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1991-12-01
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*******************************************************************
* Welcome to E-Menu Version 1.10! *
*******************************************************************
***** E-Menu 1.10 for the IBM PC,XT,AT, PS/2 or Compatibles ****
***** with 256K RAM, and a HardDrive or other non-floppy drive ****
***** re-writeable storage device. ****
***** ****
***** Supports MCGA, CGA, EGA, VGA and compatible Displays ****
*******************************************************************
The following Files should be included with E-Menu:
EMENU.EXE - The E-Menu program.
EMENU.CMD - Sample E-Menu command file.
FMTADOS.BAT - Sample DOS Batch File
E-MENU.DOC - This File.
Please feel free to distribute E-Menu, but please do not alter it or
any of the included files in any way.
*****************************************************************
Installing E-Menu
*****************************************************************
1. Choose the Drive you want to install E-Menu on. This must be
a hard drive, and cannot be a Floppy Drive. For example, type
C: to install E-Menu on drive C.
2. Create a Subdirectory to contain the E-MENU Files. We suggest
you name this directory EMENU. To create the EMENU directory
on the C Drive, type:
>C:
>CD \
>MD EMENU
3. Copy all the E-Menu files into this directory with the DOS
copy command, and make it your current directory with the CD
command:
>CD \EMENU
4. Edit or Recreate EMENU.CMD to set up your Menu choices.
5. Edit your Autoexec.bat file, so that the final line reads,
C:\EMENU\EMENU.EXE, or the directory that you installed
E-MENU in if it is different frome the example above.
6. Restart your computer or Run EMENU.EXE. E-Menu will create
the EMENU.CFG file, and prompt you to change startup options.
*****************************************************************
E-Menu is an easy to install Menu program, designed to provide a
turnkey quality interface in minimum time with minimum effort.
E-Menu was intentionally designed to be simple, straightforward,
and easy to maintain. E-Menu does not have multiple menu levels
which need to be set-up, and adjusted. E-Menu automatically adjusts
itself in size and presentation to additions, deletions or changes
to the Menu command file, by expanding or contracting itself. The
command file, EMENU.CMD is described in detail below.
E-Menu has been tested for hundreds of hours on a variety of systems,
and has been proven reliable and easy to use.
E-Menu is ideal for individuals with a basic knowledge of Batch
file use, or for consultants who need to provide an attractive
bullet-proof menu for clients at a minimum cost. E-Menu frees all
system memory to applications with the exception of about 4.5k +
the size of the Dos Command Interpreter (Command.com). This may
add another 5-8k depending on the version of DOS installed.
Unlike many other menu systems, E-Menu reads in menu selections
dynamically, generating a snaking picklist style menu of nearly
unlimited size. In true picklist form, options which can not be
displayed on the first screen may be reached by scrolling the
screen downwards, and E-Menu maintains 'more' prompts which inform
the user of their relative location within the menu.
Users select their menu choice by using the cursor keys to
highlight it. Hitting the Return key launches the chosen menu
selection.
Alternatively, users may search for commands by typing the first
letter of the the command title, which E-Menu highlights
automatically. Holding this letter down will cause E-Menu to cycle
through all the choices which begin with a chosen letter. E-Menu
sorts all menu choices by default, although this option can be
easily disabled through the E-Menu configuration feature.
E-Menu automatically inserts an "Exit E-Menu" menu choice into
the Menu. E-Menu can also be Exited at any time, by hitting the
Escape Key.
*******************************************************************
How E-Menu works.
*******************************************************************
EMENU.EXE utilizes two support files, the Menu Selection/Command file,
EMENU.CMD, which is a Dos Text file you create with an Editor, and a
configuration file, EMENU.CFG, which is created and maintained by
E-Menu. These two files are described below.
---------
EMENU.CMD
---------
This is the menu system command file. It is a simple dos text (or
ASCII) file. You need to create this file with an editor like
the EDLIN.COM or EDIT.COM (New with DOS 5.0) programs provided with
DOS, or Edit the sample EMENU.CMD which comes with E-MENU 1.10.
At startup E-Menu looks for the EMENU.CMD file in the location
specified in the EMENU.CFG file. This defaults to the location
of the EMENU.EXE program file.
Each line of the EMENU.CMD file describes one entry in the E-Menu.
Each line must be of the form:
Title[Up to 20 Characters],Command(or BatchFile name)
EMenu parses each line, seperating the Command from the command title
by examining the location of the comma. Therefore, EMenu Titles can
not include a comma. Otherwise there are no restrictions on how a
Title can be defined, as long as they are 20 characters or less in
length.
Commands are standard program names, subject to the standard DOS
filename restrictions.
An example EMENU.CMD file with three entries might be:
(Ignore Line Numbers and Arrows)
123456789 1234567890 <= Max Description Length 20 Chars.
--------------------
Line 1=>Wordperfect 5.1,WP51.BAT
Line 2=>Quattro Pro,QPRO.BAT
Line 3=>Check Disk,CHKDSK.EXE
Line 4=>Format/Bootable A:,FMTADOS.BAT
E-Menu can execute commands directly if they're available on the
DOS path or in the E-menu batch directory, described below. When
more complicated execution preparation is required, DOS batch files
may be used. While the subject of batchfiles is beyond the scope
of this manual, a sample batchfile is illustrated below.
*** When to use a batchfile! ***
Many programs accept parameters which run a program in a special
mode. For example, the DOS FORMAT program allows you to specify
a /S parameter to format a disk with DOS transferred to it. The
EMENU.CMD file does not allow you to specify a parameter to a program
directly. Instead you must create a batchfile, with an editor,
like EDLIN and specify the parameter on the line that invokes the
program. In the Sample batchfile FMTADOS.BAT, the line
*****************************************************************
Sample BatchFile FMTADOS.BAT
*****************************************************************
Echo Off
REM Echo Off turns off display of subsequent commands.
