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THE HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM USER GUIDE Version 5.03 July 1995 MicroFox Company Post Office Box 447 Richfield OH 44286-0447 U.S.A. Developed by Jim Hass, MicroFox Company Copyright (c) 1986-1995 by Jim Hass The Hard Disk Menu System (HDM) is the "push-button-easy" menu system you need to simplify your computer. Once HDM is set up, you start programs and commands with a press of one or two keys. HDM is: * Compatible * Fast * Powerful * Flexible * Network-Ready * Affordable HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 ORDER INFORMATION...............................................8 HDM LICENSE AND DISCLAIMER......................................8 ABOUT THIS MANUAL...............................................8 HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE...........................................9 Step-By-Step Procedures....................................10 DOS Commands...............................................10 GETTING STARTED................................................11 What Is Shareware?.........................................11 WHY USE HDM?...................................................12 Compatible.................................................13 Powerful...................................................13 Flexible...................................................13 Networkable................................................13 Affordable.................................................13 SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS............................................14 System Memory & Hard Disk Space............................14 Key Files..................................................14 INSTALLING AND STARTING HDM....................................14 Three Easy Steps...........................................14 Setting Up HDM and AUTOEXEC.BAT............................15 Running HDM................................................16 Starting HDM...........................................16 Exiting HDM............................................16 Returning to HDM.......................................17 Configuring HDM............................................17 On-Line Help...............................................18 USING HDM......................................................18 The Structure Of HDM.......................................19 Opening The Top Menu.......................................20 Selecting A Menu Entry.....................................20 Creating Menu Entries......................................21 Manually building a menu entry.........................22 Auto-building a menu entry.............................23 Using Tilde (~) and Braces ({ }) in a Menu Action..........24 Modifying Menu Entries.....................................24 Changing a menu entry..................................24 Copying a menu entry...................................25 Deleting a menu entry..................................25 Moving a menu entry....................................26 Swapping two menu entries..............................26 Displaying Menu Actions....................................26 Saving Your Changes........................................27 Undoing Your Changes.......................................27 Menu Action Macros.........................................27 Creating menu action macros............................28 Using sophisticated macros.............................29 Modifying Menu Pages.......................................31 Compressing a menu page................................31 Deleting a menu page...................................31 Copying a menu page....................................32 Changing the name of a menu page.......................32 Swapping two menu pages................................32 MicroFox Company Page 2 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 Utility Menu Entries.......................................33 Tracking Activity..........................................33 Security And Networks......................................33 CUSTOMIZING HDM................................................33 Changing The Look Of HDM...................................34 Window border lines....................................34 Screen colors..........................................34 Top line display.......................................36 Lines inside the user menu and page index..............36 Menu screen design.....................................37 Screen background......................................39 Date and time Settings.................................39 Global Settings............................................39 Exit to DOS confirmation...............................40 Hide empty menu pages..................................40 Hide empty menu entries................................40 Keep cursor on page....................................40 Project name...........................................41 Display security levels................................41 Log off confirmation...................................42 Automatic Executions.......................................42 Timed execution........................................42 Log on execution.......................................43 HDM startup execution..................................44 Inactive execution.....................................45 Log off execution......................................45 Changing The Keyboard And Mouse Cursors....................46 Blinking cursor rate...................................46 Mouse sensitivity......................................46 Modem Setup................................................47 Screen Saver...............................................47 HDM's screen blanker...................................47 Using a different screen saver.........................48 Adding Your Own Logo.......................................48 Home-Made Help.............................................49 Extended Home-Made Help....................................49 STARTUP OPTIONS................................................49 On the HDM Command Line....................................50 Table of Startup Switches..................................50 HDM Environment Variable...................................52 Other Environment Variables................................52 USING MENU ACTION FUNCTIONS....................................53 Tilde (~) And Braces ({ }) In Menu Actions.................53 Order Of Evaluation........................................54 Functions Inside Of Functions..............................54 FUNCTION REFERENCE.............................................55 &#, {&#} or {&# parameter1 ... parameter9}.................55 &&#, {&&#}, or {&&# parameter1 ... parameter9}.............55 %# or {%#}.................................................56 %0 or {%0}.................................................58 ~ (Tilde)..................................................58 ! (Exclamation Point)......................................59 MicroFox Company Page 3 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 || (Double Vertical Line)..................................59 @@batch-file...............................................60 {?}, {??}, {?prompt} or {??prompt}.........................61 {%environment variable%}...................................63 {BEEP}.....................................................63 {BEEP!}....................................................64 {CANCEL}...................................................64 {CK drive-letter~ready~not-ready}..........................64 {CKDIR directory~found~not-found}..........................65 {CKFILE filename~found~not-found}..........................66 {CKVOL volume-label~found~not-found}.......................66 {COLOR foreground background}..............................67 {CONFIRM prompt} or {CONFIRM prompt~seconds~Y/N}...........68 {CURSOR start-line end-line}...............................68 {DEFAULT reply-to-prompt}..................................69 {DELAY #}..................................................70 {DIAL [bps~modem-cmd1~...modem-cmd15~] phone-number}.......71 {DIR} or {DIR title~path\mask~sort}........................72 {DIR!} or {DIR! title~path\mask~sort}......................72 {DRIVE disk-drive-letter}..................................74 {ERR error-message}........................................74 {EXEC} or {EXEC title~path~sort}...........................75 {EXEC!} or {EXEC! title~path~sort}.........................75 {EXEN} or {EXEN title~path~sort}...........................75 {EXEN!} or {EXEN! title~path~sort}.........................75 {EXIT} or {QUIT}...........................................76 {FILE} or {FILE title~path\mask~sort}......................77 {FILE!} or {FILE! title~path\mask~sort}....................77 {FILN} or {FILN title~path\mask~sort}......................77 {FILN!} or {FILN! title~path\mask~sort}....................77 {GETPROJECT}...............................................78 {IF var1=var2~true~false}..................................79 {KEY k1 k2 ... k15}........................................79 {KEY! k1 k2 ... k15}.......................................79 {LIST filename}............................................81 {LOGOFF}...................................................82 {MENU ###~p#~}.............................................82 {MSG attention-message}....................................83 {NOCLEAR}..................................................84 {PROJECT}..................................................84 {REBOOT}...................................................85 {RETURN}...................................................85 {RUN program/command/batch-file}...........................86 {RUN! program/command/batch-file}..........................86 {SELDEF number}............................................87 {SELECT MenuTitle~Choice1~...~Choice15}....................87 {VSELECT MenuTitle~Choice1~...~Choice15}...................87 {SETPROJECT project-data}..................................88 {STEP}.....................................................89 {USER}.....................................................89 {USERSEC}..................................................90 TRACKING PROJECTS AND PEOPLE...................................91 MicroFox Company Page 4 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 Using HDM.LOG..............................................91 Viewing HDM.LOG............................................92 Tracking Projects..........................................92 Using {GETPROJECT} to enter a project name.............93 Using {PROJECT} to retrieve a project name.............93 Using {SETPROJECT} with project names..................94 Creating Reports...........................................94 Loading The Report Module..............................94 Using Filters..............................................95 Creating a filtered log file...........................95 Saving a filtered log file.............................96 Designing Reports..........................................97 Working with report formats............................97 Using a report filter..................................98 Displaying your report.................................98 Printing your report...................................99 Saving your report.....................................99 ADDING SECURITY...............................................100 Selecting Your Level Of Security..........................100 An open system........................................100 A secure system.......................................100 Security By The Numbers...................................100 Creating Security Levels..................................102 Getting started.......................................102 Adding Users..............................................103 Getting started.......................................103 User ID security table................................104 Listing users at logon time...........................104 Changing your password at logon time..................104 Restricting Access........................................105 Hierarchy Of Security.....................................105 Hiding the top menu...................................105 Restricting access to the top menu....................106 Restricting access to pull-down menu entries..........106 Restricting access to the user menu...................107 Protecting your menu file.............................108 Removing Security.........................................108 Resetting user menu levels............................108 Run Time Passwords........................................109 Back Door Password........................................110 USING HDM ON A NETWORK........................................110 Separate X.BAT Files......................................110 A different directory.................................111 A different file name.................................111 Sharing Local And Network Menu Files......................112 Automated Logins..........................................113 Automatic Logouts.........................................113 Other Tips................................................114 HDM MENU STRUCTURE............................................114 Pull-Down Menu Commands...................................114 MENU (Alt-M)..............................................116 Add Entry (Ins).......................................116 MicroFox Company Page 5 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 Change Entry (F2).....................................116 Duplicate Entry (F4)..................................116 Erase Entry (Del).....................................116 Insert Entry (F5).....................................116 Move Entry (F6).......................................117 Switch Entries (F8)...................................117 PAGE (Alt-P)..............................................117 Compress Page (Ctrl-F1)...............................117 Erase Page (Ctrl-F2)..................................117 Import Page (Ctrl-F3).................................117 Name Page (Ctrl-F4)...................................117 Switch Pages (Ctrl-F5)................................117 SECURITY (Alt-S)..........................................117 Set Security (Alt-F1).................................117 Page Security Level (Alt-F2)..........................117 All User Menu Entries (Alt-F3)........................117 File Change Protection (Alt-F4).......................118 Top & Pull-Down Menus (Alt-F5)........................118 Hide/Disable Top Menu (Alt-F6)........................118 Log Off Automatically (Alt-F7)........................118 Master Password Table (Alt-F8)........................118 User ID Security Table (Alt-F9).......................118 LOCAL (Alt-L).............................................119 Action Display (Shift-F1).............................119 Border Lines (Shift-F2)...............................119 Change Colors (Shift-F3)..............................119 Date/Top Menu (Shift-F4)..............................119 Menu Macros: & (Shift-F5).............................119 Page Window (Shift-F6)................................119 Screen Display (Shift-F7).............................119 Title Window (Shift-F8)...............................120 Wallpaper (Shift-F9)..................................120 GLOBAL (Alt-G)............................................120 Alter Utility Menu (Alt-1)............................120 Cursor/Mouse Speed (Alt-2)............................120 Date/Time Settings (Alt-3)............................120 Global Settings (Alt-4)...............................120 Inactive Execution (Alt-5)............................121 Menu Macros (&&) (Alt-6)..............................121 Phone Parameters (Alt-7)..............................121 Set Screen Blanker (Alt-8)............................121 Timed Execution (Alt-9)...............................121 EXIT (Alt-X)..............................................121 DOS Window (F9).......................................121 Log Off User ID (F7)..................................122 Prior Menu File (Esc).................................122 Write File (*)........................................122 Exit HDM (F3).........................................122 Utility Menu (Ctrl-F9)................................122 New Project (Ctrl-F10)................................122 Reports (Shift-F10)...................................122 APPENDIX A: OVERVIEW OF DOS...................................123 MicroFox Company Page 6 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 Popular Terms.............................................123 DOS: From The Command Line................................124 APPENDIX B: IMPORTANT TABLES..................................125 HDM Keystrokes And Key Combinations.......................125 Startup Switches..........................................130 DOS Environment Variables.................................132 Picking Colors............................................132 Choices For The {KEY} Function............................133 APPENDIX C: COMMON QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS......................134 APPENDIX D: ERROR MESSAGES....................................138 APPENDIX E: TECHNICAL SUPPORT.................................141 Program Distribution......................................142 HDM Updates...............................................142 APPENDIX F: NEW FEATURES......................................142 New And Improved Functions................................143 New And Improved Startup Switches.........................145 New And Improved Pull-Down Menus..........................145 New And Improved Editing Keys.............................147 Other New Features........................................147 APPENDIX G: ORDER FORM........................................149 Credit Cards..............................................150 Orders From Outside The United States.....................151 Canada................................................151 All other countries...................................151 Notice To New Users.......................................151 How To Contact Us.........................................151 MicroFox Company Page 7 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 ORDER INFORMATION For additional information on licensing the Hard Disk Menu System, see the order form in Appendix G or contact: MicroFox Company Voice and Fax (216) 659-9489 PO Box 447 Electronic Mail to: Jim Hass Richfield OH 44286-0447 via CompuServe 73057,3113 USA Internet 73057.3113@compuserve.com HDM LICENSE AND DISCLAIMER The Hard Disk Menu System is the copyrighted property of Jim Hass. MicroFox Company grants you a limited, non-exclusive license to use this copy of HDM. You do not have the right to transfer the title of ownership nor do you have the right to copyright any of these materials. The author makes no representations or warranties with respect to the contents hereof and specifically disclaims any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose. Further, the author reserves the right to revise this publication and to make changes from time to time in the content hereof without obligation of the author to notify any person or organization of such revision or changes. ABOUT THIS MANUAL This user manual was written and designed by Jim and Laura Hass. For more information, please contact MicroFox Company. Copyright 1986-1995, Jim Hass (MicroFox Company). All rights reserved world wide. CompuServe is a registered trademark of CompuServe Inc. dBase is a registered trademark of Borland International. Novell and WordPerfect are registered trademarks of Novell Corp. IBM is a registered trademark of IBM Corp. Lotus and 1-2-3 are registered trademarks of Lotus Development. Microsoft, MS-DOS are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corp. Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corp. NDOS is a registered trademark of Symantec Corp. MicroFox Company Page 8 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE Thank you for choosing the Hard Disk Menu System. You've taken the first step toward making your computing easier and more efficient. With a keystroke or two, you'll be able to start your favorite programs. If you are unfamiliar with DOS, we recommend you read Appendix A: "Overview of DOS". Before you continue, you should be familiar with the following conventions: MENU CHOICES: This program accesses pull-down menus. However, you can also access the same menus from "shortcut" keys. NOTE: For your convenience, this manual lists the shortcut keys for each pull-down menu choice in parentheses. KEYSTROKES: Throughout this documentation, we mention key combinations such as "Ctrl-F10" and "Alt-M." This means to HOLD DOWN the first key and PRESS the second. Remember that F1-F12 are the special function keys found on the top or left side of your keyboard. For example, F1 is NOT the two keys "F" and "1". OTHER KEYS: The Hard Disk Menu System uses other keys to do certain functions. They are: * Esc (Escape key) - exits from a menu/window or cancels changes. If using a mouse, press the right mouse button instead of Esc. * Up/Down arrows - move the cursor from one line or menu choice to the next. * Home - jumps the cursor to the start of a line or menu. * End - jumps the cursor to the end of a line or menu. * F1 - displays the Help menu and screens. * F10 - displays the Top Menu where all pull-down menus are located. * Alt-F10 - displays the last used pull-down menu. NOTE: All keystrokes and key combinations for HDM are listed in a table in Appendix B. MOUSE SUPPORT: HDM fully supports Microsoft and Logitech compatible mice. To "click" on an object on the menu screen, move the mouse MicroFox Company Page 9 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 block pointer to one of the "hot spots" listed below. Then, press the left mouse button. Pressing the right mouse button always cancels the current procedure, just like pressing the Escape (Esc) key. Most newer mouse drivers will allow you to reverse the actions of these two buttons. * Click on any entry in the HDM main screen, Top Menu, pull-down menus, or any other menu using the left button to start that entry. * Click on any key assignment at the bottom of the screen or at the bottom of any window to perform the action of that key. * Click on the top Date/Time line to open the Top Menu. * Click on the upper right corner of the screen for Help. * Click outside an open window to close it or just press the right mouse button no matter where the mouse cursor is located. * Click on the up or down arrows to move the cursor bar up or down the menu entries. Click on the left or right arrows to move the cursor bar through the Page Index. * You can adjust the vertical and horizontal motion sensitivity of the mouse from the Global pull-down menu. Step-By-Step Procedures Step-by-step procedures are marked by a heading preceded by two exclamation points (!!) and usually the word "To." An example of how a procedure looks is: !! To understand a procedure: DOS Commands Commands are usually preceded by the words "At the DOS prompt:" and consist of a command followed by the phrase "(press Enter)", which means to press the Enter key. (The Enter key is the L-shaped key found on the right side of your keyboard). Here's an example: DIR (press Enter) MicroFox Company Page 10 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 GETTING STARTED The Hard Disk Menu System, or HDM, is a powerful yet flexible menuing system. It puts a friendly face on the Disk Operating System, or DOS. Yet, HDM is NOT a terminate-and-stay-resident (TSR) program. All memory is always available to your programs. This program was first developed in Basic in 1982 by Jim Hass. In 1986, HDM II (rewritten in Turbo Pascal) became a shareware, or "try-before-you-buy" program. Registered users receive a published, illustrated and fully indexed version of this manual, a license for the number of copies registered, and the latest version of this software. They also receive additional programs from MicroFox, technical support by phone, mail, fax, Internet, and CompuServe, and are the first to receive notices of major upgrades to HDM. What Is Shareware? The user supported software concept (also known as "Shareware") is an attempt to provide quality software at low cost. Both the user and author benefit from this plan. The user will benefit by being able to "test drive" software thoroughly before purchasing it. The author benefits by being able to enter the commercial software market while avoiding the high cost of commercial distribution. This concept helps many independent authors and small companies that otherwise would be discouraged from developing and promoting their ideas. It can only work with your support. If you obtain a user supported program from a friend and are still using it after a few weeks, then it is obviously worth something to you, and a registration fee should be paid. This software is distributed under the user supported software concept. Though HDM is copyrighted, you are encouraged to copy and distribute this program to others. You are granted a 30-day limited license to test drive the Hard Disk Menu. After the 30 day trial period a registration fee is required for continued use of HDM or else you must stop using the Hard Disk Menu and remove it from your system. See Appendix G for more information about registering HDM. MicroFox Company Page 11 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 WHY USE HDM? Using DOS can be frustrating. When you start your computer, the screen is blank except for the DOS command line, which may look as bare as this: C:\> Typing the commands that tell DOS what you'd like it to do can be cryptic and confusing. For example, here's a command to simply copy a file from one subdirectory to another and verify the copying went smoothly: COPY C:\WP\LET\PCR\WORD.REV C:\WP\MISC\ /V (press Enter) The Hard Disk Menu System, or HDM, doesn't require you to "speak" the DOS language. HDM is an easy-to-use DOS shell (or menu system) that runs on top of DOS. This helps the person unfamiliar with DOS without slowing the more proficient user. Like a restaurant menu, HDM gives you a way to choose quickly what you want to do. HDM bypasses DOS so computing is enjoyable and useful. However, the Hard Disk Menu System is not a memory-resident program. When you run a program using HDM, HDM gets out of memory completely so that all system RAM (random access memory) is available to your program. When your program finishes, HDM is automatically called back into memory. HDM has virtually unlimited potential. You can have up to 1,000 menu files containing 26 menu pages each. Each menu page can have up to 10 menu entries. Altogether, HDM allows you to choose from up to 260,000 entries. You use the Hard Disk Menu System in two ways: You simply can use the menus that someone has already created or design your own, either automatically or manually. HDM is "push-button easy." Once set up, HDM lets you start programs and organize your files with a press of one or two keys. For example, you could press the letter "S" and "1" to start your spreadsheet program and load your budget worksheet. Thousands of customers find HDM: * Compatible * Flexible * Powerful * Fast * Networkable * Affordable MicroFox Company Page 12 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 Compatible * Runs any DOS or Microsoft Windows application, including memory-resident programs (TSRs). * Compatible with monochrome, Hercules, CGA, EGA, VGA, XGA, etc. * Compatible with MS-DOS, PC-DOS, DR-DOS, NDOS and 4DOS. Powerful * Allows you to design up to 260,000 menu entries and 1000 menu files, plus a 15 entry popup menu available any time. * Stack many programs, batch files, DOS commands, special built-in functions and macros in a single menu entry. * Point-and-shoot mouse control. * Built-in screen-blanker with custom message. * Requires no memory (NOT A TSR!). * Include file and directory lists with menu entries. * Passes keystrokes to programs. Flexible * Set defaults and prompts the user for input, directories and file names or popup a pick list of files and directories. * Reorganize menu pages and entries easily as your needs change. * Customize colors, borders, menus, windows and help screens. * Extensive on-line help that can be completely customized. * Temporarily exit to DOS or use the DOS window. * Inactive and timed execution to run programs automatically. * Built-in phone dialer for Hayes-compatible modems. * Customizable logo screen, title lines, menu index & entries. * Builds menus automatically with Auto Build and File Search. Networkable * Built-in network support with local and remote menus. * Multi-level security for commands, menus and users and optional passwords for individual menu entries. * Provide multiple user log-on IDs with optional password protection and unique or common user menus. * Log activity and report usage of users, programs and projects. Affordable * Network, educational, corporate and site licenses available. * Technical support by phone, fax, mail, Internet and CompuServe. * Purchasing information: 216-659-9489 VISA and MasterCard (EuroCard/Access) gladly accepted. MicroFox Company Page 13 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS System Memory & Hard Disk Space The Hard Disk Menu System requires: * Only 320K of RAM when displayed, no RAM when menu entry runs * IBM PC/XT/AT, PS/1, PS/2, 286/386/486, Pentium or compatible * PC-DOS/MS-DOS 2.0 or later, and all DR-DOS/Novell DOS systems * Monochrome, Hercules, CGA, EGA, VGA, SVGA, XGA video adapters * Maximum of 512K of disk space for complete system (plus DOCs) HDM Optional Support: If desired, you can use HDM with any Microsoft, Logitech or compatible mouse, or other pointing device. HDM supports common networks like Novell, 3COM, Banyan, Token-Ring, Lantastic, etc. Key Files HDM relies on these primary files: * HDM.BAT: the batch file that starts the HDM system. * HDM.CFG: the file that contains HDM's current configuration. * HDM.GBL: the file that contains global variables & settings. * HDM.000-HDM.999: HDM menu files. * HDM4DOS.EXE: the main executable program file. * HDMHELP.EXE: the HDM help file. * HDMLIST.EXE: the HDM Report Module. * HDMDIAL.EXE: the HDM phone dialer. * X.BAT: a temporary work file used to run menu entries, also returns to HDM from the DOS prompt. (can be renamed) INSTALLING AND STARTING HDM Installing and using HDM is very easy following the steps below. Three Easy Steps To use HDM, follow these steps: 1. Install HDM onto your computer. 2. Run HDM.BAT from the HDM directory. 3. Customize your menu entries and HDM options. MicroFox Company Page 14 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 Setting Up HDM and AUTOEXEC.BAT !! To install HDM: 1. Put the diskette in your disk drive (we'll assume drive A). 2. Type the following: A:INSTALL (press Enter) NOTE: If you are using your second floppy disk drive, use "B:" instead of "A:". If you got HDM from a BBS or CD-ROM you can install from any drive and directory. If you have a previous version of HDM, the Install saves all your previous settings. 3. If your disk has multiple MicroFox Install files (*.INS), a list of those files is displayed. Choose the HDM file. 4. The INSTALL logo appears. Accept the default installation directory (C:\HDM) or change the displayed drive/directory to your own choice. Press Enter to begin the installation. 5. Decide if HDM should start automatically. If you want HDM to start every time you turn on your computer, you need an AUTOEXEC.BAT (or startup) file. The last two lines of the AUTOEXEC.BAT file should read: CD \hdm HDM where "\hdm" is the directory where you instructed HDM to be installed. The Install program can add these lines for you. With your permission, Install will look for the AUTOEXEC.BAT file and change it. If one is not found, Install will create one for you. The program also adds the HDM directory to your PATH statement so the X.BAT file - which is used to return to HDM after a menu choice is run - can be easily found. Below is a sample AUTOEXEC.BAT modified by the Install program: ECHO OFF PROMPT $P$G PATH C:\;C:\DOS;C:\HDM CD \HDM HDM If you are using DOS (disk operating system) older than version 3.30, HDM uses COMMAND.COM (or 4DOS/NDOS) to run batch files. If COMMAND.COM is in your root (main) directory, then add the following to your AUTOEXEC.BAT before starting HDM: MicroFox Company Page 15 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 PATH c:\ where "c:\" is the path to where your COMMAND.COM file is located. If you use DOS 3.30 or greater, the above path command is not necessary because the DOS CALL command will be used to run batch files instead of COMMAND.COM. 6. Start HDM. After HDM is installed, you can immediately start HDM and begin using it. Running HDM If you allowed the Install program to modify your AUTOEXEC.BAT file, HDM will begin every time you start your computer. If you just installed HDM, you'll need to restart your computer so it can be loaded automatically. Otherwise, use the next procedure: Starting HDM The HDM program must be started from the directory that contains the HDM files. !! To start HDM: 1. Change to the directory where HDM was installed: Type: CD \hdm (press Enter) where "hdm" is the name of the directory where HDM was installed. HDM is the default directory. 