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1995-04-16
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alaCARTE Warner Instruments page 1
alaCARTE version 1.00
a simple DOS menu system
Warner Instruments Grand Haven MI 49417
---=== Public Domain Software ===---
alaCARTE Warner Instruments page 2
┌──────────────────┐
│ CONTENTS │
└──────────────────┘
Contents.......................................2
Disclaimer.....................................3
Agreement......................................3
Public Domain Software.........................3
Hardware - Software Requirements...............4
Files..........................................4
Description....................................5
How alaCARTE Works.............................6
Installing alaCARTE............................6
Using the Menus................................7
Editing the Menu...............................7
Changing or Adding Pages.......................8
Command Line Switches..........................9
Technical Support.............................10
Getting the Latest Version of the Program.....10
Contacting the Author.........................11
Revision History..............................11
alaCARTE Warner Instruments page 3
┌────────────────────┐
│ DISCLAIMER │
└────────────────────┘
Gene Warner is the author of alaCARTE.
Users of alaCARTE must accept this disclaimer of warranty:
"alaCARTE is supplied as is. Gene Warner, and Warner Instruments
disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, including, without
limitation, the warranties of merchantability and of fitness for any
purpose. The author assumes no liability for damages, direct or
consequential, which may result from the use of or inability to use
alaCARTE, even if the author has been advised of the possibility of
such damages."
┌───────────────┐
│ AGREEMENT │
└───────────────┘
alaCARTE is public domain software and is provided at no charge to the
user. The program is a stand-alone program without any connection to
specific types or brands of hardware or software.
alaCARTE may be distributed freely by distributors of shareware/user
supported software, file distribution nets, bulletin boards etc., via
modems, disks, CD-ROM disks etc., but only if all files are included
completely and unmodified, preferably in one single archive file.
The alaCARTE program SHOULD NOT be bundled with any piece of hardware
or software without author recognition.
You are encouraged to pass a copy of alaCARTE along to your friends
and associates, but please remember to include all files.
┌─────────────────────────────┐
│ PUBLIC DOMAIN SOFTWARE │
└─────────────────────────────┘
The essence of "public domain" software is to provide personal
computer users with quality software without charge. The author
of public domain software receives no compensation for his efforts,
other than the personal satisfaction of creating something that is
useful to others and, perhaps, a certain amount of recognition.
Public domain software is free, with no strings attached.
alaCARTE Warner Instruments Page 4
┌──────────────────────────────────────┐
│ HARDWARE - SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS │
└──────────────────────────────────────┘
alaCARTE works on IBM personal computers, or true compatibles, XT
on up. Use Dos 3.10 or later. alaCARTE is a DOS application. It
can be called from Windows like any other DOS application, but
really adds nothing to the functionality of Windows.
┌───────────────────┐
│ FILES │
└───────────────────┘
The complete package consists of 7 files:
Filename: Size: Date: Time: Description:
0.BAT 251 02-28-95 9:45p Batch file: calls alaCARTE
INSTALL.BAT 3852 04-16-95 2:46p Installer
ADD.DAT 28 06-09-95 3:06p Call lines for autoexec.bat
MENU_00.DAT 609 03-30-95 7:01p Demo menu
FILE_ID.DIZ 344 04-16-95 3:06p A short description file
alaCARTE.DOC 21,172 04-16-95 3:08p This document
alaCARTE.EXE 72,899 03-02-95 9:37p The menu system program
alaSAVER.EXE 45,248 01-29-95 9:08p The screen saver program
alaSAVER.ICO 766 01-14-95 9:12p Icon for Microsoft Windows
README.TXT 369 04-09-95 3:51p Quick Start Instructions
alaCARTE Warner Instruments page 5
┌───────────────────┐
│ Description │
└───────────────────┘
alaCARTE is a simple DOS menuing system.
alaCARTE provides four color-coded menu "Groups" on the screen,
into which you can enter the title, path and start-up command for
any program or utility you wish to run. Having done that, you
can then call any program you wish simply by selecting the
group that it's in, and the number associated with its title.
The four different groups allow you to segregate your programs
in whatever order seems most logical to you. For example, one
group might contain "Work Programs", such as your word
processor, spread sheet and database program. A second group
might contain "Utilities", such as your back-up program, virus
scanner, and comm program. A third group might contain your
favorite "Games and Entertainment" programs. The fourth group
could include regularly used commands ... drop to DOS, load
MS-Windows, run the screensaver, and so on.
You can use the four groups in any way you wish, and you can
name them accordingly, or simply accept the defaults; "Group A",
"Group B", "Group C" and "Group D".
The two groups in the top half of the screen, groups "A" and "B"
have spaces for nine entries numbered "1" thru "9", while the
lower two, groups "C" and "D", provide spaces for six items,
giving a total of thirty items on the menu page.
