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dBMENU
dBASE III + Menu Application Generator
Version 4.0 - 01/07/88
(c) BTSOFT Systems, Inc. - 1987, 1988
BTSOFT Systems, Inc.
MicroTek Consulting Group, Inc.
Post Office Box 95
Hewlett, New York 11557-0095
dBMENU
Table Of Contents
I. Acknowledgments...........................................1
II. Introduction/Background...................................1
III. ShareWare.................................................1
IV. Registration..............................................1
V. Programming Conventions...................................2
VI. Environment...............................................2
Disk Space Requirements.................................2
VII. Technical Information.....................................2
VIII. License Agreement.........................................2
IX. Running...................................................3
A. Loading Options:.....................................3
1. dBMENU [?] [filename] [/C] [/Q]..................3
B. Program Name.........................................3
C. Author (Optional)....................................4
D. Purpose (Optional)...................................4
E. Notes (Optional).....................................4
F. Menu Number..........................................4
G. Upper Right Corner (Optional)........................4
H. Menu Title...........................................5
I. Menu Subtitle (Optional).............................5
J. LightBar/Straight Menu...............................5
K. Color Selection......................................5
L. Force Selection Highlight............................5
M. Level Letter.........................................5
1. Company Name (Optional)..........................5
N. Options - Yes/No Selectors...........................6
1. Return to Previous Menu..........................6
2. Return to Master Menu............................6
3. Exit to DOS......................................6
4. Option Explanation ..............................6
5. dCode ...........................................6
O. Number of menu Options...............................6
P. Include Left Arrow Trap..............................7
Q. Screen Information...................................7
1. dVariables.......................................7
2. dBytes...........................................7
3. Option Number....................................7
4. Options Remaining................................7
5. Option Selector..................................7
6. Escape to Abort..................................7
R. Selection Letter/Number..............................7
S. Menu Option..........................................7
T. Option Message ......................................8
U. dCode ...............................................8
V. DO [.PRG file] ......................................8
X. Advanced Options.............................................8
A. Merged Code..........................................8
License Agreement (Form) .......................................9
(c) BTSOFT Systems, Inc. - 1987, 1988
dBMENU
dBASE III + Menu Application Generator
Version 4.0 - 01/07/88
(c) BTSOFT Systems, Inc. - 1987, 1988
BTSOFT Systems, Inc.
MicroTek Consulting Group, Inc.
Post Office Box 95
Hewlett, New York 11557-0095
-----
(516) 599-1158
(Eastern Standard Time)
I. Acknowledgments
dBASE, dBASE II, dBASE III, and dBASE III PLUS are registered
trademarks of Ashton-Tate (Torrance,CA); FoxBASE and FoxBASE + are
trademarks of Fox Software (Perrysburg, OH); Clipper is a trademark of
Nantucket Corporation (Los Angeles, CA); dBCOMPILER and QuickSilver are
trademarks of WordTech Systems, Inc. (Orinda, CA); MS-DOS is a registered
trademark of MicroSoft Corp.; and PC-DOS is a registered trademark of IBM
Corp.; IBM PC/XT/AT & PS/2 are products of International Business Machines
Corp. (IBM Corp.); Turbo BASIC is a registered trademark of Borland
International (Scotts Valley, CA)
II. Introduction/Background
This program was developed to save countless hours of development time
when working in a dBase III+ environment. A key factor in developing a
database system is the ease of use to the end-user. dBMENU will produce
uniform application menus in dBASE III+ code which is easily read, and will
run error-free.
When dBASE II, and later the dBASE III series of databases were
introduced, I used to spend many hours coding my menus and various other
routines. Over the course of time, I found fast efficient ways of writing
my code. The biggest problem I found, was either to copy the code and
change the variables, or to rewrite the module I was working on. The most
complex menu this generator can produce would take a good programmer a
minimum of a half hour to write, never having seen the code before.
The dBASE III+ menu application generator was developed to cut down the
programming time while creating menus. Even without the use of this
instruction manual, you should be able to create a full blown menu within
3-5 minutes; assuming you have all the titles and module names set aside.
III. ShareWare
dBMENU is distributed through a unique marketing approach called
shareware. Shareware does not mean free software. Shareware is just a
distribution concept. All that this means is that we are allowing this
piece of software to be distributed freely. You can copy it for your
friends or associates, and conversely you can receive a copy from them. You
are allowed to try/Evaluate this program to see if it meets your needs. If
it does, and you use this product, you should become a registered user.
Shareware makes it basis on the honor system.
