to edit, N to skip.
o The final INSTALL screen appears. Press <enter> to exit INSTALL.
(2) Installing from an archive file...
o Extract the contents of CMENU500 into a temporary directory on your
hard disk.
o Change to the temporary directory.
o Type INSTALL <enter>.
o Press <enter> to move past the opening screen.
o Enter the drive that you want C-Menu/32 installed to, by default,
it is C. Press <enter> to accept.
o Enter the directory that you want C-Menu/32 placed in, by default,
it is C-MENU. Press <enter> to accept.
o Enter the name of the temorary directory that you are installing
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from. If it is other then the default value, enter it here.
o INSTALL will then copy and decompress the files. Be patient, this
process takes time.
o After the installation is completed, INSTALL will ask you if you
want your AUTOEXEC.BAT file updated. This is recommended so
you can start C-Menu/32 from anywhere on your system and have it
load automatically at bootup. Press Y to edit, N to skip.
o The final INSTALL screen appears. Press <enter> to exit INSTALL.
o You can now remove your temporary directory.
To start C-Menu/32, type MENU <enter> at your DOS prompt. Whenever you
exit C-Menu/32, use MENU to restart C-Menu/32.
Page 6
*> Chapter 2 - Interacting with C-Menu/32 <*
[* C-Menu/32 Concepts *]
In order to use C-Menu/32, you must first understand some C-Menu/32
concepts. These concepts are referenced many times while using
C-Menu/32 and reading this manual. These concepts include
applications, entries, and folders.
An application is a program such as a word processor or a spreadsheet.
Most of the time, these programs consist more than just one file. A
word processor typically consists of several executable files, data
files, graphic files, and so on. So, it is more appropriate to call it
an application. Small programs are called applications in C-Menu/32 as
well. All applications are started via an executable file. These files
have a file name extension of .EXE, .COM, or .BAT and typing in the
name at the DOS prompt causes the application to run. When setting up
an application in C-Menu/32, you need to know the executable file name
of the application. C-Menu/32 can also run your Windows applications.
All your Windows applications are run via an executable file. You need
to know the names of these files too. If you are not sure what they
are, a quick way to find out is to go into Windows and select the icon
of the application. Then, under File select Properties. This window
will display the executable file of the application.
An entry in C-Menu/32 is a type of record. This record holds a variety
of information: the application's description, the drive and directory
that the application is in, the executable file name that starts the
application, arguments, the folder that the entry is in, the password
(for password protection), the icon to associate with the application,
the launch type (DOS or Windows), whether to prompt the user for
runtime arguments, and whether to pause on return after the
application completes. In the C-Menu/32 main window, you are able to
choose applications by selecting their entry descriptions. You can
add, edit, delete, and sort your entries.
A folder is a place to put your entries. A Main folder is always
present. You can place entries in the Main folder or in folders within
the Main folder. You can have, for example, a "Games" folder, an
"Utilities" folder, and a "Word Processing" folder to categorize your
entries. You can also go one step further and have, for example, a
"Simulator" folder and an "Arcade" folder within your "Games" folder.
Many times, C-Menu/32 give mention to the current folder. The current
folder is simply the folder currently open. Folders (like entries) can
be edited, deleted, and sorted. The maximum span of folders (folders
within folders) is five.
[* Controlling C-Menu/32 *]
This section is intended as a tutorial for more novice computer users.
It explains concepts such as using the mouse and keyboard to interact
with C-Menu/32. If you already understand these concepts then please
move on to the next chapter.
C-Menu/32's look and feel is CUA/SAA compliant. It conforms to the
Page 7
specifications in IBM's Systems Application Architecture document -
the Common User Access Panel Design and User Interaction edition. This
standard was developed to standardize interaction with applications.
Other well known applications that use this standard are OS/2 and
Microsoft Windows. So, if you know how to interact with these
applications, you can interact with C-Menu/32 without any problems.
The easiest way to use C-Menu/32 is with a mouse. However, anything
you can do with the mouse can be done with the keyboard. Whenever you
need to perform tasks such as pressing a button on the screen or
choosing an item from a list, this is known as selecting that object.
An object can be a variety of things such as an icon, a button, or a
list. This manual and the C-Menu/32 on-line help makes use of the word
"Select" extensively.
