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Text File | 1991-01-29 | 32KB | 793 lines

La Menu v1.0 By Bill Mezian, all rights reserved TABLE OF CONTENTS ----------------- OVERVIEW................................1 NEEDS...................................2 MENU TYPES..............................3 WARRANTY................................4 GETTING STARTED.........................5 CREATING YOUR MENU......................6 FILES AND UTILITIES.....................7 PASSWORD PROTECTION.....................8 ENVIRONMENTAL VARIABLES.................9 SUPPORT.................................10 SAMPLE BATCH FILE.......................11 SAMPLE MENU DISPLAY FILE................12 USING DDFSHELL..........................13 USING YOUR MENU.........................14 LAMENU DOS FUNCTIONS....................15 USING THE UTILITIES.....................16 DISK UTILITIES..........................17 FILE UTILITIES..........................18 TROUBLESHOOTING.........................19 REGISTRATION............................20 *** ****** *** *** ******** ** ** ** ** *** ******** ** ** ** ** **** ** ** ** *** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** *** ** ** ** ** ******* ** ** ** ** ** *** ******** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ********* ** ** ** ** ** ** **** ** ** ********* ** ** ** ** ******** ** *** ****** 1. OVERVIEW -------- La Menu will create a 12 selection main menu with 4 user definable function keys and 12, 8, 6, or 4 selection sub menus that can be nested. All menu selections may be optionally password protected. Files LAMENU.EXE or LAMENU##.EXE are display interfaces that set environmental variables to activate a batch file created by LMSETUP.EXE. Each menu created must have a unique DOS filename. Menus should be created by creating sub-menus first and working back to the main menu. LMSETUP will give you the option of exiting the menus completely, returning to the sub menu or returning to the linked menu after execution of a selection. It will also give you the option of pausing with no screen prompt after execution and before returning to a menu for loading tsr programs or anything that might display a screen prompt on exit that you do not want immediately cleared. LMSETUP will prompt you through the setup process and then write the necessary files to the directory LMSETUP is in. Since everything is executed by batch files there are no RAM resident portions of the menu. Resident portions are exited before execution. The name of the menu file you create is used in the batch file as a parameter of LAMENU.EXE, allowing it to read the necessary related files. LAMENU is network compatible since it is only a front end and each station operates from its own environmental information. A network version (without the DOS shell is included). LAMENU will work with color, mono, or composite monitors but will not display highlights with monochrome. 2. NEEDS ----- LAMENU needs the ANSI.SYS device driver loaded and a color monitor for this version. The line DEVICE=ANSI.SYS must be included in the CONFIG.SYS file to do this. 3. MENU TYPES ---------- The main menu is a 12 selection display with 4 user definable function keys. The selections are activated by using the arrow keys to highlight the selection and pressing enter. The function keys are activated by simply pressing one of them. There are also pre-set function keys for disk utilities, file utilities and for time and date set operations. The sub-menus have either 4, 6, 8, or 12 selections as denoted by the number in the filename (LAMENU##.EXE). Sub-menus do not contain DOS utilities or function keys. They are designed to be nested and return to a main menu structure. There is no reason a main menu can not be used as a sub menu other than changing the SET commands in the batch file. There is also no reason a sub-menu may not be used as a main menu with similar modifications. 4. WARRANTY -------- The files and routines in this package are supplied with no warranty either written, expressed or implied. Every effort has been made to insure the safety and performance of these programs but suitability for any given purpose or performance on any given machine can not be guaranteed. The user understands that he uses these programs entirely at his own risk and assumes all responsibilities. 