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╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫
╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫
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╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫
╫╫╫█▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀█╫╫╫╫╫
╫╫╫█ █░░╫╫╫
╫╫╫█ SIFMENU V4.3 █░░╫╫╫
╫╫╫█ █░░╫╫╫
╫╫╫█ Menu and More! █░░╫╫╫
╫╫╫█ Another SIFWare Product █░░╫╫╫
╫╫╫█ Power and productivity in an easy to use system █░░╫╫╫
╫╫╫█▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄█░░╫╫╫
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╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫
╫╫╫┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐╫╫╫╫╫
╫╫╫│ SIFMenu is a Trademark of InoVision Software │╫╫╫╫╫
╫╫╫│ SIFMenu is Copyright 1990 by InoVision Software │╫╫╫╫╫
╫╫╫│ All rights reserved │╫╫╫╫╫
╫╫╫└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘╫╫╫╫╫
╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫
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╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫
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╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫
╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫
╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫╫
WARRANTY AND DISCLAIMER: InoVision Software makes no warranty of any
kind, expressed or implied, including but not limited to any
warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular
purpose.
InoVision Software or the author of SIFWare shall not be liable
for any damages, whether direct, indirect, special or
consequential arising from failure of this or any SIFWare product
to operate in the manner desired by the user.
InoVision Software or the author of SIFWare shall not be liable
for any damage to data or property which may be caused directly
or indirectly by use of this or any SIFWare product.
InoVision Software or the author of SIFWare shall not be liable
to you for any damages including but not limited to any lost
profits, lost savings or other incidental or consequential
damages arising out of your use or inability to use the product,
or for any claim by any other party.
COPYRIGHT NOTICE AND LICENSE AGREEMENT:
SIFMenu is not public domain software, nor is it free.
SIFMenu is copyright 1989, 1990 by InoVision Software.
Non registered users are granted a limited license to use SIFMenu
on a trial basis for 30 days for the purpose of determining
whether or not SIFMenu is suitable for their needs.
Use of SIFMenu except for this limited purpose requires
registration.
Use of non registered copies of SIFMenu by any person, business,
corporation, government agency or other entity except for this
limited purpose is forbidden.
Registration permits the user a license to use SIFMenu only on a
single computer.
UPGRADE POLICY: Registered users are granted free upgrades for a period
of 1 year from the date of original purchase.
Free upgrades may be obtained by calling our 24 hour bulletin
board service at (405) 672-4564 during the 1st year after initial
purchase, or by writing to InoVision Software.
AFTER THE 1ST YEAR, upgrades may be purchased at 50% of the
current value of the software. (Fill out the UPGRADE portion of
the ORDERFOR.SIF file which comes with each SIFWare product.)
UPGRADE POLICIES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANY TIME AND WITHOUT
NOTICE.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION .......................................... 1
HOW TO USE THIS MANUAL ................................ 2
DIFFERENCES WITH PRIOR VERSIONS ....................... 3
INSTALLATION .......................................... 4
THE SIFMENU WINDOWS ................................... 5
[F1] FILE UTILITY ..................................... 7
[F2] THE TO-DO LIST ................................... 8
[F3] THE CALENDAR ..................................... 11
[F4] SIFDIAL .......................................... 12
[F5] MDF MAINTENANCE .................................. 13
[F6] THE TYPEWRITER ................................... 18
[F7] PASSWORDS ........................................ 19
[F8] THE NOTE PAD AND REMINDERS ....................... 22
[F9] PREVIOUS MENU .................................... 25
[F10] NEXT MENU ....................................... 25
[ALT/C] COLOR CONFIGURATION ........................... 26
[ALT/A] THE AUDIT REPORT .............................. 27
[ALT/S] SYSTEM INFORMATION ............................ 29
THE MENU.BAT FILE ..................................... 31
THE USERLOGO FILE ..................................... 32
PROBLEM REPORTING ..................................... 33
=======================================
= =
= INTRODUCTION =
= =
=======================================
SIFMenu is an easy to use system which will allow you to execute your
favorite software from a centralized menu. It allows you to define up to
15 separate menus with up to 20 selections on each screen.
It also incorporates many features of commercial software costing much
more.
Some of these features include:
* Password Protection
* Audit Trail
* Color Configuration
* Note Pad/Reminder System
* Automatic Job Execution
* Typewriter
* Audit Trail Reporting
* To Do List with reporting
* System Information
* Automatic screen blanking.
Above all, SIFMenu is easy to install, use and maintain.
Simply setup your Menu Definition Files and you are ready to go.
EVALUATION COPIES: Evaluation copies of SIFMenu can be recognized by the
words "Evaluation Copy" appearing on the screen.
Evaluation copies function exactly like the registered versions with the
following exceptions.
* The User Logo file is not used.
* AJE files are built, but not executed.
* Only 1 menu screen is available.
* Audit Reports are disabled.
(The audit trail information is still kept.)
* Purging records from ToDo list is disabled.
COMPATIBILITY: SIFMenu was developed using an IBM PS/2 and PC DOS 3.3.
It incorporates many low level functions and therefore may not work well
with certain "IBM Compatible" machines. If you have problems with some of
the functions found in SIFMenu please let us know and we will make every
attempt to solve the problem. Because of the wide range of "Compatible"
machines on the market today, there is no guarantee that we will be able
to solve every problem for every machine.
SIFMenu, as well as SIFDial and SIFFile, will not work on a machine which
is running DOS 4.x
1
=======================================
= =
= HOW TO USE THIS MANUAL =
= =
=======================================
This manual is written to accommodate easy access to specific topics
relating to the use and maintenance of SIFMenu.
For example, to find out how to build or maintain your MDF files, simply
turn to the section on Menu Definition Files. To find out how to setup
Passwords, you would turn to the section on Passwords.
Each section describes in detail what that particular function does and
how to use it.
If you have any questions which cannot be answered by using this manual,
please feel free to contact us by mail or by calling our 24 hour bulletin
board service and leave a message.
2
=======================================
= =
= DIFFERENCES FROM PRIOR VERSIONS =
= =
=======================================
SIFMenu v4.x is completely compatible with files created with SIFMenu
v3.x. It is not compatible with versions prior to release 3.
Version 4.x is a complete rewrite of the system and includes many new
features that we think make it far easier to use and maintain.
The new features include:
* New menu screen consisting of three separate sections.
* To Do List
* Easier MDF maintenance.