You'll never run out of room, however, because alaCARTE lets you
set up 100 menu pages, numbered "0" to "99". This is especially
handy when the computer is used by more than one person, as many
"family computers" are. Page "0" might contain entries commonly
used by everyone. Sonny might keep all his favorite games on
Page "1", while Sis keeps hers on Page "2". Mom can enter cook
books, craft programs and the programs she uses for her
volunteer work on Page "3"; Dad can keep his home office stuff
on Pages "4" and "5" (and maybe hide his "private files" on Page
"66").
alaCARTE also displays the current date and time at the bottom
of every page for your convenience, offers context sensitive
(F1) help, and provides detailed prompts to guide you in its
use.
alaCARTE Warner Instruments page 6
┌───────────────────────┐
│ HOW alaCARTE WORKS │
└───────────────────────┘
alaCARTE uses two simple batch files to call your programs. The
main program is an .EXE file, which uses about 74K of your main
memory.
A small batch file, "0.BAT" is used to initially call the main
program, ALACARTE.EXE, and then to run the program you select
using the menus.
If you include "0.BAT" at the end of your AUTOEXEC.BAT file,
the menus will pop up whenever you boot up your computer, and
you can also simply pop it up by touching "0" and <Enter>. (If
you're already using a file named "0.BAT" for something else,
you may rename alaCARTE's "0.BAT" to anything you want ...
"M.BAT" or "Z.BAT", for example.)
When you select a program or utility to run from alaCARTE's
menu, alaCARTE writes "ALACARTE.BAT" to the root directory on
your hard drive (C:\ALACARTE.BAT). This three-line batch file
contains the necessary path and filename, and also the "Page"
number that you were using. It then exits, leaving only the
"0.BAT" remnant in your main memory. This system therefore makes
virtually all of your main memory available, with only about 250
bytes taken up by the menuing system.
"0.BAT" then calls "ALACARTE.BAT" to find out what program or
utility you selected, and then runs it. When you exit from that
activity, "0.BAT" then re-calls alaCARTE, returning you to the
page you were on when you called the previous program.
┌──────────────────────────┐
│ INSTALLING alaCARTE │
└──────────────────────────┘
alaCARTE is programmed to operate from the root directory on
your hard drive. After you unzip the archive, copy these two
files to C:\ ...
0.BAT
ALACARTE.EXE
If you want to use the alaSAVER screen saver, which features a
clock that chimes the hour, and chimes each quarter-hour, you
may put ALASAVER.EXE in C:\ also, since alaCARTE will look for
alaSAVER in the root directory by default.
alaCARTE Warner Instruments page 7
┌────────────────────────── NOTE ─────────────────────────────┐
│ You can use any DOS display program you want instead of │
│ alaSAVER. The "Dazzle" programs for example (available on │
│ the FireRight bbs and elsewhere), provide interesting and │
│ beautiful kaleidoscopic displays. After a period of │
│ inactivity, alaCARTE simply calls whatever program you have │
│ entered at Group D, Title 6. By default, this will be set │
│ to C:\ALASAVER.EXE. You can edit this line to run any │
│ program you want, and a different one for each page (for │
│ variety), if you wish. │
└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
A sample menu file, MENU_00.DAT is also included in the archive,
and may be copied to your root directory if you want to see an
example of a "filled in" menu page. If alaCARTE cannot find
MENU_00.DAT in your root directory when it starts up for the
first time, it will create it, automatically filling in some
default titles.
If you want the menus to pop up when you turn on or reboot your
computer, add "0.BAT" (or whatever name you have chosen to rename
this batch file) as the last line in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. Use
a text editor or the Windows Notepad accessory to revise your
AUTOEXEC.BAT file; do not use a word processor which might add
formatting codes to the file.
┌───────────────────────┐
│ USING THE MENUS │
└───────────────────────┘
To pop up the menus from the C:> prompt, touch the "0" key and
press <Enter>. (If you have renamed the "0.BAT" file, enter the
name you have chosen for it, instead of "0".)
To launch a program or utility shown in one of the menu groups,
simply highlight that group by touching its letter key ... "A",
"B", "C" or "D". After highlighting the group, touch the number
key associated with the title you wish to select.
That's all there is to it!
┌────────────────────────────┐
│ EDITING THE MENU │
└────────────────────────────┘
To add items to the menu, change menu items or change the names
of the groups, touch the F10 key to pop up the utilities menu at
the lower right corner of the screen.
Choose "E"dit, then follow the prompts that alaCARTE provides,
and answer the questions it asks. Helps appear on the screen
that tell you how.
alaCARTE Warner Instruments page 8
alaCARTE first asks you to indicate what Group and Title Number
you wish to edit. It then asks you to enter a title for the menu.