2. Type: HDM (press Enter) This starts the HDM program. The opening screen of HDM features the HDM logo and registration information. You can change this logo to your own by creating a HDM.HDR logo/header file. For more information, see the "Customizing HDM" chapter and the installed sample logo/header file HDMDEMO.HDR. Press any key to continue to the main HDM screen. Exiting HDM !! To exit HDM: 1. Press F10 to open the Top Menu. 2. Press "X" to open the Exit menu. MicroFox Company Page 16 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 3. Press "X" to exit HDM or move your cursor to the choice "eXit HDM" and press Enter. NOTE: A quicker way to exit is to press the shortcut key: F3. Returning to HDM After you've exited HDM, you can quickly return using the batch file called X.BAT. The X.BAT file is called the temporary work file because it keeps track of what you were working on in HDM before you exited. The X.BAT is also an important tool used to run your menu selection and to return you to the spot from which you ran that menu selection. !! To return to HDM: 1. From the DOS prompt, type: X (press Enter) X.BAT runs, returning you to HDM. NOTE: Network users may be especially interested in the "SET X=" environment variable. With it, users can have temporary work files with unique names, instead of "X.BAT". See the "Using HDM on a Network" chapter for this and other tips on using HDM with a network. Configuring HDM You can configure HDM when you start by either adding extra parameters (or switches) after the word "HDM" or using DOS environment variables. What can you configure? You can: * Jump to or automatically start a specific menu entry. * Display free disk space for a certain drive. * Tell HDM where a backup copy of the menu file is kept. * Go to a certain directory when you press F3 to exit to DOS. * Specify a global path where HDM's global file is located. * Specify a path where HDM's configuration file is located. * Enable HDM to use up to 16 background and foreground colors. * Disable the date and time from being constantly updated on the HDM screens. * Bypass the HDM logo screen or display your own logo screen. * Keep track of what you or others use in HDM in a special log. * Load a specific menu file instead of the default HDM.000. * Save keystrokes from the DOS keyboard buffer for use with HDM. * Change the color and character of the screen border. * Specify the path where the local menu entries and variables are stored. * Read a user ID from the named DOS environment variable to MicroFox Company Page 17 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 automate the user logon procedure. * Increase the speed of the screen. * Set the video mode to monochrome (black and white). * Set the path where HDM's temporary work file is stored. For information on using these switches, see the chapter "Customizing HDM" later in this manual. On-Line Help HDM includes on-line help (on-screen help text) so you can be somewhat free of the documentation. To use it, press F1 or use your mouse to click on the Help choice in the lower left corner. A list of help topics are displayed on the left side of the screen. You can move up and down through the help topics or press the letter of the topic you want to view. The information about that topic will be displayed in the window on the right. NOTE: You can also create your own help screens for menu entries and menu files. In the "Customizing HDM" chapter, we discuss how to do this. The sample demo files A1DEMO.000, HELPDEMO.000 and HELPDEMO.HDM installed in your HDM directory are examples of such customized help. While you are in the help system, you can press F2 to see a list of available HDM documentation files. The HDM help system will list any file with a DOC extension that's in the same directory as the HDMHELP.EXE file. This means you can customize the list of files by moving *.DOC files into and out of that directory. To view information from one of the files, highlight it, then press the Enter key. You can scroll through the file using the arrow keys or click on the scroll bars with your mouse. The Home key takes you to the beginning of a line and the End key takes you to the end (far right) of a line. Ctrl-Home goes to the top of the file (first line) and Ctrl-End goes to the end of the file (last line). Press F2 to send the file to your printer. USING HDM The Hard Disk Menu System has almost unlimited potential. You can have up to 1,000 menu files containing 26 menu pages each. Each menu page can have up to 10 user menu entries. Altogether, HDM allows you to choose from up to 260,000 entries. HDM has three components that make up the user menu entries: * 1000 menu files. MicroFox Company Page 18 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 * 26 menu pages in each menu file. * 10 menu entries in each menu page. When you design a menu file, menu page or menu entry, you provide its description. The Structure Of HDM In the figure below is the basic design of HDM. Date Time Mode ┌──────────────────────────────────────────┐ ┌─│Menu Page Security Local Global Exit │} Top Menu (F10) ┌─│ ├──────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ ├─│ │ ├─│ │ User Defined Title Window │} Title Lines │ │ │ │ │ │ ├───────────────┬──────────────────────────┤ │ ├─│A Page Window │1 Menu Entry Descriptions │ ├─│K│B │2 │ │U│L│C │3 │ │V│M│D │4 │ │W│N│E (26 PAGES) │5 (MENU ENTRIES) │} User Menu │X│O│F (PER FILE) │6 (10 PER PAGE) │ │Y│P│G │7 │ │Z│Q│H │8 │ │ │R│I │9 │ │ │S│J │0 │ │ │T├───────────────┼──────────────────────────┤ │ ├─│ HDM.000 │ █ <--Choice? HDM V.VV │} Version Number ├─│ └─────────^─────┴──────────────────────────┘ │ └───────────│────┴──────────────────────────┘ └─────────────│───┴──────────────────────────┘ │ Current Menu File (HDM.000) HDM allows up to 1000 menu files, HDM.000 through HDM.999. When you start HDM, menu file HDM.000 is displayed unless you specify otherwise from your startup file. Each menu file contains 26 menu pages, one for each letter of the alphabet. The menu pages for HDM.000 are listed on the left side of the screen. The text after each page letter describes that menu page. This list of menu pages is called the Page Index. On the right side of the screen are 10 numbered menu choices for the current menu page. The text after each choice describes that menu entry. This list of menu entries is called the User Menu. MicroFox Company Page 19 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 NOTE: The design of the HDM main menu can be changed so the Page Index is on the right side of the screen. See the chapter "Customizing HDM" for the procedure to change this. At the top of the screen is the Title Box. The Title Box can contain text to describe the menu file or it can contain your name. See the chapter "Customizing HDM" for more information on how to do this. Each menu entry can start a program, run a batch file or execute any DOS command. An entry also can perform multiple steps that can include the possibilities above plus special HDM functions and macros. For example, one menu function checks if a diskette is in the floppy drive. These menu functions are described in detail in the "Using Functions" chapter. Opening The Top Menu Either pressing the F10 or slash key (/) displays a horizontal menu at the top of the screen. Pressing Alt-F10 or the backslash key (\) can be faster since it opens the last pull-down menu used. If you use a mouse, simply click on the top line of the screen. This is called the Top Menu. The Top Menu is used to customize the design and security of HDM. The Top Menu includes the following pull-down menus: Menu, Page, Security, Local, Global and Exit. Below are the choices and what they do: * MENU - adds, changes, deletes, moves, inserts, copies or swaps menu entry descriptions and their associated menu actions, help files, and passwords. When you first use HDM, you use this menu to create menu entries for your applications. * PAGE - renames, copies, switches or removes menu pages. * SECURITY - set up several people to use HDM, such as adding user IDs, security levels and passwords. * LOCAL - customizes HDM for the current menu file, such as colors, border lines, screen, date and time formats, etc. * GLOBAL - customizes HDM for ALL menu files, such as mouse and cursor speed, etc. Also set up global macros and utilities. * EXIT - leaves HDM, temporarily uses a DOS window to run other programs or batch files, prints usage reports, logoff, etc. Selecting A Menu Entry The power of HDM centers around the individual menu entry. The menu entry is the choice that runs your program file, batch file or special HDM function. It also can run a combination of these. In other words, selecting a menu entry causes some specific action to happen. MicroFox Company Page 20 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 You start a menu entry by either pressing its number or moving the cursor to it and pressing the Enter key. If using a mouse, simply point to it and press the left mouse button. Each menu page is limited to 10 menu entries, so you may need to switch to another menu page. You change between the 26 menu pages by pressing the PgUp or PgDn keys to move to the previous or next menu pages, respectively. To go to a specific menu page, press the A through Z keys to go directly to that lettered page. NOTE: HDM will only go to a menu page that has at least one menu entry in it. To go to an empty menu page, you must first add a menu entry to it. If using a mouse, you can point to the menu entry and press the left mouse button to run it. With some HDM pull-down menus, you may need to refer to a specific menu entry on a specific page. A simple two-character style is used for this, the letter of the page followed by the menu entry number. For example, the 4th menu entry of page C would be called "C4". To go to another menu file, you must use the MENU function {MENU ###}. The menu files are numbered from zero to 999. For more information about HDM functions, see the chapter "Using Functions". Creating Menu Entries Each menu entry has two required parts and two optional parts: * Menu description: The menu description is displayed on the screen to describe the menu entry choice to the user. When adding menu entries, you enter the description on the first line of the "Add/Change/Insert Menu Entry" window. The menu description can be up to 48 characters long and it can contain any of the following functions: {Drive d}, {USER}, {USERSEC}, {PROJECT}, and {%env-var%}. * Menu action: The menu action is the part of the menu entry that tells HDM what to do. It contains programs, DOS commands, batch file names, macros, built-in functions, etc. The user of the menu does not see this part of the menu entry. You enter it on the second line of the "Add/Change/Insert Menu Entry" window. It can be up to 255 characters long. * Menu help file: The menu help file is an optional text file that resides in the same directory as the menu file. The user sees this custom help screen when <F1> is pressed. See the MicroFox Company Page 21 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 file A1DEMO.000 for an example of a menu help file. The menu help file is entered on the third line of the entry window. * Menu run password: This optional password is for an individual menu entry and only affects the running of that entry. If you use this password, all users (except those with security level 99) will be required to enter it before the entry will run. This password overrides security levels for running the entry. The menu action can contain anything that you would normally type to run a program or place in a DOS batch file. You also can use special functions and local/global macros that give you additional flexibility and power. These functions are described in detail in the "Using Functions" chapter. You can build a menu action two ways: Manually or Auto-Build it. Manually building a menu entry !! To build a menu entry manually: 1. Select "Add New Entry" (Ins) or "Insert Entry" (F5) from the Menu pull-down menu. 2. Type a number or move your cursor to the empty menu entry (for add) or the existing menu entry (for insert) where you want the new entry, then press Enter. If using a mouse, click on the choice with the mouse pointer. 3. Enter a description of up to 48 characters for the new menu entry and press Enter. 4. Enter the menu action. The menu action can be up to 255 characters long and can contain multiple commands/programs. Each command/program is separated from the others by the tilde (~) character. EXAMPLE: If you were using a batch file that went to your BASIC directory and loaded the programming game GORILLA, then you normally would type: C: (press Enter) CD \BASIC (press Enter) QBASIC GORILLA (press Enter) The equivalent menu action would look like this: C:~CD \BASIC~QBASIC GORILLA~ 5. Press F2 to save your menu entry. MicroFox Company Page 22 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 The menu description you entered now is displayed in the menu entry you added. 6. Now test your menu entry to make sure it performs as desired. Auto-building a menu entry When you add, insert or change a menu action, HDM can build the menu action for you automatically with Auto-Build. !! To auto-build a menu action: 1. Select "Add New Entry" (Ins), "Change Entry" (F2) or "Insert Entry" (F5) from the Menu pull-down menu. 2. Type a number or move your cursor to the menu entry you want to add, change, or insert, then press Enter. If using a mouse, click on the choice with the mouse pointer. 3. Enter a description of up to 48 characters for the menu entry and press Enter. 4. Press F4. A window is displayed in which you type the following: * Drive where your program resides. * Directory where the program is located. * Program name (this must be a file ending in .COM, .EXE, .BAT or .BTM, but you don't include these extensions). * Any extra parameters needed to run the program. EXAMPLE: If you wanted to run Microsoft Windows and load its clock automatically, you would type: Drive: C Directory: \WINDOWS Program: WIN Parameters: CLOCK 5. Fill in the blanks or search for your program. Complete the blanks as required. If you need to search for the program or batch file to run, press F4. HDM displays a list of drives and directories on the highlighted drive. Using the up/down arrows, move the highlight bar to the directory where you think your program is located and press Enter. To speed searching, you can jump to a specific directory or file by pressing the first letter with which it begins. By pressing the letter repeatedly, the cursor highlights the next directory or file that starts with that letter and then starts MicroFox Company Page 23 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 at the top again. Press Enter on the program name to complete the blanks in the Auto-Build window. If you want to change drives, press F4 and move the up/down arrows to a different drive and press Enter. 6. Press F2 to save your menu entry to the action line. The menu action you created is now displayed in the popup window ready to save and use. While automatically creating this action, HDM checks the drive and directory to make sure the program or batch file really exists there. NOTE: If you get a warning message that the file wasn't found, make sure the directory begins with a back slash (\) and that all names are spelled correctly. You can override the warning and save the menu action the way it is by pressing F2. 7. Press F2 to save the new/changed menu entry, then test it. Using Tilde (~) and Braces ({ }) in a Menu Action You may need to use the braces ({ }) or tilde (~) in your menu action for other purposes than for what HDM uses them. However, as seen above, these keys are reserved by HDM. If you need to use any of these characters for other purposes, use these substitutes: To use: Instead use: ======= ============ { Ctrl-Q } Ctrl-P ~ Ctrl-Z These special characters will be converted to the correct characters. Modifying Menu Entries Once made, a menu entry can be modified in several ways. A menu entry can be changed, duplicated, erased, moved to another menu page and swapped with another menu entry. These actions can be done even if the menu entries are on different menu pages. Changing a menu entry NOTE: If the menu entry you want to change has a higher security level than your own, you must enter the password for the higher security level before you can change the menu entry. For more information, see the chapter "Adding Security" later in this MicroFox Company Page 24 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 user's guide. !! To change a menu entry: 1. Select "Change Entry" (F2) from the Menu pull-down menu. 2. Select the menu entry you want to modify. Select the number of the menu entry or highlight it and press Enter. If the menu entry is on a different menu page, press the letter of the menu page and then the number of the menu entry. 3. Edit the description, menu action, and menu help file. If you need help building the menu action, press F4 for the auto-build facility. Then, you can enter just the drive letter, directory, program and parameters; or press F4 a second time to choose an executable file. Then HDM builds the menu for you. 4. Press F2 to save the revised menu entry or press Esc to cancel any changes. To test your changes, press Enter on the menu entry. Copying a menu entry !! To duplicate a menu entry: 1. Select "Duplicate Entry" (F4) from the Menu pull-down menu. 2. Select the menu entry you want to copy. 3. Select the empty menu entry where you want to place the copy. Select the number of the menu entry or highlight it and press Enter. If the menu entry is on a different menu page, press the letter of the menu page and then the number of the menu entry. Deleting a menu entry !! To erase a menu entry: 1. Select "Erase Entry" (Del) from the Menu pull-down menu. 2. Select the menu entry you want to remove. 3. If you want to erase the entry, press Enter. Otherwise, press Esc. The menu entry is erased (menu description, menu action, help file name, password) and the security level of that menu entry reverts back to zero. MicroFox Company Page 25 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 Moving a menu entry !! To move a menu entry: 1. Select "Move Entry" (F6) from the Menu pull-down menu. 2. Select the menu entry you want to move. 3. Select the empty menu entry where you want to place the menu entry. The menu entry is moved. The spot from which you moved the menu entry is left empty and its security level reverts back to zero. Swapping two menu entries !! To switch two menu entries: 1. Select "Switch Entries" (F8) from the Menu pull-down menu. 2. Select one of the two menu entries you want to swap. 3. Select the destination for the menu entry to be swapped. The menu entries are swapped, including their menu descriptions, menu actions, help file names, passwords, and security levels. Displaying Menu Actions Sometimes, you may want to move to various menu entries and view (but not change) their menu actions. Instead of pressing F2, which is used to change that entry, you can use a feature called Action Display. !! To see your menu action: 1. Select "Action Display" from the Local menu (Shift-F1). The title lines in the Title Box at the top of the User Menu are replaced by the menu action of the highlighted menu entry. When you move your cursor to other menu entries, the menu actions for those entries are displayed in the title box. This choice acts as a toggle; choosing it again returns the title box to normal. Seeing your menu actions does not affect HDM performance or operation; you can leave this choice on as long as you'd like. NOTE: If there is sufficient space in the title window when the menu action is displayed, the menu description, security level, MicroFox Company Page 26 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 and an indication that an individual run-time password [iPWD] exists will also be displayed. 2. To return the title box to normal, press Shift-F1 again. Saving Your Changes You normally do not have to save your changes to your entire HDM menu system. Why not? HDM saves your changes automatically whenever you run a menu entry, return to the logo screen, press F1 for help or after one minute of not using the keyboard or mouse. If you want to turn your computer off or reboot it immediately, you may want to save your changes manually, rather than have HDM wait for one minute of inactivity. How do you tell if you have changes to save? An asterisk (*) appears in the lower right corner when there are changes yet to be saved. !! To save your changes manually: 1. Select "Write Menu File" from the Exit menu or press *. All changes made in HDM since the last save to disk are written to your system's disk. Undoing Your Changes HDM lets you undo changes to menus and input fields (areas in which you type text or numbers). For menus, you can undo your changes by pressing Ctrl-U. To undo your changes, you must press Ctrl-U before your changes are written to your disk (while there is an asterisk displayed in the lower right corner). In an input field, your first new character automatically overwrites the information already in it. If you have not yet pressed the Enter key, you can restore the previous contents by pressing Ctrl-U. Menu Action Macros Menu action macros make creating menu entries easier. A menu action macro allows you to recall up to 255 keystrokes you commonly use with only a few keystrokes. A macro can contain anything that is allowed in a menu action, including HDM's powerful functions. MicroFox Company Page 27 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 Each menu file (HDM.000-HDM.999) can use ten local macros (&0 through &9) created through the Local menu and ten global macros (&&0 through &&9) created through the Global pull-down menu. These macros are used in a menu action by putting the {&#} for local macros or {&&#} for global macros in the menu action. For example, {&9} refers to the ninth local macro and {&&6} refers to the sixth global macro. Any reference to a macro in a menu action is replaced by the contents of that macro. Besides allowing you to type keystrokes, these macros can accept up to nine parameters. NOTE: Parameters allow you to store and reuse certain information in a menu action. These parameters have many uses. For example, a parameter can contain the name of a file you want to copy to a diskette and then, in the same menu action, delete from your hard disk. But you only have to enter the name once since the parameter can be reused. (These parameters are similar to DOS batch file replaceable parameters.) In the menu action macro, you refer to the parameters by using a percentage symbol (%) followed by the number of the parameter. (This is called the parameter symbol.) Your menu action macro may look like this: {&# %1 %2 %3 %4 %5 %6 %7 %8 %9} {&&# %1 %2 %3 %4 %5 %6 %7 %8 %9} where "#" is the number of the macro. Creating menu action macros !! To create a menu action macro: 1. Select "Menu Macros" (Shift-F5) from the Local pull-down menu or "Menu Macros" (Alt-6) from the Global pull-down menu. 2. Move to the macro (0 through 9) that you want to create. For our example, select local macro #1. 3. Create your macro. For example, imagine we wanted a macro to list certain types of files on drive A and then switch to that drive. You'd like to make this task a macro so you can reuse it on several menu pages without retyping the commands. If we wanted to check for BASIC files (.BAS), we would type: {CK A}DIR A:*.BAS~PAUSE~A:~ MicroFox Company Page 28 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 NOTE: {CK A} is one of HDM's many special functions. {CK A} checks if there is a disk in drive A. It is friendlier than getting the DOS error message "Drive not ready." 4. Press F2 to save your macro. Now that you have created the macro, you can create your menu entry that uses it. 5. Press Insert (Ins) to create your menu entry. 6. Enter your description. For our example, enter "List Drive A." 7. On the menu action line, enter "{&#}", where "#" is the number of the local macro you created. For our example, enter {&1}. 8. Press F2 to save your menu entry. Then test it by selecting that menu entry. Using sophisticated macros You can use your macro in more sophisticated ways. For example, you can use macros with other functions. EXAMPLE: Let's use the {?prompt} function, which asks the user to make a selection. For example, {?Run BASIC: Enter number for drive 1=A:, 2=B:, 3=C:} asks you to type "1", "2" or" 3" for the drive number you want to use. The {?prompt} function is replaced by the number entered. Now, combine this with the local macro symbol (&). In the menu action line of the menu entry, you would type: &{?Run BASIC: Enter number for drive 1=A:, 2=B:, 3=C:}BASIC~ When you run this entry, select: 1 (drive A). HDM then sees this: &1BASIC~ which translates into macro #1 and running BASIC, which is: {CK A}DIR A:*.BAS~PAUSE~A:~BASIC~ HDM then checks drive A to ensure a diskette is in it, lists all BASIC files (*.BAS), pauses, switches to drive A and runs BASIC. Using macros is quite simple but simply requires practice. MicroFox Company Page 29 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 NOTE: During the time that the above commands and programs run, HDM is completely out of memory, taking nothing away from your programs. When DOS is finished executing these commands and programs, HDM returns into memory. EXAMPLE: Here is another fancy macro that checks for certain files among several directories (\DOS, \BAT and \WP in our example). First, imagine local macro #9 contains "C:~". The menu action in the menu entry contains: {&9 \*.{?Enter extension}}dir \DOS%1~dir \BAT%1~dir \WP%1~ The {?prompt} functions asks for a file extension to find. If "EXE" is entered, the menu action becomes: {&9 \*.EXE}dir \DOS%1~dir \BAT%1~dir \WP%1~ Next, the &9 is filled with the first macro (C:~). The "\*.EXE" becomes parameter %1, which creates the menu action: C:~dir \DOS\*.EXE~dir \BAT\*.EXE~dir \WP\*.EXE~ HDM then replaces the tildes with an Enter and gives the lines to DOS to run. The files ending with .EXE are displayed from those three directories. EXAMPLE: This next macro shows how the parameters work. Imagine that local macro #3 is empty. Next, create the menu action: {&3 {?Enter some text}} Although macro #3 is empty, the {?prompt} function will be replaced by whatever you type. Since the {?prompt} function is inside the macro, each word will take the place of the parameters %1 through %9. For example, if you typed "THIS IS A TEST," then: This parameter: Holds: =============== ============== %0 THIS IS A TEST %1 THIS %2 IS %3 A %4 TEST Parameters %5 through %9 would, of course, be empty. NOTE: %0 is a special parameter that holds the complete reply to menu functions {?prompt}, {?}, {CK}, {CKDIR}, {CKFILE}, {CKVOL}, MicroFox Company Page 30 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 {EXEC}, {EXEN}, {DIR}, {FILE}, {FILN}, {IF}, {SELECT}, and {VSELECT}. See the "Using Functions" chapter for more details about using the %0 parameter. Refer to the "Using Functions" chapter for more information on using HDM's special functions in your macros. Modifying Menu Pages Menu pages are a collection of menu entries. Each menu page holds ten menu entries. In each menu file, there are 26 menu pages, one for each letter of the alphabet. Once made, a menu page can be modified in several ways. A menu page can be compressed (so menu entries are closer together), erased, imported (copied), renamed or swapped with another menu page. NOTE: If the menu page you want to change has a higher security level than your own, you must enter the password for the higher security level before you can change the menu page. For more information, see the chapter "Adding Security" later in this manual. Compressing a menu page !! To compress a menu page: 1. Select "Compress Page" from the Page menu (Ctrl-F1). 2. Select the menu page you want to compress. 3. Confirm your choice by pressing Enter, or press Esc to cancel. The menu entries, along with their security levels, are moved to the top of the menu page, placing the empty menu entries at the bottom of the menu page. If there were no empty entries or all the empty ones were already at the bottom, then nothing changes on the page. Deleting a menu page !! To erase a menu page: 1. Select "Erase Page" from the Page menu (Ctrl-F2). 2. Select the menu page you want to erase. 3. Confirm your choice by pressing Enter, or press Esc to cancel. MicroFox Company Page 31 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 The menu entries on the menu page are erased. Also, the security levels of that page (and each menu entry on it) are reset to zero. If any of the menu entries have a higher security level than yours, HDM asks you for a password for the highest security level found. If you enter a correct password, all entries will be removed from the page. Otherwise, only the entries with security levels equal to or lower than your security level will be erased. Copying a menu page !! To import (duplicate) a menu page: 1. Select "Import Page" from the Page menu (Ctrl-F3). 2. Enter the menu file number (000 through 999) and page letter of the menu page you want to import. 3. Press F2 to import the menu page, or press Esc to cancel. HDM looks for the menu file in the standard HDM directories, that is, the startup directory or one specified by the startup switches. If the file is not found there, HDM will search the DOS path for it. If it isn't found in either place or if the file is in an old format, you'll receive an error message. 4. Select a menu page where you want to place the copy. The menu entries from the imported menu page are copied to the current menu page, including their menu descriptions, menu actions, help file names, and passwords. Only the empty menu entries on the selected page will be filled. Existing menu entries will not be overwritten by the menu entries of the imported page. Changing the name of a menu page !! To rename a menu page: 1. Select "Name Page" from the Page menu (Ctrl-F4). 2. Select the menu page you want to rename. 3. Enter a new name and press Enter. The new name of the menu page is displayed in the Page Index. Swapping two menu pages !! To switch two menu pages: MicroFox Company Page 32 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 1. Select "Switch Pages" from the Page menu (Ctrl-F5). 2. Select the letter of one of the two menu pages to swap and press Enter. 3. Select the letter of the second menu page and press Enter. The menu entries of each page are swapped, which includes their descriptions, menu actions, help file names, run passwords, and security levels. Utility Menu Entries This is a popup window with up to 15 menu entries that can be displayed and used no matter what local menu file is currently in use. To use the Utility Menu select "Utility Menu" from the "Exit" pull-down menu, press Ctrl-F9 at any time, or press the period key while you are in the local user menu. To change the Utility Menu, select "Alter Utility Menu" from the "Global" pull-down menu or press Alt-1. The menu descriptions are on the left and actions on the right. The first capital letter in the descriptions are used as hot keys. Utility Menu actions can use all the same features and functions as normal local menu actions. Tracking Activity HDM allows you to keep track of who uses what HDM menu entries and when. For more information on this feature, read the chapter "Tracking Projects and People." Security And Networks HDM allows you to have up to 99 levels of security as well as individual passwords on menu entries. See the chapter "Adding Security" for more information. For tips on using HDM with a network, see the chapter "Using HDM on a Network." CUSTOMIZING HDM You can customize several features in HDM, including: * Changing the look of HDM, such as colors and menu layout. * Hiding empty menu pages and user menu entries. * Automatically executing user menu entries. * Changing the keyboard and mouse cursors. * Changing your modem and communication port settings. MicroFox Company Page 33 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 * Creating your own screen blanker and message. * Adding your own logo in place of the HDM logo. * Creating your own help screens. * Configuring HDM each time it starts. Changing The Look Of HDM You can change how HDM looks in many ways. You can: * Change the border lines around HDM windows (L). * Change HDM's screen colors (L). * Change how the date and Top Menu appear (L). * Change where lines appear in the User Menu and Page Index (L). * Change the positions of the User Menu and Page Name Index (L). * Add, change or delete title lines in the Title Window (L). * Change the character used for HDM's background wallpaper (L). * Change the system date and time as well as its format (G). * Hide the Title Window, Page Window, or user Menu (L). Local changes, just affecting the current menu file, are indicated by an "L" within the parentheses. Global changes, affecting all menu files, are indicated by a "G." Window border lines !! To change the borders of HDM: 1. Select "Border Lines" from the Local menu (Shift-F2). 2. Select one of the five types of lines to use on the border: S - single lines D - double lines B - bold lines N - no lines U - user defined lines 3. If single, double, bold, or no lines are chosen, the new border type is set immediately and you return to the menu. For user defined lines, a list of all 255 text characters are displayed. Choose one and that becomes the new border line character or press escape to return without changes. Screen colors !! To change HDM's colors: 1. Select "Change Colors" from the Local menu (Shift-F3). 2. Select which of the five items to change: MicroFox Company Page 34 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 M - Main window panel 1 - 1st popup window 2 - 2nd popup window 3 - 3rd popup window S - Status bar line R - Reset to default colors Select the item whose color you want to change and press Enter. You can also press the first character of the item you wish to change. If you use a mouse, just click on your choice. Select "Restore Defaults" to reset all colors to HDM's initial values. The window on the right shows what your current colors look like for each item highlighted. 3. If changing a window or the main panel, select one of the eight color palettes or define your own color palette: S - Standard black B - Blue palette G - Green palette C - Cyan palette R - Red palette M - Magenta palette Y - Yellow palette W - White palette U - User defined palette Choose a palette by moving the cursor to it and pressing the Enter key. You can also press the first letter of the palette. 4. If creating your own palette (User Defined), change the colors of each of the five components: E - Emphasized text color F - Foreground text color W - Window border color T - Title and Header text color B - Background color Move the cursor up or down to go to the different components, or press the first letter of the one you want to change. Move the cursor left or right to choose the colors. If using a mouse, simply click on any one color in the row. Press F2 to save your new colors or press Esc to cancel. 5. If changing the status bar, select colors for both the foreground text and background color. Move the cursor up or down to choose "Foreground" or "Background," and then move it right or left to choose the colors. When done, press F2 to save your color choices. MicroFox Company Page 35 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 6. To restore your colors to their normal color, select "R" (Restore Defaults) from the first color menu and press Enter to confirm your choice. NOTE: If you want to change your cursor color, remember this simple rule: The cursor uses the reverse of the background color for its foreground and the foreground color as its background. Top line display The display of the date, time, mode, and Top Menu lines can be changed to one of three different configurations. Your choices are Date and time only, Top Menu commands only, or both date & time and Top Menu commands which uses the top two lines. !! To change the date/time and Top Menu display: 1. Select "Date/Top Menu" from the Local menu (Shift-F4). 2. Select one of the three top line configurations: T - top menu bar only D - date & time only B - both date & menu NOTE: If you display only the Top Menu, the time will appear in the lower right-hand corner. If you display both the Top Menu and the date & time lines, the title box will display one less line. Lines inside the user menu and page index The lines that separate the user menu and page index from the window's header and footer can be displayed or hidden. You have four choices: show a line above the page names & menu entries, below the page names & menu entries, both above and below those lists, or neither of the lines. !! To change lines in the User Menu: 1. Select "Screen Display" from the Local menu (Shift-F7). 