Mega CD-ROM 1/megacd_rom_1.zip/megacd_rom_1/MENU/GWM_333.ZIP/GWM.DOC

Text File | 1991-07-13 | 17KB | 395 lines

    Gate Way Menu System -- Sirovy Software
    Version 3.33         Updated - 07/13/91
    =======================================

    Introduction
    ------------
        I was  displeased to say  the least with  most other menu  systems.
    The  majority of  them function  by  using DOS  batch  files called  in
    circular succession.  When one is finished, it calls another.  This one
    in turn will  call it's  predecessor.   This method  is obviously  very
    slow.   Most of these  programs are unusable  because of the  fact that
    they require a lot of study and knowledge of the software and DOS to be
    able to set up a working menu.

        In Gate  Way, I have  eliminated the  confusion of creating  a menu
    file by including a program that will modify the menu  entries for you.
    There is no editing of files, no remembering of special symbols, and no
    fooling around with DOS involved in Gate Way.

        Gate Way was written in Turbo Pascal on an IBM XT compatible with a
    CGA  card  and color  monitor.    Gate Way  stays  resident  while your
    application is executed using 40k for itself.  By using output routines
    that write directly to the screen, it obtains speedy, snow-less output.
    GWM works on all MS-DOS computers I have  been able to test it on.   It
    is compatible with all  types of video cards  including MDA, CGA,  EGA,
    VGA  and  MCGA.   If you  experience  any problems  with compatibility,
    please let me know!


    What is Gate Way?
    -----------------
        Gate  Way  is a  utility that  facilitates  the execution  of other
    programs   with  a  minimum  of   keystrokes.    Each   program  has  a
    corresponding  number on  a menu  from which  you make  your selection.
    (GWM works with floppy disks and networks as well as hard disks.)

        Gate Way was meant to be a step between DOS and the unskilled user,
    keeping all  of DOS'  commands out  of the  user's way.   It  does not,
    however, get in the way of more experienced users; you can exit  GWM at
    any  time.  To execute an application,  simply enter it's number.  When
    it  is finished,  control will  be  returned to  Gate Way.   It's  that
    simple!

        With Gate Way, you can:
          -Personalize the colors & the system title
          -Select the number of entries you desire (Max 90)
          -Control the screen-saver time delay
          -Have a system that ALL can utilize
          -Easily go to and from Dos
          -Leave your computer on, knowing the screen is protected
          -Have a nice looking menu program at home, office, or school
          -Have instant access to any file on your disk(s)
          -Easily modify menu entries







    OVERVIEW : Installing Gate Way
    ------------------------------
        The files that are included in the archive are:
    GWM.EXE      - The main program
    GWM_DATA.EXE - The data file editor
    GWM.DOC      - This file

        Also used:
    GWM_DATA.DAT - The data file (created during initial session)
    GWM_DATA.LPT - Print out of menu configuration (from menu editor)

        Place the two .EXE files in either your DOS directory or some other
    directory that  is included in the PATH.  If  you do not use PATH, then
    simply place  these files in the  root directory.  Make  sure they both
    are in the same directory.

        The data file is  created when you initially run GWM  and is set up
    for  use with  a  monochrome monitor.    Using GWM_DATA.EXE  (the  menu
    editor) you can modify these to suit your needs.

        To run Gate Way  for the first time, at  the DOS prompt type  'GWM'
    and hit <ENTER>.  This will execute Gate Way and you will be faced with
    an empty menu.   To create or edit the menu,  press the 'M' key and hit
    <ENTER>.  This will execute  the editor which allows you to  enter your
    selections as well as change the colors, etc..


    Using GWM_DATA.EXE (the editor)
    -------------------------------
        There are five options available from  the main screen.  The  first
    is the  editor.  With  it you  can add or  change entries.   The second
    option will  allow you  to configure  GWM.  Number  three will  print a
    report  of the  current  menu configuration  to  the  printer or  to  a
    diskette file.   The fourth option  will save the  changes to the  data
    file and  exit the program.   Option number five will  exit the program
    without saving any changes.

    MODIFYING ENTRIES
    -----------------
        If  you select  option one,  you are presented  with a  screen that
    resembles the actual  menu screen.  This is known  as WYSIWYG (What You
    See Is What You  Get).  You may use the arrow keys  as you would on the
    menu screen.

    EDITING ENTRIES
        Highlight the entry to be  modified either by using the  arrow keys
    or type the corresponding number and  press <ENTER>.  Now press 'e' and
    <ENTER>  to bring up the  edit window.  You may  also bring up the edit
    window by just hitting <ENTER> on the desired entry.   This window will
    pop up to show the three fields of that entry.








        The three categories for each entry that you can modify are:

    DESCRIPTION :  This is the description of the application that the user
    will see on the menu.  The description field can be 30 characters long.
    (See the  sample menu for ideas  on how to set  up a menu).   To create
    menu entries that  are not visible  to the end  user, simply leave  the
    description blank and add only the path and file name.