* Easier Password maintenance.
* Easier to use Note Pad/Reminder system.
* More System Information.
Please see the section pertaining to each feature for more detail.
You may also want to read the "Whats.new" file.
3
=======================================
= =
= INSTALLATION =
= =
=======================================
SIFMenu requires the following files in order to operate properly.
* MENU.BAT '<- Batch file to run SIFMenu.
* ????????.MDF '<- Your Menu Definition File(s).
* DOSEXIT.BAT '<- Allows you to exit to DOS.
* SIFMENU.PWD '<- The password file.
To install SIFMenu, copy the files to the root directory of your hard
drive or create a subdirectory and copy them there.
SIFMenu already comes with a Menu Definition File which you can customize
to fit your particular system.
After you have customized your MDF file you are ready to go.
During the course of the day, SIFMenu will create various other files
which it needs to operate.
To run SIFMenu enter MENU from the DOS prompt. That's all there is to it!
USERS OF SIFMENU V3.x: If you are currently running version 3.x of
SIFMenu, you will need to delete the file SIFMENU.CFG from your directory.
This file contains the colors for the various windows etc for SIFMenu
v3.x. Although compatible with this file, SIFMenu v4.0 and above uses
different colors for it's screen and therefore may not display some
information due to the color change.
SIFMenu v4.0 will recreate the SIFMENU.CFG file after you have deleted it.
You may then run the Color Config routine to set up the colors the way you
want.
CRITICAL!!! Many of the functions within with SIFMenu rely heavily on the
date and time which is set in your system.
It is very important to make sure that the date and time in your machine
is correct (those of you with Clock/Calendar boards should have no
problem).
Each evening at midnight (if your machine is ON) SIFMenu does some house
keeping on files that it uses during operation. Additionally if you
choose to use the Automatic Job Execution feature it is critical that your
date and time be correct. Also the day, date and time in the Information
Window will be incorrect if the system (P.C.) date and time are incorrect.
There are many other features (such as Reminders and To Do List) which
also rely heavily on the date and time. Therefore we cannot stress enough
the importance of a correct system date and time.
4
=======================================
= =
= THE SIFMENU WINDOWS =
= =
=======================================
The SIFMenu screen consists of three windows.
They are the Menu Selection Window located on the left of your screen, the
Function Key Window located at the upper right of your screen, and the
Information Window located at the lower right of your screen.
▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓
▓▓█▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀█▓▓▓█▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀█▓▓
▓▓█ A Banner √ █▓▓▓█ [F1] File Utilities █▓▓
▓▓█ B Compress Hard Drive. å █▓▓▓█ [F2] To Do List █▓▓
▓▓█ C DOS █▓▓▓█ [F3] Calendar █▓▓
▓▓█ D Fastback √ █▓▓▓█ [F4] SIFDial █▓▓
▓▓█ E Format Drive A: √ █▓▓▓█ [F5] MDF Maintenance █▓▓
▓▓█ F Format Drive B: √ █▓▓▓█ [F6] Typewriter █▓▓
▓▓█ G Inventory System √ █▓▓▓█ [F7] Passwords █▓▓
▓▓█ H PCTools √ █▓▓▓█ [F8] Note Pad █▓▓
▓▓█ I PFS First Publisher √ █▓▓▓█ [F9] Previous Menu █▓▓
▓▓█ J PFS Pro Write √ █▓▓▓█ [F10] Next Menu █▓▓
▓▓█ K Print LAN Daily Logon å █▓▓▓█ [ALT/C] Color Configuration █▓▓
▓▓█ L Print Shop √ █▓▓▓█ [ALT/A] Audit Reports █▓▓
▓▓█ M ProComm Plus √ █▓▓▓█ [ALT/S] System Information █▓▓
▓▓█ N Test Hard Drive å █▓▓▓█▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄█▓▓
▓▓█ █▓▓▓█▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀█▓▓
▓▓█ █▓▓▓█ Saturday, March 10, 1990 █▓▓
▓▓█ █▓▓▓█ The time is 13:11:56 █▓▓
▓▓█ █▓▓▓█ 2 messages waiting. [F8]. █▓▓
▓▓█ █▓▓▓█ 1 things to do today. [F2]. █▓▓
▓▓█ █▓▓▓█ Selections from MASTER.MDF █▓▓
▓▓█▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄█▓▓▓█▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄█▓▓
▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓
■ SIFMenu version 4.3 - Copyright 1989, 1990 InoVision Software.
The Menu Selection Window is where the selections from your MDF files are
displayed. Each menu item is preceded by a letter which is used to select
that particular item. Selections which require a password are followed by
a "check mark" to the right of that item. Selections which are AJE jobs
are followed by an "A".
5
The Function Key Window contains selections which are assigned to each
function key. To execute these items press the corresponding Function
key.
█▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀█
█ [F1] File Utilities █
█ [F2] To Do List █
█ [F3] Calendar █
█ [F4] SIFDial █
█ [F5] MDF Maintenance █
█ [F6] Typewriter █
█ [F7] Passwords █
█ [F8] Note Pad █
█ [F9] Previous Menu █
█ [F10] Next Menu █
█ [ALT/C] Color Configuration █
█ [ALT/A] Audit Reports █
█ [ALT/S] System Information █
█▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄█
There are also some extended functions which require you to press and hold
the ALT key in addition to pressing a letter.
Each selection in the Function Key Window is discussed in detail in later
sections of this manual. Please refer to the section for the particular
function key for further information.
The Information Window located in the lower right corner of your screen is
the area SIFMenu uses to communicate with you. In addition to displaying
the current date and time, SIFMenu also displays the following information
in this area.
* The name of the currently displayed MDF file.
* Notification of any messages/reminders you may have.
* Notification of any "Things To Do" for that day.
█▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀█
█ Saturday, March 10, 1990 █
█ The time is 13:11:56 █
█ 2 messages waiting. [F8]. █
█ 1 things to do today. [F2]. █
█ Selections from MASTER.MDF █
█▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄█
As noted earlier, a correct system date and time is vital if the
information in this window is to be accurate.
6
=======================================
= =
= [F1] FILE UTILITY =
= =
=======================================
One of the advantages of using SIFMenu is the ability to execute some of
the other SIFWare products by using the associated -F-key.
If you have a copy of SIFFile you may execute this utility by pressing F1
from the SIFMenu Function Key window.
If you do not have a copy of SIFFile, F1 is disabled.