5. GETTING STARTED --------------- The first step should be deciding which of your programs and batch files you wish to execute from menus. The most efficient way to organize many programs into menus is to use a main menu to activate only the most often used programs and grouping the others into sub menus by program type. Examples would be Publishing, Communications, Entertainment etc. Once you have decided how to lay out your menu structure by types and number of entries needed, you will need to know the drive letter, directory, and executable file for each program or batch file. (The executable file is the command that you type in to start the program, along with any parameters used initially, and will end with an extension of EXE, COM or BAT. (Consult your programs operational manual for more information) You should create a separate directory to keep the menu files in and include it in your path statement in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. LAMENU will also need your DOS files directory to be included in your path to execute the utilities segments. (See PATH and BATCH FILES in your DOS manual). EXAMPLE: PATH C:\;C:\DOS;C:\UTILITIES;C:\MENU; This will allow DOS to execute your menu regardless of what directory you may be in. It is also necessary to have your DOS files and any utility files in your path statement so the DOS shell portion of LAMENU can find them. The next step is to copy all of the files on your LAMENU disk to the menu directory. To do this place the LAMENU disk in drive A: and follow the steps listed below. NOTE: IT IS ADVISED TO MAKE A BACKUP COPY OF YOUR LAMENU DISK BEFORE INSTALLATION (see DISKCOPY in your DOS manual) type C: <ENTER> - to log on to C: drive type MD \MENU <ENTER> - to make the menu directory type CD \MENU <ENTER> - to change to the menu directory type COPY A:*.* <ENTER> - to copy the LAMENU files These steps will install all LAMENU files to the c:\menu directory and prepare you to use LMSETUP to create your first menu. 6. CREATING YOUR MENU ------------------ As stated earlier there is a little information you will need to know before you start creating your menu. This is the information LMSETUP will prompt you for. Read this section carefully before you begin to make sure you have all of the information you need. Make sure you are in your menu directory (or whatever directory you have installed your LAMENU files to), type LMSETUP <ENTER>. The following are the questions LMSETUP will ask you: 1. MENU TYPE 12 SELECTION MAIN MENU 4 SELECTION SUB MENU 6 SELECTION SUB MENU 8 SELECTION SUB MENU 12 SELECTION SUB MENU SELECT THE TYPE MENU YOU WISH TO CREATE BY PRESSING THE NUMBER INDICATED. 2. DOS FILENAME FOR THE MENU THIS MUST BE A VALID DOS FILENAME OF 8 CHARACTERS OR LESS. DO NOT TYPE AN EXTENSION AS LMSETUP WILL ADD THE APPROPRIATE EXTENSIONS FOR YOU. TYPE THE FILENAME AND <ENTER>. 3. DISPLAY NAME FOR THE MENU THIS IS THE NAME THAT WILL DISPLAY AT THE TOP OF YOUR MENU. YOU MAY TYPE ANY STANDARD CHARACTER YOU WISH. IT IS CASE SENSITIVE. 4. DRIVE LETTER TYPE THE LETTER OF THE DRIVE THE MENU WILL BE STORED ON. EXAMPLE - C: (INCLUDE THE COLON) 5. DIRECTORY FOR MENU TYPE THE DIRECTORY THE MENU FILES WILL BE STORED IN. EXAMPLE - \MENU (INCLUDE THE BACKSLASH) 6. CONFIRMATION LMSETUP WILL ASK YOU TO VERIFY THE ABOVE INFORMATION AS CORRECT BEFORE IT CREATES THE MENU FILES. ANSWER "Y" TO CONTINUE OR "N" TO QUIT. LMSETUP will now create the necessary files and prompt you for your program information. LMSETUP will also display information you need but will not catch all of your mistakes. Any mistakes may be edited later using any text editor. 1. DISPLAY NAME FOR SELECTION 1 Type the program name you want displayed on the menu exactly as you wish it to appear. 2. DOS EXECUTABLE FILENAME FOR SELECTION 1 This is the name you normally type from the DOS command line to start your program. Do not add the extension, and case is not important. 