2. Select "Show Menu Lines" from the Screen Display menu. 3. Select one of the four display line configurations: A - Above Menu B - Below Menu L - Lines Above & Below Menu N - No Lines NOTE: If the Page Index Window is hidden, the bottom line may MicroFox Company Page 36 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 not display in order to show the current page name. !! To change lines in the Page Window: 1. Select "Page Window" from the Local menu (Shift-F6). 2. Select "Show Lines" from the Page Window menu. 3. Select one of the four display line configurations: A - Above Page B - Below Page L - Lines Above & Below Page N - No Lines NOTE: If the type of Screen Display used does not include page or menu headers, the top line will not be displayed. Menu screen design The configuration of the User Menu Window, Page Index Window, and Title Window can be changed in several ways. The windows can be combined, the title separated, or all windows separated. They can also be moved, swapped, shadowed, and hidden. Below are some of choices. !! To change the page index window design: 1. Select "Page Window" from the Local Window (Shift-F6). 2. Select one of the four page window display configurations: L - Left side of screen R - Right side of screen H - Hide the page window S - Show lines inside the page window If the page window is moved to the left or right side of the screen, the user menu is put on the opposite side of the screen. if the window is hidden, the user menu is moved to the center of the screen. Show lines configures the dividing lines inside the page window. !! To change the user menu design: 1. Select "Screen Display" from the Local Menu (Shift-F7). 2. Select one of the five user menu design configurations: C - Combine the title, page, and menu windows T - Title window separated, page and menu together W - Windows all separated: page, menu, and title MicroFox Company Page 37 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 H - Hide the user menu window S - Show lines inside the user menu window Combine will put the titles, pages names, and the user menu in the same large window. If the titles are separated the page names and user menu stay combined in one window. If all windows are separated, the titles, page names, and user menu will each have their own shadowed window. Hiding the user menu replaces it with an input bar that will accept all mouse or keyboard input. Hiding any window does not affect the ability of using any part of HDM. Show lines configures the dividing lines inside the user menu. !! To change the title window design: 1. Select "Title Window" from the Local menu (Shift-F8). 2. Select one of the four title display configurations: A - Above the user menu and page windows B - Below the user menu and page windows H - Hide the title window E - Edit the title line text If the title window is put above or below the user menu and page windows, those windows are moved to the up or down to make room for the titles. Hiding the title window puts the user menu and page windows in the middle of the screen. For information on editing the title line text see the next section. !! To add, change or delete your title lines: 1. Select "Title Window" from the Local menu (Shift-F8). 2. Select "Edit Titles" from the Title Window menu. 3. Add or edit each of the four title lines then press F2 to save your changes or Esc to cancel the changes. To delete an entire title line, press Ctrl-Bksp. To restore a title line to its original contents BEFORE YOU LEAVE IT, press Ctrl-U. Besides entering text, you can use some variables and functions to customize the title lines. They are: * {USER} - Current HDM user that is logged on. * {USERSEC} - Current user security level number. * {PROJECT} - Current HDM project name, if given. * {DRIVE d} - Free space for the specified drive letter. * {%COMSPEC%} - Your command processor. * {%PATH%} - Your DOS path. * {%environment-variable%} - Other environment variables. MicroFox Company Page 38 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 For example, if you enter "{USER}'s Menu" and the current user (from the User ID Security Table) is "Laura Lavish," then the title box will say "Laura Lavish's Menu." NOTE: Although there are four title lines, not all of them may appear, depending on the date/Top Menu choice and menu design you're using. See the previous few procedures to change these. Screen background !! To change your wallpaper: 1. Select "Wallpaper" from the Local menu (Shift-F9). 2. Select one of the 255 text characters to be your wallpaper background and press the Enter key. Character 176 is the program's default and character 255 displays a solid black background. Date and time Settings !! To change the date and time (and format): 1. Select "Date/Time Settings" from the Global menu (Alt-3). 2. Select the format for the date. You can select American (MM/DD/YY) or European (DD/MM/YY). 3. Select a format for the time. You can select standard (Hr:Mn am/pm) or Military (24 Hr:Mn). 4. If desired, change the date and time. Select either Date or Time. Enter new values and press F2 to save. The new date and time will be saved by your PC's clock. 5. Press F2 to save your changes, or press Esc to cancel. Global Settings HDM has seven settings that affect all menu files. They are: * Whether or not to confirm exiting to DOS when F3 is pressed. * Whether or not to hide empty menu pages in the Page Index. * Whether or not to hide empty menu entries in the User Menu. * Whether or not to keep cursor on the same page when it wraps. * Whether or not to ask for the project name when starting HDM. * Whether or not to show the security levels for menu entries. * Whether or not to confirm logging user off when F7 is pressed. MicroFox Company Page 39 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 Exit to DOS confirmation If you want every user to confirm whether they truly want to exit to DOS (using F3), you need to turn this feature on. For quicker exiting, leave this feature unselected. !! To confirm exiting to DOS using F3: 1. Select "Global Settings" from the Global menu (Alt-4). 2. Press Enter on the choice "Confirm (F3) Exit HDM" until there is an "X" next to it. If using a mouse, simply click on your choice. 3. Press F2 to save your changes. Hide empty menu pages If you want to have empty menu pages not shown, therefore creating a "cleaner" looking Page Index, turn this choice on. !! To hide empty menu pages: 1. Select "Global Settings" from the Global menu (Alt-4). 2. Press Enter on the choice "Don't Show Empty Pages" until there is an "X" next to it. If using a mouse, simply click on your choice. 3. Press F2 to save your changes. Hide empty menu entries If you want to have empty menu entries not shown, therefore creating a "cleaner" looking User Menu, turn this choice on. !! To hide empty menu entries: 1. Select "Global Settings" from the Global menu (Alt-4). 2. Press Enter on the choice "Hide Empty Menu Entries" until there is an "X" next to it. If using a mouse, simply click on your choice. 3. Press F2 to save your changes. Keep cursor on page Normally, HDM will let you move the cursor from the top or bottom of the User Menu to the next or previous menu page, respectively. In other words, moving the cursor down from the last menu entry of the current menu page takes you to the first MicroFox Company Page 40 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 occupied menu entry on the next menu page. Likewise, moving the cursor up from the current menu page takes you to the last occupied menu entry on the previous menu page. This cursor "wrapping" is an alternate way to move between menu pages besides pressing the letter of another menu page, pressing PgUp and PgDn, using your mouse, etc. If you want the cursor to wrap on the same menu page, use this procedure: !! To keep the cursor on the same menu page when it wraps: 1. Select "Global Settings" from the Global menu (Alt-4). 2. Press Enter on the choice "Keep Cursor on Page" until there is an "X" next to it. If using a mouse, simply click on your choice. 3. Press F2 to save your changes. Project name If you are using the -L startup switch (described later) to track how HDM is used, you may want to have this switch on. Then each time HDM starts, you (and others) will be asked what project you are working on. When the -L switch is used, the HDM.LOG file will record the project name along with the user ID, date, time and menu entries that were run. For more information, see the chapter "Tracking Projects and People." !! To ask for a project name when starting HDM: 1. Select "Global Settings" from the Global menu (Alt-4). 2. Press Enter on the choice "Ask for Project Name" until there is an "X" next to it. If using a mouse, click on your choice. 3. Press F2 to save your changes. Display security levels If you want to see the security levels that have been set up for user menu entries and top menu commands then select this choice. The "Add"/"Change"/"Insert" entry windows will show the current menu entry's security level, the security level for all menu entries on the current page, the security level for all menu entries in the current menu file, and the menu file's change protection security level. A single menu entry's security level takes priority over a page's level and a page's security level takes priority over a file's level, unless they're set to zero. The Master Password Table will also display the above security levels plus the levels for "All" and "Hidden" Top Menu commands. The individual pull-down menu entries will have their security MicroFox Company Page 41 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 levels displayed at the bottom of the pull-down menu window. These are the levels that are set by pressing <Alt-F1> when a particular pull-down menu entry is highlighted. !! To show security levels in various locations: 1. Select "Global Settings" from the Global menu (Alt-4). 2. Press Enter on the choice "Show Security Levels" until there is an "X" next to it. If using a mouse, simply click on your choice. 3. Press F2 to save your changes. Log off confirmation If you want a confirmation window displayed when a user presses <F7> to logoff or presses <Esc> while in their base menu file then you need to turn this feature on. For quicker logging off leave this option unselected. !! To confirm logging off using F7 or Esc from the base menu: 1. Select "Global Settings" from the Global menu (Alt-4). 2. Press Enter on the choice "Get Log Off Confirmation" until there is an "X" next to it. If using a mouse, simply click on your choice. 3. Press F2 to save your changes. Automatic Executions You can have HDM automatically run a certain menu entry when: * A recurring day of the week, day of the month, or time happens. * Certain individuals log onto HDM. * HDM first starts. * HDM is inactive for a certain amount of time. * An individual logs off HDM. Timed execution A timed execution will automatically run a menu entry based on the day of the week or month and the time of day. For the menu entry to be run, you must be in HDM at the time. Once the timed execution warning window is displayed, you will have 15 seconds to cancel the running of the entry. Press <Esc> to cancel it or <Enter> to run the entry immediately, otherwise it will run as scheduled. MicroFox Company Page 42 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 !! To add, delete or change a timed execution: 1. Select "Timed Execution" from the Global menu (Alt-9). 2. From the table, make your choice: * To add a new timed event, press Ins. If using a mouse, click on the first empty event or the word "Ins." * To change an existing event, highlight the event to change and press Enter. If using a mouse, click on the event. * To remove an event, highlight the event to remove and press Del or, if using a mouse, click on the word "Del." 3. If creating or changing an event, you have these choices: * Menu file number - Enter the file number where the menu entry to be run is located. * Menu entry - Enter the menu entry to be run. * Every week or month - Enter "W" for weekly or "M" for monthly. * Days - If you chose weekly, enter up to seven days of the week you want the entry run (1 = "Sunday"). If you chose monthly, enter up to seven numbered days of the month you want the entry run (1 = first of the month). * Time - Enter the hour and minute you want the entry run. Also enter whether this entry is to be run in the morning (am) or afternoon (pm). 4. Press F2 to save your timed execution. 5. Press F2 again to save the entire table of timed execution entries. Log on execution HDM allows you to create User IDs to restrict who uses HDM. When you add these User IDs in the User ID Security Table, you can force each User ID to run a specific menu entry each time that User ID is logged on. For example, you can force certain users to run a menu entry that logs them onto a network. You can also set up a "wild card" User ID that will match anything. For more information, please see the "Adding Security" chapter. !! To run a menu entry upon logging onto HDM: 1. Select "User ID Security Table" from the Security menu (Alt-F9). 2. To add new users, press the Insert (Ins) key. To change information on an existing user, move your cursor to the user account you want to change and press Enter. 3. Enter the following information for each user. MicroFox Company Page 43 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 * User ID (an asterisk here will match any ID at logon time). * Menu file you want this user to first use when HDM starts. * Menu entry number you want to run automatically when this user logs on (optional). * Security level for this user (optional). * Whether or not to require a logon password for this user (optional). NOTE: Each individual's logon password is independent of the password required for their particular security level. For more information about setting security levels, see the chapter "Adding Security" later in this manual. 4. Press F2 to save your changes for this user. 5. Press F2 again to save your changes to the User ID Security Table. HINT: You can automate the logon process by using HDM's -U startup switch. You first set an environment variable that has the user's name and then refer to that variable in the startup switches for HDM or through the "SET HDM=" environment variable. EXAMPLE: Here is an excerpt of an AUTOEXEC.BAT file: SET HDMUSER=LAURA CD \HDM HDM -UHDMUSER or SET HDMUSER=LAURA SET HDM=-UHDMUSER CD \HDM HDM When Laura starts HDM, the menu automatically reads the HDMUSER variable and enters her User ID for her. Then, the menu entry that is set for her to run automatically after logging onto HDM is run. HDM startup execution A menu entry can be run automatically when HDM first starts by using HDM's -A and -B startup switches. -A tells HDM to run a menu when it first begins running. The default entry to run is A1. You can change the beginning menu entry by specifying it in the -B switch. !! To start a menu entry from AUTOEXEC.BAT: You can start a menu entry by adding switches to the HDM command MicroFox Company Page 44 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. The -A switch automatically runs the selection specified by the switch -Bp#, where "p#" is the page and menu entry (A1 through Z0). You can use these switches as either parameters after the "HDM" line in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file or as an environment variable. In the following examples showing both methods, the menu entry A3 will be automatically run when HDM is loaded: PATH C:\;C:\DOS;C:\UTILS; SET HDM=-A -BA3 CD\HDM HDM or PATH C:\;C:\DOS;C:\UTILS; CD\HDM HDM -A -BA3 Inactive execution An inactive execution will automatically run a menu entry after the keyboard or mouse is not used for a set number of minutes. Once the automatic execution warning window is displayed, you will have 15 seconds to cancel the running of the entry. Otherwise, the entry will run as scheduled. !! To change the inactive execution: 1. Select "Inactive Execution" from the Global menu (Alt-5). 2. Enter the number of inactive minutes before the menu entry runs. 3. Enter the menu file number where the menu entry to be run is located. 4. Enter the page letter and entry number of the entry to be run. 5. Press F2 to save your changes. NOTE: To turn off the inactive execution, enter "00" as the number of minutes before automatic execution. Log off execution You can have a menu entry automatically run when a user logs off HDM. The feature can also log the person off after a certain amount of inactivity. These two activities are independent of each other. You can have an automatic execution of a menu entry at logoff, automatic logoff after inactivity, MicroFox Company Page 45 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 or both. NOTE: This feature is similar to the "Inactive Execution" choice found in the Global menu except that it can force a menu entry to be run every time the user logs off HDM - even without inactivity. !! To run a menu entry upon logging off: 1. Select "Log Off Automatically" from the Security menu (Alt-F7). 2. Enter the following: * Number of inactive minutes before logoff ("00" to turn off). * Menu file number containing the menu entry to run when the user logs off. * Page letter and entry number to run when the user logs off. 3. Press F2 to save your changes. NOTE: See the "Adding Security" chapter for more information about security and the individual commands available in the Security menu. Changing The Keyboard And Mouse Cursors You can change the blinking rate of the keyboard cursor as well as the sensitivity of the mouse. These changes are global, affecting all menu files. Blinking cursor rate !! To change the rate of blinking of the cursor: 1. Select "Cursor/Mouse Speed" from the Global menu (Alt-2). 2. Select a number from zero to 99 (slow to fast) for the cursor blink rate then press F2 to save it. The default rate is 77 and zero will stop the cursor from blinking. Mouse sensitivity !! To change the speed of the mouse cursor: 1. Select "Cursor/Mouse Speed" from the Global menu (Alt-2). 2. Select the horizontal mouse speed from zero to 99. (slowest to fastest) 3. Select the vertical mouse speed from zero to 99. MicroFox Company Page 46 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 (slowest to fastest) 4. Press F2 to save or Esc to cancel. Modem Setup You need to tell HDM what serial port your modem is connected to (COM1 through COM4), what interrupt request line (IRQ) that serial port uses, and what type of phone line you have. When the {DIAL} function is used, HDM uses this information to dial phone numbers for you through your modem. !! To set your serial port, IRQ, and phone type: 1. Select "Phone Parameters" from the Global menu (Alt-7). 2. Select the type of phone you have, whether tone or pulse. 3. Select a serial port from 1 to 4. 4. Set the interrupt number (IRQ) for the chosen serial port. (Leave this blank to use the port's standard IRQ.) 5. Press F2 to save. Screen Saver HDM has an automatic screen blanker. After a set number of minutes of inactivity, the screen is blanked out. This prevents the images of your screen from "burning" into the phosphor of your monitor after long periods of time. Also, you can enter a message to be displayed in various positions on the screen to remind you that HDM blanked out the screen. Another option is to have random blocks of the screen move around at a specified speed. When the screen saver is active, you can press any key or mouse button to bring the original screen back. HDM's screen blanker NOTE: You can blank the screen using the built-in screen blanker by pressing Ctrl-B any time. !! To set up HDM's screen blanker: 1. Select "Set Screen Blanker" from the Global menu (Alt-8). 2. Enter the number of minutes of inactivity before the screen blanker clears the screen. Entering "00" will keep the screen blanker from working. MicroFox Company Page 47 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 3. You can also enter a message that will be displayed randomly in various colors when your screen is blanked. 4. Next choose the type of screen blanking you want to occur: "B" to blank the screen, "D" to display the message you entered at random locations in random colors, or "M" to activate moving blocks of text around your screen. 5. Set the speed of moving the message to random locations or the speed of the moving screen blocks. Zero is very slow and 99 is fast. 6. Press F2 to save your changes. 7. If desired, press Ctrl-B to test your changed screen blanker. Using a different screen saver To use a graphic screen program or another type of screen blanker setup a menu entry to run that program in any menu file. Next use the "Inactive Execution" previously described to run it at the time you specify. Adding Your Own Logo You can use your own opening logo screen by starting HDM with the -H startup switch and the path to your logo file. (More information about startup switches is found later in this chapter.) For example: HDM -HC:\DOS (press Enter) reads your logo from the HDM.HDR file in the C:\DOS directory. Your customized header or logo must be named HDM.HDR. If you do not enter a path to the directory where HDM.HDR is located, then this file must be in the same directory as the HDM program file. (See the sample demo file, HDMDEMO.HDR, in your HDM directory.) The first seven lines of the this file are placed in the top box of the opening screen (currently the HDM logo). The next seven lines replace the contents of the box in the lower half of the opening screen. Each line can be up to 40 characters long. The HDMDEMO.HDR file contains other format information. If you replace the HDM block logo in the HDM.HDR file and you want to keep the multiple moving color effect, use only spaces and the extended ASCII block characters #219, #220, and #223. These are the full block, lower half block, and upper half block characters. if you choose to use any other characters, the upper logo box will just change colors every few seconds. MicroFox Company Page 48 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 If you use the -N startup switch, the logo/header screen will be skipped and you will go directly to the first menu screen, unless you force users to log on because you have entries in the User ID Table. Home-Made Help You can create custom help screens for each of the User Menu entries by creating a plain text (ASCII) file with a name that uses a combination of the menu entry page letter and entry number and the menu file number. For example, custom help for menu entry B5 in menu file HDM.333 would be named "B5.333." When F1 is pressed while the cursor is on that entry your help screen is displayed. You can enter a different help file name in the entry's Add/Change window. (See the A1DEMO.000 file) You can also create a general help screen for each menu file named HELP.nnn, where "nnn" is the number of the menu file. For example, help text for menu file HDM.000 would be called HELP.000. The screen in this file is displayed if an individual help file does not exist for the menu entry. (see HELPDEMO.000) The standard HDM Help Screen Pages can be replaced by your own custom ones. A file named HELPG.HDM would replace Help Page "G" in the help system. This file would be 51 characters per line and 21 lines long. The first 20 non-space characters would replace the name of Help Page "G" in the Help Index. (see HELPDEMO.HDM) Extended Home-Made Help General help screens (HELPDEMO.000 file), menu entry help screens (A1DEMO.000 file), and help screen pages (HELPDEMO.HDM file) can all be extended to multiple screens. Pressing F4 when one of the above file screens is displayed allows complete scrolling of the entire file (no limit on size of file). You should include a note on your first screen that the user can press F4 for more data. STARTUP OPTIONS If the last line of your AUTOEXEC.BAT startup file contains just "HDM" or if you simply type "HDM" to start HDM, you are using the basic HDM system. To support some features you want or to customize HDM upon starting the program, you have two choices. * Add extra parameters (or switches) after the HDM command. * Use DOS environment variables in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. Below are command line and DOS environment parameters you can MicroFox Company Page 49 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 add to AUTOEXEC.BAT to customize HDM. Don't feel too overwhelmed, since HDM can operate without any of these changes. You may just want to use a few of these parameters. On the HDM Command Line By adding parameters (switches) after "HDM" in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file, you can customize HDM. Here is a template for the various parameters available: HDM -switch1 -switch2 ... etc. where "switch1," "switch2," etc. is a combination of the switches When done, your AUTOEXEC.BAT file may look like this: ECHO OFF PROMPT $P$G PATH C:\HDM CD \HDM HDM -CC:\BACKUP -EC:\UTIL -GC:\DATA -TC:\DATA -WC:\TEMP Each parameter you add should be separated by a blank space. Optional parameters are shown with brackets. When typing these parameters, omit the brackets. Table of Startup Switches NOTE: In the following startup switches, "path" must include the drive letter. For example: C:\DIR\SUBDIR. Below are the startup switches from which you can choose: Switch Purpose ====== ======================================================== -A Automatically runs the selection specified by -Bp#. -Bp# First menu entry to highlight. (p# is A1 through Z0) -Cpath Location of automatic backup copies of the menu files. -Ddrive Displays free disk space for the specified drive. (-DC shows free space on C:) -Epath Exits to this path when you press F3 to exit to DOS. -Gpath Path containing HDM.GBL file with global settings. -H[path] Reads header/logo screen from the HDM.HDR file in the HDM directory or in [path]. [path] is optional. MicroFox Company Page 50 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 -I Intensifies the background colors by allowing all 16 colors. The last 8 background colors become bright versions of the first 8 (for color monitors). This may not work with some video hardware. -J Jump over Inactive and Timed Execution delay and beep. -K Disables the key lock status from being displayed and stops the date and time from being constantly updated. Used to eliminate video bleed-through on multitasking systems. -L[path] Logs usage to the HDM.LOG file in the HDM directory or in [path]. [path] is optional. -M### Specifies what menu file to use when HDM is started. "###" can be any number from zero through 999. -N Disables logo screen from being displayed when HDM is started. If a user logon is required, HDM goes directly to the logon window. -O Turns off the NumLock key when HDM starts. -Ppath Path containing HDM.CFG file with HDM configuration. -Q Queues keystrokes in the DOS keyboard buffer when HDM starts or after returning from running a program. Normally, HDM clears any keystrokes so its operation is not affected. -S Sets screen border on color monitors. The border will match the background color of the Status Bar. This may not work well with some EGA video cards. -Tpath Specifies the location of the HDM menu files. (HDM.000 to HDM.999, see -0 to -9 also) -Uname Reads a user ID from the named DOS environment variable to automate the user logon procedure. -VF Sets fast screen output for snow-less video boards. This parameter prevents HDM from waiting for your video card. This is the default except with CGA video systems. -VM Sets video mode to monochrome (black and white). Use this parameter to correct the problem of unreadable screens on laptops, portables and similar computers. -VS Stops static (snow) from displaying on the screen by waiting for your video card to draw the screen. This MicroFox Company Page 51 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 is the default for CGA computers. -Wpath Specifies work path where the temporary work file is stored. This work path must be in the DOS path statement in AUTOEXEC.BAT. -#path Similar to -T except this parameter specifies the path to each group of 100 menu files. -# is a number from -0 to -9. (-7 is for HDM.700-799). HDM Environment Variable Instead of typing switches after "HDM," you can use a DOS environment variable to customize the program. This SET command must be in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file before starting HDM. Below is a template for the various commands available: SET HDM=-variable1 -variable2 ... etc. where "variable1," "variable2," etc., are any of the switches mentioned in the Table of Startup Switches. NOTE: Do not use spaces on either side of the equal sign. For example, your AUTOEXEC.BAT file may look like this: PATH C:\;C:\DOS;C:\UTILS;D:\RAMDISK SET HDM=-A -BF5 -Cc:\bkup -Ec:\dir -H -I -Wd:\ramdisk CD\HDM HDM Other Environment Variables There are other environment variables you can use to customize HDM. * SET X= - Allows the use of another name instead of X.BAT (DOS 3.0 or above). You can rename the temporary batch file called X.BAT to another name (up to 8 characters). You will then have to type this new name to return to HDM after exiting to DOS. EXAMPLE: In this example, the temporary work file will now be named RETURN.BAT. You would then type "RETURN" instead of "X" to return to HDM from DOS: SET X=RETURN CD \HDM HDM MicroFox Company Page 52 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 WARNING: For the right-hand side of "SET X=," don't use any DOS commands like "EXIT," "CALL," "RESTORE" or names already used, such as "HDM," "HDM4DOS" or other program names you use. * SET name= - This command is used in conjunction with the -U startup switch. The variable to the left of the equal sign (name) must be the same environment variable referred to by the -U switch. This DOS environment variable will tell HDM to automatically log on the User ID specified to the right of the equal sign. EXAMPLE: In this example, HDM will not wait for the user to enter an ID at the logon window: SET HDMUSER=LAURA CD \HDM HDM -UHDMUSER -N "Laura" will automatically be entered by HDM. By also using the -N switch and not having a logon password for this user ID, HDM will go directly to the User Menu screen with "Laura" already logged on. For this automatic logon to work, "Laura" must be an entry in the User ID Security Table. USING MENU ACTION FUNCTIONS HDM offers many powerful functions. Knowing how to use them and when will help you get the most from the program. NOTE: Remember that functions simply are replaced by the result of the function in a menu action. For example, if you are using the {FILE} function, which lets you select a specific file name, the chosen path and file name are substituted for that function. Tilde (~) And Braces ({ }) In Menu Actions Because the braces ({ }) are used to identify HDM menu action functions and the tilde (~) is used to separate commands (the equivalent to the Enter key), they cannot be entered in the menu action as normal characters. If you need to use any of these characters for other purposes, use these substitutes: To use: Instead use: ======= ============ { Ctrl-Q } Ctrl-P ~ Ctrl-Z These special characters will be converted to the correct MicroFox Company Page 53 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 characters before DOS runs the programs that use them. Order Of Evaluation Menu functions are generally handled from left to right in the menu action, but functions can be nested. Just like in math, functions in the inner braces are evaluated before functions in the outer braces. EXAMPLE: If macro #1 (&1) contains "COPY" and macro #2 (&2) contains "DELETE" and the entered filename is "MYFILE.TXT" then: {&1 {?Enter file name} C:\SAVE} %1 %2~&2 %1~dir %2~ becomes: COPY MYFILE.TXT C:\SAVE~DELETE MYFILE.TXT~DIR C:\SAVE~ In the previous example, note that the file name MYFILE.TXT becomes the first parameter (%1) and that c:\save becomes the second parameter (%2). EXAMPLE: Note that the following two menu actions do the same thing. They both take you to the DOS directory. {default C}{?Enter drive}:~CD\{default DOS}{?Enter directory}~{exit} {?Enter drive{default C}}:~CD\{?Enter directory{default DOS}}~{exit} The defaults in the inner braces are evaluated first. When the user is prompted for the drive, a "C" is in the input field. When the user is prompted for a directory, "DOS" is in the input field. The user can accept the defaults or enter something else. HDM then exits to that drive and directory and displays the DOS prompt. When you want to return to HDM, press X and press Enter. NOTE: If the name of X.BAT was changed by using the "SET X=" environment variable, then use the new name instead of X to return to HDM. Functions Inside Of Functions As stated above, inner functions are executed before outer functions as the menu action is evaluated from left to right. There are times that you may not want an inner function run until it is actually needed. This can be the situation in menu functions that can have multiple results. These functions are listed below: MicroFox Company Page 54 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 FUNCTION RESULTS (Replaced by) -------- ---------------------------------------------------- * CK Drive Ready or Drive Not-Ready action string * CKDIR Directory Found or Directory Not-Found action string * CKFILE File Found or File Not-Found action string * CKVOL Volume ID Found or Volume ID Not-Found action string * IF If True action string or If False action string * SELECT Any one of multiple horizontal menu choices * VSELECT Any one of multiple vertical menu choices To insure that functions in any of the resulting strings do not execute until they are chosen, use square brackets [ ] in place of the french braces { } and the backward apostrophe (grave accent) ` in place of the tilde ~ character. These are on the same physical keys as the {~} characters but in their unshifted state. When a choice or true/false string is picked, the {~} characters are substituted for the [`] characters while the original function is replaced by the choice/true/false string. This prevents the inside functions from executing until they become the users choice. EXAMPLE: {IF {USER}=Tom~[MENU 7]~[MENU 8]} Tom gets menu file HDM.007 and all others get HDM.008. {SELECT~New Project=[getproject]~DOS=[quit]~Log Off=[logoff]} Allow user to pick a new project, go to DOS, or log off HDM. {IF {%PC%}=Office~[setproject [select`Sales`Acc`Dev]]~[cancel]} Set one of three project names if this is the office PC. {CKFILE c:\windows\win.exe~[&2]~[&4]} Run local macro &2 if windows exists or run macro &4 if not. FUNCTION REFERENCE Below is an alphabetical listing of functions available through HDM. Each function is listed with its general purpose, format for use, details and examples. ================================================================= &#, {&#} or {&# parameter1 ... parameter9} &&#, {&&#}, or {&&# parameter1 ... parameter9} FORMAT: {&1 THIS IS A LOCAL MACRO} {&&1 THIS IS A GLOBAL MACRO} OVERVIEW: Replaced by the contents of a local macro (&0 - &9) or a global macro (&&0 - &&9) and fills up to nine parameters in the parameter symbols %1 through %9. Each menu file can use 10 local macros and ten global macros. The macro can contain a combination of program names, DOS commands and other functions. DETAILS: This function replaces the macro name (&#) with the MicroFox Company Page 55 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 contents of that macro in the menu action where it is called. Macros are created from the Local or Global pull-down menus. The maximum number of parameters is nine, separated by spaces. If there are any parameters present, they are put in parameter symbols %1 through %9 and can be used anywhere in the macro itself or the menu action where the macro is used. If the macro has no parameters, then the braces around it aren't required. However, the braces affect when a macro is evaluated. Since a space is used to separate the parameters, any phrase that is used will have each word in a separate parameter. EXAMPLE: To create a macro that copies files to a disk in drive A, you first would define the macro under the Local menu. For example, you could define macro #8 as: COPY *.