SIFFile can be purchased separately from InoVision Software.
SIFFile is an easy to use file utility program developed by InoVision
Software. With SIFFile you can Copy or Move files, Locate files anywhere
on your hard drive, change the file date and time stamp, get a list of all
files in a particular directory, get a list of all directories, view the
contents of a file, display the volume ID and obtain information about the
size, type, sector, clusters, etc of a particular drive.
Please see the file -ORDERFOR.SIF- for more information about ordering
SIFFile and other SIFWare products.
7
=======================================
= =
= [F2] TO DO LIST =
= =
=======================================
One of the major enhancements of SIFMenu version 4.x is the addition of a
"To Do" list. This function replaces the SIFCalc (Calculator) function in
previous versions.
To access your To Do List, press the F2 key.
█▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀█
█ [A]dd [V]iew [E]dit [P]urge [C]omplete [R]eport [Q]uit █
█▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀█
█ Rec Date Pri Detail Comp █
█ 1 03/17/90 1 Complete the Inventory status report and N █
█ 2 03/15/90 1 Take the car to the repair shop. N █
█ 3 04/14/90 10 Get ready for vaction. Be sure all of the N █
█ 4 03/10/90 5 Paint the garage. N █
█ 5 03/05/90 1 Fix the hole in the roof. √ █
█ █
█ █
█ █
█ █
█ █
█ █
█ █
█ █
█▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄█
█ █
█ PgUp or PgDn to scroll. 5 items on file. 195 entries remaining. █
█▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄█
The To Do List window shows you the date that you have assigned to either
complete or begin a task, the priority that you assigned for that task,
and the first line of the task description.
If the task has been completed you will also see a "check" mark to the
right of the description.
Uncompleted tasks are highlighted in bright white.
Completed tasks are grey (or low intensity white).
On the far left of the window is the record number assigned to the task.
Some of the selections of the To Do List require you to specify the record
number for the task.
You can scroll forward and backward through your To Do List by pressing
either the PgUp or PgDn keys.
The To Do List will hold up to 200 tasks.
8
Once into the To Do List the following selections will be available to
you.
* [A]dd - This selection allows you to add new items to your
To Do list.
When you select [A]dd you will be asked to specify a
date on which you wish to complete or get started on
a task. SIFMenu uses this date to notify you each
day of things you want to do. The default is the
system date.
Next you will be asked to give the task a priority.
This field is strictly for your benefit, however
future releases of SIFMenu will most likely make use
of this field.
After entering the task Priority you will be given
the opportunity to describe what the task is.
This task Description can consist of up to two lines
of text, each line being 45 characters long.
The first line of this description will always be
displayed in the To Do List window.
When you have finished entering the description you
will be asked if the task has been completed.
If not, enter an -N- in this field.
If so, enter a -Y- in this field.
SIFMenu will fill in the completion date for you.
█▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀█
█ Due date: 03/17/90 Priority: 1 █
█ █
█ Complete the Inventory status report and █
█ turn it in to the boss. █
█ █
█ Completed N on / / █
█▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄█
* [V]iew - This selection lets you view all of the information
about a specific task including both lines of the
description, whether or not the task was completed
and on what date.
When you select the View option, you will be asked
to supply the record number of the task you wish to
view.
No editing or updating can be done using the [V]iew
selection.
9
* [E]dit - The Edit selection allows you to change all of the
fields pertaining to a specific task.
As with the View selection, the Edit selection
requires you to specify the record number of the
task you wish to edit.
You may change any or all of the fields in the
record.
If you change the Completed field from -Y- to -N-,
the Completed Date field will be blanked out.
* [P]urge - The Purge command allows you to remove either a
single item or ALL completed items from your To Do
List. Until purged, completed items remain in the
file.
* [C]omplete - Each time you finish a task you can "check it
off your To Do List" by using the [C]omplete
selection.
When you Complete a task the system date is placed
in the Completed Date field and a "check mark" is
placed in the Completed field. That task will then
show up in your To Do window in low intensity white
(or grey).
* [R]eport - The Report selection allows you to obtain a
print out of your To Do List in any one of three
formats.
1. Things to do (uncompleted tasks).
2. Completed tasks.
3. All tasks whether completed or not.
Beginning with release 4.2 you may specify a date
parameter in the format MM/DD/YY. Using the date
parameter will print only those tasks which fall
within the dates you supply.
* [Q]uit - To exit the To Do List select the [Q]uit option.
Depending on the size of your To Do List, Quitting
may take a second or two. This is due to the fact
that in addition to exiting the To Do List, the
[Q]uit option also sorts your To Do list by date,
placing the records with the oldest dates at the top
of your list.
10
=======================================
= =
= [F3] CALENDAR =
= =
=======================================
SIFCalnd is a Non TSR pop up calendar which comes free with SIFMenu. It
can be used in conjunction with the SIFMenu NotePad/Reminder routine.
If you have a copy of SIFCalnd you may execute it by pressing the F3 key.
█▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀█
█ March 1990 █
█──────────────────────█
█ S M T W T F S █
█ █
█ 1 2 3 █
█ 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 █
█ 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 █
█ 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 █
█ 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 █
█ █
█ SIFCalendar - █
█▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄█
If you do not have a copy of SIFCalnd, the F3 key is disabled.
Once loaded, you can page forward and backward through the months by using
the left and right arrow keys.
Additionally, any reminders that you have for that month will show up as
diamonds on those days in the Calendar.
SIFCalnd should have come with your copy of SIFMenu. If it did not, you
may obtain a copy by calling our 24 hour bulletin board service.
11
=======================================
= =
= [F4] SIFDIAL =
= =
=======================================
SIFDial is another SIFWare product which comes as part of the SIFWare
Package.
It is an easy to use Personal phone directory program which allows you
quick access to telephone numbers and addresses.
But SIFDial is more than "just another address book". SIFDial comes
packed with features not found in most other similar products.
Among SIFDial's features are:
* Ability to handle multiple address files.
* Sort on any one of several fields in each record.
* Retain deleted addresses until purged from the file.
* Backup any or all address files to diskette.
* Rapid search for specific records.
* Automatic Dialing.
* Use of Speed Codes for easy categorization and retrieval.
* Prints labels, complete personal phone book and pocket sized
directory.
SIFDial can be purchased individually or as part of the SIFWare Package.