(c) BTSOFT Systems, Inc. - 1987, 1988
dBMENU Ver: 4.0 Page #
IV. Registration
A. Single User License
You can register this program by sending a check or money order in
the amount of Twenty-Five US Dollars ($25.), along with your name,
address, and daytime telephone number to the address mentioned
throughout this manual, or in section IV C.
B. Site License
A site license is also available for this product, a site license
allows for unlimited copies of this program to be run on multiple
machines at a given site. This license can be obtained by sending a
check or money order in the amount of One Hundred Fifty US Dollars
($150.), along with your name, company, address, and business telephone
number to the address mentioned throughout this manual, or in section
IV C below.
C. Registration Address
BTSOFT Systems, Inc.
dBMENU Registration
Post Office Box 95
Hewlett, New York 11557-0095
Upon receiving your payment, you will be placed on our mailing list for
all future revisions and new product announcements. You will also be sent
the latest release of dBMENU with your own serial number. You will be
informed about undocumented software switches. Finally, for every copy of
your dBMENU which is registered, you will receive a $5.00 rebate.
V. Programming Conventions
A. No Double Quotes (") are acceptable as inputted text.
B. All Data to be entered is alphanumeric.
C. An Audible Beep is used to alert you to an error in input.
VI. Environment
This program requires the following to work properly:
A. IBM PC/XT/AT (or 100% Compatibles)
B. 256K Random Access Memory (RAM)
C. MS-DOS 2.1+ -or- PC-DOS 2.1+
D. Disk Space Requirements
1. Maximum Output File Size
a. LightBar - 28k
b. Straight Menu - 24k
E. One of The Following dBASE type Environments:
1. dBASE III PLUS Ver: 1.1 (or compatible operating environment)
2. FoxBASE or FoxBASE +
3. Clipper
4. dBCOMPILER or QuickSilver
VII. Technical Information
The dBMENU generator was written in BASIC and compiled using
Borland's Turbo BASIC compiler. There is no 80x87 support for this
program. Due to file size limitations (Borland), this system really can
not be enhanced any more than its present state.
(c) BTSOFT Systems, Inc. - 1987, 1988
dBMENU Ver: 4.0 Page #
The menu generator was written on an IBM AT (8MHz) w/80287 and has been
tested on most of the major brand and clone PCs (processors ranging from
8088 to 80386 and machines from original PCs to the IBM PS/2 line) with out
fault. This doesn't mean that the program won't fail; however this program
does not use any special BIOS calls which would limit its use to a
particular brand or type of PC.
VIII. License Agreement
BTSOFT Systems, Inc. and MicroTek Consulting Group, Inc. (herein
referred to as BSI/MCGI), grants to the Purchaser and Purchaser accepts a
nontransferable and nonexclusive license to use, on a single computer
(unless the product is site licensed), dBMENU and accompanying
materials provided to Purchaser by BSI/MCGI. Purchaser is hereby licensed
only to read the program from its medium into the memory of a single
computer solely for the purpose of executing the program. BSI/MCGI shall
have the right to terminate this license if purchaser violates any of its
provisions. Purchaser agrees that dBMENU and accompanying materials
are the property of BSI/MCGI and that BSI/MCGI shall maintain title to and
ownership of dBMENU at all times. BSI/MCGI warrants that all disks
provided constitute an accurate duplication of dBMENU and BSI/MCGI will
replace any disks found to be defective within 30 days from date of
purchase. BSI/MCGI will not honor this warranty where a software product
disk has been subjected to physical abuse, or used in defective or
non-compatible equipment. BSI/MCGI makes no warranties of any kind,
expressed or implied, with respect to the quality, performance, accuracy,
or fitness of dBMENU for any particular purpose. BSI/MCGI assumes no
responsibility for any decisions made or actions taken on the part of the
Purchaser because of the use of dBMENU. In no event shall BSI/MCGI, or
any of its representatives, be liable for any loss of profit or any other
damages, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential or
other damages, arising out of the use or inability to use this product -
even if BSI/MCGI or an authorized agent of such has been advised of the
possibility of such damages - or for any claim by any other party.
BSI/MCGI reserves the right to make changes, enhancements and
improvements to dBMENU at any time and without notice. Acceptance
(registration) of this software, or use of dBMENU for any period beyond
the thirty day (30) ShareWare agreement constitutes your assumed acceptance
of this agreement and subjects you to its contents.
IX. Running
This program can be run, stand-alone directly from DOS by typing
"dBMENU", or it can be run from within dBASE III PLUS by typing
"!dBMENU" at the dot prompt.