If you are using a mouse, there are different ways to select an
object. In all the methods, you must first guide the upper left corner
of the mouse pointer arrow over the desired object. Depending on the
type of object you are selecting, you either press and release the
left mouse button (known as single click) or press and release the
left mouse button twice quickly (known as double clicking). Unless
otherwise stated, whenever this manual or the C-Menu/32 on-line help
says to select an object, you use the single click method.
If you are using the keyboard, you have to do more work then if you
were using a mouse. Selecting objects using the keyboard is done
differently depending on the type of object involved. Almost all the
objects on the screen have descriptions associated with them. For
example, you might see a button with the word "Add" on it, or a list
with the words "Select Application" next to it. Almost every object
with a description has one of the letters underlined. This letter is
known as a hot-key. Holding down the <alt> key and then pressing the
hot-key letter at the same time will select objects such as buttons or
icons. However, when lists are involved, pressing the hot-key will
move the high-light bar (a dotted line outlined rectangular box) into
the list. Then, you must use your arrow keys to move the bar over the
item you want. Pressing <enter> or <space> will then select the item
in the list. You may also use the high-light bar to select buttons and
icons. Pressing <tab> or <shift-tab> will move the bar around on the
screen. This bar lands on any selectable object. Pressing <enter> or
<space> will select the object.
Every window in C-Menu/32 has a way out. If you accidentally wonder to
the wrong place in C-Menu/32, selecting Cancel or Exit will always
bring you back to where you were before. If you ever need some
assistance, press <F1>. This will load the on-line help.
If you feel that you still do not understand the concepts of using DOS
in general or controlling C-Menu/32 by using a mouse or keyboard,
please consult a book that explains these things further. Your local
bookstore has many computer books that explains how to use DOS and how
to interact with CUA/SAA compliant software for the more novice
computer user.
Page 8
*> Chapter 3 - Using C-Menu/32 <*
The heart of C-Menu/32's functionality exists in the main window (seen
above). From this window, you can run (launch) applications, change
folders, run the configuration program, run the address book, access
the QuickNote pad, load a DOS shell, and completely exit out of
C-Menu/32.
[* Choosing and Launching Applications *]
The Available Applications list (upper right area) is used to display,
by description, all the applications available in the current opened
folder. The folder that is currently open is displayed in the Opened
Folders list (lower left area). The folders available in the current
folder are displayed in the Available Folders list (upper left area).
To run (also known as launch) an application, select a description in
the Available Applications list. Selecting with the keyboard will
launch the application immediately. However, if you are using a mouse,
you can launch the application by one of two ways. First, you can
single click on the description. The Launch Entry (lower left) field
will be updated with your selection. Then, select the Launch button to
run the application. Second, you can double click on the application
to launch it immediately. Selecting it by keyboard will also cause it
to launch immediately.
Once you have launched an application, C-Menu/32 will free all memory
it was occupying and run your application. If the application you
chose is password protected, you will be prompted for the password
first.
At this point, you must enter the correct password to continue. If
not, your access is denied. Type in the password and press <enter> to
continue.
If the entry you selected was configured to accept runtime arguments,
you will be prompted to enter runtime arguments before the application
runs. (A more detailed explanation of runtime arguments and their
usefulness is described in the next chapter.)
Type in the arguments and press <enter>. If you do not need any
arguments, press <enter> to continue.
If you launched a Windows application, C-Menu/32 will first load
Windows and then your Windows application. You must exit Windows
normally (through the Program Manager) to get back to C-Menu/32 after
you are done. Closing the Windows application you ran will not exit
Windows. Note: Windows must be in your PATH statement so that
C-Menu/32 can run it. (See the next chapter for a more detailed
explanation on Windows application launching.)
After you are done with your application, exit it normally. If the
entry was configured to pause before C-Menu/32 reloads, it will do so
at this point. Press any key to continue. Otherwise, C-Menu/32 will
reload immediately. (See the next chapter for uses of this feature).
Page 9
Now that you know how to run applications in the current opened
folder, now you need to know how to access applications in other
folders.
All the folders available in the current folder are displayed in the
Available Folders list. Select a folder in the list to open it. Upon
opening, the Available Applications list will update to the contents
of the folder. The process of opening a folder is also reflected in
the Opened Folders list by visually showing the folder opened. The
Opened Folders list also shows all the folders beneath the current
folder. To close the current folder, select a folder beneath the
current folder in the Opened Folders list. This will close any folders
above the selected folder and display the contents of the one
selected.
o Quick Tip: Use the right mouse button to close the current folder
and make the one below it current.
