Best Objectech Shareware Selections

home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search

/ Best Objectech Shareware Selections / UNTITLED.iso / boss / util / menu / 015 / menumatc.doc < prev next >

Wrap

Text File | 1990-05-28 | 60.1 KB | 1,313 lines

Menu-Matic Version 4.5 by BC Enterprises Table of Contents Introduction ................................... p. 1 Shareware Notice ............................... p. 2 Installing Menu-Matic on your Hard Drive ....... p. 3 For New Computer Users ......................... p. 5 Requirements to Run Menu-Matic ................. p. 7 Your First Menu-Matic Session! ................. p. 8 Active Keys .................................... p. 9 Time Tracking Functions ........................ p. 9 Using the Menu Installation Program ............ p. 10 Adding New Menu Options ........................ p. 12 Loading a New Menu File ........................ p. 14 Macros ......................................... p. 18 Setting Menu Parameters ........................ p. 19 Auto Execute Function .......................... p. 20 Optimizing the Program for Speed ............... p. 23 Special Symbols Used ........................... p. 24 Modifying PROGRAMS.MEN and DOSCOMM.MEN files ... p. 25 Please remember that this manual is meant only as a reference. You can probably use the program perfectly well just by the on-line help. Menu-Matic·4.5···············································p.··1 Menu-Matic 4.5 from BC Enterprises The Only System Menu Program You Need Menu-Matic, simply put, is a menu program. It allows you to create a menu from which you can call your programs with the touch of one key. For the knowledgeable user, this will save huge amounts of time. For the novice, this can mean the difference between using and not using a computer. For executives in charge of computer operations, it can mean countless hours saved by not having to train new workers in the complexities of DOS. **** Attention new computer users! **** **** Attention new computer users! **** DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT READING THIS WHOLE MANUAL! You don't need to. You just want a basic menu system that lets you get your work done quickly and easily. And that's what you're going to get. You should only read three sections: "Shareware Notice" (skip this if you really need to), "Installing Menu-Matic on your Hard Drive", and "For New Computer Users". After reading these three sections, you'll know everything you need. If you hit a wrong key in the Menu-Matic, a help window will pop up. If you get stuck while in the Menu Installation program, push F1 for help. **** Attention advanced computer users! **** **** Attention advanced computer users! **** You probably don't need this manual at all. Menu-Matic is very straightforward. The Menu itself does just what you'd expect it to at all times, and if you hit a wrong key, a window pops up showing you valid options. The Menu Installation program (MENUINST.EXE) uses simple pull- down menus and has extensive on-line help. Just hit F1 at any time. The only thing you may want to brush up on are the couple of special characters Menu-Matic uses (in Appendix B, near the end of this DOC file). These are the real power of Menu-Matic; but, even use of these special characters is explained in the on-line help. This manual is meant as a reference. Refer to it if you have any problems (which you probably won't). Right now, my advice is to stop reading and start using the program! Menu-Matic·4.5···············································p.··2 Shareware Notice Menu-Matic is not a public-domain program. It is copyrighted, 1987-1990 by Kevin Clark and BC Enterprises. We believe that this is the best menu system available at any price. We ask a small payment in return. If you use this program and find it to be helpful, please send payment of $35 for one copy, or $30 each for two or more copies. Site licenses are also available at a low cost. Please send payment to BC Enterprises, P.O. Box 18, Front Royal, VA 22630. When you send in your registration, you will receive a typeset manual, and the latest version of the program, at no additional cost. You will receive notices of updates, and updated versions of the program will be made available to you for a nominal fee. You will also have the chance to tell us about improvements you would like to see. Your suggestions could become reality. (Even if you don't register, we'd still like to have your suggestions.) DISCLAIMER: Kevin Clark and BC Enterprises do not warrant this software as suitable for any particular application. We are not responsible for any loss of revenue or potential revenue, or for consequential, special, indirect, or other damages or claims. In no event shall the liability of BC Enterprises or Kevin Clark extend beyond the purchase price of this software. This statement shall be construed, interpreted, and governed by the laws of the state of Virginia. Your use of the program signifies your acceptance of these terms. Menu-Matic·4.5···············································p.··3 Installing Menu-Matic on your Hard Drive The Menu-Matic comes with a utility to copy the files from the floppy disk onto your hard drive. This is only a convenience if you are performing a first-time installation, and you do not need to use it if you do not want to do so. However, it is the easiest way to get the program up and running, whether you are a novice or experienced computer user. If you are upgrading from an earlier version of Menu- Matic, then you should definitely use the SETUP.EXE program since it converts file structures to the 4.5 format. To use the SETUP.EXE program: 1. Place the distribution disk in your A: or B: drive. Type SETUP and press -Enter-. A menu appears where you can specify first-time installation, or upgrade from previous version. 2. Next, the SETUP program asks which drive to copy the Menu-Matic files TO. You choose your hard drive (probably drive C: but the program shows you which drives are available). Then the program asks where to copy the files FROM. You choose the drive containing the distribution disk (probably A:). 3. The program asks you for the directory to copy the files to. It is recommended you put it in the main, or "root" directory. To do this, simply hit Enter. 4. The SETUP program then copies the files to the directory you specified. If you are setting up the menu for the first time, you are asked if you want to modify your AUTOEXEC.BAT file to run the menu whenever you turn on your computer. You will probably want to say that you do. 5. Also, if you are installing for the first time, the setup program will ask if you want to put the Menu- Matic in your path. A "path" is where your computer looks for programs if they are not in your current directory. If you say that you do want the Menu-Matic in your path, then the setup program will modify the "Path=" statement in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file, and will also modify the MENU.BAT file. In this way, you will be able to run the Menu-Matic from any subdirectory or drive, just by typing MENU at the prompt. This is quite handy, so you will probably want to say that you do want the Menu-Matic in your path. (The new path becomes effective only after you reboot.) 