A. Loading Options:
1. dBMENU [?] [filename] [/C] [/Q]
Typing dBMENU at the DOS prompt will invoke the menu generator
without any special functions.
a. [?]
By typing dBMENU ? at the DOS prompt, you will get a list of
the current options available when running the program.
b. [filename]
The filename is any 8 characters which results in a legal DOS
file. No extensions are permissible. This filename is the
(c) BTSOFT Systems, Inc. - 1987, 1988
dBMENU Ver: 4.0 Page #
output file which dBMENU will write the code to.
c. [/C]
This option will eliminate the bulk of the programming comments
in the .PRG file.
d. [/Q]
This option will quit out of the Sample Menu which is displayed
when running dBMENU.
e. Combination Choices:
These switches can be run alone or in combination with one
another. For example, you might want to shut off the sample
display and have the output sent to TEST
dBMENU Test /Q
B. Program Name
This is the output filename to which the dBMENU Generator will store
the dBASE III+ code.
1. The name must be a valid DOS filename with up to eight (8)
Characters Maximum.
2. Do not include ".PRG" extension, as dBMENU will do this for you
automatically. If you want the program file to have any other
extension, at DOS you will have to rename it.
a. If the program name exists in the current directory you have
two (2) options:
(1) Yes
Which will backup then existing file (.BAK), and create a
new file.
(2) No
Which will allow you to re-enter the Program filename.
C. Author (Optional)
1. This option is useful for identifying person or group or team
who used the dBMENU program to setup this menu. You are allowed
to enter up to 40 alphanumeric characters in this field.
2. Input File
If you want a particular Author's name to appear in each file
that this program generates, it is possible to write the person
(team) name to a file called AUTHOR.DBM and include it in the
current directory where dBMENU is being executed.
D. Purpose (Optional)
This option is useful for identifying purpose for creating this
menu. You are allowed to enter up to 40 alphanumeric characters in
this field.
E. Notes (Optional)
1. This option allows up to ten (10) lines of programming notes.
Each Line allows for 60 alphanumeric characters. Depressing the
Enter Key on a blank line will terminate this function and proceed
to the next.
2. Input File
If you have certain notes which you want to appear in each file
that this program generates, it is possible to write the notes (up
to 30 lines) in a file called NOTES.DBM and include it in the
current directory where dBMENU is being executed.
(c) BTSOFT Systems, Inc. - 1987, 1988
dBMENU Ver: 4.0 Page #
F. Menu Number (Optional)
This option allows for up to 7 alphanumeric characters. This will
be displayed in the upper left-hand corner of the menu, next to the
word "Menu". Example:
Typing "1.23" will produce "Menu 1.23" on the Menu.
Typing "Test" will produce "Menu Test" on the Menu.
G. Upper Right Corner (Optional)
This will display 12 Alphanumeric characters in the upper
right-hand corner of the menu application. If you want, you can have
certain dBASE functions (such as date or time) displayed here.
1. Regular text should just be typed as such.
2. dBASE Code starts with a backwards accent mark (below the tilde
"~" key). Example:
`DATE() -or- `TIME()
H. Menu Title
1. This required text will be Centered and Displayed in the upper
center of the Menu Application, will be double boxed, and can be a
maximum of 48 Characters in length.
2. Input File
If you want a particular Title to appear in each file that this
program generates, it is possible to write the title to a file
called TITLE.DBM and include it in the current directory where
dBMENU is being executed.
I. Menu Subtitle (Optional)
This section allows for two optional text lines which will be
Centered and Displayed in the upper center of the Menu Application,
along with the title, and will be included in the title box. If only
one Sub-Title is selected, it will be displayed two (2) lines below the
main menu title. If both Subtitles are used, they will be listed one
below the other, with no blank lines separating them. Each of these
subtitles can be a maximum of 48 Characters in length.
J. LightBar/Straight Menu
1. LightBar will allow you cursor control as well as direct
letter/number selection of an option. A Bar of light will
display the current menu selection in reverse video (in the
colors you selected).
2. The straight menu takes up less memory, and only allows the
user to make a choice by selecting the letter or number for the
given option. The cursor keys are disabled.
K. Color Selection
Since certain colors conflict with one another, the program has
been modified so that once a Background color is selected, it will be
impossible to make the Foreground, Boarder, or LightBar colors the same
as the background.
1. Background
2. Foreground
3. Border Lines
Lines surrounding titles and options.