[* Accessing other C-Menu/32 components *]
Below the Available Applications list are a series of icons. These
icons are used to access different C-Menu/32 components and functions.
>> Configure: Any configuration that you might need to do is done
through the C-Menu/32 Configuration program. This includes such things
as adding entries and folders, sorting entries, changing the screen
saver, setting the time, changing the colors and so on. Select this
icon to access these functions. (See the next chapter for more
details.)
>> DOS Shell: In the event that you must access DOS to perform as task
such as installing new software, select the DOS Shell icon. This will
bring you to the DOS command prompt. After you are done, type EXIT
<enter> to return to C-Menu/32.
>> Exit: To exit out of C-Menu/32 completely, select the Exit icon. To
restart C-Menu/32, type in MENU <enter>.
>> Address Book: C-Menu/32 comes with a Personal Address Book for you
to keep track of important telephone numbers, addresses, and other
information. Select the Address Book icon to access it.
>> About: Selecting the About icon will open a special window and
display things such as information about C-Vision, available memory,
and who this copy of C-Menu/32 is licensed to.
[* The C-Menu/32 QuickNote Pad *]
The C-Menu/32 QuickNote Pad is a convenient "scratch" pad for you to
use to record daily reminders or other information. To open the pad,
select the button in the extreme upper right corner.
Upon selection, the QuickNote Pad window will open.
Simply type in what you want. (The pad works like a standard text
Page 10
editor, you may use word processing keys like <pgup>, <pgdn>, <home>,
<end>, and so on. You may also delete portions of text by dragging the
cursor over the text while holding down the left mouse button and then
pressing <del>.) When you are done, select Save to save what you have
entered and to close the pad. Notice the picture displayed on the
button that you used to access the QuickNote Pad. If there is any text
in the pad, it will be reflected in this picture. If you want to
remove all the text at once, select Erase. Note: the effect of
selecting Erase is permanent, the text is erased for good. Finally, to
close the pad and discard any changes made, select Cancel.
[* Special C-Menu/32 Hot-keys *]
While in C-Menu/32, you can access special features by pressing
hot-keys.
To access help about the current window open, press <F1> from anywhere
in C-Menu/32. A window will open giving an interpretation of the
current window and how to use it. Always press <esc> to close help.
To invoke the screen saver immediately without waiting for the timeout
period, press <ctrl-s> from the C-Menu/32 main window. (See the next
chapter for more information about screen savers.)
To change the current mode of operation (to User or Administrative
mode), press <ctrl-m> from either the C-Menu/32 User or Administrative
main window. (See the next section about these modes.)
[* C-Menu/32 User and Administrative Modes of operation *]
C-Menu/32 can operate in two modes of operation: User and
Administrative. The look and access privileges of the C-Menu/32 main
window is different for each mode. Administrative mode is the normal
mode of operation. You have no restrictions. This is the mode of
operation that has been explained up to this point. You have seen the
way the main window looks already (see the picture of it at the
beginning of this chapter). You can access the configuration program,
the DOS Shell, all the folders, use the QuickNote Pad, and exit out of
C-Menu/32 in Administrative mode.
Now, let's say that you need to setup a computer system so that only
certain applications can be accessed. Further, say you want it to be
secure and also easily accessible by novice computer users. C-Menu/32
will handle this situation. This is where User mode comes in.
The User mode is configured in Administrative mode. (See the next
chapter on how to access the configuration for User mode). In User
mode, the contents of any folder can be displayed in an easy to use
and understand selection window. The User has access to only the
applications in that one folder. They cannot configure C-Menu/32 nor
use any other function. You can also password protect the switch back
to Administrative mode.
o Quick Tip: use <ctrl-m> to switch between modes of operation.
Page 11
As you can see, this function can prove to be very useful in a variety
of situations such as:
o You would like to setup your computer so a novice family member can
use it easily. (You can also setup special folders for each person
that uses your computer and change the folder that User mode
displays for each person).
o You need to setup a secure system at your office so certain
programs can be accessed easily.
o You were hired to configure and setup are large number of computers
for an institution. The employer would like you to make it such
that each computer has access privileges only to certain
applications. They must not be able to access DOS.