6. If you are upgrading from version 3.11 or 4.0, then the SETUP will convert your old files to the new Menu-Matic·4.5···············································p.··4 format(s). If you are upgrading from version 3.11, then your MENU.DAT file and MENU2.DAT file will be converted and the PARAM.MEN file will be upgraded. If you are upgrading from version 4.0, then only the PARAM.MEN file is changed. If the MENU.DAT and MENU2.DAT are converted, then the old files are renamed to MENU.OLD and MENU2.OLD. 7. If you are upgrading from 3.11, then you need to run the MENUINST.EXE program. This will be done automatically, and all you need to do once the program comes up is exit. 8. Installation is then complete. If you wish, reboot your computer (by holding down Alt-Ctrl-Del keys at the same time) and the Menu-Matic should run. Or, simply switch to the directory in which the Menu-Matic is located, and type "menu" (do not type the quotation marks). Menu-Matic·4.5···············································p.··5 For New Computer Users First, relax. Second, don't read this manual any farther than this section. The Menu-Matic system is extremely simple to use. You only need to know a few simple commands. Chances are you only have a few programs you use regularly that you want to put on your menu. This is how to put a new option on your menu. Step 1: Run the Menu-Matic program Do you currently have the Menu-Matic running? If not, then you can type MENU at the prompt to run the program. (If you put the Menu-Matic in a subdirectory -- which you probably didn't -- then you'll have to change to that directory with the "CD" command.) If you told the SETUP.EXE program to add MENU to your AUTOEXEC.BAT file, then you can also run the program just by re- booting. We'll assume you do have the Menu-Matic up on the screen by now. Step 2: Choose "Setup Menu-Matic" from the Menu The Menu-Matic system is really two parts. The actual menu, and the Menu Installation program. The Menu Installation program is what you use to add to, delete from, or change the options on your menu. You run the Menu Installation program from the Menu-Matic by choosing the option called "Setup Menu-Matic". (You can also run it by typing MENUINST at the prompt.) Step 3: Add your new option The opening screen of the Menu Installation program talks about shareware. Read it or not, then hit Enter. Now, at the pull-down menu system, type R for record. Now type A for Add. You are now at the screen where you add your new option. Push the F3 function key for Auto Generate. Now you need to type in the name of the "executable" file you want this option to run. For example, if you want to run PC-Write, you would type ED.EXE, because that is the name of the "executable" PC-Write file. If you want to run WordPerfect, then you would put WP.EXE, because that is the name of the WordPerfect executable file. The executable file name is the command you would type at the prompt to run the program, except that you also need to add its "extension" (either .COM or .EXE). What if you don't know the executable file name? Well, Menu-Matic·4.5···············································p.··6 have you ever run the program before? What did you type to run the program. Just type this, and add either .EXE or .COM. Try adding .EXE first, then .COM if that doesn't work. Or look in your program manual. Once you put the executable file name in and hit Enter, the program asks you which drive it is on. More than likely, you have only one hard drive. Your current drive (probably C:) is already highlighted, so just hit Enter. The Menu Installation program then searches your hard drive for the program you specified. If it finds your program, it writes the necessary commands to add it to your menu. You'll still have to give this option a name though -- something descriptive so you'll remember what it does. Now, push F4 to save your new menu option. Then, push E for Exit and E again for Exit Program. This should take you back to your Menu-Matic, with your new menu option on the screen. Push the corresponding key and your program should run. To add more options, just follow the procedure outlined above. Of course, you do not need to exit the Menu Installation program after each new entry. Add as many as you want, then exit when you are done. That is all you need to know to use Menu-Matic. You can investigate some of the advanced features later, if you want to, but you don't need them. Menu-Matic·4.5···············································p.··7 Requirements to Run Menu-Matic To run Menu-Matic you need an IBM PC, XT, AT, PS/2 or clone running DOS 2.1 or higher with 256K of RAM. Menu-Matic only takes up RAM while it is actually running. Once you begin an application from Menu-Matic, it does not take up any memory. Menu-Matic has been run successfully on many no-name clones, as well as on Kaypro, Laptops, PC's Limited, and Commodore computers, as well as on PS/2's. You will probably find that it is impractical to use Menu- Matic unless you have a hard drive. While use with floppy drives is possible, the tortoise-like speed of floppy drives means that the program will run very slowly, especially if you have large data files. This documentation file will assume the Menu-Matic is running from the "C:" hard drive, although it can be run from whatever hard drive or partition you want. Files Needed to Run Menu-Matic You should have twelve files on your Menu-Matic diskette. These files are: MENUMATC.EXE -- the menu executable file MENUINST.EXE -- the menu installation program MENU.MNU -- sample menu file used with MENUMATC.EXE MENU2.MNU -- data file used to hold linked options. Comes with options linked to "Dos Commands". DOS.MNU -- sample menu file of DOS commands APPS.MNU -- sample applications menu APPS.MN2 -- "" "" "" MENU.BAT -- batch file to call MENUMATC.EXE MENUMATC.DOC -- this file DOSCOMM.MEN -- file of DOS commands used with MENUINST.EXE PROGRAMS.MEN -- file of program names used with MENUINST.EXE SETUP.EXE -- a program to copy the program to your hard drive and update your files if necessary NOTE: You must start the Menu-Matic using the MENU.BAT batch file. Typing MENUMATC at the prompt will not work properly. Menu-Matic·4.5···············································p.