REM Lines beginning with REM for Remark, are comments
REM and are ignored by the BatchFile processor.
REM FMTADOS.BAT Formats the disk in Drive A:, and making it
REM bootable with the /S command line option.
REM
Echo Off
Format A: /S
REM End of FMTADOS.BAT
*******************************************************************
Refer to your DOS manual for more information on how to create and
maintain batch files.
---------
EMENU.CFG
---------
When E-Menu is executed it begins by looking for the configuration
file EMENU.CFG. If this file is not found, E-Menu will ask whether
or not to create it. The CFG file must be in the same directory
as EMENU.EXE. After creating the configuration file, E-Menu brings
up the Configuration screen allowing you to tune a number of
options.
These options can be tuned at a later time by using the Alt-C,
"Display Configuration file" hotkey at any time from within E-Menu.
The Options available from within the Display Configuration File
menu are described below.
--------------
E-Menu Hotkeys
--------------
F1 - Help
An Online Help screen is available by hitting the F1 key at any
time.
ALT-A - About E-Menu.
This screen has information about E-Menu, and displays System and
EMS Memory.
ALT-S - Shell to DOS
This feature lets you do an in-memory Shell to DOS. E-Menu uses
about 145K, and returns the rest for use by the Shell. Typing
EXIT will return you to E-Menu.
ALT-C - E-Menu Configuration. See "Configuration file Options."
*******************************************************************
Configuration file Options
*******************************************************************
1. Menu Title
-------------
This appears at the top of the menu screen and can be customized
as desired.
2. Batch Directory
------------------
All files specified as executables in the Command file
should be placed in this directory. The default is the same
directory as EMENU.EXE.
3. Swap Directory
-----------------
E-Menu swaps itself out of memory before executing a command. This
option allows you to modify the location of this swap file.
4. Swap Message
---------------
E-Menu will display a brief message when swapping itself in and out
of memory. You may turn this message off if you desire.
5. Swap EMS
-----------
E-Menu will look for EMS memory and swap itself to EMS if
available. You may choose to turn this option on, although the use
EMS by default is off.
EMS is considered an advanced option, and the use of EMS memory
may prevent other applications from making use of system EMS. On the
other hand, EMS swapping is very fast, and can greatly speed the
performance of E-Menu when executing commands. The ALT-A "About
E-Menu" screen displays Available EMS memory.
6. Show Clock
-------------
While waiting for keystrokes, E-Menu updates a clock/calender on
the upper right hand corner of the screen. This date and time is
derived from the system time. You may disable the clock.
7. Sort Menu Items
------------------
E-Menu does not care about the order of commands in the EMENU.CMD
file. By default, EMenu, will sort these lines, so the menu item
descriptions appear in sorted order. If a special order is
desired, the EMENU.CMD file may be edited manually, and this option
may be disabled.
NOTE: Changes to the E-Menu Configuration file do not take effect
until after you exit E-Menu and re-start it.
*******************************************************************
Multi-user or LAN systems.
*******************************************************************
E-Menu is not *designed* to be used on a LAN. Individual copies
could be placed on the local hard-drive of each workstation, or
in seperate directories on the server, but care would need to be
taken that the configurable directories described above are unique
for each user. This is because, E-Menu looks for it's EMENU.CFG
file in the same directory as EMENU.EXE.
A LAN version of E-Menu, E-MENU[L] is available for a fee of $25.00.
This version addresses the problems described above.
*******************************************************************
New licensing Policy! 11/91
********************************************************************
If you choose to use E-Menu, a contribution would be appreciated.
Our suggested Contribution is $9.00.
All users who contribute, will become registered users of E-Menu.
Registered users will be notified of future versions of E-Menu, and
will be entitled to Technical support.
We do not currently provide a printed manual, in order to keep the
cost of E-Menu low.
********************************************************************
All registered users will receive verification of their registration,
a Registration Number, and access to the Technical Support Phone
number.
Installation and evaluation questions or comments may be directed to
us through the mail, or via Compuserve. See the "contacting us"
section at the end of this document.
********************************************************************
----------------
Terms of License
----------------
E-Menu is distributed as is. By using E-Menu you agree not to hold
the provider(s) of E-Menu liable for any damages whatsoever,
including but not limited to, loss of profit, data or use of the
software, or special, incidental or consequential damages or other
similar claims, even if the provider(s) have specifically advised
of the possibility of such damages. In no event will the
provider(s) liability for any damages to you or any other person
ever exceed the lower of suggested list price or actual price paid
for the license to use the software, regardless of any form of the
claim.
********************************************************************
How to Contact the Provider(s) of E-Menu (Contacting us!)
********************************************************************
We are interested in expanding and improving E-Menu. We would
appreciate your comments and suggestions, whether or not you've
decided to provide a donation. Future versions of E-Menu will
be shaped by your suggestions.
Electronically via Compuserve ID: 72267,2150
Via US Mail @
Tracy Barry/E-Menu
616 Esplanade #101
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
********************************************************************
E-Menu Registration Form
********************************************************************
REMIT TO:
Tracy Barry/E-Menu
616 Esplanade #101
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Name:
Address:
City, State:
ZipCode:
Phone:
Compuserve ID:
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Quantity
_____ of E-Menu single user license........ @ 9.00 each ____________
_____ of E-Menu[L] LAN version license.... @ 25.00 each ____________
Total Registration Fee _____________
Payment by:
CHECK/MO ___
VISA ___
MASTERCARD ___ Credit Card# - - -
Expires: /
Credit Card Payments require an address and phone number.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Make Check or Money Order Payable to:
Tracy Barry/ E-Menu
616 Esplanade #101
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
Thank you!