(c) BTSOFT Systems, Inc. - 1987, 1988
dBMENU Ver: 4.0 Page #
4. LightBar (Not Available with Straight Menu Selection)
L. Force Selection Highlight (Not Available with Straight Menu)
There will be times where the on screen instructions for cursor
movement will be inappropriate if displayed in the LightBar Colors, or
you just might want black letters on a white background (white letters
on black background if the background is white.
M. Level Letter
Since the majority of the generated application menu is based on
variables each menu, and sub-menu (nested menus) should have different
nesting letters.
1. Duplicate nesting letters will cause previous menus to fail.
2. A-Z are the only valid selections for this option.
a. If Nested Level letter "A" is selected:
(1) Company Name (Optional)
a) You will be allowed to enter 40 alphanumeric characters
for a company name. This information will be centered
on the bottom line of the menu application. Example:
BTSOFT Systems, Inc. -will be displayed as-
(c) BTSOFT Systems, Inc. - 1987
The year that follows the copyright notice is obtained from
the system date/clock.
b) If you want a particular Company's name to appear in each
Nested Level "A" file that this program generates, it is possible
to write the company name to a file called COMPANY.DBM and include
it in the current directory where dBMENU is being executed.
N. Options - Yes/No Selectors
1. Return to Previous Menu
This option should be selected if the menu you are generating is a
sub-menu. This option uses the dBASE III+ command to return to the
previous routine.
a. If you select this option in your main menu, you will be
dropped at the dBASE III+ dot prompt.
2. Return to Master Menu
This option should be selected if the menu you are generating
is a sub-menu. This option uses the dBASE III+ command to return
to the main program routine (top of the menu nest).
a. If you select this option in your main menu, you will be
dropped at the dBASE III+ dot prompt.
3. Exit to DOS
This option should be selected if the menu you are generating
is either the main menu or if it is a sub-menu. This option uses
the dBASE III+ command to Close All Databases and files, and Quit
to DOS.
4. Option Explanation (Optional if Selected)
This part of the User Interface will display a box in the lower
center of the menu, and displays the text you wrote to describe
this option. The text changes with the cursor movement only.
(c) BTSOFT Systems, Inc. - 1987, 1988
dBMENU Ver: 4.0 Page #
5. dCode (Optional if Selected)
Up to nine lines of dBase III+ executable code.
O. Number of menu Options
The number of menu options is based on whether you selected Exit to
DOS, Return To Previous Menu, and Option Explanation. If you select
none of these options you can have up to 26 selections in your menu
application. Depending on how many selections you made, your choices
will be limited between 16 and 26.
1. This screen will inform you what is the maximum number of
options to remain in the single column format (information is on
bottom of this menu screen).
P. Include Left Arrow Trap
If you selected enough options that requires the menu to be in a
two column format, you will be asked if you want to include a left
arrow trap. As stated in the April 1987 issue of the Ashton-Tate's
TechNotes (Page 16), "In dBASE III PLUS version 1.1, the INKEY()
function does not trap Leftarrow."
1. For this reason, say <Y>es if you are using Runtime Module or
Compiler other than dBASE III+. (Compilers such as Clipper,
FoxBase, QuickSilver, etc.; and Runtime Modules/Replacements such
as FoxBase Plus, etc.)
2. If you are only running under dBASE III PLUS say <N>o to this
question, or whenever the leftarrow is depressed, the results will
be unreliable.
Q. Screen Information
When entering the Option Information, there is certain screen
information that you should be aware of, and they are:
1. dVariables
This information is located in the upper left corner of the
menu generator. "dVariables" are the amount of dBASE III+
variables that will be used by your ".PRG" file.
2. dBytes
This information is located in the upper right corner of the
menu generator. "dBytes" are the amount of dBASE III+ bytes that
will be used by your ".PRG" file.
3. Option Number
This is the number of the option you are currently working on.
(This number will increase as you enter more options.)
4. Options Remaining
This is the number of the remaining options, that the user will
select from. (This number will decrease as you enter more
options.)
5. Escape to Abort
This function can be performed at any time during the dBMENU
operation. This will abort the program and return you to DOS. If
and when you select this option, the filename you were working on
will be deleted.
R. Selection Letter/Number
This is the keyboard character that the user must depress to select
the associated text option. This is only one character in length. All
(c) BTSOFT Systems, Inc. - 1987, 1988
dBMENU Ver: 4.0 Page #
alphabetic characters will be converted Upper to Lower and Lower to
Upper. What this means is that if the user selects EITHER the upper or
lower case character, this option will be selected. REMEMBER: Only
Alphabetic characters will be converted.