··8 Your First Menu-Matic Session! Start your Menu-Matic session by either rebooting, or logging into the subdirectory containing Menu-Matic and typing "menu". You will notice you have several menu options on the screen. You can choose to run an option by pushing its number (1-8) or its letter (A- H), or by moving the selection bar to it and pushing -Enter-. The Menu-Matic is a two-level menu. On the first level you may have three different kinds of options. You can have options which execute directly when you choose them (such as the "Exit to Dos" and "Setup Menu-Matic" options on the screen), and you can have options which call up a sub-menu (such as the option "Utilities" on the screen). As you may have noticed, options which call sub-menus have a dash ("-") as the first character of their names. The third kind of option loads a whole new menu file, such as the option DOS Commands. Choose the option "Utilities", by moving down the selection bar or by pushing "3". You will be presented with a sub-menu containing a few utilities. Use the selection bar or push "d" to choose "Directory." Now you are asked to add an argument, or extension, to command "dir /w/p". Type "*.*" and hit Enter to see your present directory. This shows another important feature of the Menu-Matic, that is, the ability to add run-time arguments onto any menu option. After your directory comes up, you will be back in the Menu-Matic. Now push "4" to load another menu. This is a menu composed entirely of DOS Commands. If you run any commands from this menu, you will come back to this menu when it finishes. To get back to the top menu, push "H". You can have as many of these different menu files as you wish, and they can call any other menu files. The other sample menu is called "Applications". This has samples for how you might enter Word Processors, Databases, etc., onto your menu. These may or may not actually work, depending of course, on whether you have the program in question, and if it is the subdirectory specified. If not, you'll just get a "Bad command or file name" message. The point in including this menu file is so you can have something to refer to when setting up your own menus. Menu-Matic·4.5···············································p.··9 Active Keys While you are at the Main Menu screen, there are a few other keys which are active. These keys are the 10 function keys (more about that later), and the key combinations ALT-S, ALT-M, and ALT-A. If you hold down the ALT and hit S you will see a screen giving some statistics about the hardware and software on your system. The ALT and M key combination shows you which "Macros" are assigned to the 10 function keys. These keys can be used in a number of different ways, and will discussed in some detail under the section about using the Menu-Matic Installation program. The ALT and A key combination shows you what options are to be run at pre-scheduled times. This works in combination with the macro function, discussed later. Notice that from anywhere except the Main Menu screen, you may hit ESC to cancel and go back to where you started. On the Main Menu screen, you must choose the "Exit to DOS" option to end the program. Remember, to return to the Menu-Matic, just type "menu" at the DOS prompt. Time Tracking Functions of the Menu-Matic The Menu-Matic has built-in functions so that you can track how much time you spend in your applications. The Menu-Matic does this by writing a file showing when you entered the Menu-Matic, when you exited from it, and which choice you exited to. Thus, by comparing the time when you exited the Menu-Matic to, your database perhaps, with the time when you re-entered Menu-Matic, you can see how long you spent in your database. The format of the file written by the Menu-Matic is the following: Date Time -- Entered Menu-Matic Date Time -- Exited to (Option Name) If you choose to keep a "Cumulative" record, the program will always append the log of your actions onto a file called MENU.LOG. If you choose the "Daily" record, the program will keep a daily log of your activities rather than a running day-to-day log. The daily log writes to a file called LOG(date).MEN. For instance, on December 30, the file name would be LOG12-30.MEN. This name is set from the system date, so be sure your system date is correct. Your system date is set by typing DATE at the system prompt, or putting DATE as a command in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. Menu-Matic·4.5···············································p.··10 Using the Menu-Matic Installation Program When you choose an option to run from your Menu-Matic, the program writes a batch file and then executes this batch file. Obviously, then, the program needs to know what commands are to be placed in the batch file. This is done by using the Menu-Matic installation program. THE ONLY WAY TO SET UP YOUR MENU-MATIC FOR PROPER OPERATION IS TO USE THE INSTALLATION PROGRAM PROVIDED. Since the menu installation program is basically a database, we will refer to the menu options as "records." Each separate line of a record is called a "field". A collection of records for your Menu-Matic is called a "Menu File". If you are presently running the Menu-Matic, and are at the top menu, then hit -2- to go to the installation program (otherwise, start the program by typing "menu", and then choose -2-). You may read the opening screen if you wish, and then hit Enter. Along the bottom of the screen is a line which shows you the current Menu File. It also shows the amount of free memory you have, and also the amount of free disk space you have. If either of these numbers becomes dangerously low, they will flash. A flashing number does not mean immediate danger, but it means you should be aware that it could become a problem. Along the top of the screen is the pulldown menu system. This type of menu system should be familiar to most users. Along the top of the menu are the headings: File, Records, Macros, Setup, Auto Exec, and Exit. You may access these either by pushing the key corresponding to the first letter of the name, or by moving the selection bar and hitting Enter. Once you choose one of these main headings, you will be given a further list of choices. After you choose one of these, you may be given still more choices. You will notice that, in certain cases, you may be unable to choose a command from the pull-down menu. This is because the command is inapplicable, such as trying to change a record in a blank Menu File. You can hit F1 from just about anywhere in the Menu Installation program to receive context-sensitive help. FILE Open Open retrieves a previously created menu file for you to work on. You will be given a list of all files in the current directory with the extension *.MNU. Choose one of these to work with. New New lets you create a new menu file. Just type in the name of Menu-Matic·4.5···············································p.