***************************************************************** Manual N_MENMIN, version 1 (C) N_Software - Noud van Kruysbergen 16/06/94 ***************************************************************** The name 'N_MENMIN' is derived from 'N_', which is the begin of all N_Software projects, and 'MEN'u 'MIN'us. When my girlfriend bought our first Atari ST the first thing that appeared strange to me was that the disabled lines in the menu bar were not really lines, but simple '-' characters. This was a powerfull graphical machine, and lines are made up of characters! Anyway, I could live with it. During the years I became quite a good programmer, and during a lack of creativeness I decided to take care of this initial 'problem'. It took some very low level programming and that made it really nice to do. N_MENMIN replaces the disabled lines in the menu bar, only there for cosmetic reasons, with REAL disabled lines. That was the original version. Once I was able to do that it was a small step to put in some extra's: not only can you choose for a real disabled line, but for some different line types as well. If you really like the 'character line' then you can select any character to replace the '-'. The project N_MENMIN consist of N_MENMIN.PRG (version 1.1), which has to be paced in the AUTO folder, and N_MENMIN.CPX (version 1.2), which has the control over the project. The AUTO folder installs a new GEM routine and a cookie 'NMM1'. This cookie points to a control field, in which values can be changed by the CPX module. The AUTO folder program does not do anything without the CPX module; defaults are set to OFF. When you select the CPX in the XCONTROL panel do can choose one of the next options: - Testing: normally you change the disabled menu entry with the '-' characters only if all characters are indeed '-' characters. It is also possible to change all the entries that are of the type '--XXXXXX-', with X standing for any character. If a program uses the disabled menu entry to give some information (like for instance '--Save Text--') then this line can be changed by N_MENMIN as well. - Output: normally the complete string of '-' characters is replaced by one line. If you select the '--XXX-' option then all '-' characters in the string are replaced by a line, and all non '-' characters are left the way they are. - Status: this sets the actual status and line output type. - System: N_MENMIN is not active, and the normal GEM menu bar entries are drawn. - Char: the '-' character will be replaced by another charac- ter. Which character that is is controlled by the 'Character' option. - Single: the menu entry is replaced by a single horizontal line. - Double: the menu entry is replaced by a double line. - Triple: the menu entry is replaced by three lines. - Wide: the menu entry is replaced by two horizontal lines with a little space in between. - Skip: nothing is drawn: there is no menu entry! - Text color: in the 'Char' mode the color of the menu entry can be selected. The range is from color 0 to the maximum color number. - Line color: for all line drawing modes the color of the line can be selected. Note that if you choose the '--XXX-' testing and output mode that the characters in the menu entry are shown in this color as well. - Character: this allows you to choose the character you want to replace the '-' character with if the 'Char' mode is active. - Save: off course you can save your settings. Clicking on the N_MENMIN 1.2 line will give you some information about the programmer. And that is all you have to know about N_MENMIN! I will not go into detail about how this program works. It should work on all ST's, TT's and Falcons and for all resolutions. Note that I am not responsible for the (mis)use of it. As fas as I know there are no bugs in all this, but some strange graphical effects might occur. N_MENMIN is strictly Public Domain, and may not be sold, only copied! Note however that it is copyrighted. Enjoy! Noud van Kruysbergen NICI PO Box 9104 6500 HE Nijmegen The Netherlands email: kruysbergen@nici.kun.nl