You might find a different situation where the C-Menu/32 User mode
might be good for you. No matter what, this feature is always there
for you to use.
Page 12
*> Chapter 4 - Configuring C-Menu/32 <*
C-Menu/32 comes with a full featured, easy to use configuration
program. To start the configuration program, select Configure from the
C-Menu/32 main window.
When you are done using the configuration program, select Exit to
return to the C-Menu/32 main window.
[* Adding Entries *]
To add an entry to C-Menu/32, select Add Entry from the configuration
main window.
>> Description: The Description is used to describe the application
being configured. This is what is displayed for selection in the
C-Menu/32 main window. You do not have to fill in this field first.
You can save it for later if you do not know what you are adding at
the moment.
>> Drive, Path, Filename: This is where you give the information about
the application's executable file. The Drive and Path tells where the
file is and Filename is the name of the executable file.
You can fill this information is manually, however, there is a faster
an easier way of doing it. Select the Browse button.
A window will open, asking you to select the file. You can navigate
throughout your hard drive with the Browse feature. Select from the
Drives list to change the current drive. Select from the Directories
list to change to current directory. Note: Select ".." to move down a
directory level. Select the executable file from the Files list by
either a single click and then selecting Ok or by a double click.
After you pick an executable file, the Drive, Path, and Filename
fields will automatically be updated with your selection. Use Cancel
close the window without making any changes.
>> Arguments: Enter any arguments in this field that your application
might require for execution. Arguments are parameters or switches that
you place at the end of the executable file. A good example of
arguments is with the DOS command "dir" (list a directory). If you
want to see a directory of files along with the hidden files and would
like to pause between pages, you would give the command with the
arguments: "dir /ah /p". Arguments are optional for many applications.
>> Folder: Lists the folder that the entry is in. To see a list of
available folders or to change the folder, select the Folder button
(described later in this section).
>> Password: Denotes whether or not a password has been set for the
entry. If there is a password set, this field will display the word
"SET". Otherwise, it is blank. To set a password, select the Password
button. (There is more information about setting passwords later in
this section.)
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>> Icon: You may attach icons (small pictures) to your entries. If an
entry has an icon set for it, the icon will always appear to the left
of the description. Select the Icon field to change the current icon.
If you do not want an icon for the entry, choose "(none)".
>> Launch Type: If you are configuring a Windows application, the
Launch type must be Windows, otherwise, keep it as DOS. Having a
launch type of Windows tells C-Menu/32 to load Windows to run your
application.
The Launch Type option is a unique addition to C-Menu/32 that adds a
great convenience for people that use Microsoft Windows as simply a
program that must be used to run another application. These type of
people do not use Windows as an "operating system". You can place all
your Windows applications in C-Menu/32. When you need to use one,
simply launch it. When your are done with it, exit the application and
Windows then C-Menu/32 will reload.
>> Ask for Runtime Args: Turn this On if you would like C-Menu/32 to
prompt the user to enter runtime arguments before running the
application. Otherwise, leave it Off.
Runtime Arguments are just like regular arguments (mentioned before)
except that the user can enter arguments right before the application
runs. This feature is very useful if you need to run a program that
has arguments that change depending on what you need done. A good
example of this is placing DOS commands in C-Menu/32. C-Menu/32 can
run any program. This means you can configure a "DOS Commands" folder
if you like and place all kinds of DOS utilities in it. One utility
could be "format" (format a disk). This utility requires arguments.
The arguments you need depends on what you want to do at the time. So,
you would use Runtime Arguments for this entry. Then, when you select
the "format" entry from C-Menu/32, you can specify something like "A:"
which would format a disk in Drive A. Note: You can also configure
constant arguments in the Arguments field and turn Runtime Arguments
on. C-Menu/32 will then place all the arguments together before
running the application.
>> Pause on Return: If this is On and you exit an application, there
will be a pause before you return back to C-Menu/32. To continue,
press any key. If it is Off, C-Menu/32 reloads immediately.
The Pause on Return option is useful if you are running something that
displays some kind of information then exits. A perfect example of
this is if you configure an entry for the DOS command "chkdsk" (check
disk). When you run this program, it displays information on the
screen then the program terminates. By specifying a pause before
returning, you can read the information "chkdsk" displays before
C-Menu/32 reloads.