··11 the new file, the extension .MNU is automatically added. If you type in the name of already-existing file, that one is retrieved for you. Print Print lets you print nice reports of your menu structure. When you choose this you will have several further options, which should be self-explanatory. Top Level and Linked Level The Menu Installation program starts out at the top level of the Menu File. If you choose to go to the "Linked Level", then you will be prompted by a box on the right upper side of the screen. This box will appear whenever you need to enter a record name or number. You will notice that when the box comes up, it contains the name of the first record. Also, a pointer appears at the left of the record names in the list of records. Use the up arrow or down arrow to move the pointer to the record you wish to select. The name in the box on the right will change as you move the pointer. So, if you wish to work on the records linked to "-Utilities", you would move the pointer until it was on "-Utilities" and then hit -Enter-. The list of main level records will disappear, and the list of records linked to "-Utilities" will appear. Now you may proceed with whatever operations you wish on these linked level records. When you want to go back to the main level, choose the "Top Level" command. Of course, you do not need to return to the Top Level to in order to exit, or to use any of the other functions available in the installation program. You need only return to the main level to perform operations on the main level records. Note that in order to designate a main level record as being a linked option (i.e., one that calls a sub-menu) you must place a dash ("-") as the first character of the record. There will be more on linked options later. Directory This shows you any directory you specify, although only the first 800 files are shown. To see the current directory, just hit -Enter-. About This tells a little bit about the Menu-Matic Menuing System. You may like to pay attention to listing of the size of the MENUMATC.EXE program and the MENUINST.EXE program. If these do not match the actual size of the programs you have, then there could be a problem. You may want to contact BC Enterprises for original program diskettes straight from the source. These are available for only $5 each. Menu-Matic·4.5···············································p.··12 RECORDS Adding Menu Options This option does just what it implies. It adds new records to your Menu-Matic. You may place up to sixteen records on the main level, and up to five records on the linked level. You may mark a title for password protection by placing a plus sign ("+") as the first character of the title. There will be more about passwords later as well. Note that this symbol can be combined with the dash character. However, the dash must be placed before the plus sign if they are combined. If you want to password- protect all your options, then use the "Password Everything" option from the Setups/More Options heading. After you enter the option name, you enter the DOS commands that you want this selection to run. These commands may be 60 characters long, and there may be up to ten commands per menu option. If any command can take another argument, to be added when it is executed, make an asterisk ("*") the first character of the command. For instance, if the option is to be "Directory" then you might use the following commands: Option Name: Directory Command 1 : *dir Command 2 : pause Command 3 : menu When you execute this option from the menu, the program will ask you to add an argument to the end if you wish: You might add on to the command "d:*.*" for a complete command of: >dir d:*.* Or, you may decide not to add any command, in which case you could simply hit -Enter-. You can also add a user prompt in combination with this. A quotation mark on a line containing the "*" symbol means that everything following the quotation mark is a prompt. So, for the above, you could use: Command 1: *dir "Enter a file mask The ability to add arguments makes the Menu-Matic extremely flexible. For instance, you need only one option for getting all your directories, rather than one option for every drive and subdirectory. Of course, specifying that an option may take an argument will slow down speed of execution since it will require an extra step at run- time. Only use this if you think a certain command will often need an argument. For instance, your word processor may take a file name when invoked, so that you could use an argument from the menu. However, it Menu-Matic·4.5···············································p.··13 might be just as easy for you to enter the file name when you actually get to the word processor. Experiment. Linked Options As has been said, you can mark a title as a linked title, with sub-menus, if you place a dash ("-") as the first character of the title. Now for some explanation of this. Basically, marking something as linked title means that it is going to be an option that does directly execute, but calls another set of options (a sub-menu or sub-options). For instance, if you have three word processors, you might make a title on the Main Menu "-Word Processors". Then when you chose this option from the Main Menu, you would be presented with three sub-options, your three word processors. This may sound somewhat confusing, but linking options is not difficult to do. As mentioned, you first must mark one or more of the titles as a linked title by placing a dash as the first character. Note that when marking a title as a linked title, you need not add any further DOS commands to it. Any DOS commands would just be ignored anyway, so the title alone is sufficient. You may link up to five sub- options to any of the records on the main menu. These options may also be password protected by putting a plus sign ("+") as the first character of the sub-option. Also, note that you may not want to start names of the sub-options with the same letter. When in the menu, you can execute sub-options by hitting the first letter of the option (which is high-lighted), as well as with the selection bar. However, if more than one sub-option starts with the same letter, then the first option will be executed, regardless of where the selection bar might be at the time. If you password protect any of the sub-options, then you may execute it by hitting the letter after the plus sign. The more sub-options you use, the greater the set-up time for the menu will become. If you are using a slow computer, such as an 8 megahertz XT compatible, then at some point you may feel the set-up time is too much. If this happens you may want to delete some of your little-used sub-options. If you are using a 286 or 386 based computer, then the set-up time will not be very much even if you use the entire 80 possible sub-options. Setting up separate Menu Files is much faster than using sub-options. Returning to the Menu-Matic When specifying DOS commands, you will probably want to return to the menu when the sequence is done. To do this you must return to the menu directory and then execute the MENU.BAT file. If your menu is in the root directory, you might use the following commands from a subdirectory: Command 3: cd \ Menu-Matic·4.5···············································p.