S. Menu Option
This is the description that will appear next to the Letter,
Number, Character that the user must depress to select this option.
1. If this is a single column format that you can type up to 50
Alphanumeric characters.
2. If this is a two (2) column format then you can only type up to 22
characters.
T. Option Message (If Selected in section N #4 above)
This section allows for up to 50 alphanumeric characters which will
describe or explain the associated Menu Option. Even if you select
this option, you do not have to type text. When the LightBar is moved
to the associated menu option the explanation box will be blank.
U. dCode (If Selected in section N #5 above)
This section allows for up to 60 text (alphanumeric) characters
which you would want your menu to execute from dBase. This section is
also optional, and will allow for a maximum of 9 lines of executable
code. Depressing <ENTER> on a blank line will terminate the function
of this option.
V. DO [.PRG file]
This is the program file which would be executed should the
associated option be selected from your menu. This would be any VALID
dBase III+ program filename (any legal DOS filename) without the
extension, since dBASE assumes .PRG, and FoxBase assumes .FOX, etc.
X. Advanced Options
A. Merged Code
This system provides the user the ability to incorporate
standard or "Canned" text into your menu application. You might,
for example, have a security routine which applies to all the menus
you create. This routine can be inserted/merged into the menu at
certain merge points.
The code you wish to have merged into the menu must reside in a
file called:
MERGEx.DBM (x is the merge level)
There are eight (8) merge locations and, as mentioned above,
the information would be extracted from MERGE1.DBM through
MERGE8.DBM. If you run the dBMENU generator without using the
switch settings [/Q, /C], the menu generator will commend out the
positions for the merged text; however, the list below should help
you get an idea where the merged text will appear.
Level Location:
MERGE1.DBM After Header Comments
MERGE2.DBM Before Program Title Display
(c) BTSOFT Systems, Inc. - 1987, 1988
dBMENU Ver: 4.0 Page #
MERGE3.DBM After Program Title Display
MERGE4.DBM During Display Option Messages
MERGE5.DBM During Keyboard Trapping
MERGE6.DBM After Valid Key Selection
MERGE7.DBM Before Performing Selected Menu Item
MERGE8.DBM Last Line Before ENDDO of Menu Loop
(c) BTSOFT Systems, Inc. - 1987, 1988
dBMENU Ver: 4.0 Page #
License to Use Agreement
BTSOFT Systems, Inc. and MicroTek Consulting Group, Inc. (herein referred
to as BSI/MCGI), grants to the Purchaser and Purchaser accepts a
nontransferable and nonexclusive license to use, on a single computer,
dBMENU and accompanying materials provided to Purchaser by BSI/MCGI.
Purchaser is hereby licensed only to read the program from its medium into the
memory of a single computer solely for the purpose of executing the program.
BSI/MCGI shall have the right to terminate this license if purchaser violates
any of its provisions. Purchaser agrees that dBMENU and accompanying
materials are the property of BSI/MCGI and that BSI/MCGI shall maintain title
to and ownership of dBMENU at all times. BSI/MCGI warrants that all disks
provided constitute an accurate duplication of dBMENU and BSI/MCGI will
replace any disks found to be defective within 30 days from date of purchase.
BSI/MCGI will not honor this warranty where a software product disk has been
subjected to physical abuse, or used in defective or non-compatible equipment.
BSI/MCGI makes no warranties of any kind, expressed or implied, with respect to
the quality, performance, accuracy, or fitness of dBMENU for any particular
purpose. BSI/MCGI assumes no responsibility for any decisions made or actions
taken on the part of the Purchaser because of the use of dBMENU. In no
event shall BSI/MCGI, or any of its representatives, be liable for any loss of
profit or any other damages, including but not limited to special, incidental,
consequential or other damages, arising out of the use or inability to use this
product - even if BSI/MCGI or an authorized agent of such has been advised of
the possibility of such damages - or for any claim by any other party.
BSI/MCGI reserves the right to make changes, enhancements and improvements
to dBMENU at any time and without notice. Purchaser whose signature
appears below agrees to the terms of the above License. However, even if you
fail to return this agreement, use of dBMENU for any period beyond the
thirty day (30) ShareWare agreement constitutes your assumed acceptance of this
agreement and subjects you to its contents.
Accepted by: Date:
Return within 30 days to BTSOFT Systems, Inc., P.O. Box 95, Hewlett, NY
11557-0095 insure support of your purchase.
(c) BTSOFT Systems, Inc. - 1987, 1988