3. DRIVE Type the drive letter the program is installed on including the colon. 4. DIRECTORY Type the directory the program's files are stored in including the (\) backslash 5. EXIT ON EXECUTION? Press "Y" or "N" as you wish and <ENTER>. Selecting "Y" will cause your program to NOT return to the menu after execution, but either exit to DOS from a main menu or exit to the previous menu from a sub menu. 6. PAUSE BEFORE RETURNING? Selecting "Y" will cause the menu to pause before returning without displaying a screen prompt. This is useful where a program displays a message on the screen you wish to see before re-entering the menu (Such as TSR's). Selecting "N" will return you to the menu immediately. 7. PASSWORD If you wish to password protect access to your program, type the password (max 7 characters) and <ENTER>. The password is case sensitive and may use alpha-numeric characters. USE WITH CAUTION as the password is encrypted to numeric characters to prevent access to prying eyes. The password prompt will allow you 3 tries to correctly enter the password and then return you to the menu IF YOU WISH NO PASSWORD PRESS <ENTER> LMSETUP will prompt you for these 7 answers for as many selections as the menu you have selected. If you wish to end before using all of the selections, press <ENTER> when prompted for the display name. If this is a main menu, after you are done with your selections, you will be prompted for information for the function keys F1-F4. It will prompt you for all of the same information WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE PASSWORD. Function keys may not be password protected. 7. FILES ----- Files LMDUTIL.SHL and LMFUTIL.SHL are DOS shell utilities that can be executed through the main LAMENU executable. LMSETUP will write the initial batch files including directory and drive changes. Although any text editor can be used, there are environmental variable set and read commands in the batch files created by LMSETUP, so it is suggested that the initial files be written using LMSETUP and then customized using a text editor. DDFSHELL is a drive, directory, file shell which will prompt the user for information and then pass the parameters through the environment to the DOS utility shell portion of the menu. The parameters are as follows: DDFSHELL /F - Will prompt for a file name only DDFSHELL - Will prompt for the drive and directory only DDFSHELL /D - Will prompt for the drive, directory and file Wildcard characters may be used. DDFSHELL will automatically use as default settings the current drive, directory and *.* filespecs. Information in the form of DRIVE:\DIRECTORY\FILE.EXE is returned by the environmental variable %DDF% and may be used to pass on instructions of as part of an IF statement. USERNAME.BAT is the menu executable file created by LMSETUP USERNAME.DSP is the screen display file USERNAME.CTL is the encrypted password file LMSETUP.EXE is the menu setup executable file that writes the menu files LMDT.EXE is the time and date module read by the menus for display LMCTL.EXE is the password executable file LAMENU.EXE is the main menu executable file LAMENU##.EXE are the sub menu executable files LAMENNET.EXE is the network version without DOS shell **** LMDUTIL.SHL is the disk utilities file used by the main menu LMFUTIL.SHL is the file utilities file used by the main menu ADDPASS.EXE is the password adding utility to create encrypted passwords for the menu selections **** TO USE THE NETWORK VERSION - either rename it to lamenu.exe or edit the menu file created by LMSETUP to read LAMENNET instead of LAMENU. 8. PASSWORDS --------- The program also contains ADDPASS.EXE to add an encrypted password to an existing .CTL file. All passwords are case sensitive and may use all alpha numeric characters. Menu batch files may be edited for special needs after their creation. Its usage is as follows: ADDPASS (filename) [with no ext.]