    PATH : This field states the path that the application  resides in.  If
    not  included, the  current  drive  and  root  directory  (e.g.  'C:\')
    designators are implied and automatically added to the path you supply.

    To have GWM execute a file that resides on another disk, just enter the
    FULL path  name, including the drive  designator of that program.   For
    example, if C: is the current drive (the one GWM is on), and you wanted
    to run a program that is  located on drive D: in path \LANGUAGE\PASCAL,
    you  would  enter  'D:\LANGUAGE\PASCAL'.    Entering '\LANGUAGE\PASCAL'
    alone would cause GWM to look on drive C: for the file.

    FILE NAME : The last field is the actual program name itself.  You must
    include the  extension as well as  the file name because  Gate Way will
    search  for the program name DIRECTLY.   You can force  GWM to have DOS
    execute the  application by including an  '*' in the field.   If you do
    so, DOS will  try to match  the extension itself  (ie: .COM, .EXE,  and
    .BAT).  Gate Way will ALWAYS invoke DOS to execute .BATch files.

        You can pass command line parameters to a program by including them
    on the same line as the file name separated by at least one space.  For
    example, if you  have a game that uses color when you include '-C' as a
    parameter, you might enter this for the file name: '3DTTT.EXE  -C'.  Do
    you  want  DOS  to  execute  this  file?     Then  enter:  '3DTTT*'  or
    '3DTTT.EXE*'.

       Some programs flash a small message or a page of information as they
    terminate,  allowing the  user to  read it  while they  sit at  the DOS
    prompt.  If you want Gate Way to pause while you read this information,
    include with the  file name ' '.  This character  is created by hitting
    <CTRL-P> (control and P together).  When you do this, GWM knows to wait
    for a key press after the application terminates.

       NOTE:   If you  have an  application that  uses many  different sub-
    directories for  data, you may have  just one copy of  the main program
    serving each of them.  Just  enter the correct data directory, and then
    give the  name of the main application, with the '*' to execute through
    DOS (which will search the PATH).  Or  you could enter the correct data
    directory, and then give the FULL  path name of the main application in
    the file  name field.   Before the  option to execute  through DOS  was
    offered, you had to have a copy of the main application in EACH of it's
    data directories for Gate Way to call it correctly.








        There are many functions  available to be used in  beautifying your
    menu.  The majority of these are "block oriented".  This means that you
    must  first select  the block of  menu entries  you wish  to work with.
    This is done by using the F9 and F10 keys.

        Position the cursor  bar at the  entry to be  the beginning of  the
    block and hit F9.   Now move the cursor  bar to the desired end  of the
    block and hit F10.  A block may cover more than one page.  The selected
    block may now be acted upon.

        INSERT :  This command is NOT  a block command; it  will prompt you
    for the number  of blank entries to insert.   WARNING:  ENTRIES  AT THE
    END OF THE MENU WILL  BE PUSHED OFF THE  END (LOST) IF YOU INSERT  MORE
    ENTRIES THAN THERE ARE BLANK ENTRIES LEFT.

        ALPHABETIZE : This  option does just what it sounds  like.  It will
    alphabetize all entries in a marked block in ascending order, according
    to the ASCII sequences.  Numbers  and punctuation marks will be  placed
    before characters.

        DELETE : This  will erase the  entries in the  block and "pull  up"
    entries below the block.

        CLEAR  : Exactly like DELETE except that  it will not "pull up" the
    remaining entries.

        MOVE : You are able to move more than  one entry with this feature.
    After you mark the block, place the cursor bar on the entry you wish to
    move the block to.  It is moved, and the old block is deleted.







    *** Some hints on menu development
    ----------------------------------

    -> 1.   ** Dos / Utility **          -> 16.   ** Terminal Programs **
       2. Disk Tools                        17. Telix 3.15
       3. Memory Mapper                     18. ScottComm 1.1
       4. File Utilities                    19. AnyTerm
       5.                                   20.
       6.                                   21.
    -> 7.   ** Programming Languages **     22.
       8. Basic                          -> 23.   ** Games **
       9. Turbo Pascal 5.0                  24. Bagels
      10. Turbo Pascal 5.5                  25. Solitaire (Casino)
      11. Turbo Pascal 6.0                  26. Solitaire (Standard)
      12. Borland C++  2.0                  27. Black Jack
      13. Turbo C      2.0                  28. Cribbage
      14.                                   29. Pac-Man (PD version)
      15.                                   30. Pc Pool

    The above format is nice  because you can easily find what  you want by
    category. The  'category headers'  (signified by  the arrows)  are only
    entries  with NO  path and  NO filename.   When  an entry  that  has NO
    filename is selected, the user is given an error message.