··14 Command 4: menu You might use the following commands from a different disk and subdirectory: Command 4: cd \ Command 5: c: Command 6: menu Loading Another Menu File To have your menu record load another Menu File, you use the symbol "#" as the first character of Command 1:. After the # sign, you type the name of the Menu File to load, without the .MNU extension. For instance, to load a Menu File called DOS.MNU, you would put: Command 1: #dos You do not need to put anything else on the other command lines, because it would be ignored anyway. In each Menu File you use, you will want to put a record which allows you to get back to the previous menu file, or to another menu file. If you don't put an option to return to a different menu file, then you may find yourself stuck. If that happens, hit Ctrl-Break several times, then choose one of the options on the menu. Then, the computer should ask you: Terminate batch file? To which you say Y (for yes). Then run MENUINST and add an option to load another menu file. Description and Password After the data entry lines for your DOS commands, there are two more lines. These are "Description" and "Password". If you choose to enter something in the Description field, then this text will be displayed on the bottom line of the Menu-Matic when the selection bar is placed upon the corresponding entry. The "Password" field enables you to enter a separate password for each record, if you so choose. You can set a general system password (under the main pull down heading Setup, then System Password) which will be the password used if you do not enter separate passwords for records. In other words, if you mark something for password protection, by placing a "+" sign as the first character (or second character with the "-" sign), and you do not add a password in this field, then the password expected at run-time will be the general system password. If you do choose to enter a separate password here, Menu-Matic·4.5···············································p.··15 then that will be the password expected rather than the system password. If you do not set a system password or enter a password in this field, then the Menu-Matic will accept anything for the password at run-time. For security purposes, the Menu-Matic automatically adds the command "echo off" at run-time as the first command of any option. This means that the commands executed are not displayed on the screen. If you want the commands displayed when it runs, then make "echo on" the first DOS command of the option. Active Keys You will note that there is a box at the bottom of the data entry screen with a list of the function keys and what each does. Besides these function keys, the following keys and key combinations are available for use with the data entry editor: <RIGHT ARROW> Moves cursor one character to the right <LEFT ARROW> Moves cursor one character to the left <Ctrl-RIGHT ARROW> Moves cursor one word to the right <Ctrl-LEFT ARROW> Moves cursor one word to the left <PgUp> Moves cursor to the first data entry field <PgDn> Moves cursor to the last data entry field <Home> Moves cursor to the beginning of the field <End> Moves cursor to the end of the field <Ctrl-End> Erases everything from the cursor to the end of the line <BACKSPACE> Delete character to left of cursor, moves rest of field left one space <Del> Deletes character at cursor position, moves rest of field left one space <Ins> Toggles cursor between Insert and Overwrite modes <Enter> Moves cursor down or right one field <Esc> Moves cursor up or left one field The F1 key is the help key in the data entry screen, as it is from almost anywhere in the Installation program. To scroll the help up or down, use Arrow keys. Any other key besides these arrow keys ends the help. The F2 key will bring up a directory of files for you. You may supply a path, and you may use wildcards. When the directory comes up, there will be a selection bar in the top left-hand corner. You can use this selection bar to insert the name of a file into the data entry screen. Simply move the selection bar to the proper file and press -Enter-. The file name will be placed at the spot where the cursor was prior to your bringing the directory up. This brings up only the first 800 matching files. Menu-Matic·4.5···············································p.··16 The F3 key is the Auto Generate key. This is a very handy operation which saves you from a lot of typing. Normally, to place a new option on the menu, you must type in the name of the program and all the commands needed to run it and return to the menu. This function automates the process by writing the proper data entry record for you. You can supply the name of the program you wish to add, or you can pick from a list by pushing F1. If you supply the name then remember that you must include the entire name, including the ".EXE" or ".COM" extension. For instance, to automatically generate a record for Microsoft Windows, you would enter "win.com", rather than simply "win". (If you are not sure of what the full name of the program is, then you can call up a directory to find out.) Once you enter the program name, you will be prompted with a list of all available drives in your system, with the highlight bar on the current drive. You must choose which drive to search for your program. If you only have one hard drive in your system, then just hit -Enter-. However, if you have a drive which is partitioned into two or more logical units, or if you have two or more physical drives in your system, or if you are on a network, then you will need to specify the drive. If your program is found, then the appropriate data entry record will be written. If you picked a program from the list, then the Menu Installation will include an "Option Name" and "Description". Otherwise, you must supply it. In any case, you may fine tune the record as much as you like. Remember, however, that any previous contents of the record will be wiped out. The new information takes the place of, and is not added on top of, any old information. Of course, if you decide you do not want the new information, you may quit without saving (F5). If you use the "Pick from list" function with auto-generate, please remember that the executable file names of programs tend to change from one version to the next. The list may or may not be accurate depending on the version of the program you. However, you can edit the file containing this information to bring it up to date (see Appendix C). The F4 key saves your changes and exits back to the main menu. The F5 key exits from the data entry screen, but does not save any changes you may have made. If you choose this, you will be prompted as to whether you really want to quit without saving your changes. The F6 keys tests the data entry record you have made to make sure that it works properly. This allows you to be sure your data entry record actually does what you want it to do, without going through the trouble of exiting the Installation program. It also tells you if the commands you have specified return to the drive and subdirectory where they started. If they do not, then the Menu-Matic would probably not load correctly when returning from this option. When you choose this option, the Installation program writes a batch file called TEMP.BAT which it immediately executes. Upon re- entry, you are notified if the set of commands does not return to the Menu-Matic·4.5···············································p.