                       MENU IS A "DOS SHELL"

You tell MENU what programs you use with <Ins> or F5.  Edit
existing entries with F3.  You run programs by highlighting the
name of that program and pushing <Enter>.  When you exit that
program MENU comes back.  MENU also can execute DOS commands or
batch files.  You can go to DOS from MENU, issue commands, and
come back.  You leave MENU altogether by pushing <Esc>.  MENU is
for hard disks.  If you have only floppy disk drives, this
program will not do much good.

                            WHY MENU?

1: MENU is easy to use, even if you don't know much DOS.  Other
shells are hard to use, especially for beginners.  It's intended
especially for use on machines where users are unfamiliar with
computers or where there are a lot of users without an operating
system in common.  2: MENU is free.  You can copy it and use it
legally on computers where commercial software cannot be stored. 
3: MENU holds up to 60 programs or commands; some shells can't.

                  FILES THAT COME WITH MENU.EXE

MENU.EXE is the executable file.  The first time you run MENU two
program slots ("YOUR PROGRAM HERE" is one) will appear.  These
slots don't do anything; you need to change them to something
useful with F3.  You can add up to 60 new ones (press F5 or
<Ins>.  Sort alphabetically with F4 or move programs around with
F9.  When you have made the changes you want, save them by
pressing (F10) and your customized MENU will be loaded
automatically the next time you run MENU.  The changes are stored
in a file called MENU.DAT.  Don't erase this file or you will
have to start all over again customizing MENU.  A third file is
MENU.HLP - that's the name of the file you are reading now.  Keep
all 3 files in the same directory or MENU will give you error
messages.  You can rename MENU.EXE ("NEWMENU.EXE," for example),
but not MENU.DAT or MENU.HLP.  Important: the first time you use
it, tell MENU where you keep MENU.EXE, MENU.DAT and MENU.HLP by
pressing <Alt>-D.  Save the information with F10.

                ADDING NEW PROGRAMS: THREE EXAMPLES

1.  Format drive A:  This prevents people from accidentally
reformatting the hard disk.  To add this routine to MENU, push
<F5> or <Ins>.  Put "Format Drive A:" (or whatever you want to
call it) where MENU asks for the Title of the program.  Put
"FORMAT A:"  where MENU asks for the name of the program.  Where
MENU asks for the Directory, put the full name of the directory
where you keep FORMAT.COM.  Answer <Y> to the next question.  To
format a disk in drive A:, highlight 'FORMAT A:' and push
<Enter>.

2.  GETTING TO DOS:  To go to DOS and return to MENU when you
want, push <F5> or <Ins>.  Put "DOS" (or whatever you want to
call it) where MENU asks for the Title of the program.  Where
MENU asks for the name of the program put nothing at all.  Where
MENU asks for the Directory, put the name of the directory you
want to be in when you enter DOS.  To go to DOS, highlight 'DOS'
on MENU and push <Enter>.  Important ==> To get back to MENU type
'EXIT' (NOT 'MENU').  If you execute MENU by typing MENU again,
you will have 2 copies in residence and pretty soon you'll run
out of memory.  Depending on how much RAM you have, some programs
may be too big to run inside MENU.  If that happens, you will
have to leave MENU by pushing <ESC>.  Type MENU again to get
back.  Here is a little batch program you might want to create
and name something like DOS.BAT; it will remind you how to get
back to MENU.  You must put DOS.BAT in the same directory as
COMMAND.COM.

PROMPT 'EXIT' Returns to Menu ...  $P$G 
COMMAND

3. MENU allows you to execute short (<33 chars) batch commands.
Separate commands by a carat (^).  For example, if you want to
enter a new date and time, under COMMAND? enter DATE^TIME.  If
you enter a terminal carat (DATE^TIME^) you will drop into DOS
after executing the first two commands.

                             PROBLEMS?

Experiment using the Help key (F1) for assistance.  If you get an
error like 'Bad Command of File Name' or 'Path Not Found,' check
the entry using <F3> to be sure you spelled the name of the
program and the name of the directory correctly.  If the screen
clears before you have a chance to read the error message, edit
the entry <F3> and answer 'Yes' to the question, "Look at screen
before returning? (Y/N)."

                           DISCLAIMER

I think this problem runs well and will cause no problems, but
it's not guaranteed.

                           TECH STUFF

This program was written and compiled in Microsoft QuickBasic. 
MENU version 1.71: January 1993.