>> Password Button: Select this button to set or remove a password for
the entry. If you are removing a password, select Remove to delete the
password. If you are setting a password, select Set. You will then see
a window prompting you for the password.
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You must first enter your password then click or <tab> to the next
field and enter it again for reverification. Press <enter> when you
are done. The reason you must enter it twice is because the password
does not show on the screen as you type it for security. Passwords are
also case sensitive. This means a password called "protect" is
different then one called "Protect".
If an entry has password protection, then whenever someone tries to
launch it, they will be asked to enter the password first. This is
also true if someone tries to edit the entry. You cannot delete an
entry that has password protection either. If a password protected
entry is in a folder and you try to delete the folder or a folder
below it, you will not be allowed to do it.
>> Folder Button: Select this button to change the folder the entry is
currently in. A list appears of all the available folders to choose
from.
Simply select a folder and the Folder field will be updated with your
selection.
After you are done configuring your entry, select the Ok button to
save your entry. Your entry will be checked to see if everything is
correct. If not, you will be informed about any problems and will be
given a chance to fix it. If you select Cancel, any changes you made
will be discarded and the window will close.
After you save an entry, the entry form will be cleared and you will
be ready to add another entry. If you are done adding entries, select
Cancel to continue.
[* Editing Entries *]
If you would like to edit an entry, select Edit Entry from the
configuration main window. You will then be asked which entry you
would like to edit in the current folder.
If you want to see the contents of a different folder, select the
Folder button. You will then be able to choose another folder. When
you are ready to edit an entry, select one from the list. Select
Cancel to close the window and not edit anything.
After you select an entry, you will be prompted to enter a password if
the entry is password protected. Otherwise, a window will open
displaying the contents of the entry. This window is the same window
you used to add the entry, therefor the same procedure applies. (Refer
to the section before this, Adding Entries.) After you are done
changing what you need, select Ok to re-save the entry. Select Cancel
to discard any changes.
After editing, you will be returned to the entry list. You can choose
another entry to edit, or you can select Cancel to close the window.
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[* Deleting Entries *]
If you would like to delete an entry, select Delete Entry from the
configuration main window.
A window will then open asking you to select an entry to delete from
the current folder. This window is the same window that you use to
choose an entry to edit. (See the section before this, Editing
Entries, for an explanation on how to choose an entry.)
If you have chosen an entry that is password protected, you will be
prompted to enter a password before continuing. At this point, you
will be asked to confirm your choice to delete the entry.
Choose Ok to delete the entry. Use Cancel to decline.
You will then be returned to the entry list where you can choose
another entry to delete if you wish.
[* Sorting Entries *]
You may sort your folders and entries by selecting Sort Entries from
the configuration main window.
You are given the option to sort ascending (from A to Z), or
descending (from Z to A). Select Cancel to close the window without
sorting.
After sorting is complete, whenever a list of entries or folders is
displayed, everything will appear in alphabetical order.
[* Folders *]
Within C-Menu/32, you have the ability of creating folders to place
your entries in. Folders provide a way of logically separating entries
into categories. Organizing entries in this way makes locating them
easier. To create, edit, or delete folders, select Folders from the
configuration main window.
Folders are arranged very similar to the way sub-directories are
arranged in DOS. You may create and edit folders and have folders
within folders. The Main folder always exists and may not be edited
nor deleted. Any folder that you create will always be in the Main
folder. The maximum "span" of folders you can have is five (including
the Main folder).
In the C-Menu/32 main window, folders are represented graphically.
However, in the configuration program, they are represented by names
separated by the slash character ('/') that always include the folders
they are in.
Let's say that you create a "Games" folder to place all your games in.
You would create it (explained later in this section), and it would be
denoted in the configuration program as:
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Main/Games
Then, say you have two main types of games: Adventure and Simulator.
You would add these folders under "Main/Games". They would appear in
the configuration program as:
Main/Games/Adventure
Main/Games/Simulator
Let's go further and say that you have two types of simulation games:
Training and Battle. You would continue adding these folders under
"Main/Games/Simulator". These new folders would be seen as:
Main/Games/Simulator/Training
Main/Games/Simulator/Battle
Finally, let's say you have some special advanced training simulations
that are more difficult then the others. You could add yet another
folder:
Main/Games/Simulator/Training/Advanced
Whenever you would see a list of available folders in the
configuration program, in this case your choices would be listed as
follows:
Main
Main/Games
Main/Games/Simulator
Main/Games/Simulator/Battle
Main/Games/Simulator/Training
Main/Games/Simulator/Training/Advanced
You may have noticed that the span of the last folder listed is five.