. The filename should be the same as the menu file executable name. It will ask you to type the password and then either create the file or add it to the existing password file. The password is used as a parameter of LMCNTL.EXE. The parameter is the line number of the file for the password program to read. EXAMPLE: :1 LMCTL mainmnu 2 if %LM% == 86 goto begin PROGRAM.EXE goto begin This would read the 2nd password entry of the MAINMNU password file. The environmental variable %LM% is set to 86 if the password is incorrect, so the IF - GOTO BEGIN line will send the user back to the menu after 3 un- successful tries. If the entry is correct it will leave %LM% set as the selection number originally set by the menu shell, and execute the rest of the instructions. The IF statement may of coarse be set to exit the menu completely, or execute another set of instructions, but LMSETUP will write the file to return to the menu after a failure. 9. ENVIRONMENTAL VARIABLES USED ---------------------------- %LM% - is the variable set by selecting an item from the menu %RC% - is the return code set by the menu so that after a selection is executed, the menu display returns to the same place %SC% - is a secondary return code set so that both sub menus and main menus return to the initial spot %DDF% - used to return drive, directory, and file information by the DDFSHELL utility 10. SUPPORT ------- Any questions comments or suggestions by registered users are more than welcome. They may be directed to: Bill Mezian 105 1/2 20th Ave Apt 2 St. Petersburg Bch, Fl 33706 (813) 360-6992 11. There is a FUNCTIONAL SAMPLE MENU on your disk to demonstrate the display and some of the menu features. To see it, type SAMPLE <ENTER>. SAMPLE BATCH FILE ----------------- (MAIN MENU) ECHO OFF :BEGIN LAMENU MAIN `display LAMENU graphic interface IF %LM% == 1 GOTO 1 IF %LM% == 2 GOTO 2 `branch to instructions from environment IF %LM% == 3 GOTO 3 `variable passed from LAMENU IF %LM% == 4 GOTO 4 IF %LM% == 5 GOTO 5 IF %LM% == 6 GOTO 6 IF %LM% == 7 GOTO 7 IF %LM% == 8 GOTO 8 IF %LM% == 9 GOTO 9 IF %LM% == 10 GOTO 10 IF %LM% == 11 GOTO 11 IF %LM% == 12 GOTO 12 IF %LM% == F1 GOTO F1 IF %LM% == F2 GOTO F2 IF %LM% == F3 GOTO F3 IF %LM% == F4 GOTO F4 IF %LM% == EX GOTO END :1 `SELECTION 1 LMCNTL MAIN 1 `example of password protection IF %LM% == 86 GOTO BEGIN `if incorrect, return to menu D: `change to drive "D" CD \DIR_1 `change directory to \DIR_1 PROGRM_1 `execute program 1 C: `change drive back to "C" CD \MENU `change back to menu directory GOTO BEGIN `re-enter the menu :2 `SELECTION 2 CD \DIR_2 SEL_2 `execute a sub menu named SEL_2 PAUSE >NULL `pause without a prompt before CD \MENU `re-entering the menu GOTO BEGIN :3 CD \DIR_2\SUB SEL_3 GOTO END `exit the menu after execution :4 LMCNTL MAIN 2 `check the 2nd password entry IF %LM% == 86 GOTO BEGIN CD \DIR_4 SEL_4 CD \MENU GOTO BEGIN :5 CD \DIR_5 SEL_5 CD \MENU GOTO BEGIN :6 CD \DIR_6 SEL_6 CD \MENU GOTO BEGIN :7 CD \DIR_7 SEL_7 CD \MENU GOTO BEGIN :8 `selection 8 A: `change to and execute from "A" drive CD \ SEL_8 PAUSE >NULL C: CD \MENU `return to "C" and re-enter the menu GOTO BEGIN :9 CD \DIR_9 SEL_9 CD \MENU GOTO BEGIN :10 CD \DIR_10 SEL_10 CD \MENU GOTO BEGIN :11 CD \DIR_11 SEL_11 CD \MENU GOTO BEGIN :12 CD \DIR_12 SEL_12 CD \MENU GOTO BEGIN :F1 `function key 1 selection CD \DIR_1 FUN_1 PAUSE >NULL CD \MENU GOTO BEGIN :F2 D: CD \DIR_2 FUN_2 C: CD \MENU GOTO BEGIN :F3 CD \DIR_3 FUN_3 CD \MENU GOTO BEGIN :F4 CD \DIR_4 FUN_4 CD \MENU GOTO END :END `menu exit SET RC= `return all environmental variables SET LM= `to normal status SET SC= CLS `clear the screen before exiting DOS COMMANDS SUCH AS "DIR /P" MAY ALSO BE EXECUTED FROM THE MENU 12. SAMPLE MENU DISPLAY FILE ------------------------ EXAMPLE MENU FILE `display name of the menu SELECTION 1 `display names of menu selections SELECTION 2 `selection 1-12 SELECTION 3 SELECTION 4 SELECTION 5 SELECTION 6 SELECTION 7 SELECTION 8 SELECTION 9 SELECTION 10 SELECTION 11 SELECTION 12 FUNCTION 1 `display names of function keys FUNCTION 2 `F1-F3 FUNCTION 3 * `no selection for F4 These are samples of the files written by LMSETUP. They can be further customized by using a text editor or word processor that can save text in standard ASCII format. The major difference between a main menu and a sub menu is the setting of the