··17 directory where it started. You would normally want to return to the directory where you started if you want to reload Menu-Matic. Limitations to this testing facility: First, the batch file is not acted on exactly as it would be in the menu program. For instance, you will not be prompted to add paramaters, or arguments, to the batch file, even if you marked a command to take a parameter. Second, this function will work properly only if your Menu- Matic and your Menu-Installation program are on the same drive and sub-directory (highly recommended procedure anyway). If you change sub-directories, then of course, your commands will not work properly, and you will probably just get a lot of "Bad command or file name" messages. Third, remember that while your record is being tested, the Menu-Installation program is still in memory. This means that it will occupy about 200K of RAM which you would normally have available to your programs. This may cause you to get a message that you do not have enough memory to run another program, if you are trying to run something which is very large, such as a database program. Getting such a message does not mean that the data entry record will not operate properly from the Menu itself. Fourth, records that load other Menu Files with the "#" command cannot be tested. The F7 and F8 keys perform operations on the data entry lines which contain the "Commands" 1 through 10. The F7 key deletes the current line and moves all following lines up. The F8 key inserts a line at the current line and moves all following lines down. Hitting F8 will mean the loss of whatever was entered in Command 10. These two keys do not affect the lines "Option Name", "Description", or "Password". If you wish to delete the contents of these lines, then use the Ctrl-End key combination. F9 shows you a list of DOS Command with some explanation of their use. When you find the one you want, hit -Enter- and it will be pasted into the record. Changing Menu Options When you choose this option, the program first asks you which one you want to change. Once again, a data entry box will appear at the right of the screen, and a pointer will appear in the listing of data entry records. Move the pointer to the record you wish to choose, and hit -Enter-. If you choose to change a record which is marked as a linked option, then you will be advised of this and asked if you want to continue. Note that there is no problem with changing linked options, although it is somewhat more complicated than changing normal records. If you say you are sure you want to go ahead, then you will be asked whether you want to port over the records which are linked to this record, or whether you want the records deleted. Menu-Matic·4.5···············································p.··18 Deleting Menu Options When you delete a menu option, it does not delete that option immediately. The actual deletion occurs when you exit the Menu Installation program. Deleting it while in the installation program merely marks it for deletion. For this reason, you cannot delete a title and then add a title if you already have 16 titles on the main menu. You could however, simply use the Change option to change the deleted title to your new title. If you decide you really want the deleted option back, then use Change to go into the option and restore the name to whatever it was before it was changed to "Deleted." Note that under normal circumstances one would not want to delete a linked option. Doing so will erase all the sub-options associated with the option. The program will warn you if you try to delete a linked option. If you persist, however, the program will allow you to delete it. Exchanging Menu Options The exchange function simply moves the menu options around on the menus. For instance, you might have the title "Data Base" in position 1 and want to exchange it with "-Word Processors" in position B. To do this you would choose Xchange. Once again, an input box will appear to the right and a pointer to the left. However, this time you need to specify two records rather than one. Move the pointer to the first record, and hit -Enter-. Then move the pointer to the other record to exchange and hit -Enter- again. MACROS The main pull down menu heading Macros contains two choices: "Edit" and "Print". The Print command sends a listing of the current macro settings to your specified output device. The "Edit" command lets you add to or modify your macro settings. The ten macros correspond to the 10 function keys on a standard keyboard. Macros can be a maximum of 15 characters long. When a macro is assigned to a function key, the string associated with the key is executed just as if the sequence of keys had been typed at the keyboard. For instance, if menu option "3" is called "-Word Processors" and one of the sub-options under this is "PC-Write", you could assign the string "3P" to a function key, and hitting the function key will be the same as if you had typed "3" and "P" from the keyboard. Now, suppose you had set up PC-Write to take a run-time argument, and you wish to give it the file name of the document you want to edit, which is called "read.me". You could assign to the function key "3Pread.me", which will choose "-Word Processors" then Menu-Matic·4.5···············································p.··19 "PC-Write" and then input the file name "read.me". Thus, a great deal of typing can be saved. But one thing is missing. If you set up the macro as described above, the menu would be sitting and waiting for you to hit -Enter- in order to go the PC-Write. So obviously, you need to be able to have a macro with an Enter at the end. Since an -Enter- cannot be directly placed within a macro, the exclamation point ("!") takes its place. When setting up macros, simply use an exclamation point anywhere you want a carriage return (Enter) character. Remember, however, that -Enter- characters are not normally necessary, since the Menu-Matic takes the characters you hit without having to push -Enter-. However, the -Enter- key is necessary to stop entry when adding an argument or when entering a password. The editing keys are the same as those in the main data entry screen. The available function key commands are listed in a box at the bottom of the screen. SETUP Return To: This specifies what Menu File to load when returning to the Menu-Matic. The default is the Menu File that loaded the Menu Installation program, but you can change it if you wish. Output To: This designates where any reports are sent to, if you print any. It affects only the Menu Installation program, since the Menu- Matic itself does not print anything. Message This function lets you place your own message in the top center of the Menu-Matic. The default message is "Copyright 1988-90, BC Enterprises", but you can change it to any message up to 50 characters long. Password When you set a password individually for a menu entry, the password is held in the regular data entry file. The general system password, since it would probably afford access to more than one menu entry, is given a bit more protection from prying eyes. This password is held in a file named PSW.MEN, which is encrypted numerically. It would not be the hardest thing in the world to figure this out, but it is something. Of course, someone can go into the Menu Installation program and find out your password, so if you are going to use passwords, you will probably want to password protect the Menu Installation program. Menu-Matic·4.5···············································p.