Next, you are asked to enter the path to the program or utility
you wish to add to the menu, and then the name of the file that
launches it. Finally, you are shown the instruction you have
entered, and asked to either accept or reject it.
You can abort this process at any time by pressing the Esc key.
To erase a menu item, go into the Edit mode, select the title and
when asked for a new title simply press enter. alaCARTE will
then erase the data for that item and return to its normal mode.
If you select an item, but then decide that you do not want to
change it, simply press the Esc key. alaCARTE will then restore
the original data for that title and return to its normal mode.
┌─────────────────── Exiting to DOS ────────────────────┐
│ │
│ alaCARTE fills in a default command for you │
│ as item D-5, "DOS Prompt". This totally shuts │
│ down the main program and all its batch files, │
│ leaving you at the DOS prompt. If you want to │
│ move this line elsewhere, when asked for the │
│ directory, enter "C:\", when asked for the │
│ file name just press enter (no file name), and │
│ when asked if "C:\" is correct, press enter to │
│ accept it. │
│ │
└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
┌──────────────────────────────────┐
│ CHANGING OR ADDING PAGES │
└──────────────────────────────────┘
To change to another menu page, or to create a new page, touch
the F10 key, and select "P"age from the pop up utilities menu.
You will then be shown what page number you are presently on, and
asked to enter the number of the page you wish to switch to. Use
the "Backspace" key and number keys to change the number to the
number of the new page, then press <Enter>,
If a MENU_nn.DAT file for that page exists, alaCARTE will load
it. If that page does not exist, alaCARTE will then create it for
you. The "DOS", "Windows" and "alaSAVER" default titles will be
entered for you on your new page. You may change these if you
wish, and enter any other titles desired.
alaCARTE Warner Instruments page 9
┌─────────────────────────────┐
│ COMMAND LINE SWITCHES │
└─────────────────────────────┘
alaCARTE can be configured to your particular preferences by
means of four command line switches:
/S0 disable the screen saver function (on by default).
/Sn set the screen saver time out delay to "n" seconds
(e.g.: /S90 will set the screen saver to pop up after
1-1/2 minutes of inactivity. The default is 300.
/Gx Start up with Group "x" enabled. Valid choices for
"x" are "A", "B", "C" or "D". (all groups will
otherwise be off by default).
/Pn Start up on Page "n". Valid choices for "n" are "0"
through "99". (No default; alaCARTE ordinarily
returns to the page it was on prior to calling the
previous application.)
To use these switches, simply open the "0.BAT" file with a text
editor or the Windows Notepad accessory and add them on the third
line, immediately after "alacarte.exe". For example ...
alacarte.exe /s90/ga/p%page_call%
... tells alaCARTE to start on the previous page with
Group A selected, and to activate the screen saver (item D-6)
after 90-seconds of inactivity.
alaCARTE Warner Instruments Page 10
┌───────────────────────┐
│ Technical Support │
└───────────────────────┘
The alaCARTE menuing system is designed especially for "family"
use, is easy to set up, use, and revise ... even for the kids.
If you cannot get the program to run properly, the following are
some things you could try to solve the problem.
First make sure that you have installed all the files in the proper
directory, and that you are calling the program using the correct
path and filename.
Observe the status bar and the help screens as you use the menus
making sure that you are using the program as suggested by these
prompts and helps.
If all else fails, help is available from Warner Instruments.
You may call us weekdays between 8:00AM and 5:00PM (Eastern
Standard Time). Our FAX and Customer Support Bulletin Board are
available 24-hours a day, seven days a week, and may be used if
you wish to communicate with us outside of normal working hours.
We will respond using whatever method you use to contact us. FAX
inquiries will be answered by FAX, BBS messages will be answered
by a reply on the BBS, etc.
Warner Instruments Voice: (616) 842-7658
FAX: (616) 842-1471
FireRight BBS: (616) 842-1471
Internet: gene.warner@aquila.com
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ GETTING THE LATEST VERSION OF THE PROGRAM │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
The latest version of the alaCARTE program is always available
for download on the FireRight BBS, at 616-842-1471.
alaCARTE Warner Instruments Page 11
┌───────────────────────────┐
│ CONTACTING THE AUTHOR │
└───────────────────────────┘
Your comments, suggestions, etc. are always welcome.
You can reach use electronically at ...
FireRight BBS: 616-842-1471
Internet: gene.warner@aquila.com
Otherwise, you may address your comments to ...
Gene Warner
Warner Instruments
1320 Fulton Street PO Box 604
Grand Haven MI 49417-0604 usa
┌──────────────────────┐
│ REVISION HISTORY │
└──────────────────────┘
1.0 Released 9 April 1995:
First official release of public domain version
-= * =-