* A:~PAUSE~ Your menu action to use this macro would then be: C:~CD \123~&8CD \DBASE~&8CD\MM~&8 Each &8 is replaced by the macro's contents. What HDM runs is then: C: CD \123 COPY *.* A: PAUSE CD \DBASE COPY *.* A: PAUSE CD \MM COPY *.* A: PAUSE ALSO SEE: %# for more information on parameters. ================================================================= %# or {%#} FORMAT: %1 or {%1} OVERVIEW: Used with an HDM macro (local or global) to give your program, batch file, DOS command or other macros more information when used, such as the name of a file to immediately load. This is replaced by the contents of parameters %1 through %9. DETAILS: This function is used with macros to provide more information to the macro. Whatever follows your use of a macro MicroFox Company Page 56 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 is placed in the macro's parameters %1 through %9. Items separated by spaces are placed sequentially in the next parameter: %1, %2, ... %9. Once placed in the parameter, the contents can be used in the rest of menu action, the current macro or in another macro. EXAMPLE: Imagine your macro &5 is: COPY C:\NEW\%1 C:\OLD\%1 And you create a menu entry with the menu action: {&5 {?Enter file to move:}}~DEL C:\NEW\%1~DIR C:\OLD\%1~PAUSE~ When this menu entry is run, HDM will ask: Enter file to move: If you type, BUDGET90.WKS, this file becomes the contents of the first parameter (%1). The menu action that is executed is: COPY C:\NEW\BUDGET90.WKS C:\OLD\BUDGET90.WKS DEL C:\NEW\BUDGET90.WKS DIR C:\OLD\BUDGET90.WKS PAUSE Note that the prompt function ({?Enter file to move}) is executed first because it is in the inner braces. The prompt is replaced by the file name BUDGET90.WKS which is then placed in %1 because it is the first (and only) parameter of macro &5. The {&5} is then replaced by the contents of the &5 macro. Each %1 in the menu action is replaced by BUDGET90.WKS, including the two that came from the macro and the two that were already in the action line. The file BUDGET90.WKS is moved from C:\NEW to C:\OLD and is displayed in the C:\OLD directory. By putting braces around the macro parameter {%#}, the parameter can be evaluated sooner, if needed. EXAMPLE: For example, the %1 parameter can be used in an immediate run function like the following: {&5 {?Enter file to move}}~{RUN! DIR C:\NEW\{%1}}~DEL C:\NEW\%1~ If the {%1} in the {RUN!} function didn't have the braces around it, the {RUN!} function would be executed before the parameter {%1} was replaced. DOS would try to run the command: DIR C:\NEW\%1 but would give you an error message. By putting the braces around the %1, it is evaluated before the {RUN!} is executed. MicroFox Company Page 57 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 DOS then properly runs: DIR C:\NEW\BUDGET90.WKS ================================================================= %0 or {%0} FORMAT: echo {?This will fill parameter zero} AND {%0} AGAIN. OVERVIEW: Used to contain the results of certain menu functions for further use in the same menu action. DETAILS: %0 is a special purpose parameter used to hold the result of several of HDM's functions. After executing one of these functions, %0 contains the input (or default) data or the result of a user choice. ALSO SEE: {?}, {?prompt}, {CK}, {CKDIR}, {CKFILE}, {CKVOL}, {DIR}, {EXEC}, {EXEN}, {FILE}, {FILN}, {IF}, {SELECT}, or {VSELECT} for more details. ================================================================= ~ (Tilde) FORMAT: command~program~ OVERVIEW: Used to separate programs and DOS commands. It is replaced by the carriage return/line feed (CR/LF) characters when the menu entry is run. DETAILS: The tilde character is used in a menu action to represent pressing the Enter key. Just as you use the Enter key to end lines in a batch file or to run a program after you type its name, you use the tilde to end or separate commands in a menu action. EXAMPLE: The menu action A:~COPY LIST.* B:~COPY EPSON.EXE B:~CHKDSK B:~PAUSE~ becomes A: COPY LIST.* B: COPY EPSON.EXE B: CHKDSK B: PAUSE If you need to use the actual tilde (~) in your program or command but not for its intended use with HDM, use Ctrl-Z. MicroFox Company Page 58 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 Pressing Ctrl-Z displays a double tilde, which is converted to a single tilde when the menu action is run by DOS. ================================================================= ! (Exclamation Point) FORMAT: !program OVERVIEW: When a menu entry is run, HDM normally leaves memory and lets DOS run the menu action. If an exclamation point (!) is used in the first position of the menu action, the menu action will run while HDM stays in memory (memory resident). Use this function for programs that require little memory. DETAILS: The exclamation point (!) used in the first position of a menu action will cause HDM to run the menu action while staying in memory. One advantage of this is that the menu action executes faster because HDM will not have to spend time to leave memory or to reload when the menu action is completed. There are some limitations to using the exclamation point. First, only smaller programs that will fit into memory alongside HDM can run. Second, you cannot start a memory-resident program (TSR) this way. In these cases, create your menu action without the exclamation point. EXAMPLE: You can use the exclamation point with simple programs: !C:~CD\NORTON~NORTON~ ================================================================ || (Double Vertical Line) FORMAT: program || program || program OVERVIEW: Divides a menu action into segments that will run independent of one another. The segment after the double vertical line will start when the segment before the double vertical line has completely finished. NOTE: The double vertical line is two pipe line characters. (shifted backslash key) DETAILS: Two vertical lines in a menu action cause HDM to run the menu action up to that point as if that were the end of the action. HDM then returns to resume the menu action. You can use as many double lines as needed in one menu action. One good use of the double vertical line is to go to another menu file or to run another menu entry. To put the double MicroFox Company Page 59 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 vertical line in your menu action, hold down the shift key and press the \ (backslash) key twice. EXAMPLE: The double vertical lines can ensure that one function is not run before another. Imagine your menu action is: C:~CD\QUICKEN~Q~||{CONFIRM Backup?}COPY C:\QUICKEN A:~ After running Quicken, HDM asks you if you want to back up your Quicken personal finance files. If you answer YES, the files are copied to diskette. If the answer is NO, then you are returned to HDM. For network users, the double vertical lines can be used like this: C:~CD\NETWORK~LOGIN~||{MENU 400} Because the MENU function is within braces, it would normally be run first. In this case, menu file 400 would not be found because HDM.400 is on the network server, unavailable until you have logged onto the server with LOGIN. The double lines ensure that the LOGIN is done before HDM switches to menu number 400. EXAMPLE: The double vertical line can help you run more programs from one menu action. Imagine your menu action is: C:~CD \DIR1~PROG1~ ... ~CD \DIR9~PROG9~||{KEY R 5} In this case, you want to run 20 programs from different directories, but there wasn't enough room in one menu action to contain them all. The solution was to continue executing the programs from menu entry R5 ({KEY R 5}), which had programs 10 through 20 in it. Without the double vertical lines, the keystrokes typed by the {KEY} function would have been squandered in the current menu action (the first nine programs that were run). ================================================================= @@batch-file FORMAT: @@TEST (to run TEST.BAT or TEST.BTM) OVERVIEW: Used to run a batch file (.BAT) or a 4DOS/NDOS batch to memory file (.BTM) and then return to HDM. DETAILS: This menu function allows you to execute a batch file from a menu action. @@ is not needed to run .COM or .EXE files. Prior to running the menu action, @@ is replaced by: DOS Version Command Processor MicroFox Company Page 60 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 =========== ================= before 3.0 COMMAND.COM 3.0 - 3.2 COMSPEC Variable after 3.2 CALL This causes the batch file to be executed by a second copy of DOS's command processor or by the DOS CALL command. The CALL command is more efficient and will be used automatically if you are running DOS 3.30 or greater. Without the @@, the batch file is run by the current command processor, returning you to the DOS prompt instead of the menu. Why? Menu actions are run as temporary batch files. When a second batch file is run, DOS does not return control to the first one. NOTE: If you are returned to DOS, just press the X key and press Enter. You'll be returned to HDM. EXAMPLE: DW5.BAT is a batch-file to load the word processor DisplayWrite 5. The menu action is: C:~CD\DSPLYWR5~DW5~ When the program is finished, you are exited to DOS, not the HDM program. This may be inconvenient, such as: C:\> _ You can avoid being "kicked out" to DOS if you change your menu action to this: C:~CD\DSPLYWR5~@@DW5~ When the DW5 batch file finishes, you return to the same entry in HDM menu. If you are using DOS 3.30 or greater, HDM automatically uses the DOS CALL command instead of COMMAND /C. By using CALL, you avoid loading a second command processor, saving memory and time. The Auto-Build feature (F4) automatically puts @@ in front of batch files. HDM recognizes the version of DOS you are using. With DOS 3.30 or greater, HDM replaces @@ with CALL so that @@DW5 becomes CALL DW5. ================================================================= {?}, {??}, {?prompt} or {??prompt} FORMAT: {?Type the file you want to copy} OVERVIEW: Displays a prompt message and waits for your answer. MicroFox Company Page 61 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 The answer replaces this function and is put in the parameter %0. DETAILS: This function halts the execution of the action until the Enter or Esc keys are pressed. During the pause, you can enter up to 128 characters. These characters are remembered as parameter %0 and can be used in the rest of the menu action. Press Enter to continue the rest of the menu action. Press Esc to cancel the menu action from continuing. You'll then be returned to your menu. When used, the prompt message is displayed in a window. Your answer to the prompt is placed inside the window, just below the prompt. If no prompt is supplied, HDM uses "Pause for input ...". EXAMPLE: Here is a simple but common use of the prompt function. Imagine you are creating a menu action that copies files from a directory to a diskette, such as: COPY C:\{?Enter the directory to copy to diskette:}\*.* A:~ When run, you will be asked: Enter the directory to copy to diskette: If you enter "LOTUS\FILES" and press Enter, then the menu action will run like this: COPY C:\LOTUS\FILES\*.* A: (press Enter) All files in the C:\LOTUS\FILES directory are copied to the diskette in the A: drive. You are then returned to your menu. If you use two question marks (instead of one), the answer you type to the prompt will be hidden from view. The {??prompt} function is useful for passwords. If you need to use the answer to a {?prompt} in more than one place in the same menu action, use %0 where you need it. EXAMPLE: Here is an example of using the answer to a prompt, which is in the parameter %0, in more than one place. Assume you have a menu action such as: COPY C:\{?Enter the directory to move to A}\*.* A:~DEL C:\%0\*.*~ Even though the prompt is answered only once in the beginning, your menu action will translate into this: COPY C:\LOTUS\FILES\*.* A: MicroFox Company Page 62 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 DEL C:\LOTUS\FILES\*.* ================================================================= {%environment variable%} FORMAT: {%PATH%} OVERVIEW: Used to retrieve the contents of the DOS environment variable of the same name. DETAILS: This function retrieves the contents of the DOS environment variable of the same name. If there is no matching variable, the function is removed from the menu action. This function also works in the title lines in the Title Window and in menu entry descriptions. For example, HDM can show your DOS path in the title by adding {%PATH%} to it. These lines are changed in "Edit Titles" from the "Title Window" command in the Local pull-down menu. EXAMPLE: This function can be helpful for network users. Assume your menu action is: C:~CD\NET~LOGIN {%NETUSER%}~ If the DOS environment variable NETUSER is "BOB," then the above menu action becomes: C:~CD\NET~LOGIN BOB~ EXAMPLE: You can use the following to customize the title window or a menu entry description: * {%COMSPEC%} - Your command processor * {%PATH%} - Your DOS path ================================================================= {BEEP} FORMAT: {BEEP} OVERVIEW: Causes a short beep from your computer's speaker. DETAILS: This menu function causes the speaker to sound a short beep. It doesn't beep while you're in HDM, but is converted to a Ctrl-G so DOS will beep when it finds that character in the temporary batch file (X.BAT). This can be used to alert you that a task is completed. EXAMPLE: Imagine you want to create a menu action that beeps when the menu action is finished. The beep is useful when you are running menu actions that require large amounts of time but not your presence. For example: MicroFox Company Page 63 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 C:~CD\CLIPPER~CLIPPER BIGPROG~TLINK BIGPROG~{BEEP}~ When the compile and link are done, the speaker will beep. ================================================================= {BEEP!} FORMAT: {BEEP!} OVERVIEW: Immediately sounds a beep before going to DOS. DETAILS: This is the beep immediate function. It sounds an alert in HDM as soon as it is run. It is useful in alerting a user to an upcoming {?prompt} or {SELECT/VSELECT} function. EXAMPLE: Imagine your menu action is: C:~CD\CLIPPER~{BEEP!}CLIPPER {?Enter program}~TLINK %0~{BEEP} HDM will beep before you are asked to enter the program's name. ================================================================= {CANCEL} FORMAT: {CANCEL} OVERVIEW: Cancels the current menu action. DETAILS: This function ensures that the user will be returned to the user menu without running the rest of the menu action. EXAMPLE: The following menu action gives the user three choices in a popup menu. If the user chooses "Cancel" the popup menu disappears and nothing gets run. {SELECT Title~Project=[GETPROJECT]~DOS=[EXIT]~Cancel=[CANCEL]} NOTE: [brackets] are changed to {braces} after a choice is made so that the inner functions will only execute if they are chosen. ================================================================= {CK drive-letter~ready~not-ready} FORMAT: {CK A~[msg Drive Ready]~[msg Drive Not Ready]} OVERVIEW: Checks a disk drive for ready then is replaced by the ready action if it is ready or the not-ready action if it is not. DETAILS: This function ensures that a disk drive is ready before continuing and prevents a "Drive not ready" error from DOS. Both MicroFox Company Page 64 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 the ready action and the not-ready action are optional. The default action for ready is to continue the menu action and the default action for not-ready is to cancel the menu action. The resulting ready or not-ready action is also stored in the %0 parameter for further use in the menu action. EXAMPLE: Let's assume you want to ensure drive A has a diskette in it before you copy files to it. Your menu action could look like this: {CK A}COPY C:\MM\*.DOC A:~ If there is a diskette in drive A, then all the files with a .DOC extension in the C:\MM directory will be copied to the diskette in drive A. If the drive isn't ready, the rest of the menu action will be canceled. EXAMPLE: {CK N~[MSG Network Available]~[ERR Not logged into LAN]} This checks to see if a network drive is available and displays a message if it is or an error if it is not. NOTE: [brackets] are changed to {braces} when the ready action or the not-ready action replaces the CK function. This allows the inner functions to execute only if they are chosen. ================================================================= {CKDIR directory~found~not-found} FORMAT: {CKDIR F:\NETWORK~[msg Found]~[msg Not Found]} OVERVIEW: Checks for existence of a directory. If it does exists the function is replaced by the found action, but if it is not available, the function is replaced by the not-found action. DETAILS: This function ensures that a directory is available before continuing. This is useful for timed executions on LANs. Both the found action and the not-found action are optional. The default action for found is to continue the menu action and the default action for not-found is to cancel the menu action. The resulting found or not-found action is also stored in the %0 parameter for further use in the menu action. NOTE: You may use wild card characters in the directory name. EXAMPLE: {CKDIR H:\LAN\HOME}COPY C:\USER.LST H:\LAN\HOME If the above menu action runs across a LAN and the HOME directory exists on the H: drive, the copy will take place. EXAMPLE: {CKDIR c:\windows~[&2]~[&4]} Run local macro &2 if windows exists on C: or run macro &4 if it doesn't. NOTE: [brackets] are changed to {braces} when the found action MicroFox Company Page 65 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 or the not-found action replaces the CKDIR function. This allows the inner functions to execute only if they are chosen. ================================================================= {CKFILE filename~found~not-found} FORMAT: {CKFILE F:\NETWORK\TEST.NET~[msg Found]~[msg Not Found]} OVERVIEW: Checks for existence of a file. If it does exists the function is replaced by the found action, but if the file is not available, the function is replaced by the not-found action. DETAILS: This function ensures that a file is available before continuing. This is useful for timed executions on networks. Both the found action and the not-found action are optional. The default action for found is to continue the menu action and the default action for not-found is to cancel the menu action. The resulting found or not-found action is also stored in the %0 parameter for further use in the menu action. NOTE: You may use wild card characters * and ? in the file name. EXAMPLE: {CKFILE H:\ADMGROUP\NUBACKUP.EXE}H:~CD\ADMGROUP~NUBACKUP If the above menu action runs across a network, only those users with access to the NUBACKUP program would actually run it. EXAMPLE: {CKFILE c:\windows\win.exe~[&2]~[&4]} Run local macro &2 if windows exists on a PC else run macro &4. NOTE: [brackets] are changed to {braces} when the found action or the not-found action replaces the CKFILE function. This allows the inner functions to execute only if they are chosen. ================================================================= {CKVOL volume-label~found~not-found} FORMAT: {CKVOL F:NETWORK~[msg Found]~[msg Not Found]} OVERVIEW: Checks for existence of a volume label. If it is found the function is replaced by the found action, but if the volume label is not available, the function is replaced by the not-found action. DETAILS: This function ensures that a Volume ID label is found before continuing. This is useful to ensure that the correct disk is available for an operation. Both the found action and the not-found action are optional. The default action for found is to continue the menu action and the default action for not-found is to cancel the menu action. The resulting found or not-found action is also stored in the %0 parameter for further use in the MicroFox Company Page 66 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 menu action. NOTE: You may use wild card characters in the volume label. EXAMPLE: {CKVOL A:GAMESDISK}A:~CD\~MYGAME In the above menu action, if a disk with the volume label of GAMESDISK is in drive A: then run the program MYGAME. EXAMPLE: {CKVOL B:INIBACKUP~[&2]~[&4]} Run local macro &2 if the INIBACKUP disk is in B: else run &4. NOTE: [brackets] are changed to {braces} when the found action or the not-found action replaces the CKVOL function. This allows the inner functions to execute only if they are chosen. ================================================================= {COLOR foreground background} FORMAT: {COLOR 7 0} OVERVIEW: Sets foreground and background colors for the current menu entry's DOS screen. DETAILS: This menu function sets the foreground and background colors of the DOS screen for the menu action that contains the {COLOR} function. Foreground and background colors are numbered from 0 to 15. These are the available colors: Color Number ============= ====== Black 0 Blue 1 Green 2 Cyan 3 Red 4 Magenta 5 Brown 6 Light gray 7 Dark gray 8 Light blue 9 Light green 10 Light cyan 11 Light red 12 Light magenta 13 Yellow 14 White 15 EXAMPLE: This menu action displays the files of C:\DIR in white on a blue background: {COLOR 15 1}DIR C:\DIR/P~ MicroFox Company Page 67 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 NOTE: The {COLOR} function doesn't work if the ANSI.SYS device driver is loaded in your CONFIG.SYS file because ANSI.SYS overrides any colors you set with its own. Also, background colors eight through fifteen are the same as zero through seven unless HDM's -I startup switch is used to enable high-intensity background colors. See the chapter "Customizing HDM" for more information on startup switches. ================================================================= {CONFIRM prompt} or {CONFIRM prompt~seconds~Y/N} FORMAT: {CONFIRM Backup now~60~N} OVERVIEW: Displays prompt message, and waits a certain number of seconds (if entered) for you to choose "Y" (yes) to continue or "N" (no) to cancel the menu action. DETAILS: This menu function pops up a window with your prompt message. If you don't supply a prompt message, it will ask "Are you sure?". A time delay can be added so that the function continues with a default choice, such as "N". The range for seconds is from zero to 9999. If the number of seconds is not included or is equal to zero, the function will wait until a yes/no answer is entered. You can press Enter or "Y" for yes to continue the rest of the menu action. If you press Esc or "N", the menu action is canceled. If you use a mouse, click on "Yes" or "No" at the bottom of the confirm window. ALSO SEE: {ERR} to display an error message and {MSG} to display an information only message. ================================================================= {CURSOR start-line end-line} FORMAT: {CURSOR 0 7} OVERVIEW: Sets the shape of the cursor when you exit to DOS or for the program that will be run. DETAILS: This menu function sets the shape of the cursor when you leave HDM to run any program, DOS command, or batch file, or if you exit to the DOS prompt. The start- and end-lines are the top and bottom scan lines of the cursor. The range is different for each type of monitor used: * Monochrome monitors 0 to 13 MicroFox Company Page 68 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 * CGA, EGA, VGA, etc. 0 to 7 Check your display adapter's manual for the number of scan lines you can use. EXAMPLE: This menu action sets a block cursor when exiting HDM on a color monitor: {CURSOR 0 7}{EXIT} ================================================================= {DEFAULT reply-to-prompt} FORMAT: {DEFAULT C:\DOS} OVERVIEW: Default reply to the {?} or {?prompt} functions that you can change. DETAILS: This menu function allows you to display a suggested reply (up to 128 characters long) to the {?prompt} function. The user can accept it by pressing the Enter key, modify it before accepting it, or type a completely different reply. The {DEFAULT} function must either precede the {?} function or be contained inside the {?} function, such as: {?Enter a file name{DEFAULT C:\DB4\CUSTOMER.DBF}} EXAMPLE: The prompt below asks for a directory to copy files from to a disk in drive A. The menu action is: {DEFAULT LOTUS\WK2}COPY C:\{?Enter the directory to copy:}\*.* A: When this menu entry is run, you are asked: Enter the directory to copy: In the input (answer) field of the same window, the directory LOTUS\WK2 is already listed, thanks to the {DEFAULT} function. If you press Enter, this default answer will be used. The menu action then run is: COPY C:\LOTUS\WK2\*.* A: EXAMPLE: This function can also be used with a blank macro to provide the answer in several places. Consider this menu action, which uses a blank macro #5 (&5): C:~CD\ASM~{&5 {{DEFAULT MYFILE}?Enter file:}}MASM %1~LINK %1~ When run, you are asked: MicroFox Company Page 69 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 Enter file: The default answer is MYFILE, but if you type "DEMO31" and press Enter, the menu action executed is: C:~CD\ASM~MASM DEMO31~LINK DEMO31~ The &5 macro is replaced by an empty string since it contains nothing. Its first parameter (%1), which is the prompt function and its default answer, is replaced by the "DEMO31." Since %0 always contains the result of the {?prompt} function, you could avoid using a blank macro and write a simpler menu action, such as: C:~CD\ASM~MASM {{DEFAULT MYFILE}?Enter file}~LINK %0~ ================================================================= {DELAY #} FORMAT: {DELAY 5} OVERVIEW: Pauses for a number of seconds before continuing with the rest of the menu action. Press Enter to bypass the delay. DETAILS: This function allows you to add a built-in pause in a menu action. One possible use is to add a pause before using the {REBOOT} function. The pause may be needed so that your disk caching software can write to disk. Without a delay, some of your data may be lost. EXAMPLE: Let's assume you are using disk caching software (like Microsoft's SmartDrive) and have enabled delayed writes. The default time before writing to disk is one second. To ensure your data is safe before rebooting your computer, your menu action could look like this: COPY C:\CONFIG.NEW C:\CONFIG.SYS~||{DELAY 2}{REBOOT} NOTE: The double vertical lines (||) are used to force the {DELAY} function to wait for the first part of the menu action to run before it delays. Without the double vertical lines, the {DELAY} function would have run first because menu functions are run before other parts of the menu action. ================================================================= MicroFox Company Page 70 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 {DIAL [bps~modem-cmd1~...modem-cmd15~] phone-number} FORMAT: {DIAL S11=30~9,1-777-555-1212} {DIAL 4~1-216-661-9065} OVERVIEW: Dials a voice phone number using a Hayes-compatible modem and can send a setup string to the modem. Also can connect to bulletin board if the bps code is included as the beginning of the dial string. DETAILS: To use this function you need two items: * A modem that can dial a phone number using the standard Hayes ATD command. * For voice calls, a telephone connected to your modem or on the same phone line. If you have a Hayes-compatible modem, this function allows you to automatically dial voice phone numbers from a menu entry. For example, one complete menu file could be dedicated to a phone directory, each page representing a different company, and each selection on a given page being a person in the company that you call. EXAMPLE: If menu file 50 were a phone directory, use the function {MENU 50} to display the directory. If page B is has software companies on it, and entry 5 is Borland International, then its menu action would be: {DIAL 1(800) 255-8008} To call Borland, you would press "B" and then "5." Once the dialing is done, a message on the screen tells you to pick up the phone and press a key. This disconnects the modem so you can talk. Press the Esc key or use the {RETURN} function to go back to the Menu File that called your phone directory menu file. Dialing is logged if HDM was started with -L. The {DIAL} function can send modem setup commands to initialize the modem, turn off auto-answer, turn on the speaker, etc. These commands are optional and are not needed to dial a phone number. You can have up to 15 of these commands, each of which must end with a tilde (~). If you only want to change a setting in the modem, you can use this function to send modem commands but do not include a phone number. Consult your modem manual for the list of commands available. NOTE: Do not end the phone number with a tilde because HDM will mistake it for a modem command and not dial. Also, do not start the commands with an "AT" or end them with a carriage return. HDM does this automatically. MicroFox Company Page 71 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 You can use a maximum of 36 characters in the phone number and 64 in the entire {DIAL} function. Use the Global menu to change the communications port, interrupt number and the dial type. EXAMPLE: To create a phone entry that automatically dials 9 to get an outside line, use this menu action: {DIAL 9,1 (999) 555-1212} EXAMPLE: To use fast tone dialing when dialing a phone number, use this menu action with a modem command: {DIAL S11=30~9,1 (999) 555-1212} EXAMPLE: To turn off your modem's speaker and auto-answering but do not dial a phone number, use this menu action: {DIAL M0~S0=0~} To use the DIAL function to call a bulletin board, the first part of the dialing sequence must be the BPS code and a tilde. The BPS codes are: 1=1200, 2=2400, 3=4800, 4=9600, 5=14400, 6=19200, 7=28800, 8=38400, and 9=57600 BPS. EXAMPLE: To call and connect to a bulletin board at 14,400 BPS: {DIAL 5~1-508-368-7036} Once connected, you can respond to any bulletin board prompts, upload a file by pressing the PgUp key, download a file using the PgDn key, and hangup by pressing the F6 key. You can select from a list of file transfer protocols and also select the file to upload from a directory and file list. ================================================================= {DIR} or {DIR title~path\mask~sort} {DIR!} or {DIR! title~path\mask~sort} FORMAT: {DIR! C:\T*}, {DIR Select Dir~}, {DIR Select Dir~C:\T*~A} OVERVIEW: Displays a list of drives and a (sorted or unsorted) list of directory choices from which you can choose. DETAILS: This function opens a window that displays a list of drives, if one is not specified, or a list of directories on the right side of the screen. By default the directory names are sorted in ascending sequence but you can specify the sequence by adding ~A, ~D, or ~U as the last parameter to sort them in Ascending or Descending sequence or leave then Unsorted. NOTE: While the directories are displayed you can press F6 to MicroFox Company Page 72 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 alternately sort them in ascending and descending sequence. The number of drives or directories matching your path and mask are displayed on the left side of the window. You can switch to other directories by pressing Enter on your choice. If you choose "Use this DIR", then the current directory is chosen. If you choose "Root", you will be shown the root, or top, directory of the current drive. If you choose "Parent", you will be shown the directory above the current one you are in. To change drives, press F4 to display the disk drive list. If you press Esc, the menu action will be canceled. To make searching faster, you can jump to a specific directory by pressing the first letter of the directory. By pressing the letter repeatedly, the cursor highlights the next directory that starts with that letter and then starts at the top again. When you finally choose a directory using F2 or picking "Use this DIR", that directory replaces the {DIR} function and is placed in the %0 parameter for use elsewhere in your menu action. {DIR!} and {DIR! title~path\mask} are the same as {DIR}, but limits your access to a specified drive and directory and subdirectories. The optional mask restricts your choices to specific directories. The default mask is *.* (everything). If you use {DIR} without a path, it will display a list of drives. If you specify a path, that directory will be the first one displayed. If you specify a mask, only directories that match it are displayed. If you use the exclamation point in the function ({DIR!}), you cannot switch to a directory higher than the one specified in the path or to another disk drive. If you use the optional 64-character title, it must end with a ~ (tilde) and it must precede the specified path or mask (if any). EXAMPLE: To copy all files in one directory to another, your menu action would be: COPY {DIR From:~C:\}\*.* {DIR To:~A:\} In the above example, each use of {DIR} opens a window with a "From:" or "To:" title and a list of directories. Press Enter to view different directories. Press F2 to select a directory. If you pick the UTILITY directory on drive C for the "From:" directory and the root directory of drive A for the "To:" directory, the menu action becomes: COPY C:\UTILITY\*.* A:\ EXAMPLE: To go to the DOS prompt in the directory of your choice, your menu action would be: {SELECT Disk Drive~A:~B:~C:~D:~}~CD {DIR! {%0}\}{EXIT} MicroFox Company Page 73 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 When you pick drive C from the {SELECT} menu, the {SELECT} function is replaced by "C:". Because it is inside the innermost braces, {%0} is replaced by "C:" before the {DIR!} function is run. The menu action becomes: C:~CD {DIR! C:\}{EXIT} The {DIR!} function limits you to the root directory and all subdirectories of C: so you can't pick a different disk drive. If you next choose the DOS directory, the menu action becomes: C:~CD C:\DOS{EXIT} When this runs, it switches to drive C, if you're not already there. Then it changes to the DOS directory and HDM exits to the DOS prompt. ================================================================= {DRIVE disk-drive-letter} FORMAT: {DRIVE c} OVERVIEW: Reads disk and displays amount of available free space. DETAILS: This function works only in the Title Window and the menu entry descriptions. It will slow HDM's startup and the screen response time as it searches the disk. NOTE: This function does not work in a menu action. ================================================================= {ERR error-message} FORMAT: {ERR This menu entry will be canceled!