If you currently have a copy of SIFDial, you can execute it from SIFMenu
by pressing the F4 key. If you do not have a copy of SIFDial, F4 is
disabled.
12
=======================================
= =
= [F5] MDF MAINTENANCE =
= =
=======================================
At the heart of SIFMenu is the Menu Definition File. Here is where you
tell SIFMenu what software you have, how to execute it, whether it will
require a password or whether it is to execute automatically.
SIFMenu already comes with a Menu Definition File which is set up for some
of the more popular software. You may either use this MDF file and edit
it to fit your system, or delete it and create your own.
In either case, selecting F5 will allow you to change and existing MDF or
create a new one. You may have up to 15 different MDF files.
After pressing the F5 key a small window will open in the middle of your
screen showing you the options available.
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█ █
█ █
█ [E]dit existing MDF █
█ [C]reate new MDF █
█ [Q]uit to menu █
█ [ALT/H] Help █
█ █
█ Selection ? █
█ █
█ █
█▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄█
To select an option enter either an -E-to edit and existing MDF, -C-to
create a new MDF, -Q-to quit the MDF Maintenance system or ALT/H for help.
* [C]reate new MDF - To create a new menu definition file
select the -C- option from the opening
menu.
You will then be asked to supply the
name of the file your wish to create.
Do not enter the file extension.
Once you have created the new MDF file
you may begin entering information into
it by selecting the -E- option from the
opening menu.
* [E]dit existing MDF - To add records, edit records or delete
records from an existing MDF, select the
-E- option.
A list of the MDF files that are
available will then be displayed
preceded by a number. You must then
supply the number of the MDF file you
wish to edit.
13
If the MDF file contains information which is password protected you will
be required to enter a LEVEL 1 password before SIFMenu will allow you
access to the file.
┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ This MDF file contains items which are │
│ password protected. You must have a │
│ Level 1 password in order to make │
│ changes to this MDF. │
│ │
│ Please enter your password. │
│ Characters will not echo. │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────┘
Please see the section on Passwords for more information on what Passwords
are and how they can be used.
After gaining access to the MDF file, the contents of the file will be
displayed in a window on the left half of your screen.
The window in the upper right portion of your screen is for adding,
editing and viewing records.
The window in the lower right portion of your screen contains the options
available to you while in the MDF maintenance program.
┌─────────────────────────────────┐┌─────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 1 Banner ││ │
│ 2 DOS ││ │
│ 3 Fastback ││ │
│ 4 Format Drive A: ││ │
│ 5 Format Drive B: ││ │
│ 6 Inventory System ││ │
│ 7 PCTools ││ │
│ 8 PFS First Publisher ││ │
│ 9 PFS Pro Write ││ │
│ 10 Print Shop ││ │
│ 11 ProComm Plus ││ │
│ 12 Test Hard Drive │└─────────────────────────────────────┘
│ 13 Print LAN Daily Logon │┌─────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 14 Compress Hard Drive. ││ [I]nsert │
│ ││ [D]elete │
│ ││ [A]ppend │
│ ││ [E]dit │
│ ││ [S]ort │
│ ││ [V]iew │
│ ││ [Q]uit │
│ ││ [H]elp │
│ ││ │
│ ││ │
└─────────────────────────────────┘└─────────────────────────────────────┘
14
* [I]nsert - The insert option allows you to insert records
into your MDF file. You will be asked to supply
the number of the record you wish to insert the
new information before. For example if you respond
-6-, the new record will be inserted BEFORE record
number 6.
Please see the section below entitled MDF Record
Format for an understanding of the information
required in each MDF record and how that
information is used.
* [A]ppend - The append selection allows you to append a new
record to the end of the file.
Please see the section below entitled MDF Record
Format for an understanding of the information
required in each MDF record and how that
information is used.
* [E]dit - The edit option allows you to change the
information in an existing MDF record. All fields
can be edited.
Please see the section below entitled MDF Record
Format for an understanding of the information
required in each MDF record and how that
information is used.
* [S]ort - The Sort option allows you to sort the contents of
your MDF file in ascending sequence.
* [V]iew - Selecting the View option allows you to see the
contents of the entire MDF record. As with the
Edit and Insert selections, you will be asked to
supply the record number of the item you wish to
view.
* [Q]uit - This option takes you back to the [E]dit/[C]reate
window.
* [H]elp - Pressing -H- will give you slightly more
information in the window.
15
The MDF Record Format: When updating your MDF file certain information is
required by SIFMenu in order to properly execute the software.
┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ MDF Record Layout │
│ │
│ Item: Inventory System │
│ Program: invsys │
│ Drive: C │
│ Dir: inventry │
│ AJE Day: 0 │
│ AJE Time: │
│ Password: Y │
│ Level #: 1 │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────┘
The following is a description of what the different fields in the MDF
record are and what SIFMenu expects to see.
ITEM: This field defines what you will see on the menu.
It should be descriptive of the software that you are
going to execute. For example: "Inventory System"
PROGRAM: This is the name of the program you wish to execute.
For example: INVSYS
DRIVE: This is the letter of the drive on which the program
resides. For example: "C" (for drive C:)
DIR: This field defines the directory in which the program
resides. You need only specify the name of the directory.
Do not enter the trailing backslash (\).
For example: INVENTRY
AJE DAY: If you want the job to run automatically you will need
to specify the NUMBER of the day on which it should
run. Day 1 begins with Sunday, day 2 would be Monday,
day 3 would be Tuesday and so on with Saturday being
day 7.
If you do not want the job to run automatically enter
a zero (0) in this field.
If you want it to run everyday of the week, enter an
eight (8) in this field.
If you specify a number other than 0 in this field
then the Password and Level number fields will be
skipped. This is because depending on what time of
day you have told SIFMenu to automatically execute the
job, there may or may not be anyone around to enter
the password.
16
AJE TIME: If you entered a number other than 0 in the AJE Day
field, you will be asked to supply the time at which
you want SIFMenu to automatically execute the
program.
This time is in 24 hour (military) format.
For example: 07:00 would be 7:00 in the morning.
15:00 would be 3 in the afternoon.
PASSWORD: This field tells SIFMenu whether or not to require
a password before allowing the program to run.
If you want the user to have to enter a password,
then enter a -Y- in this field. If not, enter -N-.
LEVEL #: If you specified -Y- in the Password field, you will
need to tell SIFMenu what level the user must have in
order to execute the software. Each menu item can
have it's own level number as can each user. This
gives the Password protection scheme greater
flexability.