environmental variables. There is no reason why you may not use a main menu in place of a sub menu if you wish to have access to DOS functions, as long as you edit the SET functions at the end of the batch file. The only drawback to this is that when you return to the main menu, you will not be at the same selection you started at, but rather at the selection number you entered from the sub menu. Also, there is no reason you may not use a sub menu as a main menu if you do not desire the DOS shell and require less selections. This is handy for a supervisor setting up user menus who does not wish certain users to have access to DOS. The password file is not included as a sample since it will only display a series of numbers and is not necessary to edit. Passwords may be added by using ADDPASS utility included. 13. DDFSHELL -------- This is an example of using DDFSHEL: :1 echo Enter the filespecs to backup DDFSHELL /D copy %DDF% a: echo " echo File backup complete, Press a key to return to Menu pause >null GOTO BEGIN This example would prompt for the drive, directory, and file, then copy it to drive "A". It would then let you know it is done and return to the menu. 14. USING YOUR MENU --------------- To begin using your menu, change to the directory in which you have your menu files stored and enter the DOS file name you gave your menu. EXAMPLE: CD \MENU <ENTER> MAIN <ENTER> Would be valid if you named your directory MENU and your main menu MAIN. You will probably find it more beneficial to include these two lines as the last line of your AUTOEXEC.BAT file so your menu comes up every time you boot your computer. Now that you have your menu on screen, you can see how simply it is laid out. In the upper right hand corner you will notice the day, date and time display. This is not a running display as that would take memory overhead to constantly update. It is instead updated every time you press a key. To update the time without selecting a menu item simply press the spacebar. The selections you placed on the menu appear in two columns of six on the center of the screen. The function keys you defined are on the bottom of the screen. Below the menu selections are the function keys used by LAMENU to access DOS functions. These keys may not be changed. At the top of the menu is the title you gave the menu so you may identify where you are. To access a menu selection simply use the arrow keys to highlight the selection and press enter. All arrow keys are functional including the ones on a numeric keypad if numlock is turned off. To access a function assigned to a function key, simply press that function key. To escape from the menu back to the DOS prompt press escape. Escape will always take you out of the menu you are in and either return you to the previous menu or exit to DOS. 15. LAMENU DOS FUNCTIONS -------------------- DOS functions are separated into two categories, disk utilities and file utilities. As a general rule, any functions dealing with a disk or directory are in the disk utility section. Any functions dealing with files or the directory of files are in the file utility section. The time and date function will reset the time and date through DOS. 16. USING THE UTILITIES ------------------- When you select the proper function key, the utility menu will appear. The operative letter of the command will be displayed in red. To execute the command, press the highlighted letter. To return to the menu, press escape. ALL COMMANDS WILL GIVE YOU THE CHANCE TO CONFIRM OR CANCEL THE OPERATION. The command will then prompt you for the necessary information such as drive, directory, or file. BE SURE TO ENTER ALL PUNCTUATION SUCH AS THE COLON FOR THE DRIVE OR THE BACKSLASH FOR THE DIRECTORY. If you make a mistake, you will be returned to the utility menu. The prompt will display default values such as the drive you are currently logged on to and the directory you are in. 17. DISK UTILITIES -------------- FORMAT FREE DISK SPACE CHECK DISK DISK COPY MAKE DIRECTORY REMOVE DIRECTORY RENAME VOLUME MAKE SYSTEM DISK FORMAT - will format a floppy data disk. It will give you the choice of