} OVERVIEW: Displays an error message and cancels the rest of the menu action. DETAILS: Displays a window with your own error message and beeps. When the user presses any key, they are returned to the user menu. EXAMPLE: {CK H~[MSG Network is Available]~[ERR Network is Down!]} This example displays a message if the network drive H: is ready or displays an error message and cancels the menu action. ALSO SEE: {MSG} to display an informational message and {CONFIRM} to show a message and give the user a choice to continue or not. ================================================================= MicroFox Company Page 74 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 {EXEC} or {EXEC title~path~sort} {EXEC!} or {EXEC! title~path~sort} {EXEN} or {EXEN title~path~sort} {EXEN!} or {EXEN! title~path~sort} FORMAT: {EXEC Pick a Program~}, {EXEC Pick a Program~C:\Utils~D} OVERVIEW: Displays a list of drives and a (sorted or unsorted) list of directories and executable files to choose from. {EXEC} returns the complete path and file name while {EXEN} returns the file name only, not the path. DETAILS: The {EXEC} function and its variations displays a list of drives, if one is not specified, or a list directories and executable files on the right side of the screen. The file list is restricted to files with extensions of EXE, COM, BAT, and BTM (for 4DOS/NDOS). By default the directory names and executable file names are sorted in ascending sequence but you can include ~A, ~D, or ~U as the last parameter to sort them in Ascending or Descending sequence or leave them Unsorted. NOTE: While the executable files are displayed you can press F6 to alternately sort them in ascending and descending sequence. The number of drives, directories and executable files matching your path are displayed on the left side of the screen. You can switch to other directories by pressing Enter on a directory name. If you choose "Root", you will be shown the root, or top, directory of the current drive. If you choose "Parent", you will be shown the directory above the current one. To change drives, press F4. If you press Esc, you will cancel the menu action. To make searching faster, you can jump to a specific directory or file name by pressing the first letter of the directory or file. By pressing the letter repeatedly, the cursor highlights the next directory or file that starts with that letter and then starts at the top again. When you choose a file by pressing Enter, the complete path and file name replaces the {EXEC} function and is placed in the %0 parameter for use elsewhere in your menu action. {EXEC!} and {EXEC! title~path} are the same as {EXEC}, but limits your access to a specified drive, directory and subdirectories. You can add a 64-character description by prefacing the path with a title. The title must end with a ~ (tilde). EXAMPLE: This menu action pops up a window listing the files in D:\UTILITY ending with .BAT, .BTM, .COM, or .EXE; plus the phrase "Your Title" at the top of the window. MicroFox Company Page 75 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 {EXEC Your Title~D:\UTILITY} If you use {EXEC} without a path, it will display a list of disk drives. If you specify a path, the executable files in that directory are displayed. If you use the exclamation point in the function ({EXEC!}), you cannot switch to a directory higher than the one specified in the path, and you cannot switch to another drive. EXAMPLE: {EXEC! Choose a Game to Play~C:\GAMES} This example allows you to choose any program from the C:\GAMES directory, but will not allow you to go to any other drive or directory. ================================================================= {EXIT} or {QUIT} FORMAT: {EXIT} OVERVIEW: Exits you to the DOS prompt (like F3), but allows you to first change to a different directory. DETAILS: This function works the same as the "Exit HDM" command in the Exit menu or using the F3 key. One added benefit is that you can change to a different drive and directory before you exit to the DOS prompt. When you're finished in DOS, type "X" and press Enter to return to HDM. The {QUIT} function bypasses all security, whereas {EXIT} honors the security levels when exiting HDM. These security levels include the security specified in the Security menu and the individual security level specified on the "Exit HDM" command. To change the individual security level, press Alt-F1 while the cursor is on the "Exit HDM" command in the Exit menu. If your user security level is lower than the security of this menu choice, HDM will ask for the security level password before allowing you to exit. EXAMPLE: In this example, you would see a directory listing of all files ending with .DOC. Next, you're presented with a DOS prompt where you can do some other work. To return to HDM, press X at the DOS prompt and the Enter key. C:~CD\MM~DIR *.DOC~{EXIT}~ EXAMPLE: The following is an example of a menu action that logs you off a Novell network when HDM resides on a network drive: H:~CD\NETWORK~{KEY L O G O U T ENTR}{QUIT} MicroFox Company Page 76 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 This menu action exits HDM and automatically enters "LOGOUT" at the DOS prompt. This way, you avoid receiving an error message from DOS when X.BAT cannot be found after being logged off the network drive. ================================================================= {FILE} or {FILE title~path\mask~sort} {FILE!} or {FILE! title~path\mask~sort} {FILN} or {FILN title~path\mask~sort} {FILN!} or {FILN! title~path\mask~sort} FORMAT: {FILE *.BAK}, {FILE Pick File~}, {FILE Pick File~*.BAK~A} OVERVIEW: Displays a list of drives and a (sorted or unsorted) list of directories and files from which you can choose. {FILE} returns the complete path and file name while {FILN} returns the name of the file only, not the path. DETAILS: The {FILE} function and its variations displays a list of drives, if one is not specified, or a list of directories and files on the right side of the screen. By default the files and directory names are sorted in ascending sequence but you can include ~A, ~D, or ~U as the last parameter to sort them in Ascending or Descending sequence or leave them Unsorted. NOTE: While the files and directories are displayed you can press F6 to alternately sort them in ascending and descending sequence. The number of drives, directories and files matching your path and/or mask are displayed on the left side of the screen. You can switch to other directories by pressing Enter on a directory name. If you choose "Root", you will be shown the root, or top, directory of the current drive. If you choose "Parent", you will be shown the directory above the current one. To change drives, press F4. If you press Esc, you will cancel the menu action. To make searching faster, you can jump to a specific directory or file name by pressing the first letter with which it begins. By pressing the letter repeatedly, the cursor highlights the next directory or file that starts with that letter and then starts at the top again. When you choose a file by pressing Enter, the complete path and file name replaces the {FILE} function and is placed in the %0 parameter for use elsewhere in your menu action. {FILE!} and {FILE! title~path\mask} are the same as {FILE}, but limits your access to a specified drive, directory and subdirectories. The optional mask restricts your choices to specific files. The default mask is *.* (everything). You can add a 64-character description by prefacing the path\mask with MicroFox Company Page 77 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 a title. The title must end with a ~ (tilde). EXAMPLE: This menu action shows files in C:\DOCS ending with *.TXT plus the phrase "Your Title" at the top of the window. {FILE Your Title~C:\DOCS\*.TXT} If you use {FILE} without a path, it will display a list of disk drives. If you specify a path, the files in that directory are displayed. If you specify a mask, only files that match it are displayed. If you use the exclamation point in the function ({FILE!}), you cannot switch to a directory higher than the one specified in the path, and you cannot switch to another drive. EXAMPLE: This menu action lets you edit any file that ends with the extension ".BAT". You pick the file from any drive/directory. C:~CD\DOS~EDIT {FILE Edit a Batch File~*.BAT} EXAMPLE: This menu action displays the help screens from text files. This lets the user pick from a list of files ending in ".TXT" from the D:\HELPTEXT directory or any directories below it. It does not let the user change drives or go to the directories above D:\HELPTEXT. D:~CD\HELPTEXT~MORE < {FILE! D:\HELPTEXT\*.TXT} EXAMPLE: This menu action copies any file from diskette drive A or B to C:\TEST by first choosing a disk drive, then a directory from that disk, then a file from that directory. COPY {FILE! {DIR! {SELECT Disk~A:~B:}\}} C:\TEST ================================================================= {GETPROJECT} FORMAT: {GETPROJECT} OVERVIEW: Asks for new project name that will be recorded in the usage log and used by the {PROJECT} function. DETAILS: This function is the same as choosing "New Project" from the Exit pull-down menu. It shows the current project name and allows you to change it. The change, which takes place immediately, is used by the {PROJECT} function and is written to the usage log. ================================================================= MicroFox Company Page 78 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 {IF var1=var2~true~false} FORMAT: {IF {USER}=JIM~ProgramA~ProgramB} OVERVIEW: Compares two variables then is replaced by the true action if they are equal or the false action if they are not. DETAILS: Var1 and var2 can be anything; environment variables, character strings, macros, other HDM functions, etc. Both the true action and the false action are optional. The default action for true is to continue the menu action and the default action for false is to cancel the menu action. The resulting true or false action is also stored in the %0 parameter for further use in the menu action. The comparison is not case sensitive. EXAMPLE: {IF {USER}=Supervisor~[MENU 7]~[MENU 8]} The supervisor gets menu file HDM.007 and all others get HDM.008. {IF {%PC%}=Office~[setproject [select`Sales`Acct`Dev]]~[cancel]} Set one of three project names if this is the office PC. NOTE: In the above example [brackets] are changed to {braces} and the ` (reverse apostrophes) are changed to ~ (tildes) after the true or false action replaces the IF function. This is a way to make inner functions execute only after they are chosen. EXAMPLE: {IF {PROJECT}=AUTOEXEC}program~ If this were a menu entry that is run from the Timed Execution Facility, it would only run the program if the project name were equal to "AutoExec". The comparison is not case sensitive. This example uses the default to continue if true and cancel if false. ================================================================= {KEY k1 k2 ... k15} {KEY! k1 k2 ... k15} FORMAT: {KEY X C O P Y * . * ENTR} or {KEY! A 1} OVERVIEW: KEY passes up to 15 keystrokes to a program that uses the standard DOS keyboard buffer while KEY! passes those keys to HDM itself. DETAILS: The KEY function allows you to automate some procedures in the first program that you start from a menu entry. Keystrokes are available after HDM quits and the program begins running. The KEY! function makes keystrokes available immediately so that they can affect the operation of HDM and its built in functions. You can pass any character keystroke on your keyboard plus the key combinations listed below. Each keystroke and key combination must be separated by a space. MicroFox Company Page 79 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 The following chart shows what codes to use for various keys: Keystrokes Code Keystrokes Code Keystrokes Code ========== ==== ========== ==== ========== ==== Ctrl-A CA Ctrl-B CB Ctrl-C CC Ctrl-D CD Ctrl-E CE Ctrl-F CF Ctrl-G CG Ctrl-H CH Ctrl-I CI Ctrl-J CJ Ctrl-K CK Ctrl-L CL Ctrl-M CM Ctrl-N CN Ctrl-O CO Ctrl-P CP Ctrl-Q CQ Ctrl-R CR Ctrl-S CS Ctrl-T CT Ctrl-U CU Ctrl-V CV Ctrl-W CW Ctrl-X CX Ctrl-Y CY Ctrl-Z CZ Space SP Ctrl-[ C[ Ctrl-] C] Ctrl-\ C\ Ctrl-2 C2 Ctrl-6 C6 Ctrl-- C- Enter ENTR Escape ESC Ctrl-Break CBRK Backspace BSP Ctrl-BkSpc CBSP Tab TAB Shift-Tab STAB Alt-A AA Alt-B AB Alt-C AC Alt-D AD Alt-E AE Alt-F AF Alt-G AG Alt-H AH Alt-I AI Alt-J AJ Alt-K AK Alt-L AL Alt-M AM Alt-N AN Alt-O AO Alt-P AP Alt-Q AQ Alt-R AR Alt-S AS Alt-T AT Alt-U AU Alt-V AV Alt-W AW Alt-X AX Alt-Y AY Alt-Z AZ F1 F1 F2 F2 F3 F3 F4 F4 F5 F5 F6 F6 F7 F7 F8 F8 F9 F9 F10 F10 F11 F11 F12 F12 Alt-F1 AF1 Alt-F2 AF2 Alt-F3 AF3 Alt-F4 AF4 Alt-F5 AF5 Alt-F6 AF6 Alt-F7 AF7 Alt-F8 AF8 Alt-F9 AF9 Alt-F10 AF10 Alt-F11 AF11 Alt-F12 AF12 Ctrl-F1 CF1 Ctrl-F2 CF2 Ctrl-F3 CF3 Ctrl-F4 CF4 Ctrl-F5 CF5 Ctrl-F6 CF6 Ctrl-F7 CF7 Ctrl-F8 CF8 Ctrl-F9 CF9 Ctrl-F10 CF10 Ctrl-F11 CF11 Ctrl-F12 CF12 Shift-F1 SF1 Shift-F2 SF2 Shift-F3 SF3 Shift-F4 SF4 Shift-F5 SF5 Shift-F6 SF6 Shift-F7 SF7 Shift-F8 SF8 Shift-F9 SF9 Shift-F10 SF10 Shift-F11 SF11 Shift-F12 SF12 Left Arrow LAR Right Arrow RAR Up Arrow UAR Ctrl-Left CLAR Ctrl-Right CRAR Down Arrow DAR Arrow Arrow Home HOM End END Insert INS Ctrl-Home CHOM Ctrl-End CEND Delete DEL PgUp PGU PgDn PGD Ctrl-PrtSc CPRT Ctrl-PgUp CPGU Ctrl-PgDn CPGD Alt-1 A1 Alt-2 A2 Alt-3 A3 Alt-4 A4 Alt-5 A5 Alt-6 A6 Alt-7 A7 Alt-8 A8 Alt-9 A9 MicroFox Company Page 80 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 Alt-0 A0 Alt- A- Alt-= A= This menu action... ...types these keystrokes. ======================== =================================== {KEY A B C D E F G ENTR} ABCDEFG keys and then the Enter key {KEY CA AB SF9 SP} Ctrl-A, Alt-B, Shift-F9, Space Bar {KEY A8 A 8 RAR} Alt-8, A, 8, and Right Arrow keys {KEY} works with all programs except: * Programs that clear the keyboard buffer when they start. * Programs that ignore the DOS buffer and use their own keyboard buffer. * Memory-resident (TSR) keyboard enhancement programs that expand the size of the DOS buffer or move it to a different location. EXAMPLE: This menu action starts Lotus 1-2-3 and puts the 10 keystrokes in the DOS buffer to automatically retrieve the file named "BUDGET". C:~CD\LOTUS~123~{KEY / F R B U D G E T ENTR} EXAMPLE: This menu action goes to page W in menu file HDM.250: {MENU 250}{KEY! W} or {MENU 250~W} EXAMPLE: This menu action runs entry W2 in HDM.250: {MENU 250}{KEY W 2} or {MENU 250~W2~} EXAMPLE: In the next example, you pick menu entry L1, which runs Lotus 1-2-3. When finished, you are asked whether to back up the 1-2-3 worksheet files. If not, the menu action is ended. If you do answer "Yes," the keyboard buffer is filled with L2, which runs that menu entry. By having the backup procedure called from a separate menu entry, L2 can be run on its own when needed: L1: C:~CD\LOTUS~123~||{CONFIRM Backup 1-2-3 files?}{KEY L 2} L2: {CK A}Copy C:\LOTUS\*.WK? A:\ ================================================================= {LIST filename} FORMAT: {LIST C:\HDM\HDM.DOC} OVERVIEW: Displays any size text file. DETAILS: This function allows you to scroll through any standard MicroFox Company Page 81 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 text file in any direction. It allows you to search for character strings in the file, print marked blocks of text or the entire file, and freeze top rows and left columns while viewing the rest of the text. EXAMPLE: {LIST C:\HDM\HISTORY.DOC} Display HDM's history file. EXAMPLE: {LIST {FILE}} Display a file picked from a file list. ================================================================= {LOGOFF} FORMAT: {LOGOFF} OVERVIEW: Log a user off HDM, if one was logged on. DETAILS: This function logs you off HDM if you were logged on. Otherwise, it does nothing. Unlike the choice "Log Off Automatically" in the Security menu and the "Log Off" choice in the Exit menu, this function does not automatically run the same menu entry specified in "Log Off Automatically." However, that menu entry can contain the {LOGOFF} function so all users will end up doing the same thing when they leave HDM. EXAMPLE: This menu action will first log you off a network and then log you out of HDM: K:~CD\NETUTILS~LOGOUT~||{LOGOFF} ================================================================= {MENU ###~p#~} FORMAT: {MENU 999~E5~} OVERVIEW: Creates or uses another menu file (HDM.000 - HDM.999) and optionally goes to a specified page (A-Z) and/or menu entry number (0-9) and can run that entry. If no menu file number is specified, the utility menu is displayed. DETAILS: This function allows you to create or read in another menu file. The "###" is any number from 0 to 999, which allows you to select any of the 1000 menu files. Optionally, you can add a page letter after a tilde (~) to go to a certain page in the specified menu file. Also, you can specify a menu entry number after the page letter to highlight a certain menu entry on that page. Adding another tilde (~) after the entry number will run that entry. Zero is the default menu file. The name of the current menu file is displayed below the page index. If you try going to a menu MicroFox Company Page 82 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 file that doesn't exist, a window is opened that will let you cancel the request or create a new blank menu file. If you create one, you can immediately begin adding new entries to it. If no menu file number is specified {MENU} then the utility menu is displayed if one exists. You add entries to the utility menu when you choose "Alter Utility Menu" from the Global pull-down menu. If {MENU} is used in a utility menu entry, you will return to the utility menu after that entry runs. When you use the {MENU #} function to display another menu file, you can use the Esc key, the {RETURN} function, or choose "Prior Menu" from the Exit menu to go back to the original menu file. There is no limit to the length of a menu chain. Menu 1 can call Menu 2, which in turn can call Menu 888, which can then call Menu 317, etc. Pressing Esc or using {RETURN} will always step you back through the chain. Each menu file has its own unique set of local variables so when you go to another menu file, it can display different colors, have different macros, different borders, titles, etc. EXAMPLES: This menu action calls menu file HDM.077: {MENU 77} This menu action goes to page K in file HDM.890: {MENU 890~K} This menu action highlights entry R6 in HDM.033: {MENU 33~R6} This menu action runs menu entry C5 from HDM.004: {MENU 4~C5~} This menu action displays the utility menu: {MENU} ================================================================= {MSG attention-message} FORMAT: {MSG This program will be logged under project {PROJECT}} OVERVIEW: Displays an attention message in a popup window. DETAILS: Displays a window with your information message and waits for the user to press any key before continuing. EXAMPLE: {CK H~[MSG Network is Available]~[ERR Network is Down!]} This example displays a message if the network drive H: is ready or displays an error message and cancels the menu action. ALSO SEE: {ERR} to display an error message and {CONFIRM} to show a message and give the user a choice to continue or not. ================================================================= MicroFox Company Page 83 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 {NOCLEAR} FORMAT: {NOCLEAR} OVERVIEW: Doesn't clear the screen before running a menu entry. DETAILS: Normally, HDM clears the screen before a menu entry is run. This function keeps the last HDM screen visible while that entry runs. EXAMPLE: This menu action runs PC Tools' PCSHELL without first clearing the screen. {NOCLEAR}C:~CD\PCTOOLS~PCSHELL ================================================================= {PROJECT} FORMAT: {PROJECT} OVERVIEW: Returns the current project name. DETAILS: This menu function is replaced by the project name provided by either the {SETPROJECT} or {GETPROJECT} functions. The project name can also be changed by the "New Project" command in the Exit pull-down menu or automatically at logon time by setting an option in "Global Settings" from the Global menu. This function also works in the title lines in the Title Window and in the menu entry descriptions. To put {PROJECT} in the title lines, choose "Edit Titles" in the "Title Window" menu that is found in the Local pull-down menu. To put {PROJECT} in a menu description. choose "Change Entry" from the Menu pull-down menu and enter it in the menu description. EXAMPLE: If the project field contained "33-154B", then the menu action: C:~CD\PROJECTS~EDIT {PROJECT}.DOC~ becomes C:~CD\PROJECTS~EDIT 33-154B.DOC~ EXAMPLE: A title line put in the "Title Window" that says: Working on Project Name {PROJECT} becomes Working on Project Name 33-154B MicroFox Company Page 84 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 EXAMPLE: A menu entry description that shows: This entry runs AutoCad for project {project} becomes This entry runs AutoCad for project 33-154B ================================================================= {REBOOT} FORMAT: {REBOOT} OVERVIEW: Allows you to reboot your computer. DETAILS: This function allows you to reboot your computer. It has the same effect as pressing the keys Ctrl-Alt-Del. For example, you can use this function to make changes to the AUTOEXEC.BAT or CONFIG.SYS files and automatically reboot the system with the new configuration. WARNING: You may have trouble if using disk caching software with delayed writing to disk. You should "flush" the cache so your data is saved to disk or else wait for the delayed writing to occur. For example, if you were using the new SmartDrive software for Windows 3.1, you would want to type "SMARTDRV /C" to save the cache to disk before using this function. You can also use the new function {DELAY #} to pause HDM until your data is written to disk by the disk caching software. EXAMPLE: This menu action copies a file called CONFIG.NEW in place of your CONFIG.SYS and restarts your computer: COPY C:\CONFIG.NEW C:\CONFIG.SYS~SMARTDRV /C~{REBOOT} ================================================================= {RETURN} FORMAT: {RETURN} OVERVIEW: Returns you to the previous menu file. DETAILS: This function returns you to any previous menu files from which you journeyed. If you are already at the base menu file, then you'll be told there is no where to return to. The base menu file is usually zero, but it can be different if you used HDM's -M startup switch or selected another starting menu file in the User ID Security Table. MicroFox Company Page 85 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 For example, assume you were taken to Menu 150 because a menu entry in another menu file had the function {MENU 150} in its menu action. The {RETURN} function would take you back to that previous menu file. Pressing the Esc key or selecting "Prior Menu" from the "eXit" pull-down menu also returns you to the previous menu file. EXAMPLE: This menu action takes you to menu file HDM.775 and runs menu entry C5. When done, you are returned to the menu file from which you came: {MENU 775~C5~}||{RETURN} ================================================================= {RUN program/command/batch-file} {RUN! program/command/batch-file} FORMAT: {RUN! DIR /W} or {RUN QA.BAT} OVERVIEW: Immediately runs a program, DOS command or batch file while HDM stays in memory. Use this function for small programs only. {RUN! program/command/batch-file} is the same as {RUN}, but pauses before redisplaying HDM's User Menu. DETAILS: This function allows you to run a program, DOS command or a batch file without leaving HDM. Since HDM remains in memory when running a program this way, some programs may not have enough memory to run. This function makes using small programs much quicker since HDM does not have to reload itself after running your program. It can also be helpful if you want to see a directory listing before replying to a prompt that asks for a file name. For this function to work, you must either have a path to the program, DOS command or batch file, or provide the full path with the file name. NOTE: Some DOS commands, such as COPY, are internal and do not require a path at all. EXAMPLE: If you want to run your word processor, but you don't remember the names of the files you want to edit, try this menu action: {RUN! DIR C:\WPDIR\*.DOC}C:~CD\WPDIR~WP {?Enter document name}~ The "!" after the RUN causes a pause before returning to HDM so you can see the result of the DIR command on the screen. Press any key to return to HDM, which then asks for the document name. You enter the name and your word processing program starts using MicroFox Company Page 86 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 the document whose file name you found and entered. EXAMPLE: Here's an example of listing a file to the screen after seeing a list of files: {RUN! DIR C:\BAT /W}{RUN LIST C:\DIR\{?Enter file name to list}} First, a wide (/W) directory listing of C:\BAT is displayed and the system pauses. HDM then asks for the file name. Finally, the LIST program runs with the file you picked. Note that LIST is RUN without the pause option since it waits for keystrokes before returning to HDM. ================================================================= {SELDEF number} FORMAT: {SELDEF 1} OVERVIEW: Sets a default entry for the SELECT/VSELECT functions. DETAILS: Subsequent {SELECT} and {VSELECT} functions within the same menu action will have the specified entry highlighted. EXAMPLE: {SELDEF 2}{SELECT title~First~Second~Third~Fourth} The entry "Second" will be highlighted when the menu is shown. ================================================================= {SELECT MenuTitle~Choice1~...~Choice15} {VSELECT MenuTitle~Choice1~...~Choice15} FORMAT: {SELECT DISK SIZE~720K=/N:9/T:80~1.44MB=} OVERVIEW: Displays a horizontal or vertical menu of up to 15 choices. The user's choice will replace the {SELECT} function in the menu action. Also the selected menu entry is put into %0 for later use. DETAILS: To select your entry quickly, you can press the first highlighted letter. If using a mouse, simply click on your choice. NOTE: The highlighted letter is the first capitalized letter. To avoid conflicts, make sure that each entry has a unique character highlighted. To select your choice, press the high- lighted character, click on the choice with your mouse, or move the cursor to the choice and press the Enter key. The title and each choice of the menu choices must be separated by a tilde (~). If one of the choices begins with a "?", it is MicroFox Company Page 87 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 treated like the {?prompt} menu function when it is selected. You can have an empty choice by using two tildes: ~~. Besides replacing the function itself, the selected choice is placed in the %0 parameter so you can use it in additional places in the same menu action. To make your menu choices easier to use, you can have the menu display certain text but return a different value when that menu choice is selected. Instead of using "Choice1," you would type: DISPLAY=CHOICE1 DISPLAY is what you want SELECT/VSELECT to display to the user. It can be up to 30 characters long. CHOICE1 is the value that is used when that SELECT/VSELECT choice is made. It can be up to 64 characters long. The next example involving formatting a diskette in different sizes shows how this works. EXAMPLE: In this example, formatting a diskette is made easier by providing clear choices. A window opens with the title "SELECT DISK SIZE". The two menu entries are "720K" and "1.44MB". When "720K" is selected, HDM returns "/N:9/T:80" and the menu action becomes "FORMAT A:/N:9/T:80". If "1.44MB" is chosen, nothing is returned since there is nothing to the right of the equal sign and the menu action is "FORMAT A:". FORMAT A:{SELECT DISK SIZE~720K=/N:9/T:80~1.44MB=} EXAMPLE: In this example, the menu action copies all files in C:\WP that end with .DOC to drive A or B. COPY C:\WP\*.DOC {SELECT Pick Backup Disk~A:~B:} EXAMPLE: This menu action runs LOGIN with the selected name. If the user picks "?Enter Name", HDM asks you for your name and then replaces the {VSELECT} function with the name given. Note that there are no braces around the "?Enter Name" so that this function will not run before the {VSELECT}. To hide your input, you can use two question marks (see the {?} function for more details). LOGIN {VSELECT User~Dan~Beth~Jim~Laura~?Enter Name} NOTE: You can specify a default entry with the {SELDEF} function. ================================================================= {SETPROJECT project-data} FORMAT: {SETPROJECT LAWSON} OVERVIEW: Sets project to the information in this function. MicroFox Company Page 88 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 DETAILS: This function allows you to change the project data from within a menu action. The project name is written to the HDM.LOG log file if you started HDM with its -L switch. EXAMPLE: This menu action changes the project name to MyProject. {SETPROJECT MyProject} EXAMPLE: This menu action changes the project name to that of the current user that is logged on to a network: {SETPROJECT {%USER%}} NOTE: To use %USER% in this function, you need to use an environment variable such as "SET USER=name" where "name" is the name of the user. On networks, users often have such an environment variable set up for them. ================================================================= {STEP} FORMAT: {STEP} OVERVIEW: Used to debug menu entries that aren't yet working. This function displays the menu action after each function executes. DETAILS: This function is useful in debugging (fixing) menu actions that use functions. After HDM sees the {STEP} function in a menu action, it displays a window showing what the action looks like as each function executes and just before the action is actually run by DOS. This function does not hinder the running of the menu action. However, it is best to remove the {STEP} function from the menu action once it is no longer needed. EXAMPLE: In the next menu action, the {STEP} function will step through each function one at a time so you can see how each individual function affects the menu action: {STEP}!echo {FILE {DIR {SELECT Disk~A:~B:~C:~D:}\}} ================================================================= {USER} FORMAT: {USER} OVERVIEW: Used to retrieve the current User ID, if anyone is logged on to HDM. DETAILS: This function retrieves the HDM User ID (if one was MicroFox Company Page 89 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 used to log on). You must have at least one entry in the User ID Security Table in the Security pull-down menu or this will return "-none-". This function can also be used in the title lines in the Title Window and in the menu entry descriptions to display who is currently logged on. To configure this, select "Title Window" in the Local menu, then "Edit Titles" or select "Change Entry" from the Menu pull-down menu, then change the menu description. EXAMPLE: TYPE {?Hey {USER}, enter the file you want to see.} In this example, if Joe was logged on to HDM, then the prompt window would say: Hey Joe, enter the file you want to see. EXAMPLE: To customize your menu title, you could put this line in one of the top title lines: {USER}'s Computer - No Unauthorized Users Allowed! If Laura was logged on, the line in the top tiles would say: Laura's Computer - No Unauthorized Users Allowed! EXAMPLE: To add the user's name to a menu description, do this: This entry will run Windows for {USER} If John is logged on, then menu disecription will show: This entry will run Windows for John ================================================================= {USERSEC} FORMAT: {USERSEC} OVERVIEW: Used to retrieve the current user's security level. DETAILS: This function retrieves the security level number of the currently logged on user. If there are no entries in the User ID Security Table in the Security pull-down menu this function will return "0". This function can also be used in the title lines in the Title Window and in the menu entry descriptions to display the current user security level. To configure this, select "Title Window" in the Local menu, then "Edit Titles" or select "Change Entry" from the Menu pull-down menu, then change the menu description. MicroFox Company Page 90 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 EXAMPLE: {IF {USERSEC}=99}BACKUP L: T:} In this example, a backup would run only if the currently logged on user has a security level equal to 99. EXAMPLE: To display the user name and security level in your menu title, you could put this line in one of the top title lines: {USER}'s security level is {USERSEC} If Bob was logged on and his security level was 8, that title line would look like this: Bob's security level is 8 ================================================================= TRACKING PROJECTS AND PEOPLE HDM is not only a menuing system but can also be a great project and people management tool. Whether using a network or an individual PC, HDM can keep track of users' activities. How much time do they spend working on this PC? On a certain project? What IDs are being used? Which menu items are being underused or neglected? How much time do you spend on a certain project? Using HDM.LOG Valuable information about how HDM is used is collected in the file HDM.LOG. This "log" file is an ASCII text file that shows which users use which menu entries and when. To start saving information to HDM.LOG, you must start HDM with the -L startup switch. See the chapter "Customizing HDM" for how to use this and other switches. !! To activate the log file: 1. From the DOS prompt or AUTOEXEC.BAT file, start HDM with the -L switch. Type: HDM -L[path] (press Enter) where "[path]" is the drive and directory where you want the HDM.LOG file to be saved. If you do not include a path, the HDM.LOG file is saved to the directory where the HDM program files are located. MicroFox Company Page 91 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 You can also start the log file by using the "SET HDM=" environment variable (the other way of configuring HDM when starting it). 