You could not add any more folders under this folder. Folder names are
also case sensitive meaning that a folder named "Games" is different
then one named "games".
Remember, when dealing with folders in the configuration program, they
are always represented by their "full names".
Selecting a folder from a folder list will make the folder current.
Any operation done that requires a folder will always use the current
folder.
>> Add Folder: Select this to add a folder under the current folder.
Enter the name of the new folder and press <enter> or select Ok.
Select Cancel to close the window and not add any new folders.
>> Edit Folder: Select this to edit the current folder.
Enter the new name of the folder you want and press <enter> or select
Ok. Select Cancel to close the window and not make any changes.
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>> Delete Folder: Select to delete the current folder.
A window will open asking you to confirm your decision. Select Ok to
delete the folder or Cancel not to. Deleting a folder will not only
delete the folder but will also delete all the entries and folders
within the folder. Use this with caution. You cannot delete a folder
that has an entry somewhere in it that is password protected. You must
remove all password protection within the folder before you can delete
it.
[* Changing Colors *]
C-Menu/32 has several color palettes (color schemes) for you to choose
from. Select Colors from the configuration main window to change to a
different palette.
Selecting a new palette will update the screen immediately showing you
what the palette looks like. After you find a palette you like, select
Set as Default Palette to save the palette. Select Cancel to close the
window and restore the screen to the original palette.
[* System Configuration *]
Selecting System Config from the configuration main window will give
you the ability to set the system's time and date, change the screen
saver, change what the DOS shell prompt looks like, and set options
for the User mode of operation.
>> System Time / Date: Change the contents of these fields to set the
system date and time. The change will take affect after selecting the
Done button.
>> Screen Saver: This field is used to choose which 256 color screen
saver to use. There are five screen savers to choose from: hypnotic,
piping, sweep out, time fade, and black as night. You may also choose
Random which is a random mix of the first four screen savers
mentioned. The screen saver is only used when in the C-Menu/32 main
window.
The screen savers that come with C-Menu/32 are a set of beautiful 256
color screen savers that we call Tranquility. Each screen saver uses a
gradient shading algorithm of seven primary colors to produce a 3D
type effect that you are sure to enjoy. Sit back and watch as
Tranquility fills your screen with relaxing and stress relieving
imagery.
>> Screen blankout time: The time in minutes of inactivity before the
screen saver in invoked. Use <ctrl-s> within the C-Menu/32 main window
to invoke it immediately.
>> Time between random change: If you set your screen saver to
"Random", this is the time in minutes between screen saver changes.
>> DOS Shell Added Prompt String: This field holds the text that is
added to your DOS command prompt when you shell to DOS from
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C-Menu/32.
This option is given to you because some users do not like their
command prompt "stamped" with the name of the program they are using.
It is necessary to have this to remind users that they are in a DOS
shell and to not restart the program before exiting the shell. You
have the freedom to change this string to whatever you wish.
>> 'User Mode' Folder: This is the folder used when displaying entries
in User mode. (See Chapter 3 for more information about C-Menu/32
modes of operation.)
When you select this field, you are given a list of folders available.
Select one to use for User mode.
>> Administrative Password: This field displays the password required
to allow a change from User to Administrative mode. Leave this field
blank if you do not require password protection between modes.
If you are using User mode, and require the securest environment, you
can password protect the switch from User to Administrative mode.
Simply type in the password in this field. The password is case
sensitive.
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*> Chapter 5 - C-Menu/32 Personal Address Book <*
The C-Menu/32 Personal Address Book is a database that allows you to
keep track of addresses, phone numbers, and other information. Select
Address Book from the C-Menu/32 main window to open it.
All the record information is displayed in the window in a form
format. This form has many data fields: Last Name, First Name,
Address, City, State/Province, Zip/Postal Code, Phone 1, Phone 2, and
Comments. The Comments field can be used to hold special information
such as birthdays and anniversaries. All the functions such as saving
and deleting records are also accessed through this window. Select
Exit to return back to the C-Menu/32 main window.