Please refer to the section on Passwords for more
information on how passwords and level numbers work.
17
=======================================
= =
= [F6] TYPEWRITER =
= =
=======================================
Another nice feature of SIFMenu is the pop up typewriter.
When the F6 key is pressed a window will open up at the top of your screen
and you may begin typing.
Each time you press RETURN, the line you just typed will be routed to your
printer. As the typing area fills up, the window will begin to scroll to
allow you to type as much or as little as you want.
To exit the Typewriter routine simple press the Escape key.
When the escape key is pressed, your printer will eject the page that was
just typed.
The Typewriter routine is conveniant for those quick letters or memo's
that you need to do during the course of the day.
However, unlike a normal typewriter, you cannot edit a line once it has
been sent to the printer.
18
=======================================
= =
= [F7] PASSWORDS =
= =
=======================================
As stated earlier, you can protect any or all items on the menu by
requiring the user to enter a password in order to execute the selection.
In order to accomplish this you will need to consider a few things before
deciding to use Password protection.
The first thing you should consider is which menu selections you will want
to password protect and which ones you will not. SIFMenu allows you to
password protect any or all items on the menu.
The second thing you should consider is what level you want to assign to
each user. Level numbers work like this. If, in the MDF file, you have
an item which is password protected and has a level number of 10, that
means that SIFMenu will require a password with a level number of 10 or
below before it will let the menu selection run. Any user with a level
number of 1 to 10 will be able to execute that menu selection. Any user
with a level number of 11 to 99 will be locked out of that menu selection.
Consider the following:
|~~~~~~ in the MDF file ~~~~~~~~~| |~~~ in the password file
| | |
Menu Selection Level required User Level
Lotus 123 1 1 = ok, 2-99 locked out.
PFS:Write 10 1-10 = ok, 11-99 locked out.
DBASE III 5 1-5 = ok, 6-99 locked out.
After you have decided which selections will require a password and what
each level number will be, you are ready to begin building your User
Password file.
IMPORTANT! SIFMenu WILL REQUIRE YOU TO ENTER A LEVEL 1 PASSWORD EACH TIME
YOU RUN THE [F7] PASSWORD UTILITY.
█▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀█
█ Please enter your password. █
█ ........ █
█▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄█
It should be noted here that SIFMenu comes with a Password already set up
for you. It has only 1 password in it. The password is "00100". You
will need this password in order to setup your password file.
After that, you may delete the default password.
ALWAYS REMEMBER .... SIFMenu WILL REQUIRE a level 1 password before it
will allow you to do ANY password maintenance. Be sure that at least one
user has a level 1 password or you will be locked out of the password
maintenance utility.
To begin setting up your user passwords, press the F7 key.
As stated earlier, you will be asked to supply a level 1 password. Unless
you have previously changed the default password you may enter "00100" at
this point to enter the password maintenance routine.
19
Once the correct password has been entered, the Password Maintenance
window will appear in the center of your screen.
█▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀█
█ (A)dd (E)dit (V)iew (P)rint (D)elete (Q)uit █
█ █
█ Name: █
█ Password: █
█ Level: █
█ █
█ Rec Name Password Level █
█ 1 MIKE JONES @?C>;== 1 █
█ 2 Tammy Willaims dYW 10 █
█ 3 Christy McBride XV_^d 10 █
█ 4 Bob Cramer PQRQ 10 █
█ █
█ █
█ █
█ █
█ █
█ Use PgUp or PgDn to scroll through names. █
█▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄█
While in the Password Maintenance window you will have the following
options available to you.
(A)dd - This will allow you to add a new password to the
system. You will need to supply the users name,
password, and level number. You may have up to
100 passwords in the password file.
(E)dit - The Edit option allows you to change the information
in the users password record. You may change any of
the fields including the password if you like.
You will be asked to supply the number of the record
you wish to edit.
(V)iew - The View option allows you to view the information
associated with a user. No editing may be done using
this selection. As with Edit, you will be asked to
supply the number of the record you wish to view.
(P)rint - You may print the information in your password file
by using the print option. All of the information for
all of the passwords will be printed.
(D)elete - To delete an existing password, use the (D)elete
option. Deleted records are imediately removed from
the file.
(Q)uit - To exit the Password Maintenance routine press -Q-to
quit.
If there are more passwords in your password file than will fit in the
window, you may use the PgUp and PgDn keys to scroll the information in
the window either forward or backward.
20
The following is a description of each field required in the password
record.
NAME: This of course, is the Name of the person to whom you
will be assigning a password.
PASSWORD: This is the password associated with the name.
It may be up to 8 characters in length.
All passwords are encrypted before being written
to the password file and will be meaningless to anyone who
views the file outside of the Password Maintenance routine.
LEVEL: As discused earlier this is the level number which you will
assign to the user. Keep in mind that this level number will
determine what protected menu items the user will be able to
select. Only those MENU ITEMS with level numbers GREATER
THAN or EQUAL TO the users level number will be accessable to
the user.
Password protection is really very simply to install if you remember these
simple rules.
1. At lease one user must have a level 1 password.
2. The level number that you assign to a user must be
less than or equal to the level number used in the
menu definition file for the user to be able to use
that menu selection. A level 1 user can select menu items
which have been assigned a level 1 or above in the MDF file.
A level 5 user can select menu items which have been assigned
a level 5 or above in the MDF file.
Passwords can greatly enhance the security of the information on your
computer. Keep in mind though that there is no such thing as a 100
percent secure system. There is no replacement for developing a habit of
keeping sensitive information backed up and locked up.
SIFMenu can also be pre-programmed with a Master Password which will let
you execute any selection from the menu reguardless of security level. If
you decide to purchase SIFMenu and so desire, InoVision Software
will pre-program a master password into your version of SIFMenu at no
extra charge. Simply indicate on the order form what your master password
should be (8 characters or less) and we will do the rest.
21
=======================================
= =
= [F8] NOTE PAD =
= =
=======================================
One of the nicest features of SIFMenu is the online Note Pad sometimes
refered to as the Message/Reminder system.
To use the Note Pad, simply press the F8 key.
█▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀█
█ Add Edit View Delete Print Copy Quit PgUp/PgDn █
█▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀█
█ 1 03/10/90 U Be sure to pick up some milk on the way █
█ 2 03/10/90 U Be sure to pick up some milk on the way █
█ 3 12/15/89 N Today is my sons birthday. We're givin █
█ █
█ █
█ █
█ █
█ █
█▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄█
█ Option ? █
█▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄█
By using the Note Pad, you can leave yourself reminders or messages for
any day of the year with the assurance that SIFMenu will notify you when
that day arrives.