2. Use HDM as you normally would. The HDM.LOG file records what you (and others) are doing while in HDM. Viewing HDM.LOG If you use a file viewer, your log file may look like this: ≡Jim Jones 1992052313:117000A1 RUN=Dir B: ≡Jim Jones 1992052313:147000A1 ENDrun ≡Laura Lane 1992052313:217000B5Acct31 Directory of A: ≡Laura Lane 1992052313:227000B5Acct31 END! What do these numbers and codes mean? From left to right, the HDM.LOG log file displays the following (lengths are in parentheses): * CODE (1) - Used by HDM to identify the record format. * USER (25) - User ID. * DATE (8) - The date in the format YYYYMMDD ("19920601" = June 1, 1992). * TIME (5) - The time in the 24-hour format HR:MN ("13:05" is 1:05 p.m.). * DAY (1) - The day of the week (1=Sunday, 7=Saturday). * FILE (3) - The menu file number (000 to 999), "DOS" if the user exited from HDM or used the DOS window. or "LOG" for logon/off. * ENTRY (2) - Menu page and number (A1 through Z0), "xt" for an exit to DOS, or "wd" if the command was run from the DOS window. * PROJECT (25) - The project name, if any was chosen. (We'll discuss projects later in this chapter.) * ACTION (3-99) - Either a description of what was run or "END". If the description starts "RUN=", the {RUN} function was used. Tracking Projects HDM offers you a way to keep track of projects you may be working on. How does it work? You first must enter a project name (up to 25 characters). You can do this in any of four ways: * Select "New Project" (Ctrl-F10) from the Exit pull-down menu. * Create a menu entry that uses the {GETPROJECT} function, which asks you for a project name. * Create a menu entry that uses the {SETPROJECT} function, which provides a specific project name for you. * Changing the "Global Settings" of the Global menu to ask all users for a project name. Once set, every time HDM starts, you and others will be asked for a project name. MicroFox Company Page 92 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 HINT: You can use the User ID Security Table to have HDM automatically ask certain users for a project name. First, create a menu entry that asks for a project name. Then, use the User ID Security Table to automatically run this entry for the appropriate users. No matter which method you use to enter a project name, the project name will appear in the HDM.LOG file along with the other information. Using {GETPROJECT} to enter a project name The {GETPROJECT} function can be used in a menu action to ask for a project name. This name will then be recorded in the HDM.LOG log file and used by the {PROJECT} function. This function is the same as choosing "New Project" from the Exit pull-down menu (or Ctrl-F10). It shows the current project name and allows you to change it. The change, which takes place immediately, is used by the {PROJECT} function and is written to the usage log. Using {PROJECT} to retrieve a project name You can use the {PROJECT} function to read the project name into other functions and programs. EXAMPLE: If the project name is "33-154B", then the menu action: C:~CD\PROJECTS~EDIT {PROJECT}.DOC~ becomes C:~CD\PROJECTS~EDIT 33-154B.DOC~ !! To add the project name to your Title Window: The {PROJECT} function can also be used in the title lines in the Title Window. 1. Select "Title Window" (Shift-F8) from the Local menu. 2. Select "Edit Titles" from the "Title Window" menu. 3. Enter "{PROJECT}" on one of the title lines. 4. Press F2 to save your changes. From now on, the current project name will be displayed at the top of your User Menu. EXAMPLE: If one of title lines has: MicroFox Company Page 93 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 "Working on Project Name {PROJECT}" it becomes "Working on Project Name 33-154B" Using {SETPROJECT} with project names You can use the {SETPROJECT} function to automatically provide a specific project name so you don't have to enter one. Use this function from within a menu action. EXAMPLE: This menu action changes the project name to 1234-5678: {SETPROJECT 1234-5678} EXAMPLE: This menu action changes the project name to that of the current user that is logged on: {SETPROJECT {%USER%}} NOTE: To use %USER% in this function, you need to use an environment variable such as "SET USER=username" where "username" is the name of the user. On networks, users often have such an environment variable set up for them. Creating Reports You can display and print HDM.LOG information from HDM's Report Module. The Report Module lets you print reports to the screen, to your printer, or to a file. To speed loading of HDM4DOS.EXE, this module is a separate program named HDMLIST.EXE. The Report Module is quite flexible; you can list only the information you want to analyze, such as for a specific day, project, or user. You can save subsets of the HDM.LOG file to a log file of another name. Loading The Report Module NOTE: Although not needed now, the Report Module, like HDM itself, uses F10 to access its Top Menu. !! To load HDM.LOG (or any log file): 1. Select "Reports" from HDM's Exit pull-down menu (Shift-F10). If another menu pops up with the choice of "Order Form" and "Usage Log", choose "Usage Log". The small optional Reports menu can be eliminated for registered users by renaming or moving the ORDER.DOC file. MicroFox Company Page 94 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 2. Next, select the drive and directory where your log file is located from the Report Module. A list of directories and log files on the drive where HDM is installed is displayed. You can switch to other directories by pressing Enter on your choice. If you choose "Root", you will be shown the root, or top, directory of the current drive. If you choose "Parent", you will be shown the directory above the current one. To change drives, press F4. If you press Esc, you will cancel the menu action and return to the HDM user menu. To speed searching, you can jump to a specific directory or file name by pressing the first letter with which it begins. By pressing the letter repeatedly, the cursor highlights the next directory or file that starts with that letter and then starts at the top again. 3. Highlight the HDM.LOG file and press Enter to display it. The HDM.LOG file is loaded as the file TEMP.HDM. Each line in HDM.LOG is a "record," showing who did what while in HDM. Use these keys to move through the file: * Home/End - jumps to the first or last record of the file. * PgUp/PgDn - moves to the previous or next page of records. * Up/Down Arrow - moves to the previous or next record. 4. Press Enter on the record (line) of the HDM.LOG file from which you want to see more information. When you press Enter on one of the lines in the HDM.LOG file, a window displays the complete information for that record. Using Filters You can use "filters" to limit what you want to see in HDM.LOG, such as menu entries run by a specific user or menu entries used for a specific project. You then can save this subset of the HDM.LOG file to a new file. Creating a filtered log file !! To select certain records for display: 1. After loading a log file, select "Filter" (F2). 2. Select how you want to limit what is displayed. * Date Range - enter "Y" to filter by a date range and enter the MicroFox Company Page 95 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 year, month, and day for the start and end dates. * Time Range - enter "Y" to filter by a time range and enter the hour and minute of the start and end times in 24-hour format. * Menu Entry - enter "Y" to filter by menu entry, page, or file. Enter the menu file number, menu page letter, and menu entry number. This will limit the display to all uses of that one menu entry. You can also just enter the menu file number or the menu file and a page letter to limit the records to all entries in a certain menu file or on a certain menu page. * Project - enter "Y" to filter by project name and enter the partial or complete project name. You will then see all records that match that name, even if only one letter. HINT: To see records that have NO project name, enter a single space in the project name field. * User ID - enter "Y" to filter by User ID and enter the partial or complete User ID. You will then see all records logged by that user or User IDs that begin with that letter or letters. Enter one space to see all records created without a User ID. * Utility Menu Entries - enter "Y" to include utility menu entries. * User Log Ons & Log Offs - enter "Y" to include all successful log ons & log offs and attempted log ons where an unknown User ID or wrong password was entered. * DOS Window & Exits to DOS - enter "Y" to include a record of things run from the DOS Window and exits to the DOS prompt. NOTE: Use any of these filters together in any combination you need to get the desired filtered records. 3. Press F2 to save your filter information. HDM displays the lines of the HDM.LOG that match your filters. The number of lines is displayed in the lower right corner. 4. To change the way the file is filtered or to return to the unfiltered log file, press F2 again. Saving a filtered log file The next procedure discusses how to save your filtered log file to a different file. After limiting the lines of HDM.LOG to what you want, you can save the information to another disk file. This disk file is saved in the XBase (.DBF) format for use in dBase or other database programs. MicroFox Company Page 96 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 !! To save your displayed list to a log file: 1. After loading a log file and filtering it (if desired), select "Save As" from the File menu (Alt-F3). 2. Confirm whether you want to save only the filtered records or the entire file. CAUTION: To save the filtered records back to the original log file, select "Save" (Alt-F2). However, if you save the filtered records to the original file, the unfiltered records are lost. 3. Enter the file's name or accept the default file name. Designing Reports Besides viewing HDM.LOG on your screen, you can create a custom-made report that you can either view or print. The steps to making a report are: * Open a previously saved report format or create a new one. * Set up filters to limit your choices, if desired. * Display the report to the screen, if desired. * Print your report to paper or to an ASCII disk file. Working with report formats NOTE: You must first create a report format or open one that was previously saved before you can display or print a report. !! To open a report format: 1. Select "Open Format" from the "Report" menu (Ctrl-F1). 2. Select the report name from the list displayed (if any). !! To create a report format: 1. Select "Create Format" from the "Report" menu (Ctrl-F2). 2. Press Enter on the fields you want included in the report. If using a mouse, click on your choices. An "X" appears next to each selected field. 3. Press F4 to change the default length of any field. You may want to shorten a field so that it fits on the width of one page. However, some field information may be truncated. 4. Press F2 to save your report format. MicroFox Company Page 97 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 5. Choose Yes to save the report to disk to use again at a later time, or No to use it one time only. If you choose Yes, enter a report name to identify it. NOTE: You can choose "Save Format" (Ctrl-F3) from the "Report" menu at any time to save your report setup. !! To delete a report format: 1. Select "Open Format" from the "Report" menu (Ctrl-F1). 2. Highlight the report format name from the list displayed. 3. Press the Delete key. 4. Press the Enter key to confirm the format to delete. Using a report filter !! To set up filters for your report: 1. After loading a log file, select "Filter" (F2). 2. Select how you want to limit what is printed by placing a "Y" (for yes) or an "N" (for no) in front of each filter type. * Date Range - enter the YYYY MM DD of the start and end dates. * Time Range - enter the start and end times in 24-hour format. * Menu Entry - enter the menu file number, menu page and entry. * Project - enter the partial or complete project name. * User ID - enter the partial or complete user ID. * Include - Utility Menu Entries, Log Ons/Offs, DOS Window/Exits. 3. Press F2 to use your filter information. HDM displays the records of the HDM.LOG file that match your filters. 4. Choose to display, print, or write your report to a file using the procedures detailed next. Displaying your report !! To print your report to the screen: 1. After loading a log file and selecting a report format, select "Display Report" from the "Report" menu (Ctrl-F4). 2. Press Enter to display only the records that match your filter(s). Otherwise, press Esc to display all records. 3. Scroll through your report using these keys: * Left and right arrows - move you left and right, MicroFox Company Page 98 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 respectively, through the report. * Up and down arrows - move you up and down, respectively, through the report. * F10 - opens the Report Module's Top Menu to make any changes in the format. * Tab and Shift-Tab - moves you right and left, respectively, one screen at a time. You can also use Ctrl-Right Arrow and Ctrl-Left Arrow. * F5 - goes to the top of the report. (also Ctrl-Home or Ctrl-PgUp) * F6 - goes to the end of the report. (also Ctrl-End or Ctrl-PgDn) * F7 - asks for a character string and finds it in the report. * F8 - continues finding the character string from the last find. * F9 - marks a block of the report for printing just that block. * F2 - prints the report as displayed or a marked block. * F4 - freezes portions of the display. If you have a lengthy report, you can have up to ten horizontal rows and up to sixty left-hand characters be frozen so you can scroll to other parts of the screen while still viewing this information. 4. Press Esc to exit the displayed report and return to the log file. Printing your report !! To print your report to a printer: 1. After loading a log file and selecting a report format, select "Print Report" from the "Report" menu (Ctrl-F5). 2. Press Enter to print only the records that match your filter(s). Otherwise, press Esc to print all records. Saving your report !! To print your report to a file: 1. After loading a log file and selecting a report format, select "Report to File" from the "Report" menu (Ctrl-F6). 2. Press Enter to write only the records that match your filter(s). Otherwise, press Esc to print all records. 3. Accept the default name and path for the text file or enter your own name. NOTE: Starting the file name with a backslash will place it in the root directory of the drive where HDM.LOG is kept. MicroFox Company Page 99 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 ADDING SECURITY HDM allows you to control access to any menu entry and to the commands in the Top Menu. HDM's security options not only prevent unauthorized use of programs that access vital information (such as salary figures) but also will protect others from accidentally destroying data files or HDM's menu structure. This version of HDM offers better security than ever. Selecting Your Level Of Security Do you need HDM's security options? You need to analyze how your system is set up, who uses it and how much experience they have. You must then evaluate the tradeoff between security and ease of use. Most security uses the security levels that you set up in the Master Password Table discussed in "Security by the Numbers" below. The exceptions are user logon passwords (see "Adding Users") and individual user menu entries which can have both a security level and a run time password (see "Run Time Passwords"). An open system You may want to run a completely "open" system without individual passwords and restrictions. It is the simplest to set up and easiest to use since no passwords need to be entered. However, an open system is best only if all users of the system are "computer literate" (comfortable with DOS commands) and are willing to work with the same menus and colors. A secure system You could also provide "partial security". Partial security is ideal for a family's home computer. You are the primary user and the one who is setting up HDM. Others in your family may not be comfortable with DOS commands and directory structures. In this case, you might design different menus for different family members. Each user would log on and get a personalized menu. You might also want to restrict access to the Top Menu so that nothing could be altered accidentally. In effect, you would be a "system manager" and would create a friendly HDM environment for the rest of the family. Security By The Numbers HDM provides up to 99 security levels (1 through 99). HDM comes with all security levels set to a default of "00". If you want to have a totally "open" system, you do not need to change MicroFox Company Page 100 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 anything. Security is added by assigning a security level to the people who'll be using HDM. You then assign a security level to the different parts of HDM you want to protect. Once security levels are established, you can access all HDM menus and menu entries that have a security level equal to or LESS than your own. If your security level is less than an area you are trying to access, you'll be asked for a password for that security level or a security level higher than that one. This is called the security level password. If you don't type the correct password, you cannot access that area. NOTE: If someone is asked for a security level password and enters either the password for that security level OR any security level above that, they will be allowed access. Security levels are just numbers. The 99 security level gives you the highest security clearance. Because HDM offers 99 security levels does not mean you must use them all. Also, you can use only a few security levels, such as 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. However, we recommend you leave gaps between numbers so you have the flexibility to add more between existing levels. Perhaps you could assign your first security levels in multiples of 10 (10, 20, 30, 40 and 50). HINT: We recommend you first create a "backdoor" for yourself so you are never locked out of HDM. You do this by pressing F4 from the Master Password Table (in the Security pull-down menu). If you are ever locked out of HDM because a User ID is required, enter "BACKDOOR" as your User ID and then either the backdoor password or the level 99 password as the User ID password. The backdoor password can also be used to override any of 99 security level passwords. Adding security requires up to three steps: * Creating security levels in the Master Password Table. * Adding up to 254 users to the User ID Security Table and setting their security level. * Restricting access to the Top Menu and individual menu entries, pages and files. These steps can be used separately. For example, you can add users to the User ID Security Table so that each user must type a password to get into HDM. However, once in, they will not be restricted from using any part of HDM. Conversely, you can add security levels in the Master Password Table and prevent people from using certain parts of HDM. However, you do not need to add users to restrict their use of these sections. MicroFox Company Page 101 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 Creating Security Levels Security in HDM is simple but effective. By placing a numerical security level on a menu entry, you can prevent users of lower security levels from accessing that menu entry. You first create security levels in the Master Password Table. You then assign security levels to other users of HDM through the User ID Security Table. The User ID Security Table lists the people who will be using HDM and what their security level is. (Both tables are found in the Security menu from the Top Menu.) Since you will be the system manager, you will need to give yourself a higher security level than others. Getting started NOTE: If using this procedure for the first time, create two high security levels for yourself, the system manager. One security level, 90, for example, should be used for your everyday security use. This security level can be used to restrict use to high-level HDM functions. Security level 99 and the backdoor (F4) password should be set up to override forgotten or misused passwords. Then, use this procedure to create other security levels for your other users. !! To create or change a security level: 1. Select "Master Password Table" from the Security menu (Alt-F8). This table displays the numbers 1 through 99 for up to 99 different security levels. With any given security level, a user can access all features that have a security level equal to or less than that level. For example, if you had a security level of 50, you can access anything with a security level from 1 to 50, but not 51. NOTE: If you have a security level of 50 and gave the Top Menu a security level of 90, you would NOT be able to access it. 2. Enter the security level number you want to create or delete. Assuming you'll be the "system manager," enter an everyday security level, such as 90, in the Master Password Table. Press Enter. 3. Enter the same password twice. This security level password will be required if you wish to use a menu entry, menu page, or menu file that has had its access restricted to a certain security level and your security is less than that. Enter a password that is easy to remember MicroFox Company Page 102 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 but difficult for others to guess. You might want to jot down the passwords you assign and keep them in a safe place. Repeat this and the previous step to create other security levels, such as 99 and the backdoor (F4) password for your security. 4. Press F2 to save your changes. Adding Users Once security levels are created, you can add "accounts" for everyone who will be using HDM. For each person, you can set their security level, logon password and startup options. Getting started NOTE: If using this procedure for the first time, add your name and give yourself a high security level. We recommend a level of 90. For your safety, do not assign anyone the highest security level of 99. Then, use this procedure to add other users. !! To add or change user accounts: 1. Select "User ID Security Table" from the Security menu (Alt-F9). 2. To add new users, press the Insert (Ins) key. To change information on an existing user, move your cursor to the user account you want to change and press Enter. 3. Enter the following information for each user: * User ID. * Menu file you want this user to first use when HDM starts. * Menu entry number you want automatically run for this user (optional). * Security level for this user (you may be asked to enter the password for that security level) (optional). * Whether or not to enter a logon password for this user now (optional). NOTE: Each individual's logon password is independent of the password used for their particular security level. 4. Press F2 to save your changes for this user. 5. Press F2 again to save your changes to the User ID Security Table. EXAMPLE: In a family scenario, you can give your spouse a security level of 70 and each of your children a security level MicroFox Company Page 103 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 of 50. In the figure below, you can see that each user has individual menu files, different security levels and logon passwords. Also note that everyone but you (the system manager) has a menu entry that is automatically run when HDM is started. User ID security table ╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║ User Identification │ Menu File │ Run! │ Security │ Password ║ ╠══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣ ║ Bob │ HDM.300 │ │ 99 │ √ ║ ║ Brenda │ HDM.299 │ A1 │ 90 │ √ ║ ║ Melissa │ HDM.150 │ A5 │ 50 │ √ ║ ║ Kathy │ HDM.100 │ B7 │ 50 │ √ ║ ║ │ │ │ │ ║ ║ │ │ │ │ ║ ║ │ │ │ │ ║ ║ │ │ │ │ ║ ║ │ │ │ │ ║ ║ │ │ │ │ ║ ╠══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣ ║ Enter=Change Esc=Cancel F2=Save Ins=Add Del=Delete ║ ╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ Listing users at logon time Once there is at least one entry in the User ID Security Table, you will be required to logon to HDM when it is started. You can display a list of User IDs when logging on if you know the password for the User ID table's security level. !! To list users while logging on: 1. When logging onto HDM, instead of entering your User ID, enter: LIST USERS (then press Enter). 2. If the User ID Table is secured, you will have to enter a password for its security level before seeing the user list. 3. The list of users will be displayed and you can choose one. Changing your password at logon time When logging on to HDM (because there are entries in the User ID Security Table) you can change your own password. !! To change your logon password: 1. After entering your User ID, enter CHANGE in the password field instead of using your normal logon password. MicroFox Company Page 104 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 2. Next, enter your old password to verify your authorization. 3. Enter a new password, press Enter, then reenter it to verify the password. Your new logon password is recorded by HDM and will be required in future sessions. Restricting Access Now that you have created security levels for various users of HDM, how do you restrict access and to what? There are four areas that you can protect: * Hide or restrict use of the Top Menu. * Restrict access to a pull-down menu choice. * Restrict use of a single menu entry, menu page or menu file. * Prevent changes to a menu file. Hierarchy Of Security HDM has a hierarchy of security that you must follow. The security of a menu entry takes precedence over the security of the menu page. In other words, if entry A5 has a security level of 50 and page A has a security of 30, the user with security level 30 will be allowed access to the menu page but will be asked for a security level password on the fifth entry. If you change the security of the menu entry to "00", then the menu entry assumes the security level of the menu page (30). Likewise, the security of a menu page takes precedence over the security of a menu file. If you change the security of the page to 0, then the page assumes the security level of the menu file. Hiding the top menu You may not want others to access the Top Menu or make changes to it. For example, you may not want others to access the Master Password Table or the User ID Security Table. Use this procedure to deny or hide access to the Top Menu. !! To hide the Top Menu: 1. Select "Hide/Disable Top Menu" from the Security menu. This security feature allows you to keep certain people from even seeing the Top Menu. This feature disables the F10 and slash keys used to access the Top Menu. 2. Assign a security level. MicroFox Company Page 105 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 Enter a security level higher than that of the users you want to hide the Top Menu from. For the most security, enter a level 90. NOTE: To access the Top Menu when it's hidden, you need to type "/UNHIDE" from the User Menu and enter a password of a security level equal to or higher than the hidden level. Restricting access to the top menu This security feature allows unauthorized people to still see the Top Menu but not make any choices from it (Menu, Page, Security, Local, Global and Exit). The security level specified by this command becomes the default for the commands in each pull-down menu. It can be overridden for an individual pull-down menu command by placing the cursor on the command and pressing Alt-F1 (described later). !! To restrict access to the Top Menu: 1. Select "Top & Pull-Down Menus" from the Security menu. 2. Assign a security level. Enter a security level above that of the users you want to restrict from using the Top Menu. For a high level of security, enter a level of 90, for example. NOTE: Users who are not allowed access to the Top Menu will not be able to exit HDM until the system manager assigns a lower level of security to the choice "Exit HDM" (F3) in the Exit menu. See the following procedures for how to assign a security level to a pull-down menu choice. EXAMPLE: In a family scenario, you could assign a security level of 20 for hiding the Top Menu and 60 for the Top Menu entries. Your children could press F10 and see all of the items on the Top Menu because their security level (50) is greater than the security level that hides the Top Menu (20). However, only you and your spouse can access the Top Menu commands that change HDM. If you raise the security level for "Hide/Disable Top Menu" to greater than 50, then the Top Menu would be invisible to your children. Restricting access to pull-down menu entries (and to their shortcut keys) Besides protecting access to the Top Menu, you can restrict access to individual pull-down menu choices. For example, you may want to add security to the pull-down menu choice "Exit HDM (F3)" so that users cannot exit HDM to the DOS prompt. By limiting users to only the menu choices available from HDM, you can protect your PC and its files from possible damage. MicroFox Company Page 106 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 There are four pull-down menu choices that especially are important to protect. They are: * "Master Password Table" from the Security menu * "User ID Security Table" from the Security menu * "Inactive Execution" from the Global menu * "Timed Execution" from the Global menu NOTE: The inactive and timed executions are important to safeguard because they bypass security when they run menu entries automatically. !! To restrict access to a pull-down menu: 1. Open the Top Menu and highlight the pull-down menu choice to be protected. 2. Press Alt-F1 to change the security level. 3. Assign a security level and press Enter. This security level is the level another user must be equal to or greater than in order to access that pull-down menu choice. Restricting access to the user menu To prevent someone from changing or running certain menu entries, you can restrict them from individual menu entries, all the menu entries in a certain menu page, or all the menu entries in the current menu file. !! To restrict use of a menu entry, menu page or menu file: 1. Open the Security menu (Alt-S). 2. Select what you wish to restrict: * To restrict someone from using a single menu entry, select "Set Security" (Alt-F1). * To restrict someone from using entries in a single menu page, select "Page Security" (Alt-F2). * To restrict someone from using entries in a single menu file, select "All Menu File Entries" (Alt-F3). 3. If restricting access to an individual menu entry or menu page, choose the menu entry or menu page and press Enter. 4. Assign a security level and press Enter. This security level is the level another user must be equal to or greater than to access this restricted menu entry, menu page or menu file. MicroFox Company Page 107 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 NOTE: In addition to these security levels, you can add run time passwords to individual menu entries. A user would have to know this password to run the entry. The run time password does not affect adding, modifying, or removing menu entries like the above security codes do. Protecting your menu file Although you may not want to keep someone from using your menu file, you may not want them to change it. This security protects the work you did in the current menu file. !! To prevent changes to a menu file: 1. Select "File Change Protection" from the Security menu (Alt-F4). 2. Assign a security level and press Enter. This security level is the level another user must be equal to or greater than to change the menu file. Removing Security Deleting a security level does not involve the passwords in the Master Password Table. Instead set the security level to zero for the item that you no longer want security on. Resetting user menu levels As an example, this is how you would remove security from a menu entry, menu page, menu file, or a pull-down menu entry that has a security level higher than zero. !! To remove security: 1. Open the Security menu (Alt-S). 2. Select what item from which you wish to remove security: * To remove security from a single menu entry, select "Set Security" (Alt-F1). * To remove security from a single menu page, select "Page Security" (Alt-F2). * To remove security from a single menu file, select "All Menu File Entries" (Alt-F3). * To remove security from a single pull-down menu choice, highlight the pull-down menu choice and press Alt-F1. 3. If removing security from an individual menu entry or menu page, choose the menu entry or menu page and press Enter. MicroFox Company Page 108 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 4. To remove security, enter a security level of "00" and press Enter. WARNING: DO NOT delete the password in the Master Password Table for that security level since that does not remove the security from the item. Rather, deleting the password may lock you out of accessing the item if there are no passwords on security levels above the one that was deleted. Run Time Passwords In addition to the current hierarchical security levels, which use the passwords from the Master Password Table, you can add individual run passwords to menu entries when you add, insert, or change those entries. The only effect these passwords have is that they must be entered by the user before the entry will run unless the user has level 99 user security. Run time passwords do not affect adding, changing, or deleting menu entries. You must use security levels to limit those types of actions. You will be able to run a menu entry if you know its run time password even if it has a security level associated with it that is higher than your own user security level. !! To add a run time password: 1. Choose "Change Entry" from the first pull-down menu. 2. At the "Set Up Individual Password" prompt, enter "Y" and key in a password. Enter the password again in the verify password window. !! To delete a run time password: 1. Choose "Change Entry" from the first pull-down menu. 2. Enter "Y" at the "Delete Individual Password" prompt and enter the password. !! To change a run time password: 1. Choose "Change Entry" from the first pull-down menu. 2. Next enter "Y" at the "Delete Individual Password" prompt and enter the password. 