··20 When you choose to enter a new system password, your old password, if any, will be shown to you. Then you will be asked to type in the new password. As mentioned above, the password is encrypted (in all program versions 3.01 and higher). The password must be created from the installation program. A file called PSW.MEN but not the right structure will probably cause the Menu-Matic to give an error message and end. Make sure the PSW.MEN file is kept in the same directory as the Menu-Matic. If it is not, or if the file does not exist, then the program will take anything as a password. The password can be up to 25 characters, but anything longer than 10 characters becomes somewhat of a burden to type every time you use the password. Note that when you are asked for a password by the program, your response must match exactly, including case, otherwise you will get the message "Access Denied". PLEASE DO NOT RELY ON THIS PASSWORD SYSTEM FOR SECURITY. IF YOU HAVE SENSITIVE FILES OR NEED REAL SECURITY, THEN GET IT, BECAUSE THIS PASSWORD WILL NOT KEEP OUT ANYONE WHO IS DETERMINED. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED. Colors When you choose "Screen Colors", you will see in front of you a list of the colors you can set with an example of their current settings. Choose the one you want to change from the list on the right. Once you pick the one to change, use the arrow cursor keys to pick out the color combination you want. The colors on the right will change as you move around, so you can see exactly what you are picking. When you decide on the right color combination, hit -Enter-. You can then go on and set other colors, or you can exit the color setting function. You have three choices at this point. You may Save and Exit, Exit with no save, or restore the default colors. Other Setups These setups are pretty self-explanatory. Use the space bar to toggle options, the F1 key for help, and the Esc key when you are finished. AUTO EXEC The Automatic Execution function of the Menu-Matic lets you run menu options at pre-selected times. This means, for instance, that if you have a tape backup system, you might have the Menu-Matic automatically execute an option to start the backup every day at midnight, while you were at home. Or perhaps, you would like to have your important files archived every day. You could easily set the Menu-Matic to call an option which would perform this archiving. All this takes place without anyone having to be on hand to start it going. Menu-Matic·4.5···············································p.··21 If you choose the "Edit" option from the Auto Exec main menu heading, you will notice that you are shown a data entry screen containing ten lines. These ten lines correspond to the ten function key macros. In other words, let us say that you set the F1 Auto Exec to run every day at midnight. At midnight each day, then, the Menu- Matic would operate as if you had pushed the F1 function key. It would run whatever macro you had set up with that key. So, as you can see, there is an interdependence between the macro keys and the auto execute function. Both of these must be set for the auto execute function to work properly. If you set the F1 function key to automatically execute itself at midnight, but there is no macro associated with this key, then nothing will happen. On each data entry line of the Auto Execute screen, there are four fields to fill in. The first field is the "Frequency" field. In this field you indicate how frequently you wish the option to be executed. You can choose one of four frequencies. Put "D" in this field in order to have the option executed every day. Put "W" in this field in order to have the option executed once or more per week on certain specified days. Put "M" in this field to have the option executed once a month. Put "O" in this field to have the option executed one time only. The next field is the "Days" field. This field need only be filled in if you choose any options to be executed "W"eekly. This field has seven spaces with correspond to the days of the week, with the first space being Sunday. To make the option run on certain days of the week, place a "Y" in the space corresponding to the day of the week. In other words, to make an option execute on Monday and Thursday, then this field would contain the following: NYNNYNN. Any character other than Y will cause the option not to be executed on that day. The next field is the "Date" field. Different parts of this must be filled in depending on what you put for frequency. Something with the frequency "D" for daily or "W" for weekly does not need anything in this field. If you specified that the option should execute monthly, then you need to fill in the day of the month it should run. For instance, if the option should run on the 24th day of each month, then the field should look like this: /24/ . If you specified that the option should run one time only, then the entire field must be filled in, with month, day and year. So, to run on January 24, 1989, the field should look like this: 01/24/1989. The final field to be filled in is the "Time" field. This must be completed no matter what the frequency of the execution. Only the hour and the minute are needed. Note, however, that this is based on a 24 hour time format. To run at 10:42 p.m., then, you would enter 22:42 in this field. In order to move right across a line, use the -Enter- key. In order to move up or down within a row, use the up and down arrow keys. In order to move left, or backwards, in a line, use the -Esc- Menu-Matic·4.5···············································p.