You may have up to 100 notes on file with dates as far in advance as you
like.
The Note Pad works this way. Let's say for example that you have an
important errand to run after work (it's your kids 16th birthday and you
don't want to forget to get the title to the car changed over to his/her
name). The big event is on Friday the 15th of December.
Today is only the 2nd but if you forget you'll never hear the last of it.
What do you do?
Piece of cake. Simply press F8, select Add, enter 12/15/89 (or 12/14/89
if you are really worried) and enter "Today is my sons birthday. We're
giving him the car. We'll never see him again."
Flag it as an urgent message and sit back and relax.
When December 15th rolls around, SIFMenu will flash "Message waiting." in
the information window. Press F8 again. "Oh my gosh! What time does the
Tag Agency close?". It's as simple as that.
Another nice thing about the Note Pad is that it can be used in
conjunction with SIFCalnd the calendar program.
If you have the SIFCalnd program simply press F3. Any reminders you have
for the month (or months) will show up as diamonds on those days in the
calendar.
If you are away and someone wants to leave you a message, they too can use
the Note Pad. When you return SIFMenu will be flashing "Message Waiting."
in the information window.
22
Once into the Note Pad window, you have the following options available to
you.
(A)dd - This allows you to add a new Note to your Note Pad.
(E)dit - This allows you to edit the contents of any existing
note. You will be asked to supply the number of the
record you wish to edit.
(V)iew - To view the contents of a specific note, use the View
command. As with Edit, you will be asked to supply the
number of the record you wish to view.
(D)elete - To delete a note from your Note Pad select the Delete
option. You will notice that the -U- or -N- (for
Urgent or Normal) will change to a -D-. At this
point the record is not really gone from the file.
SIFMenu does not remove the deleted records from your
Note Pad until you select the (Q)uit option. This
gives you the opportunity to Edit the record and
remove the -D- if you didn't really want to delete
that record.
(P)rint - You may print any or all notes in your Note Pad by
selecting the Print option.
(C)opy - New to release 4.x is the Copy option. This option
allows you to make copies of a particular note.
This is extremely handy if you want to be reminded of
something which happens on a regular basis.
For example let's say that you are sitting in your
office with your feet up on your desk reading the
latest computer magizine. The boss stumbles in and
says "You've got till noon on Monday to come up with a
report on how much usage your PC is getting. I want to
know what software is being used, who is using it and
for how long. In addition, I want that report on the
15th of every month. Have a nice day."
Now the problem is this, you've got to remember to do
something every month on the 15th that you could not
possibly care less about doing. Your gonna forget for
sure. "No problem. I'll just use the Note Pad routine
to remind myself to do it." True, you can use the Note
Pad routine to remind yourself to do it. "Naw! It'll
take to much time to enter the same note 12 differnt
times. Besides, I go home in 5 minutes."
True, it would take a while to enter the same note 12
differnt times. Especially if you used all 6 lines in
the description. The solution? Use the Copy command.
Simply enter the note one time. Use all 6 lines of
description if you like. Then use the copy command to
change only the date. A new record will be created
with the new date. The information in the description
and Urgent fields will be copied automatically to the
new record. What luck. You're out the door on time.
23
(Q)uit - To exit the Note Pad routine use the (Q)uit option.
When you Quit the Note Pad, any records that you have
deleted will be removed from the file.
If you have more notes in your Note Pad than will fit in the window, you
can use the PgUp and PgDn keys to scroll forward and backward in the
window.
THE NOTE PAD RECORD FORMAT: There are really only three fields in the
Note Pad with which you need to be familiar. They are as follows.
█▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀█
█ █
█ Date: 03/10/90 Urgent (y/n): U █
█ █
█ Be sure to pick up some milk on the way █
█ home. Also, don't forget the kids. █
█ █
█▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄█
DATE: This is the date that you wish to be reminded of an event
or simply the date you entered the note. The default is
the system date.
URGENT: Previous versions of SIFMenu used this field to display
either an asterisk (*) or the letters RSVP in the
information window. This is no longer true with
release 4.x and is used only for your benefit.
If you decide that the message is urgent enter a -Y-in
this field. If not enter an -N-.
Whether you enter a -Y- or an -N- is purely a matter of
preferance although it is conveniant to be able to see
which messages are urgent and which are not in the Note
Pad window.
The next 6 fields are for the description of the note but for simplicity
we will think of them as being only one field, the description field.
You are allowed up to 6 lines of description for each note.
All editing keys including the up and down arrows are supported.
So what's the difference between the Note Pad and the Things To Do
List? Well for one, the To Do List is much more casual. It doesn't
flash, beep or yell. It simply says "You have 4 things to do today.".
The To Do List doesn't have the Copy command associated with the
Note Pad. It has a Completion Date that the Note Pad doesn't and you can
easily track what you have done for the week or month and how long it took
you. You can't do that with the Note Pad routine.
So why not combine the two?
InoVision Software has and will continue to operate under the philosophy
that "If you have to read the documentation the system is to hard to
use.". SIFWare has been written with that philosophy in mind. We feel
that combining the Note Pad and the To Do List would make the program
cumbersom and of little use to you the user.
24
=======================================
= =
= [F9] PREVIOUS MENU =
= [F10] NEXT MENU =
= =
=======================================
If you have more than one Menu Definition File available to SIFMenu, you
may use either the F9 or F10 keys to display the selections in them.
F9 will display the previous MDF selections.
F10 will display the next MDF selections.
25
======================================
= =
= [ALT/C] COLOR CONFIGURATION =
= =
======================================
SIFMenu comes with certain default colors for the windows that it uses.
You may change the colors by pressing and holding the ALT key and then
pressing the -C- key.
Doing so will bring up a miniature display of the windows that are used in
SIFMenu along with a window defining the keys to use to change colors.
█▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓█
█▓█▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀█▓▓█▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀█▓▓█
█▓█ A XXXXXXXXXXXX █▓▓█ [Fx] XXXXXXX █▓▓█
█▓█ A XXXXXXXXXXXX █▓▓█ [Fx] XXXXXXX █▓▓█
█▓█ A XXXXXXXXXXXX █▓▓█ [Fx] XXXXXXX █▓▓█
█▓█ A XXXXXXXXXXXX █▓▓█ [Fx] XXXXXXX █▓▓█
█▓█ A XXXXXXXXXXXX █▓▓█ [Fx] XXXXXXX █▓▓█
█▓█ A XXXXXXXXXXXX █▓▓█ [Fx] XXXXXXX █▓▓█
█▓█ A XXXXXXXXXXXX █▓▓█▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄█▓▓█
█▓█ A XXXXXXXXXXXX █▓▓█▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀█▓▓█
█▓█ A XXXXXXXXXXXX █▓▓█ Date █▓▓█
█▓█ █▓▓█ Time █▓▓█
█▓█▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄█▓▓█▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄█▓▓█
█▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓█
█ 1 Menu Background | 6 Date █
█ 2 Menu border | 7 Time █
█ 3 Menu items | 8 Fkey window █
█ 4 Selection letter | 9 Fkey border █
█ 5 Info border | 0 Fkey █
█ <Q>uit | █
█▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄█
In order to change the color for a selected window simply press the number
key associated with the area that you wish to change.
You may change the window background, border, and text color to any color
that you wish (if your PC supports those colors).
The only window you cannot change is the Information window background
color. This is because this window is how SIFMenu communicates with you
and changing the background color may make this information invisible.
To exit the Color Configuration menu press the -Q- key.
You will then be asked if you wish to [S]ave the colors you have chosen,
or [R]eset to the colors that the windows had before you started. At this
point press either the -S- or the -R- keys.
If you can't find just the right colors to suite your taste, you may exit
to DOS and delete the file SIFMENU.CFG. This will cause SIFMenu to load
the default colors.
26
=======================================
= =
= [ALT/A] AUDIT REPORTS =
= =
=======================================
As noted earlier, SIFMenu can keep a record for you of each selection that
is made from the menu. It does this by writting this information to an
audit file. To access the audit information press and hold your ALT key
and press -A-.
Unless specified in the command line (see the section on the MENU.BAT
file) each time a selection is made, SIFMenu writes the name of the
selection that was made, what the date was, what the time was and (if
passwords are being used) who made the selection to the audit file.
After returning to the menu, SIFMenu updates this information with the
date and time that the user finished using the selected software.
For example if John Doe (password JD) selected "Budget System" from the
menu at 7 o'clock the morning of March 12th, the initial entry in the
audit file would look like this ....
John Doe Budget System 03-12-198907:00
After Joe has finished working on the budget and has returned to SIFMenu
(an hour later), the entry in the audit file would look like this ....
John Doe Budget System 03-12-198907:0003-12-198908:00
As noted briefly above you do not need to use passwords in order to use
the audit trail. In fact, you may disable the audit trail entirely. If
passwords are not used then the persons name will not appear in the
record.
[F1] PRINT SUMMARY REPORT - This selection will print a one page
report telling you how many records are in the audit file and
the time frame (from mm/dd/yy to mm/dd/yy) in which the audit
trail is being kept.
Additionally, it will tell you what the top 10 menu selections
are, how frequent they are being selected and the total time
(in hours and minutes) that they were used.
It will also report the same information on the 3 least
frequent selections.
Finally it will give you a grand total (in hours and minutes)
of PC usage.
[F2] PRINT DETAIL REPORT - This selection prints a report of each
record in the audit file and calculates the duration for each
item, giving the date and time that the selection was made.
27
[F3] DISPLAY SUMMARY REPORT - This selectin works exactly like the F1
selection except that instead of printing, the information is
displayed on your screen.
█▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀█
█ 555 records in audit file for 11-27-1989 to 03-10-1990 time frame. █
█ █
█ Top 10 items Frequency Total Usage █
█ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ █
█ Dbase 340 422 hours, 25 minutes. █
█ 123 20 128 hours, 18 minutes. █
█ COMIC 16 60 hours, 53 minutes. █
█ GOOSE 8 58 hours, 31 minutes. █
█ PW 38 56 hours, 34 minutes. █
█ INDY 22 23 hours, 58 minutes. █
█ CBOW 14 22 hours, 42 minutes. █
█ PCPLUS 21 4 hours, 52 minutes. █
█ WORDFIND 7 2 hours, 38 minutes. █
█ PS 11 2 hours, 29 minutes. █
█ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ █
█ Least frequent: █
█ WS 2 0 hours, 0 minutes. █
█ DW3 6 0 hours, 0 minutes. █
█ FILE 2 0 hours, 0 minutes. █
█ Total Hours Used: 786 hours, 39 minutes. █
█▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄█
[F4] DISPLAY RAW DATA - This selection will display on your screen
the contents of the audit file. There are no calculations or
formatting that takes place with this option.
█▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀█
█ Dbase 11-27-1989 15:24/11-27-1989 15:24 █
█ Dbase 11-27-1989 15:30/11-27-1989 15:33 █
█ Christy McBride PW 11-27-1989 18:49/11-27-1989 20:14 █
█ Christy McBride 123 11-27-1989 20:35/11-27-1989 20:51 █
█ Christy McBride 123 11-27-1989 20:52/11-28-1989 18:33 █
█ dosexit.bat 11-28-1989 18:33/11-28-1989 18:34 █
█ Mike Jones PCPLUS 11-28-1989 18:36/11-28-1989 18:37 █
█ Christy McBride 123 11-28-1989 18:37/11-28-1989 19:05 █
█ dosexit.bat 11-28-1989 19:05/11-28-1989 19:45 █
█ Tammy Williams Dbase 11-28-1989 20:56/11-29-1989 15:09 █
█ dosexit.bat 11-29-1989 15:16/11-29-1989 19:35 █
█ Tammy Williams ps 11-29-1989 20:53/11-29-1989 21:42 █
█ Bob Crammer PW 11-30-1989 15:11/11-30-1989 15:32 █
█ dosexit.bat 11-30-1989 15:34/11-30-1989 15:46 █
█ <Enter> to continue or (Q)uit █
█▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄█
[F10] QUIT - To exit the audit report menu, press the F10 key.
The information in the audit file is kept in a format such that the user
may also write their own applications for reporting PC usage.
28
======================================
= =
= [ALT/S] SYSTEM INFORMATION =
= =
======================================
You may obtain certain information about your machine by pressing and
holding the ALT key and pressing the -S- key.
Doing so will cause a window to appear in the center of your screen in
which will appear certain information about your system configuration.