3. Then enter "Y" at the "Set Up Individual Password" prompt and key in a password. Enter the password again in the verify password window. These individual run passwords can only be overridden by a level MicroFox Company Page 109 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 99 or backdoor password. All users except those with level 99 security (assigned in the User ID Table) will be asked for the run password when attempting to run a menu entry. Each menu entry can have a unique run time password. Back Door Password You can create your own back door password that will override any security level or password in HDM. !! To add, change, or delete a back door password 1. Select "Master Password Table" from the Security menu. 2. Press F4 from while in Master Password Table to add a new back door password or to delete an old one. 3. To change the back door password, first delete the current one then add a new one. 4. Press F2 to save the back door in the Master Password Table. USING HDM ON A NETWORK HDM has many features ideal for local area networks (LANs). With a little work, HDM can help you get more from your LAN. Some benefits include: * A consistent, easy-to-use menuing system. * Sharing of network users' own menu files on their local computer with those shared from a common file server. * Up to 99 levels of security to protect vital network files. * Automated login procedures. * Activity log of what each user is doing on the network. Separate X.BAT Files Each HDM user must have a separate temporary work file (usually) named X.BAT. This file is created by HDM and keeps track of what the user was doing. It is also used to run menu entries and is especially useful for allowing users to reload HDM and return to the menu entry from which they exited. On a network, each user must have their own X.BAT so that it is not overwritten by another's X.BAT. To avoid this conflict, you have two solutions: * Assign a different read/write directory for each user's X.BAT. * Use a different work file name for each user instead of X.BAT. MicroFox Company Page 110 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 A different directory To point HDM to a different directory for X.BAT, start HDM with the -W switch. EXAMPLE: To use this switch, you would add "-W" after the HDM command that loads HDM. HDM -Wm:\network\jimh where "m:\network\jimh" is the network user's own directory. EXAMPLE: An alternative is to set the environment variable HDM in each user's AUTOEXEC.BAT file to another name like this: SET HDM=-Wm:\network\jimh NOTE: If each user on the network has a local hard disk, it's best to direct their work file to that disk, even if HDM is run from the network drive. For example: HDM -Wc:\ A different file name To tell HDM to use a different file name instead of X.BAT, use the "SET X=" environment variable. In your AUTOEXEC.BAT file, you would set the environment variable X in each user's AUTOEXEC.BAT file to another name. SET X=MENU or SET X=%USER% Once set, the user must type the right-hand word instead of "X" to return to HDM. For more information on startup switches and environment variables, see the chapter "Customizing HDM." EXAMPLE: If the last lines in your AUTOEXEC.BAT were: SET X=JOHN CD \HDM HDM -Wn:\common The work file would be named JOHN.BAT instead of X.BAT. When you exited to DOS from HDM, you would have to key in JOHN to return. If each work file had a unique name they could all be written to a common network directory without causing any conflicts. MicroFox Company Page 111 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 Sharing Local And Network Menu Files Network users can use their own HDM menu files from their own computer alongside menu files that are available on the network. This allows network users to have their own personal menus while using standardized menus on the network. The -T, -G , -P, and -0 through -9 startup switches help network users mix local (unique) and network (common) menu files. The -T switch allows you to enter a path to where the menu entries and local variables are stored (menu files HDM.000 through HDM.999). If each person on the network will have a unique set of menu files, then they must also have their own menu text files in their own read/write directories. EXAMPLE: You can do this by using the -T switch when starting HDM for each person on the network. HDM -Tm:\network or SET HDM=-Tm:\network where "m:\network" is the drive and directory where the HDM menu files are stored. The -G switch specifies the path to the global file HDM.GBL. The -P switch specifies the path to the configuration file, HDM.CFG. These files affect all menu files. The -0 through -9 switches are similar to -T but specify the path to groups of 100 menu files. For example, -7 is for menu files HDM.700 through HDM.799. Using these switches, you can have some menu files that are only available through the network server. Other menu files can only be available on the network user's local computer. EXAMPLE: In the next example, the menu files HDM.800-899 are found on the network in directory H:\NETDIR, while HDM.900-999 are on the user's own hard disk directory D:\MYOWNDIR. The remaining menu files, HDM.000-799 will default to the C:\HDM directory. This example also shows that every network user can share one copy of HDM on the network server, although HDM could be installed on every individual's computer. The advantage is that only one set of files must be maintained. PATH C:\;D:\MYOWN H: CD\HDM HDM -8H:\NET -9D:\MYOWN -WD:\MYOWN -GH:\NET -PH:\NET NOTE: One copy of HDM can be run from the network file server MicroFox Company Page 112 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 and shared by several users. Automated Logins If you're using HDM's User ID table, HDM's -U startup switch and its matching DOS environment variable can help automate logging onto HDM and your network. You first set an environment variable that has the user's name and then refer to that variable in the startup switches for HDM or through the "SET HDM=" environment variable. EXAMPLE: Here is an excerpt of an AUTOEXEC.BAT file: SET HDMUSER=LAURA CD \HDM HDM -UHDMUSER or SET HDMUSER=LAURA SET HDM=-UHDMUSER CD \HDM HDM When Laura starts HDM, HDM automatically reads the HDMUSER variable and enters her User ID for her. You can next automate the network login process. When you use the User ID Security Table from the Security menu, set up each user to automatically run a specific menu entry. This menu entry could automatically run a batch file that has the user log onto your network. Automatic Logouts Logging out of your network can also be automated. After a set amount of inactivity or whenever anyone logs off HDM, a certain menu entry can run the command or batch file to log the user off your network. NOTE: These two activities - logging off after inactivity or automatic execution of an entry during a normal logoff - are independent of each other. You can have an automatic execution of a menu entry at logoff, automatic logoff after inactivity, or both. !! To create an automatic logoff: 1. Select "Log Off Automatically" from the Security menu MicroFox Company Page 113 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 (Alt-F7). 2. Enter any of the following: * Number of inactive minutes before logoff ("00" to turn off). * Menu file number containing the menu entry with the command or batch file to log the user off your network. * Page letter and entry number to run to log off the user (leave blank to turn off). 3. Press F2 to save your changes. NOTE: See the "Adding Security" chapter for more information about security and the individual commands available in the Security menu. Other Tips With a little planning, HDM will work on Novell and other LANs. Here are some basic tips: * If everyone on the network will be using the same menu files, ensure all the Top Menu commands are protected with a high security level or that the Top Menu is hidden so only the network administrator can access these commands and make changes to menu entries. * You can protect an individual menu file so that users can run menu entries without restrictions. However, they will be unable to add or change the menu file. Select "File Change Protection" from the Security menu (Alt-F4) to add this extra security. HDM MENU STRUCTURE Below are two sections that describe the menu structure of HDM: * All HDM pull-down menu commands plus their shortcut keys. * Brief description of each pull-down menu choice. Pull-Down Menu Commands Description Keystrokes Shortcut ====================================== ========== ======== SECURITY Change security on one User Menu entry Alt-S S Alt-F1 Change security on a menu page Alt-S P Alt-F2 Change security on all menu entries Alt-S A Alt-F3 MicroFox Company Page 114 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 Prevent changes to current menu file Alt-S F Alt-F4 Change security on Top & Pull-Down Menus Alt-S T Alt-F5 Hide the Top Menu and F10 from the user Alt-S H Alt-F6 Maintain the Master Password Table Alt-S M Alt-F8 Maintain the User ID Table & passwords Alt-S U Alt-F9 MENU ENTRIES Add a new entry to the User Menu Alt-M A Ins Change a current User Menu entry Alt-M C F2 Duplicate a User Menu entry Alt-M D F4 Erase an entry in the User Menu Alt-M E Del Insert a new entry where one exists Alt-M I F5 Move a User Menu entry Alt-M M F6 Switch two User Menu entries Alt-M S F8 Display menu actions in title window Alt-L A Shift-F1 Modify the current menu file's macros Alt-L M Shift-F5 Display the Utility Menu Entries Alt-X U Ctrl-F9 Hide empty menu in the User Menu Alt-G G H Alt-4 H Hide the complete User Menu Alt-L S H Shift-F7 H MENU PAGES Compress a page of menu entries Alt-P C Ctrl-F1 Erase all menu entries on a menu page Alt-P E Ctrl-F2 Import a page from any menu file Alt-P I Ctrl-F3 Change the name of a Page Index Alt-P N Ctrl-F4 Switch two pages in the same menu file Alt-P S Ctrl-F5 Hide empty pages in the page window Alt-G G D Alt-4 D Hide the complete page window Alt-L P H Shift-F6 H CHANGING HDM'S LOOK Change window border line characters Alt-L B Shift-F2 Change screen and window colors Alt-L C Shift-F3 Change Date Line/Top Menu format Alt-L D Shift-F4 Change the Page Index location & lines Alt-L P Shift-F6 Change the User Menu design and lines Alt-L S Shift-F7 Change the Titles placement & contents Alt-L T Shift-F8 Change background wallpaper character Alt-L W Shift-F9 Hide the Title Window Alt-L T H Shift-F8 H CUSTOMIZING HDM Modify the utility menu entries Alt-G A Alt-1 Change the cursor blinking & mouse speed Alt-G C Alt-2 Set the date/time and their format Alt-G D Alt-3 Set other global settings for HDM Alt-G G Alt-4 Set up execution based on inactive time Alt-G I Alt-5 Set up timed execution of menu entries Alt-G T Alt-9 Specify communication port & dial type Alt-G P Alt-7 Set screen save blank time and message Alt-G S Alt-8 MicroFox Company Page 115 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 Modify the global menu macros Alt-G M Alt-6 Modify the text in the Title Window Alt-L T E Shift-F8 E EXITING HDM AND DOS SHELL Open a DOS window Alt-X D F9 Log user off and return to logo screen Alt-X L F7 Return to previous menu file Alt-X P Esc Save all changes made in HDM to disk Alt-X W * Exit to the DOS prompt Alt-X X F3 LOG FILE & REPORTS Change the project name Alt-X N Ctrl-F10 Access the HDM Report Module Alt-X R Shift-F10 Fill out/print the registration form Alt-X R O Shift-F10 O NETWORKS Log off a user if one was logged on Alt-X L F7 Set inactive time to force user logoff Alt-S L Alt-F7 ====================================== ========== ======== In the next several pages are descriptions of what is available from the Top Menu and the commands that are underneath it, in the pull-down menus. The shortcut key for each menu choice is listed in parentheses. MENU (Alt-M) Add Entry (Ins) Creates a new menu entry from a blank one. Fields available are the menu description, action, help file, and run time password. Change Entry (F2) Changes the description, menu action, help file name, and run time password of a menu entry, but not its security level. Duplicate Entry (F4) Copies a menu entry, including its security level, run time password, and help file name, to an empty entry. Erase Entry (Del) Deletes all fields in a menu entry and resets its security level to zero. Insert Entry (F5) Like "Add Entry" except it inserts the new menu entry where one already exists moving the existing ones down to make room for it. MicroFox Company Page 116 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 Move Entry (F6) Moves a menu entry to an empty entry in the same menu file. All menu entry fields are moved plus the entry's security level. Switch Entries (F8) Swaps two entries in the User Menu file, including their security levels, run time passwords, and help file names. PAGE (Alt-P) Compress Page (Ctrl-F1) Moves all used menu entries to the top of the page and unused ones to the bottom. Erase Page (Ctrl-F2) Removes all the menu entries in a menu page that have an equal or lower security level than your user security level, and optionally allows you to remove those entries with a higher security level. Import Page (Ctrl-F3) Imports entries from a page in another menu file or the current menu file to empty entries in a page in the current User Menu. Name Page (Ctrl-F4) Changes the name of a menu page in the Page Name Index. The name can be up to 19 characters long. Switch Pages (Ctrl-F5) Swaps the menu entries and the page names of two pages in the current menu file, including their security levels. SECURITY (Alt-S) Set Security (Alt-F1) Changes the security level number of a single menu entry in the current user menu file. Pressing Alt-F1 while a pull-down menu command is highlighted allows you to change the security level of that single pull-down menu command (and its shortcut key). Page Security Level (Alt-F2) Changes the security level number of a single menu page in the current menu file. This new number becomes the default security for all user menu entries in that page that are not assigned their own individual security level. All User Menu Entries (Alt-F3) Changes the security level number of the current menu file. This new number becomes the default for pages and entries not assigned their own security level. MicroFox Company Page 117 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 File Change Protection (Alt-F4) Adds a security level to protect the current menu file from being changed, although users can still run the menu entries. The Menu, Page, Security, Local, and Global menus are controlled by this security command. Top & Pull-Down Menus (Alt-F5) Adds a security level to limit access to the Top Menu choices (Menu, Page, Security, Local, Global and Exit). The security level specified by this command becomes the default for all the commands in the pull-down menu not assigned their own security level. It can be overridden for an individual pull-down menu command by highlighting the command and pressing Alt-F1. Hide/Disable Top Menu (Alt-F6) Hides the Top Menu and its pull-down menus by disabling the F10 and slash keys. You assign a security level to limit access. To access the Top Menu when it's hidden, type "/UNHIDE" while the User Menu is displayed, then enter a password of a security level equal to or higher than the hidden menu level. Log Off Automatically (Alt-F7) Logs a user off, if one was logged on, after a set amount of time with no keyboard or mouse activity. You can set the inactive time from zero to 99 minutes. If you set it to zero, there will be no automatic logoff. You can also have a menu entry automatically run whether the user logs off manually or logs off automatically when the inactive time runs out. These activities are independent of each other. You can have an automatic logoff, an automatic execution of a menu entry at logoff, or both. Master Password Table (Alt-F8) Allows you to set up passwords for any of the 99 security levels. You must create at least one password in this table to use any security levels in HDM. Since this is the center of the security system, you should give it a high level of security so that other users cannot add their own passwords to the table. First, put a password on a high level number in the table. Then position the cursor over the "Master Password Table" command in the "Security" menu and press Alt-F1. Enter a high security level number in the window that opens. User ID Security Table (Alt-F9) Allows you to add, change, and delete user account names (User IDs), user security levels, initial menu files, initial menu entries and, optionally, to set user logon passwords. If any entries exist in the User ID Security Table, users must log on to HDM with a User ID and a matching password (if set up) before being able to use the menu. MicroFox Company Page 118 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 LOCAL (Alt-L) The commands under this pull-down menu affect how the current menu file behaves and looks. Choices made here affect the current menu file only. Other menu files can have different configurations. Action Display (Shift-F1) Displays the menu action for the highlighted menu entry in the title box at the top of the screen. This choice acts as a toggle; choosing it again returns the title box to normal. Border Lines (Shift-F2) Changes the type of border lines used in all windows in the current menu file. The choices are single lines, double lines, bold (thick) lines, no lines, or user defined lines. This command affects only the current menu file. Change Colors (Shift-F3) Changes the colors of HDM's screens and windows for the current menu file only. Choose from pre-defined color palettes, specify the color of each component in a palette or restore the original colors. The components are the foreground color, the background color, the emphasized color, the window title color, and the window border color. Date/Top Menu (Shift-F4) Displays the top status bar with the date and time, the top menu bar or both. This allows you to choose one of the three different top line configurations from samples shown in the Date/Top Menu window. This command affects the current menu file only. Menu Macros: & (Shift-F5) Adds, changes, or deletes any of the ten available local macros for the current menu file. Each macro can be up to 255 characters long. To delete a macro, press Ctrl-Backspace while the cursor is in that macro line. To restore a macro to its original contents, press Ctrl-U before you leave that field. Page Window (Shift-F6) Changes the placement of the Page Index Window on the left or right side of the screen and can hide the window so it is not displayed at all. Also can display dividing lines above and/or below the page names. Screen Display (Shift-F7) Changes the positions and look of the User Menu, Page Index, and Title windows. Choices are all three windows together, just the title window separated, or all three windows separated. It can also hide the user menu so it doesn't display at all or display dividing lines above and/or below the user menu entries. MicroFox Company Page 119 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 Title Window (Shift-F8) Changes the placement of the Title Window above or below the User Menu and Page Index or it can hide the window so no titles are displayed at all. Can also add, change or delete any of the four available title lines for the current menu file. One, two, three or all four of the lines will display depending on the Top Menu & Date/Time configuration and the type of screen displayed. Wallpaper (Shift-F9) Changes the character used in the background of most HDM screens for the current menu file. The default wallpaper character is 176 (a shaded block character). Character 255 will display a solid black background. GLOBAL (Alt-G) The following choices affect ALL menu files (HDM.000 through HDM.999). Alter Utility Menu (Alt-1) Changes the Utility Menu Entries. A window is opened where the Utility Menu's title at the top, can be changed, along with the 15 menu descriptions on the left and the 15 menu actions on the right. The first capital letter in the description becomes that entry's hot key. The actions can use all the same features and functions used in the local menu actions. Cursor/Mouse Speed (Alt-2) Changes the rate of blinking for the cursor in all menu files. Enter a number from zero to 99, where the lower the number the slower the rate. If you enter zero, the cursor will not blink. Also changes the horizontal/vertical motion sensitivity of the mouse. Enter a number from zero to 99 for each. The lower numbers are a slower rate of speed while the higher numbers are a faster rate of speed. Press F2 to save the blink rate and mouse sensitivity or press Esc to cancel changes. Date/Time Settings (Alt-3) Sets the system's date and time as well as its displayed format. The date format can be set to American (MM/DD/YY) or European (DD/MM/YY). The time can be set to a standard 12-hour or military type 24-hour clock. Global Settings (Alt-4) Change the following Yes/No settings: * Ask for confirmation when exiting to DOS using F3. * Hide empty menu pages in the Page Name Index. * Hide empty menu entries in the User Menu. * Keep cursor on the same page when it wraps past top or bottom. * Ask for the project name when starting HDM. MicroFox Company Page 120 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 * Show security levels in Add/Chg, Master Password, Pull-Downs. * Ask for confirmation when logging off using F7 or Esc keys. Inactive Execution (Alt-5) Automatically runs a menu entry from any menu file in HDM after a set amount of keyboard and mouse inactivity. Once the automatic execution warning window is displayed, you will have 15 seconds to cancel the running of this entry. Otherwise, this entry will run as scheduled. Menu Macros (&&) (Alt-6) Adds, changes or deletes any of the ten available global macros available to all menu files. These macros can use any of the features/functions used in local menu macros. Phone Parameters (Alt-7) Sets the dial type (tone or pulse), communication port (COM1 through COM4) and the interrupt (IRQ) for your modem. This information is used by the {DIAL} function. Set Screen Blanker (Alt-8) Changes the number of minutes of inactivity before the screen is blanked out. This prevents the images on your screen from "burning" into the phosphor of your monitor after long periods of time. Optionally, you can enter a message to be displayed in various positions on the screen to remind you that HDM blanked out the screen. Another option is to have blocks of screen text move around your display. You can control the speed of moving blocks and of the time it takes to move your message to various screen locations. When the screen is blanked out, you can press any key to restore it to the previous display. You can blank the screen out any time you choose without waiting for the time you set by pressing Ctrl-B. Timed Execution (Alt-9) Automatically runs a menu entry based on the day of the week or month and the time of day. For the menu entry to be run, you must be in HDM at the time. You will have 15 seconds to cancel the running of the entry once the timed execution warning window is displayed. Otherwise it will run as scheduled. EXIT (Alt-X) DOS Window (F9) Allows you to open a DOS window where you can run any DOS command or program using up to 128 characters. You can use all of HDM's macros and functions. You can also press F4 to search for and pick an executable file from a list of all that are available. The DOS window remembers the last nine commands so you can repeat them by pressing the number on the left side of the line or by highlighting the command and pressing Enter. To enter a new MicroFox Company Page 121 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 command, just type over the current one in the top line. Press Ctrl-U to restore the original command. Log Off User ID (F7) Logs a user off if one was logged on and displays the logo screen. Logging off this way automatically runs the menu entry specified in the "Log Off Automatically" choice in the Security menu, if any was created. Prior Menu File (Esc) Returns you to the previous menu file, if any, or logs a user off the menu (if the User ID Table is used) and returns to the logo screen. You must have used the {MENU #} action function to go to another menu file. This command is similar to the {RETURN} function. Write File (*) Saves all additions/changes to your disk. Not normally used since HDM automatically saves changes whenever you run a menu entry, return to the logo screen, press F1 for help, or after one minute of keyboard/mouse inactivity. An asterisk (*) appears in the lower right corner if you have made changes that have yet to be saved. You can undo the changes made to the menu before they are written to disk by pressing Ctrl-U while the asterisk is still displayed at the bottom right corner of the screen. Exit HDM (F3) Exits you from HDM to the DOS prompt. The screen is cleared and the DOS prompt is displayed. You can do whatever you want while in DOS. When you then want to return to HDM, type "X" and then press Enter. You will return to HDM at the location where you left it. NOTE: The X key used to return to HDM can be changed to any other name not already used by HDM, DOS or another program. To change it, use the "SET X=" environment variable in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file before HDM is started. See the chapter "Customizing HDM" for more information. Utility Menu (Ctrl-F9) Displays the Utility Menu Entries so they can be run by the current user. To change these entries use the "Alter Utility Menu" in the Global pull-down window. New Project (Ctrl-F10) Allows you to setup, change, or remove a project number/name. Use up to 25 characters. This information is used by the {PROJECT} function and written to the usage log. Reports (Shift-F10) Choose between the Order Form and Usage Log reports. Usage Log runs the report module that helps to analyzing HDM's usage. To MicroFox Company Page 122 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 use this you need to start HDM with the -L startup switch so that usage data is written to the HDM.LOG file. Registered users can eliminate the Order Form choice by moving or renaming the file ORDER.DOC in the HDM directory. APPENDIX A: OVERVIEW OF DOS Now that you're using a computer, you've probably heard the term DOS. But what is DOS and what does it do? DOS stands for Disk Operating System. It is a software program that speaks directly to the computer hardware. There are many varieties of DOS, but they all use the same basic commands and perform the same functions. MS-DOS is Microsoft Corporation's version of DOS. The IBM version is commonly called PC-DOS. Also, Novell now has Digital Research's DR-DOS. The primary function of DOS is to be an intermediary between the computer hardware and your programs (word processor, spreadsheet, and database programs). Like a foreign language interpreter, DOS allows the computer to understand and start your programs, each of which may be written in a different computer language. DOS also allows you to manage files and subdirectories on your hard disk, including copying, deleting and moving. Popular Terms Here are some basic terms you should be familiar with before using HDM: FILE: The basic unit of organization. A file is like a piece of paper stored in your computer. It can contain one of two things: a series of instructions (a program file), or words or numbers (data file). DIRECTORY: A way of organizing files. DOS comes with a root (main) directory but allows users to create other directories and to organize them into a logical hierarchy. SUBDIRECTORY: A directory that is underneath another directory, like a drawer within a filing cabinet. For example, all directories you create are subdirectories of the root directory. Like a filing cabinet, subdirectories and directories contain similar files together so you can easily find them. For example, all your letters could be saved in a directory called C:\LETTERS. PROGRAM: A series of instructions that tells your computer what MicroFox Company Page 123 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 to do, such as add a column of numbers or find a customer's invoice number. Of course, you control the program and tell it what to do. DISK: A place to store files. Disk storage consists of hard disks and floppy diskettes. HARD DISK: A physical disk inside your computer on which files and subdirectories are stored. A hard disk looks and works a bit like a record; it has cylindrical grooves and a head (needle) that reads information from between the grooves. A hard disk can be considered a large file cabinet in which you store your folders (subdirectories) and files (papers). A hard disk is sometimes called internal storage. DISKETTE: A miniature, portable disk. You use diskettes to copy programs or data files onto your hard disk and to store backup or extra copies of program and data files that already exist on your hard disk. Diskettes are read by inserting them into a disk drive located in your computer. Diskettes and disk drives come in two sizes: 3.5 inches and 5.25 inches. DOS: From The Command Line Native DOS uses a command level interface; when you start your computer, the screen is blank except for the DOS command line, where you type commands that tell DOS what you'd like it to do. It looks like this: C:\> or C:\WP\LET> or C:\DBASE\WIDGET\MAR\EAST> The symbols and letters mean something to DOS but may be unfamiliar to you. Typing the commands that tell DOS what you'd like it to do can be just as cryptic. For example, here is a simple command that tells DOS to start the program Word Perfect: CD \WP (press Enter) WP (press Enter) Here's a DOS command that simply copies a file from one subdirectory to another and verifies the copying went smoothly: COPY C:\WP\LET\PCR\WORD.REV C:\WP\MISC\ /V (Enter) To use the DOS interface, you have to "speak" the DOS language and use it correctly. The Hard Disk Menu System was created to help you use DOS without having to speak its complex language. Like a restaurant menu, HDM gives you a way to quickly choose what you want to do with your computer. HDM bypasses DOS and its hard-to-understand commands so computing is enjoyable and useful. Once set up, HDM lets you start programs and organize MicroFox Company Page 124 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 your files with a press of one or two keys. APPENDIX B: IMPORTANT TABLES Below are the major tables for HDM. HDM Keystrokes And Key Combinations Below are the keys used in the User Menu (main HDM menu), Top Menu (and its pull-down menus), and windows in which you enter values, such as when creating a menu entry. Keys User Menu Top Menu Window ============== ==================== ============== ========= Enter Starts selected item (Ditto) Accepts changes for current line Spacebar Moves cursor to (Ditto) Inserts or next item overwrites individual characters Right Arrow Moves cursor to Moves cursor Moves cursor first entry on to next pull- one character next menu page down menu right Left Arrow Moves cursor to Moves cursor Moves cursor last entry on to previous one character prior menu page pull-down menu left Tab Moves cursor (Ditto) Moves cursor to next item to next input field Shift-Tab Moves cursor to (Ditto) Moves cursor previous item to previous input field Down Arrow Moves cursor to (Ditto) Moves next item cursor to next line Up Arrow Moves cursor to (Ditto) Moves previous item cursor to MicroFox Company Page 125 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 previous line on screen Backspace Moves cursor to (Ditto) Deletes previous item character to left of cursor Ctrl-Backspace Deletes all characters in line Ctrl-Home Deletes characters from cursor to beginning of line Ctrl-End Deletes characters from cursor to end of line Page Up Moves cursor to Moves cursor Moves cursor previous menu page to previous to first menu choice line Page Down Moves cursor to Moves cursor Moves cursor next menu page to next menu to last choice line Ctrl-PgDn Moves cursor down about eight menu pages Ctrl-PgUp Moves cursor up about eight menu pages Delete (Del) Deletes a single menu Deletes entry character at cursor Insert (Ins) Adds a single menu Switches entry between Insert and Overwrite mode (default is Insert) Home or Minus Moves cursor to first Moves cursor Home moves menu entry of to first pull- cursor to MicroFox Company Page 126 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 all menu pages down menu first character in field End or Plus Moves cursor to last Moves cursor End moves menu entry of to last pull- cursor to all menu pages down menu end of field Escape (Esc) Returns to previous Returns to Closes Ctrl-C menu file, if any User Menu current Ctrl-Break window and cancels changes Alt-F1 Changes security of Changes Changes a single menu entry security of security current of a pull-down menu single choice menu entry Alt-F2 Changes security of a menu page Alt-F3 Changes security of all menu entries in menu file Alt-F4 Prevents changes to current menu file Alt-F5 Prevents access to Top Menu pull-down menus Alt-F6 Hides the Top Menu and its pull-down menus Alt-F7 Creates automatic logoff and menu entry execution Alt-F8 Opens Master Password Table Alt-F9 Opens the User ID Security Table Alt-F10 Opens last-used Returns to Opens last pull-down menu User Menu used pull-down menu Letter keys Moves to first menu Opens the entry of the page pull-down with the same menu with highlighted letter the same highlighted letter Number keys Starts the same numbered menu entry of the current menu page MicroFox Company Page 127 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 F1 Displays Help menu (Ditto) (Ditto) F2 Edits a single menu (Ditto) Saves entry changes F3 Exits from HDM (Ditto) (Ditto) F4 Copies a single (Ditto) Auto-Build menu entry & Search in menu action F5 Inserts a menu entry (Ditto) F6 Moves a menu entry (Ditto) F7 Logs user off HDM (Ditto) F8 Swaps two menu entries {Ditto} F9 Opens DOS window to run a DOS command or program F10 Opens Top Menu Returns to Opens Top User Menu Menu Slash (/) Opens Top Menu Backslash (\) Opens last used pull-down menu /UNHIDE Allows access to Top Menu although hidden Ctrl-B Immediately blanks the screen Ctrl-F Immediately freezes screen Ctrl-S Save line to buffer Ctrl-U Undo menu changes since last save Undo current line changes Ctrl-W Write line from buffer Ctrl-F1 Compresses a page of menu entries Ctrl-F2 Erases a page of menu entries Ctrl-F3 Imports a page of menu entries Ctrl-F4 Changes name of a menu page Ctrl-F5 Switches two User Menu pages Ctrl-F9 Display Utility Menu Entries MicroFox Company Page 128 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 Ctrl-F10 Change Project Information Shift-F1 Displays current menu action in Title Box Shift-F2 Changes window border lines in current menu file Shift-F3 Changes colors in current menu file Shift-F4 Changes the date/time line and Top Menu display Shift-F5 Creates or changes macros in current menu file Shift-F6 Changes the position/display of the Page Window Shift-F7 Changes the menu and screen display configuration Shift-F8 Changes the position and text in Title Window Shift-F9 Changes character for background wallpaper Shift-F10 Display or print the usage reports & order form Alt-1 Changes the Utility Menu entries Alt-2 Changes the cursor and mouse speeds Alt-3 Changes date/time and its format Alt-4 Changes various global settings Alt-5 Creates or changes Inactive Execution Alt-6 Changes global menu macros Alt-7 Changes phone dialer's settings Alt-8 Creates or changes screen blanker settings Alt-9 Creates or changes Timed Execution Alt-M Opens the Menu pull-down menu Alt-P Opens the Page pull-down menu Alt-S Opens the Security pull-down menu Alt-L Opens the Local pull-down menu Alt-G Opens the Global pull-down menu Alt-X Opens the Exit pull-down menu MicroFox Company Page 129 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 Startup Switches If the last line of your AUTOEXEC.BAT startup file contains just "HDM" or if you simply type "HDM" to start HDM, you are using the basic HDM system. To use some advanced features or to customize HDM upon starting the program, you have two choices: * Add extra parameters (or switches) after the HDM command. * Use DOS environment variables in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. AFTER THE HDM COMMAND By entering parameters (switches) after "HDM" in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file, you can customize HDM. Below is a template for the various commands available: HDM -switch1 -switch2 ... etc. where "switch1," "switch2," etc. is a combination of the switches. When done, your AUTOEXEC.BAT file may look like this: ECHO OFF PROMPT $P$G PATH C:\HDM CD \HDM HDM -CC:\BKUP -EC:\UTIL -GC:\DATA -TC:\DATA -WC:\TEMP Each parameter you add should be separated by a blank space. Optional parameters are shown with brackets. When typing these parameters, omit the brackets. NOTE: In the following startup switches, "path" must include the drive letter. For example: C:\DIR\SUBDIR. Below are the switches from which you can choose: Switch Purpose ====== ======================================================== -A Automatically runs the selection specified by -Bp#. -Bp# Specifies entry to highlight in the User Menu. (p# is A1 