··22 key. NOTE: If you use Auto Exec to run an option which is password protected, your macro will also have to include the password and the -Enter- symbol (!). Otherwise, the computer will be sitting waiting for the password, and the option will not be run. EXIT Under this main menu heading are two commands: "Shell to DOS" and "Exit". If you choose Shell then you will be placed out at the system prompt where you may do whatever it is you want to do. When you are ready to return to the Installation program, type "Exit" at the system prompt. It is very important that you exit the program through the Exit Program (not the "Shell to DOS") command. Exiting in any other way can cause some data or Menu-Matic setup parameters to be lost. Furthermore, if you have made any changes in your sub-level file structure, then exiting properly is doubly important, because your *.MN2 file needs to be sorted in order to run properly. Changing the file and then exiting improperly will cause the Menu-Matic to work incorrectly with linked options. If this happens, though, you can merely run the Menu Installation program and then exit normally, so that the *.MN2 file will be properly sorted. Please also note that you need to have sufficient disk space to write a temporary file when the .MN2 file is sorted. The temporary space needed is equivalent to the size of the .MN2 file. After the file is sorted, the old file is kept but renamed to .BAK. The .BAK file does contain any changes you may have made during the session, but the file may or may not be properly sorted for use with the Menu-Matic. The Menu Installation program also needs disk space if you delete any records. Deletion of records is accomplished by writing a new file without any records marked for deletion. This means that you will need some free disk space. If you run out of disk space at any time, you will be prompted to Shell to DOS and delete any unnecessary files. An even better idea, however, is to make sure that you have enough disk space in the first place. If you keep about 100K of disk free, you should not have any problems with running out of space. Menu-Matic·4.5···············································p.··23 Appendix A How to Optimize Menu-Matic for Fastest Performance The Menu-Matic is written in BASIC 7.0 which loads and runs very quickly. Even with the menu filled to capacity, the load and execute times should be very fast. As has been previously said, however, the larger number of linked options you have, the more start up time will be necessary, even though the new (in 4.X) .MNU sorting speeds loading time. A few things can be done to make the Menu-Matic, as well as many of your other applications, run faster. The first thing to do is to add a line to your CONFIG.SYS file. (Read your DOS manual for more information on this file if you are not familiar with it.) This line is "BUFFERS=20". Essentially a buffer holds frequently used information, and, up to a certain point, the larger number of buffers you have the better. 20 seems to be about right, since each buffer does take up memory. Adding this line will make your batch files run 50% faster at least, and will speed many other operations, such as getting a directory. The second thing you can do is to get a good disk caching program. Like buffers, a disk caching program holds recently used information in the computer's memory, so that when it is needed the next time, it is already there. This will make all of your software run MUCH faster, not just the Menu-Matic. If you don't have one yet, get one. You'll bless us for this advice. Menu-Matic·4.5···············································p.··24 Appendix B Special Symbols As mentioned above, there are several special characters which the Menu-Matic uses to denote different things. If these look intimidating to you, or you think that it is just more to learn, don't worry because you can set up a perfectly functional menu system without using a single one of these special characters. If you are new to computers, and you don't need the bother of learning more archaic commands, then skip this section entirely. - First character of option name denotes that this option brings up a sub-menu . Using linked options lets you have up to 80 options per menu file. Otherwise, you can only have 16. Example: Option Name: -Word Processors + First (or second, if used with "-") character of an option name denotes password protection. If you intend to password protect everything, then use the Password Everything function under Setup/Other Setups. Example: Option Name: +For My Eyes Only Example: Option Name: -+My Word Processors * First character of a Command 1-10 line denotes that this option allows further parameters when executed. Example: Command 3: *qb Example: Command 3: *qb "Enter a QuickBASIC file name " Used in conjunction with the "*" to give a prompt to the user when entering a run-time parameter Example: Command 2: *ed "Enter a word processing file name # Used as the first character of Command 1, this loads a new menu data file. Example: Command 1: #dos Example: Command 1: #games Menu-Matic·4.5···············································p.··25 Appendix C Modifying the PROGRAMS.MEN file and DOSCOMM.MEN file The DOSCOMM.MEN files and PROGRAMS.MEN files are meant to be easily modifiable, primarily for multi-copy installations, as well as for consultants and third-party vendors. Tailoring these files to your needs, or the needs of your clients, makes setting up the menu much easier. Both files are straight ASCII text in comma delimited format. Needless to say, though, you would be well-advised to make a backup of either file if you edit it. The DOSCOMM.MEN is by far the simpler of the two files. It contains DOS commands which can be popped up in a window and pasted into records in the Menu Installation Program. It contains one DOS command per line, with the command (in all capitals, though it need not be), then two dashes, then a description of use, then an example. In order to add new DOS commands to this list, or edit the old ones, just open the file with an ASCII word processor. Follow the format as outlined above. The first 8 characters of each line are considered to be the DOS command itself. When this is pasted into the record, it is trimmed of trailing blanks. Remember two things. First, try not to make a line longer than the longest current line, or else the symmetry of the box will be thrown off. Second, you can only have up to 100 DOS commands. The PROGRAMS.MEN file is a little more complicated, and you'll have to be careful to keep the right number of fields, etc. The PROGRAMS.MEN file has four pieces of information per line, separated by commas and enclosed in quotation marks. First is the title of the program, e.g., "Word Perfect". Second is the actual exectuable file name of the program, e.g., "wp.exe" for Word Perfect. Third is the description of the program, e.g., "For all your word processing needs". Fourth is a user prompt to enter a parameter for the program, e.g., "Enter a Word Perfect file name" for the Word Perfect record. You can have up to 400 programs in this pick list. If you modify this file, you must be careful to make sure that you keep the proper number of commas and quotation marks per line. Particularly remember that, even if you leave one of the four fields blank, you still need to put a set of quotation marks and a comma. If you don't keep the proper structure in this file, then the "Pick from list" function will not work properly at all. An experienced programmer, computer manager, consultant, etc., should have no trouble understanding and maintaining the proper file structure. If you do not feel competent to do this, then don't try to change this file. Menu-Matic·4.5···············································p.··26 If you have any questions or comments please write: BC Enterprises P.O. Box 18 Front Royal, VA 22630 or call: Phone (703) 635-9998 BBS (703) 635-7528 QuickBASIC, Turbo BASIC, PC-Write, Mace Utilities and any other programs mentioned are trademarks of their respective developers. End of File.