An example follows:
█▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀[System Info]▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀█
█ █
█ Available drives............ABC █
█ Default Drive................C: █
█ Volume Id................{None} █
█ Available space....... 10119168 █
█ Default Dir...................\ █
█ █
█ Base memory............... 640k █
█ Expanded memory............. 0k █
█ Extended memory........... 384k █
█ Total memory............. 1024k █
█ Free Base Memory........ 551728 █
█ █
█ Math Chip...................Yes █
█ Monitor.....................EGA █
█ DOS Version................3.30 █
█ Files: 20 Buffers: 30 █
█▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄█
AVAILABLE DRIVES - These are the drives (both real and virtual) that
SIFMenu believes you have attached to
your system.
Typically this line reads ......."ABC"
DEFAULT DRIVE - This line tells you what your default drive currently
is. The default drive is the drive
that you booted the PC from.
If you have a hard drive this line will typically
read "C:"
If you only have floppy drives is will typically
read "A:"
VOLUME ID - If you formatted your disk with the /v option and
entered a volume id, that information is what will appear
on this line.
DEFAULT DIR - This is the default directory of the drive you booted
from.
BASE MEMORY - Base memory is memory in your PC ranging from 0 to
640k. The amount of base memory that is installed on
your PC is what will appear on this line.
29
EXPANDED MEMORY - Expanded memory is memory in your PC that can be
accessed by specially-modified software in order to
overcome the DOS-imposed 0K to 640K memory address
limit. This memory is sometime known as LIM (for
Lotus, Intel, Microsoft who co-developed it).
If your machine has Expanded memory the amount
is what will appear on this line.
EXTENDED MEMORY - Extended memory is memory from 1 to 16 megabytes
and can be used by certain programs (and OS/2) to
store data and programs.
If any Extended memory is available on your PC, the
amount will appear on this line.
TOTAL MEMORY - Basically this is Base memory plus expanded memory
plus extended memory.
FREE MEMORY - This is the amount of free memory in the 0 to 640K
range currently available to programs. The amount of
memory that SIFMenu is currently taking is not
reflected in this figure.
MATH CHIP - If your PC has a math chip installed this line will say
"YES". If not, it will say "NO".
Please note that some software has the capability to
emulate a math chip. If you have such software currently
resident in your system then it will affect whether or
not the information on this line is really correct.
MONITOR - This is the type of monitor that is currently attached to
the PC.
DOS VERSION - This of course is the version of DOS you are running.
FILES - This is the number of FILES you have defined in your
CONFIG.SYS
BUFFERS - This is the number of BUFFERS you have defined in your
CONFIG.SYS
Please note that because of the diversity of "clones" on the market today
the information displayed in the System Information window may or may not
be correct. However, on the machines that were tested with SIFMenu, it
reported everything accurately.
30
======================================
= =
= THE MENU.BAT FILE =
= =
======================================
One of the files that is REQUIRED by SIFMenu is the MENU.BAT file.
This file is critical to SIFMenu in that it is the only way SIFMenu has of
running the menu selection and reinstalling itself.
The MENU.BAT file consists of at least two lines.
They are SIFMENU and
RUNJOB
Basically what happens is whenever you make a selection from
the menu, SIFMenu opens the RUNJOB.BAT file and write the information that
your have specified in the MDF file into it.
SIFMenu then terminates and RUNJOB.BAT takes over, runs the software and
then executes SIFMenu again completing the loop.
There are currently two command line options which SIFMenu recognizes.
They are NOSOUND and DISABLE and can be placed in the MENU.BAT file on the
same line as SIFMENU. You may use any combination of switches or no
switches at all.
For example: SIFMENU DISABLE NOSOUND ~or~
SIFMENU NOSOUND ~or~
SIFMENU DISABLE
The DISABLE option disables the audit trail so that no audit information
is written to the file.
The NOSOUND option disables the "chirp" that you hear when certain
selections are made from SIFMenu.
31
=======================================
= =
= THE USERLOG FILE =
= =
=======================================
Another file which is not critical to SIFMenu but with which you might be
interested is the USERLOGO file.
While SIFMenu is running it constantly monitors the keyboard for your
selections. If, after 3 minutes, there is no keyboard activity, SIFMenu
clears the screen and displays a block of text which moves around on the
screen. This was done to keep SIFMenu from burning an image of itself
into your monitor.
You may customize the text in this block by creating your own USERLOGO
file. This file consists of 2 lines of text which can be created using
any text editor.
When SIFMenu is executed it looks for the USERLOGO file and if found,
reads it in and uses the two lines in the bouncing block.
The only restriction is that each line of text must be 25 characters or
less.
If no USERLOGO file is found, SIFMenu will display ...
InoVision Software
SIFWare - SIFMenu vX.X
In versions prior to release 4.x the bouncing block would also change
color each time it moved on the screen. Beginning with version 4.x, this
is no longer true. The block will stay Black on White as it moves around
the screen.
32
====================================
= =
= PROBLEM REPORTING =
= =
====================================
As with all SIFWare products we are committed to you the end user.
If you are having problems with SIFMenu or any SIFWare product please feel
free to contact us either by mail or by calling our 24 hour bulletin board
service at (405) 672-4564.
Please compile as much information as possible relating to the problem you
are having. We will need to know things such as ...
() What machine type you are using.
() What version and type of DOS.
() What events lead up to the problem.
() Does it happen all the time or just periodically.
() Can you recreate the problem. (make it happen more than once).
() What (if any) TSR programs you are using.
() What EXACTLY the problem is.
Please do not give information like "Well I'm not quite sure what's wrong.
It just quit working!"
As you can see, it would be extremely difficult to diagnose a problem if
all we had is "It just won't work" to go on.
A good example of a problem report would be: "I had just started SIFMenu
and was editing a record in my MDF file. When I entered the last line
everything just stopped. I rebooted the machine, tried it again and the
same thing happened. I am using a ShadeTree clone running Offthewall DOS
version 3.0. I also think I had a similar problem with a database I was
using. As far as I know I am only using a print spooler and disk cache
program that are TSR's."
This concludes the documentation for SIFMenu.
We hope that you will enjoy using SIFMenu as much as we enjoy bringing it
to you.
If you have any problems or suggestions for enhancements we would like to
hear from you. Please contact us by mail or call us on our 24 hour
bulletin board system at (405) 672-4564.
Once again... thank you for using SIFMenu.
33