         You  can also  opt to have  a 'sloppy'  menu, with  each entry one
    right after another to use all 90 entries.

         As an example,  option number  eleven on the  above sample  screen
    would be entered as such:

                       Description of file: 'Turbo Pascal 5.0'

                         Path name of file: 'C:\LANGUAGE\TP5'

                         Full name of file: 'turbo.exe myfile.pas'

     You  would fill  in the data  fields just  as seen  (without the quote
    marks).  GWM will adjust the path field to all caps and will adjust the
    file name to caps, leaving any parameters in whatever case  you entered
    them.


    CONFIGURING GWM
    ---------------
        This next set of options  is self explanatory.  Each of  these have
    their own online help to follow.

        You can:
           -Alter GWM's colors
           -Set the screen blank delay
           -Enter your own system title
           -Set the maximum number of entries (Max 90)







    PRINTING MENU CONFIGURATION
    ---------------------------
         If you  have a need to, you may print out your menu configuration.
    This will  be handy for setting  up multiple systems for  use with GWM.
    If many changes are to be made to a menu, either keep a backup  copy on
    disk of the current configuration or print out this list.

         When you choose option '3' and  hit <ENTER> from the main  screen,
    you are given the choice to print  the file to Disk or to the  Printer.
    Press 'D' or 'P' respectively.  Make sure the printer  is turned on and
    is online before doing so.

         The  output will show things  like the system  title, screen blank
    delay,  maximum number of pages, etc..   It will have two rows per menu
    selection because of the length of the entries.

         When printing to  disk file, the file will be  located in the same
    directory that the GWM files are found.

    SAVING CHANGES
    --------------
         If you  are happy with  the current setup, choose  option '4' from
    the main  screen to Exit and  Save Configuration.  All  changes will be
    saved to disk and active upon return to GWM.

         If you have made some mistakes and don't want to save the changes,
    choose option '5' to Exit and NOT Save Configuration.







    Using GWM.EXE
    -------------
    To run Gate Way, just type 'GWM'  and hit <ENTER> at the command line.
    If  you would like your system to have  Gate Way start at boot up, just
    include  'GWM' as the last statement in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file.   If you
    do not  have an autoexec.bat file, consult  your DOS manual on creating
    one.

        GWM will  read in  the data  file and  then show  the list of  menu
    entries on the screen.  If more than one page of entries are available,
    you can  type 'N' or hit <PAGE  DOWN> to see the  next page of options.
    'P' or  <PAGE UP> will  bring back the previous  page.  The  <HOME> key
    will place  the selector bar on the first line  of the current page and
    <END>' will place it on the last.

        Pressing 'D' (and  return) will execute  a Dos Shell  (COMMAND.COM)
    AND start you out in the directory of the application that the selector
    bar  was on.  To return to GWM,  just enter 'EXIT' and press <ENTER> at
    the DOS prompt.

        To run the menu builder (GWM_DATA.EXE), hit 'M'.

        When you  are ready to  leave GWM,  just type 'Q'  and you will  be
    returned to DOS.

        When you wish to run one of the selections, just type in the number
    that is shown  to the  left of it  OR position the  cursor bar over  it
    (using  the arrow  keys to move  about).   Press <ENTER>  when you have
    selected a program  and GWM will execute it.   When that application is
    finished, you will be returned to GWM.







    DISCLAIMERS AND ASSORTED BORING TOPICS...

         Gate Way Menu Systems is (C) Copyright 1988-91 by Sirovy Software.
         Gate Way and GWM are NOT trademarks of Sirovy Software, yet.
         Turbo Pascal, Turbo C,  and Borland C++ are trademarks  of Borland
         International.

    It is with tongue-in-cheek that I say this:

    THE AUTHOR OF GATE WAY MENUS CANNOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE  FOR ANY LOSSES
    OR DAMAGES  TO ANY COMPUTER  SYSTEM IT IS  EXECUTED ON OR  ANY SOFTWARE
    USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH IT.  THIS PRODUCT IS OFFERED AS IS.

    As the author, I  am under NO obligation to support this program in any
    way.  (However, due to my good nature I most likely will.)

    Credit where credit is due:
      Use of FASTWRITE routines in assembly/pascal : Brian Foley

    Testing on different computers / video cards and for errors:
      Steven T. Murphy (TRIOPSYS Corp.)

    Parting words...
    -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

         If you  have any questions  or comments, I  can be reached  on the
    Internet: [e-mail]
    and the RIME/RelayNet in the C Language Conference.

         I also am on the following bulletin board:

         Terrapin Station (Minneapolis, MN)
         [phone] 3/12/24/9600, 24 hrs

         Please  include the  version  number of  GWM  that you  have,  and
    pertinent information about your computer system.


    Thank you and God Bless,

    Scott M. Sirovy

    Sirovy Software
    16235 Garner Ave Ct
    Rosemount, MN 55068