the "A" or "B" drive. You may not accidently format your fixed disk using this function. It will ask you if you want to create a volume label. FREE DISK - will prompt you for the drive and tell you how much room is left on the drive and how much memory (both conventional and LIM) is available. CHECK DISK - will prompt for the drive and ask if you want to fix any damage found. DISK COPY - will make an exact duplicate of a disk including system and hidden files. It will give you a choice of A to B or B to A. MAKE DIRECTORY - will allow you to make a directory on any drive. REMOVE DIRECTORY - will allow you to remove an empty directory. RENAME VOLUME - will allow you to create or change the volume label of a disk. MAKE SYSTEM DISK - will transfer the DOS system files to a disk or allow you to format a disk with the system files. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THESE COMMANDS CONSULT YOUR DOS MANUAL 18. FILE UTILITIES -------------- COPY FILE RENAME FILE MOVE FILE VIEW TEXT FILE DELETE FILE PRINT TEXT FILE DIRECTORY COPY FILE - will prompt for the source and target file information. It will use default values. RENAME FILE - will prompt for the necessary information. MOVE FILE - will copy a file and delete the source file. VIEW TEXT FILE - will print a text file to the screen (such as this manual). It will pause with each full screen. DELETE FILE - will delete a file or group of files. PRINT TEXT FILE - will send a text file to your printer. Files for either view or print must be ASCII text. DIRECTORY - will prompt for drive and directory and give a DOS file directory listing with a pause when the screen fills. WILD CARD CHARACTERS ARE ACCEPTABLE BUT IT IS RECOMMENDED THEY BE USED WITH CAUTION AS YOU MAY OVERWRITE OR DELETE NEEDED FILES. AS WITH DISK UTILITIES YOU WILL BE GIVEN THE CHANCE TO CONFIRM OR CANCEL THE COMMAND. To cancel any command press escape when prompted to confirm. Again, for any questions consult your DOS manual. EVERY EFFORT HAS BEEN MADE TO INSURE THE SAFETY OF YOUR FILES BY REQUIRING CONFORMATION, ETC. BUT NO DOS SHELL IS FOOLPROOF IF YOU ARE CARELESS. 19. TROUBLESHOOTING --------------- If your display appears to show control characters or does not display color, be sure the ANSI.SYS driver is installed. The driver is necessary for proper display functions. If your menu does not execute properly, check the batch file written for the menu. If you did not include the proper punctuation when writing the file DOS will not be able to find your programs. You may exit the menu at any time by pressing CTRL-C and answering "Y" to the prompt in the event of trouble. 20. REGISTRATION ------------ PLEASE REGISTER YOUR COPY OF LAMENU USING THE FORM BELOW. THIS IS USER SUPPORTED SOFTWARE AND IS NOT FREE. REGISTRATION WILL INSURE YOU THE LATEST VERSION, FUTURE UPGRADES, SUPPORT, AND A CLEAR CONSCIENCE BY DOING THE RIGHT THING. YOU MAY COPY, REPRODUCE, OR DISTRIBUTE (NOT FOR PROFIT) THIS PROGRAM AS LONG AS ALL FILES AND DOCUMENTATION ARE INCLUDED. YOU MAY TRY THE PROGRAM FOR A 30 DAY PERIOD TO SEE IF IT MEETS YOUR NEEDS, BUT AFTER THAT IT MUST BE REGISTERED. PLEASE RESPECT THE HARD WORK AND RIGHTS OF OTHERS. REGISTRATION IS ONLY $18.00 AND INCLUDES A DISK WITH THE LATEST VERSION. REGISTRATION FORM --------------------------------------------------------------------- | LAMENU - Registration V1.0 | | | | | | NAME ____________________________________________________________ | | | | ADDRESS _________________________________________________________ | | | | CITY _____________________________ STATE _______ ZIP ____________ | | | | COMMENTS OR SUGGESTIONS _________________________________________ | | | | _________________________________________________________________ | | | | Where did you find LAMENU? ______________________________________ | | | --------------------------------------------------------------------- MAILING LABEL ---------------------------------------- | | | William S. Mezian | | 105 1/2 20th Ave Apt 2 | | St Petersburg Bch. Fl 33706 | | | ---------------------------------------- FOR A LISTING OF AVAILABLE PROGRAMS SASE WITH REGISTRATION