[* Adding Records *]
To add a record to your database, you must first fill in the record
form. If there is already a record occupying the form, select Clear to
clear out all the fields. After you are done entering your data,
select Save to save the new record. The record will be added to the
end of your database.
[* Editing Records *]
To edit the current record, simply edit the fields you want and select
ReSave to save the edited record.
[* Deleting Records *]
If you want to delete the current record displayed on the screen,
select Delete. You will be asked to confirm your request before
proceeding.
[* Scrolling Through Records *]
You can view the next or previous record by selecting Next or Prev,
respectively.
[* Sorting Records *]
You may sort your records alphabetically by last name by selecting
Sort.
Select Sort Ascending to sort from A to Z. Select Sort Descending to
sort from Z to A. To quit without sorting select Cancel.
[* Finding Records *]
You can search for records in your database. Select Find to search for
a specific record.
You may search by different fields. Select Choose the field to search
by to change the search field. You must also enter a text string to
search for. Select Find to locate the record that closest matches your
search string. Use Cancel to cancel the search.
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*> Questions & Answers <*
o Can C-Menu/32 be used on a Network?
Yes. However, you must be aware of a few things. C-Menu/32 has no file
sharing or any other direct networking services built in. This means
that you cannot place C-Menu/32 on a central server and have all your
work stations use it. Rather, each work station must have its own copy
of C-Menu/32. You can then configure C-Menu/32 to run applications
anywhere on the network.
o Can I shut off my computer while in C-Menu/32?
Yes. You can shut off your computer when you are done with it safely
while in C-Menu/32. However, it is never good practice to shut off
your computer while your hard drive is running.
o When I start C-Menu/32, I get graphical "garbage" on my screen and
my system locks up. What is wrong?
After installing C-Menu/32, if you experience this problem, it is
most likely caused by not having a large enough number in your
'FILES' statement in your CONFIG.SYS file. C-Menu/32 requires having
several files open at runtime. Make sure you have support for at
least 30. The line would read: "FILES=30". If you are still having
problems after changing your CONFIG.SYS file, please contact
C-Vision.
o When the screen saver turns on, it shows a blank screen even
though I have a 256 color VGA card. Why is it doing this?
The screen saver uses a super VGA VESA mode when running. If you
do not have a VESA compatible video card, then the screen will be
blank. Some high end video cards (like the Diamond Viper) require
you to load VESA drivers in memory before it can operate in VESA
mode. Check your video card manual.
Page 21
*> About C-Menu/32 <*
Before C-Menu was written, I spent a good deal of time searching for a
menuing system to make my computer easier to use. I wanted a menuing
system that was powerful yet easy to use. One that was functional yet
not too complex. I was also looking for a menuing system with a
certain look and feel to it with high resolution graphics and lots of
color. My search ended when I concluded that I was not going to find
what I was looking for. That is when I decided to write the program
you are using today: C-Menu/32.
C-Menu/32 is the fifth version of an original idea that started four
years ago. Up to this version, the package was called C-Menu. The
extension 32 was added when it became 32-bit. C-Menu/32 is the result
of a great deal of work. The final product is something I hope you
will enjoy.
The following list is the programming tools I used to create
C-Menu/32. I am not obligated to give credit to any of the companies
that wrote these packages. I would like to list them because every one
of them, in my opinion, deserves credit since they are excellent, high
quality packages.
o Symantec C++ by Symantec Corporation
o Zinc Application Framework by Zinc Software Incorporated
o Flash Graphics by FlashTek, Inc.
o The Aurora Editor by Aurora Terra
o Universal INSTALL by The GoodSoft Co.
o LHA File-Compression Program by Haruyasu Yoshizaki
Finally, I would like to give credit to all the people involved in the
creation of C-Menu/32 v5.0:
Brian Freeman in El Paso, TX for testing and suggestions.
Scott Graves in Queensbury, NY for his suggestions and manual
proofing.
Jesse Cohagan in Arlington, TX for his suggestions.
Bob Daniels from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada for his suggestions.
Thomas Jeager in El Paso, TX for all his help, advice, suggestions,
and testing.
Nathan Finocchio, my father, in El Paso, TX, who if it was not for
his constant encouragement, support, and belief in me, C-Menu
would not be a reality today.
I hope you enjoy C-Menu/32 as much as I enjoyed writing it!
Mark J. Finocchio
C-Vision
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