through Z0) -Cpath Specifies a path to write backup copies of HDM files. -Ddrive Displays free disk space for the specified drive. (-DC shows free space on C:) -Epath Exits to this path when you press F3 to exit to DOS. -Gpath Specifies path to the global file HDM.GBL. This file MicroFox Company Page 130 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 contains the global settings for all menu files. -H[path] Reads header/logo screen from the HDM.HDR file in the HDM directory or in [path]. [path] is optional. -I Intensifies the background colors by allowing all 16 colors. The last 8 background colors become bright versions of the first 8 (for color monitors). This may not work with some video hardware. -J Jump over Inactive and Timed Execution delay and beep. -K Disables key lock status from being displayed and the date and time from being constantly updated. Used to eliminate video bleed-through on multitasking systems. -L[path] Logs usage to the HDM.LOG file in the HDM directory or in [path]. [path] is optional. -M### Specifies menu file to be used when HDM is started, where "###" is any number from 0 through 999. -N Disables logo screen from being displayed when HDM is started. If a user logon is required, HDM goes directly to the logon window. -O Turns off the NumLock key when HDM starts. -P Specifies a path to the configuration file, HDM.CFG. -Q Queues keystrokes in the DOS keyboard buffer when HDM starts or after returning from running a program. Normally, HDM clears any keystrokes so its operation is not affected. -S Sets screen border on color monitors. The border will match the background color of the Status Bar. This may not work well with some EGA video cards. -Tpath Specifies the path where the local menu files are stored. (HDM.000 to HDM.999, see -0 to -9 also) -Uname Reads a user ID from the named DOS environment variable to automate the user logon procedure. -VF Sets fast screen output for snowless video boards. This parameter prevents HDM from waiting for your video card. This is the default except with CGA video systems. -VM Sets video mode to monochrome (black and white). Use this parameter to correct the problem of unreadable MicroFox Company Page 131 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 screens on laptops, portables and similar computers. -VS Stops static (snow) from displaying on the screen by waiting for your video card to draw the screen. This is the default for CGA computers. -Wpath Specifies work path where the temporary work file is stored. This work path must be in the DOS path statement in AUTOEXEC.BAT. -#path Similar to -T except this parameter specifies the path to each group of 100 menu files. -# is a number from -0 to -9. (-7 is for HDM.700-799). DOS Environment Variables Instead of typing switches after "HDM," you can use the HDM environment variable to customize the program. This SET command must be in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file before starting HDM. Below is a template for the various commands available: SET HDM=-variable1 -variable2 ... etc. where "variable1," "variable2," etc., is any of the switches mentioned in the previous section. The X environment variable allows you to use a different work file name in place of the standard X.BAT. SET X=MENU causes HDM to use a work file name of MENU.BAT instead of X.BAT. Also HDM will tell you to key in MENU to return to HDM when you exit to DOS. Picking Colors The {COLOR} function lets you change the foreground and background colors for the current menu entry's DOS screen. These are the available colors: Color Number ============= ====== Black 0 Blue 1 Green 2 Cyan 3 Red 4 Magenta 5 Brown 6 MicroFox Company Page 132 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 Light gray 7 Dark gray 8 Light blue 9 Light green 10 Light cyan 11 Light red 12 Light magenta 13 Yellow 14 White 15 Choices For The {KEY} Function The {KEY} function lets you pass up to 15 keys to a program that uses the standard DOS keyboard buffer. The following chart shows what codes to use for various keystrokes. Keystrokes Code Keystrokes Code Keystrokes Code ========== ==== ========== ==== ========== ==== Ctrl-A CA Ctrl-B CB Ctrl-C CC Ctrl-D CD Ctrl-E CE Ctrl-F CF Ctrl-G CG Ctrl-H CH Ctrl-I CI Ctrl-J CJ Ctrl-K CK Ctrl-L CL Ctrl-M CM Ctrl-N CN Ctrl-O CO Ctrl-P CP Ctrl-Q CQ Ctrl-R CR Ctrl-S CS Ctrl-T CT Ctrl-U CU Ctrl-V CV Ctrl-W CW Ctrl-X CX Ctrl-Y CY Ctrl-Z CZ Space SP Ctrl-[ C[ Ctrl-] C] Ctrl-\ C\ Ctrl-2 C2 Ctrl-6 C6 Ctrl-- C- Enter ENTR Escape ESC Ctrl-Break CBRK Backspace BSP Ctrl-BkSpc CBSP Tab TAB Shift-Tab STAB Alt-A AA Alt-B AB Alt-C AC Alt-D AD Alt-E AE Alt-F AF Alt-G AG Alt-H AH Alt-I AI Alt-J AJ Alt-K AK Alt-L AL Alt-M AM Alt-N AN Alt-O AO Alt-P AP Alt-Q AQ Alt-R AR Alt-S AS Alt-T AT Alt-U AU Alt-V AV Alt-W AW Alt-X AX Alt-Y AY Alt-Z AZ F1 F1 F2 F2 F3 F3 F4 F4 F5 F5 F4 F4 F7 F7 F8 F8 F9 F9 F10 F10 F11 F11 F12 F12 Alt-F1 AF1 Alt-F2 AF2 Alt-F3 AF3 Alt-F4 AF4 Alt-F5 AF5 Alt-F6 AF6 MicroFox Company Page 133 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 Alt-F7 AF7 Alt-F8 AF8 Alt-F9 AF9 Alt-F10 AF10 Alt-F11 AF11 Alt-F12 AF12 Ctrl-F1 CF1 Ctrl-F2 CF2 Ctrl-F3 CF3 Ctrl-F4 CF4 Ctrl-F5 CF5 Ctrl-F6 CF6 Ctrl-F7 CF7 Ctrl-F8 CF8 Ctrl-F9 CF9 Ctrl-F10 CF10 Ctrl-F11 CF11 Ctrl-F12 CF12 Shift-F1 SF1 Shift-F2 SF2 Shift-F3 SF3 Shift-F4 SF4 Shift-F5 SF5 Shift-F6 SF6 Shift-F7 SF7 Shift-F8 SF8 Shift-F9 SF9 Shift-F10 SF10 Shift-F11 SF11 Shift-F12 SF12 Left Arrow LAR Right Arrow RAR Up Arrow UAR Ctrl-Left CLAR Ctrl-Right CRAR Down Arrow DAR Arrow Arrow Home HOM End END Insert INS Ctrl-Home CHOM Ctrl-End CEND Delete DEL PgUp PGU PgDn PGD Ctrl-PrtSc CPRT Ctrl-PgUp CPGU Ctrl-PgDn CPGD Alt-1 A1 Alt-2 A2 Alt-3 A3 Alt-4 A4 Alt-5 A5 Alt-6 A6 Alt-7 A7 Alt-8 A8 Alt-9 A9 Alt-0 A0 Alt- A- Alt-= A= APPENDIX C: COMMON QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Q: What language was the Hard Disk Menu System written in? A: Turbo Pascal and Assembler. Q: After I run a batch file from a menu selection, I get a DOS prompt instead of returning to HDM. What's wrong? A: When running your batch file, DOS does not automatically return from the calling batch file (X.BAT created by HDM). You can remedy this situation by using @@ in front of your batch file name. The @@ is changed to CALL for DOS 3.30 and above, or to 4DOS or COMMAND /C for earlier versions. If DW5 is a batch file and your entry was: CD\DSPWRITE~DW5~ change it to: CD\DSPWRITE~@@DW5~ MicroFox Company Page 134 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 Q: When I try to run a batch file, I get a "Bad command or file name" message from DOS, then I go right back to the menu. I checked the batch file name, and it has the @@ in front of it and it's in the directory that I go to in my menu action. Why doesn't it work? A: You are running a version of DOS prior to 3.00 and HDM is trying to run your batch file with COMMAND.COM. DOS can't locate COMMAND.COM, not your batch file. Make sure that the root or DOS directory, where COMMAND.COM should be located, is in your DOS path so that it is always accessible. Here is an example of an AUTOEXEC.BAT: PROMPT $P$G PATH C:\;C:\HDM;C:\DOS CD\HDM HDM Q: When I exit from HDM by pressing F3 and then type X at the DOS prompt to return to HDM, I get a "Bad command or file name" message. Why does this happen? A: This happens because DOS cannot find the file that HDM wrote called X.BAT. DOS must locate this file through the DOS path. Make sure you set up the proper PATH in your AUTOEXEC.BAT before starting HDM. The path must include the HDM directory; or, if you used the -W switch when starting HDM, the work directory. Here is an example using a work directory: PROMPT $P$G PATH C:\;D:\WORKDIR;C:\DOS CD \HDM HDM -WD:\WORKDIR Q: Some DOS commands work fine from HDM while others give me a message that says "Bad Command or File Name". What should I do to fix the problem? A: The DOS commands that work are probably the internal commands. The system can't find the external DOS commands. See your DOS manual to see which are internal and which are external. The solution is a path command that points to the DOS files. Add the DOS directory to your AUTOEXEC.BAT file as shown in the previous two examples. Q: We run HDM on a Novell network with the HDM program on the server. When a user returns to the menu from a program, strange things happen. Sometimes we get "Batch file missing" and remain at the DOS prompt. Sometimes there will be a lot MicroFox Company Page 135 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 of "Bad command or file name" messages in a row before returning to HDM. In other cases, a user will return, but will be in another user's menu. We use the -T switch to point to each user's unique menu file. What's going on? A: The temporary work file called X.BAT is being overwritten by other users when they run menu entries. The HDM directory on the server is the default work directory for X.BAT. Each user must write the work file to a unique read/write directory because it cannot be shared unless the "SET X=" environment variable is used. Use the -W switch to point to a different work directory for each user or use "SET X=" to rename the working batch file. Here is a startup example: CD \HDM HDM -TH:\MENUTEXT -WC:\MYOWNDIR Q: If I start a program or batch file from the menu and it runs for a long time and I didn't really want to run it, can I abort it and get right back to HDM? A: DOS will let you cancel a batch file by pressing Ctrl-Break. When you do cancel it you will end up at the DOS prompt, just type X and press Enter. You'll be back where you were in HDM. Q: HDM version III let me put a password on just one of the top menu commands instead of all of them at once, I don't see anything in the Security menu that will let me do that in HDM. A: You're right. There is nothing in the Security menu to accomplish that, but it still can be done. Make sure you have at least one password set in the Master Password Table. Then put the cursor on the command in the menu that you want to protect and press Alt-F1. You can then type a security level number that affects just that one command. Q: How can I password protect the F3 key so you can't access DOS? A: The answer is really the same as the previous answer because F3 is just a short cut to the "Exit HDM" entry in the Exit menu. Press Alt-X, move the cursor down to "Exit HDM", then press Alt-F1. Enter a security level number that is higher than the level of the users you want to keep from going to DOS. Make sure you have a password set on that level or higher in the Master Password Table. Now both F3 and the "Exit HDM" menu command are protected. Q: We run 3270 emulation on our PC to connect to our company's MicroFox Company Page 136 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 mainframe. When we hot key over to the mainframe side, the key lock status, date and time, and the cursor from HDM bleed through to our mainframe application. How can we stop this? A: This happens because HDM continually writes those items out to the screen as it's waiting for keyboard or mouse entry. Use the -K startup switch and the key locks will not be displayed, and the date and time will be updated only when a key is pressed or the mouse is used. Also, set the blinking cursor speed to zero to eliminate the writes to the screen a blinking cursor requires. Q: I have a Hercules-compatible video card and I'm having a problem with my cursor. When I go into WordPerfect the cursor shows right in the middle of a character instead of below it. This makes it difficult to see the cursor. What can I do? A: This seems to be a problem with some Hercules clones and certain PC programs. HDM itself does not change the cursor, it saves the prior cursor settings and uses its own cursor settings. When it runs another program, HDM restores the cursor to its saved shape and size. You can fix the problem by using one of HDM's built-in functions. The {CURSOR} function can set the cursor to the way you want it to look: {CURSOR 12 13}C:~CD\WP60~WP~ Q: I need to pass a parameter to WordPerfect that includes the left brace character. When I include it in the menu action and try to run it, I get a message that says unbalanced braces and it aborts. What can I do to get this to work? A: The braces are reserved by HDM to identify its functions. HDM checks to make sure they're used in pairs. To pass a single brace, use these substitute characters: Ctrl-Q for the left brace; and, Ctrl-P for the right brace. The other problem character is the tilde (~) since it's used as a command separator. Use Ctrl-Z if you need that character in a command or program. Q: A user who logs on to HDM is automatically logged in to our network because we include the network login entry in the User ID Security Table. Is there a way to automatically log users out of the network when they log off of HDM? A: Yes, there is. In the "Log Off Automatically" command in the Security menu, you can enter a menu file number and a menu entry's page and number. This entry automatically runs when the user logs off HDM. MicroFox Company Page 137 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 Q: The Timed Execution Facility works great-except if you're on a network. We have a tape backup that we want to run from the server at two o'clock in the morning, Monday through Friday, but all the computers on the network try to run it. Since the Timed Execution is a global table, how can we get just the server to run it? A: The easiest way is to use the {CK} or {CKFILE} functions to verify a drive or file that only the server has access to: {CK T}TBACKUP C:~ or {CKFILE T:\NET\FILE.EXT}TBACKUP C:~ When the other computers on the network hit the {CKFILE} or {CK} functions, their menu action will be canceled. A second way is to set an environment variable on the server: SET TAPEBACKUP=TBACKUP C:~ Then use this menu action: {%TAPEBACKUP%} which will be replaced on the server by TBACKUP C:~ and will become empty on all the others so that nothing will run. A third way is to run a menu action like this: {MENU 400}{KEY Z 7} or {MENU 400~Z7~} and use the -4 startup switch so that the server will run menu entry Z7 from a different menu file than all the others. Q: Is it possible to return to the Utility Menu after running an entry from it? A: Yes, just include the menu action function {MENU} somewhere in the utility menu entry's action. {MENU} without a menu file number will display the utility menu from any menu entry. APPENDIX D: ERROR MESSAGES 000 ERROR LOCATING THE HDM STARTUP DIRECTORY: HDM could not find itself in the starting directory. Check that you are in the directory that contains HDM before you start it. Also check if the HDM4DOS.EXE file has been renamed. 010 ERROR OPENING "File": HDM could not find the specified file in the expected directory or received an error from DOS while trying to open it. Check that the specified directories MicroFox Company Page 138 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 actually exist. 020 ERROR READING "File": HDM received an error from DOS while reading the specified file from the directory in which it was opened. This may be a result of trying to read a bad sector on your disk. 030 ERROR WRITING "File": HDM received an error from DOS while writing the specified file to a directory. The disk could be full or the file could be set to "read-only." 040 ERROR CLOSING "File": HDM received an error from DOS while attempting to close the specified file. 050 CAN'T FIND "Path": HDM could not find the path on the specified disk drive or a {DIR}, {EXEC}, or {FILE} function has an invalid path. Check that all the directories exist. 055 CAN'T ACCESS "Disk Drive": HDM could not access the drive specified in the {CK} function or the drive for a needed file, or a {DIR}, {EXEC}, or {FILE} menu function is referring to an invalid drive. 064 EXCEEDED MAXIMUM NUMBER OF INPUT FIELDS: HDM allows up to 64 active input fields at a time. This could be an internal program error. Contact MicroFox Company. 088 EXCEEDED MAXIMUM NUMBER OF NESTED READS: HDM can handle up to eight windows with active input fields at a time. This could be an internal program error. Contact MicroFox Company. 099 DOS ERROR (#) RUNNING AN INTERNAL PROGRAM: This can result when running your own programs internally using the {RUN} or the {RUN!} functions or starting the menu action with an exclamation (!) point. Either the program couldn't be found or there was not enough memory to keep HDM in memory while running the program. 101 NO LOG FILE OPEN: Before you can print or display a report, you must first select a log file. Select "Open File" from the File menu (Alt-F1) and select a log file to open, such as HDM.LOG. 103 NO RECORDS MATCH THE CRITERIA: No records in the log file remained after your filter criteria were used. Your previous records are intact; press F2 and change your filter request. 117 FIELDS NOT DEFINED, CREATE A REPORT FORMAT FIRST: In the HDM report module, you must select the fields you want to display in the report. From the report menu, select Create Report (Ctrl-F1) and select the fields you want included. 310 WRONG PASSWORD!: You entered the wrong password for a user MicroFox Company Page 139 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 ID logon or an invalid security level password. 322 UNKNOWN USER!: You tried to log on with a User ID that was not found in the User ID Security Table. 333 ALREADY AT MAXIMUM NUMBER OF RECORDS!: The User ID Security Table or the Timed Execution Facility Table is full. HDM has a maximum of 254 Users and 99 Timed Executions. 595 - ERROR # - "MODEM RESPONSE MESSAGE": The {DIAL} function tried to send the modem a command and received a modem error; or HDM could not open a COM# port. 661 CAN'T READ MENU FILE HDM.???: HDM could not find the HDM.000 through HDM.999 file in the current directory, the -T specified directory, or the -0 through -9 specified directory. 688 OLD FORMAT MENU FILE!: This happens only when trying to import a page from a previous version's menu file. To fix this, read in the old menu file using the {MENU #} action function, make any change to it, then press Esc to return to the menu file you were using. 696 NO CHANGES MADE OR THEY WERE ALREADY SAVED: Ctrl-U was pressed from the menu to undo the last changes, but either no changes were made or they were already written to disk. If an asterisk (*) is displayed at the bottom right of the screen, you have changes that can be undone. 700 WINDOW MEMORY UNDERFLOW!: HDM tried to close more windows than were opened on the screen. This is an internal program error. Contact MicroFox Company. 716 WINDOW MEMORY OVERFLOW!: HDM allows up to 16 active windows at one time. This is an internal program error. Contact MicroFox Company. 732 EXCEEDED MAXIMUM NUMBER OF MOUSE HOT SPOTS!: HDM allows up to 32 active mouse hot spots at one time. This is an internal program error. Contact MicroFox Company. 755 INVALID DATE: You tried to change the date through "Date and Time" in the Global menu but it was incorrect. 757 INVALID TIME: You tried to change the time through "Date and Time" in the Global menu, but the time was incorrect. 777 CANNOT CHANGE COLORS ON A MONOCHROME MONITOR!: You have a monochrome monitor or you started HDM with the -VM switch to force monochrome mode because of an unreadable screen. 799 OUT OF MEMORY: HDM requires at least 300K of memory. If you MicroFox Company Page 140 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 have more than this, then there is another kind of error. Contact MicroFox Company. 834 PAGE LETTER NOT A - Z!: The imported page letter must be in the A through Z range. 848 AN AUTO-EXECUTION TRIED TO RUN AN EMPTY ENTRY: An automatic running was attempted through the -A startup switch, automatic log off, inactive execution, timed execution or the auto execute field in the User ID Security Table. However, the entry was empty. 888 NO SECURITY HIGH ENOUGH TO GET TO THE MASTER PASSWORD TABLE: You tried to delete a security level, but it would not leave a level high enough to return to the Master Password Table. First set security codes in HDM to zero before deleting any passwords. 890 YOU MUST FIRST SET A PASSWORD IN THE MASTER PASSWORD TABLE: You can not enter a security code on anything in HDM until that security code number or a higher one has a password associated with it. Do this from the Security menu's Master Password Table. 909 MENU ACTION EXCEEDS 255 CHARACTERS!: The menu action length limit was exceeded because the expansion of function, a macro or a parameter caused it to be greater than 255. Use the || function to continue to another menu entry. 951 CANCELED, UNBALANCED {BRACES} IN ACTION TEXT!: The execution of the menu action was stopped when the number of left and right braces didn't match. 953 CANCELED, &MACRO CALLS ITSELF!: The execution of the menu action was stopped because the macro called itself and would have resulted in a loop. 954 CANCELED, %PARAMETER CALLS ITSELF!: The execution of the menu action was stopped because the macro parameter called itself and would have resulted in a loop. APPENDIX E: TECHNICAL SUPPORT If you have purchased a license to use the Hard Disk Menu System, you are eligible to receive technical support by telephone, fax, mail, CompuServe, and Internet. Before contacting us at MicroFox Company, please first check the Table of Contents and read the "Common Questions and Answers" appendix in this manual. Your question may already be answered there. If not, then please call 1-216-659-9489 Monday through Friday, from 10 am to 6 pm eastern (USA) time zone. Ask for HDM technical support. You can also send a fax to the same number (1-216-659-9489) 24 hours a day, any day MicroFox Company Page 141 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 of the week. You can also get support for HDM through CompuServe by sending electronic mail with your questions to Jim Hass at 73057,3113. Our Internet address is 73057.3113@compuserve.com and you can send written mail to: MicroFox Company HDM Technical Support PO Box 447 Richfield OH 44286-0447 USA Program Distribution HDM is user supported. This means that you may copy it freely and give the copies away to anyone you wish. They are, in turn, requested to send in the registration if they decide to use it. You can help us distribute HDM to others who might find it useful by uploading it local BBSs and by giving copies of it to friends, user groups, and business associates. Thank you for supporting the Hard Disk Menu System and Shareware. HDM Updates Check the date on the title page of this manual. If it is more than one year old, contact MicroFox for an updated version of the Hard Disk Menu System. We are constantly improving the program and put out a major upgrade at least once a year. APPENDIX F: NEW FEATURES This version of HDM has some new features not available in previous versions. Below is a list of recent enhancements. * You can enter LIST USERS in the logon User ID field to get a popup list of users, if you know the password for the User ID Table security level. You can also enter CHANGE in the logon password field to change your own password. * Individual run time passwords have been added to menu entries in addition to the current security levels. The purpose of this new password is to allow unique passwords for each menu entry and to allow any user to run a menu entry if they know the run time password, regardless of the security levels that are set. MicroFox Company Page 142 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 * The HDM install program has been changed so that it is now able to copy read-only files and it can be installed from a network server. * When HDM asks for a password, it now displays additional information about the password needed. Also, it now prevents you from locking yourself out of the Master Password Table. New And Improved Functions * The {CANCEL} function will cancel the running of a menu action. * The {CK} function now allows you to add user defined actions if the drive is ready and if it is not ready. * The {CKDIR} function checks to see if a directory exists. For example {CKDIR F:\NET} will allow the menu action to continue if F:\NET is available. It also allows you to take user defined actions if the directory is found or not found. * The {CKFILE} function checks to see if a file exists. For example {CKFILE F:\NET\USERIS.OK2} will allow the menu action to continue if F:\NET\USERIS.OK2 is available. It also allows you to take user defined actions if the file is found or not found. * The {CKVOL} function checks to see if a volume label exists. For example {CKVOL A:BACKUPDISK} will allow the menu action to continue if volume label on the disk in drive A: is BACKUPDISK. It also allows you to take user defined actions if the volume label is found or not found. * The {CONFIRM} function has been enhanced to optionally add a time delay and a default action when that time has expired. If a delay is not included the function will work as before. * The {DEFAULT} and {?Prompt} input fields have been increased to 128 characters. * The {DELAY #} pauses for a number of seconds before continuing with the rest of the menu action. You can short-cut the delay by pressing Enter. * The {DIAL} function has been improved to work with all Hayes compatible modems. You can change the interrupt (IRQ) for the communications port and cancel dialing at any time. All dialed numbers are recorded in the log file with a date & time stamp. * The {DIR} function can now accept an optional 64 character window title {DIR title~path/mask~sort} and a sort parameter to specify unsorted, ascending, or descending sequence. MicroFox Company Page 143 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 * The {DRIVE} function displays disk free space in Title Window and in the menu entry descriptions. * The {ERR} function displays a user defined error message. * The {EXEC} function works like the {FILE} function but only lists executable files. * The {FILE} function can now accept an optional 64 character window title {FILE title~path/mask~sort} and a sort parameter to specify unsorted, ascending, or descending sequence. * The {IF} function will compare two variables and take one action if they are equal and another action if they are not. * The {LOGOFF} function logs a user off HDM if one was logged on via the "User ID Security Table". This function will not run the auto-logoff menu entry if one was specified in the "Log Off Automatically" Table. * The {MSG} functions displays an information-only message. * The {NOCLEAR} function doesn't clear the screen before running the menu entry in which it is used. * The {SETPROJECT Project-Data} allows you to set or change the project name before running the menu entry. This data is also written to the HDM.LOG log file. * The {SELECT} and {VSELECT} functions allow you to display text other than the actual result. For example, you could have a menu say "High Density 3.5" and "Low Density 3.5" but the actual choices behind these friendly choices are " " and "/F:720": {VSELECT display=choice}. Also the mouse will now select the correct entry when more than one have the same highlighted letter. * You can now use functions as choices in the functions CK, CKDIR, CKFILE, CKVOL, IF, SELECT, and VSELECT that will not execute until they are chosen. Use [brackets] in place of {braces} and the reverse apostrophe ` (grave accent) in place of the tilde. The [`] characters will be changed to {~} when that function is chosen so that it will execute. * {SELDEF} is a new menu function that allows you to set the default entry in subsequent {SELECT} and {VSELECT} functions. * {MENU} without a menu number displays the utility menu when the menu action is complete. {MENU ###} can now go to a specified page letter and entry number. {MENU 10~P} goes to page P and {MENU 10~P8} goes to entry P8 in HDM.010. Adding a tilde(~) after the entry number {MENU 10~P8~} will run it. MicroFox Company Page 144 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 * {KEY!} works like the {KEY} function except that keystrokes are available immediately so they can affect HDM's functions. Normally the keystrokes from the {KEY} function are not available until the menu entry has been processed and has turned over to DOS to run it. * {LIST filename} displays any standard ASCII text file. * {DIAL bps~phone#} can connect to bulletin boards if a BPS code is added to the beginning of the dial string. * {USERSEC} returns the current user's security level number. * The new {EXEN} and {FILN} functions work exactly the same as the {EXEC} and {FILE} functions, but return the file name only, not the complete path. New And Improved Startup Switches * -P specifies the path to the HDM.CFG configuration file. * -G specifies the path to the HDM.GBL global variables file. The items in the Global pull-down menu were separated from other configuration data to increase HDM's flexibility. The following replaces the old -F and -V startup switches: * -VF allows you to have fast screen writing to your video card, including newer snowless CGA cards. This is the default for non-CGA video cards. * -VM uses monochrome screens instead of color or shades of gray. * -VS stops screen static (snow) by waiting to redraw your screen. This is the default for CGA video cards. * -J will cause Inactive and Timed Executions to run immediately without delays or beeping sounds. New And Improved Pull-Down Menus * The User ID Security Table can now contain a wild-card record that will match any entered User ID. * The DOS Window commands can now be up 128 characters long. You can press a number key to rerun any of the last nine entries and the entries are saved from session to session. * All pull-down menu commands now have shortcut keys. These keys are displayed to the right of each command. MicroFox Company Page 145 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 * "Write File" in the first pull-down menu was moved to "Write Menu File" in the Exit pull-down menu. * "Insert Entry" was added to the first pull-down menu. * "Project" in the Global pull-down menu was moved to "New Project" in the Exit pull-down menu. * "Cursor Speed" and "Mouse Speed" were combined in the Global pull-down menu as "Cursor/Mouse Speed" * "Utility Menu" was added to the Exit pull-down menu. You can access this menu from the user menu by pressing the period key. * "Alter Utility Menu" and "Menu Macros (&&)" were added to the Global pull-down menu. * "Switch Menus" and "Switch Screens" in the Local pull-down menu are now "Screen Display". * The Security menu has been rearranged in a more logical form to group like items together. * "Add Entry", "Change Entry", and "Insert Entry" in the first pull-down menu, "Alter Utility Menu" in the Global pull-down menu, and "DOS Windows" in the Exit pull-down menu now allow you to press F4 in Auto-Build to search and choose executable files. Also an optional help file field was added to Add, Change, and Insert Menu Entries window to display custom help screens when F1 is pressed. * "Date/Time Format" in the Global menu was changed to "Date/Time Settings". Besides changing the format of the date and time, you can change your computer's actual date and time. * "Wallpaper" was added to the Local pull-down menu to change the background character for most of your menu screens. Character 255 displays a solid black background. * "Reports" was added to the Exit menu to allow you to analyze and report on usage of HDM. It has now been enhanced to save and retrieve report formats and to automatically calculate the width of the report based on the report format settings. Also, you can set up multiple filters to be active at the same time. * The <Esc> key now honors "Prior Menu" and "Log Off" security. "Prior Menu" returns to a menu file that used {MENU #} to start another menu file. If <Esc> is pressed from your base menu, HDM will log you off and go to the logo screen. Use "Log Off", <F7> to logoff while you're in any menu file and display the logo. * "Global Settings" in the Global pull-down menu was changed to MicroFox Company Page 146 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 add two new settings: "Show Security Levels" displays levels in the Add/Change/Insert menu entry window, the Master Password window, and at the bottom of the pull-down menus. "Get Log Off Confirmation" forces HDM to ask for confirmation when a user is logging off with <F7> or <Esc> while in the base menu file. "Same Page Cursor Wrap" was changed to "Keep Cursor on Page". * "Border Lines" in the Local pull-down menu now allows a user defined border character in addition to the single, double, bold, and no line choices. * "Lines in Menu" in the Local pull-down menu has been made more flexible and is replaced by "Show Lines" in the "Page Window" and "Screen Display" menus. These lines are now independent of one another in the user menu and page windows. * "Page Window" in the Local pull-down menu allows you to hide or change the position of the page name index. * "Screen Display" in the Local pull-down menu allows you to hide the user menu and change the configuration of the main windows. * "Top Box Titles" has been changed to "Title Window" and allows you to reposition the window as well as hide it and change the text of the title lines. * "Action Display" in the Local pull-down menu will now display the menu description, security level, and an individual run time password indicator (if there's room) in addition to the menu action. New And Improved Editing Keys * Ctrl-S saves a complete input field to an internal buffer. * Ctrl-W writes the buffer to the cursor position of a field. * Ctrl-Right-Arrow moves the cursor to the next word. * Ctrl-Left-Arrow moves the cursor to the prior word. * Tab & BackTab moves to the next or previous input field. Other New Features Utility Menu Entries and global Menu Macros were added to HDM that work no matter what menu file is displayed. HDM now warns you if you try to set a security code without first setting a password on a security level in the Master Password Table. New customization features were added to HDM and its Help System. See the sample demonstration files HDMDEMO.HDR, HELPDEMO.HDM, MicroFox Company Page 147 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 HELPDEMO.000 and A1DEMO.000 for examples of these features. Also individual menu entry help files (A1.000) can now be any name. A new field in the Add/Change menu entry window allows you to specify a help file name. Also in HDM's Help System, you can press <F2> to display and print HDM's documentation files. This includes the on-disk User's Guide, Order Form, Change History, and other DOC files. You can customize this facility by removing or adding your own DOC files in the directory that contains HDMHELP.EXE. Your custom help screens can now be more than one screen long. This enhancement works with A1.000, HELP.000, and HELPx.HDM. See the demo files A1DEMO.000, HELPDEMO.000, and HELPDEMO.HDM for examples of this. Add a note (like F4=MORE) in the first screen of your custom help file to let the user know that more text is available. When the user presses F4, a file viewer will display the complete file and allow scrolling in any direction. There is no limit to the size of the file. Added the ability to delete a report format from the HDM report module. Choose "Open Format" from the Report pull-down menu and press delete while the unwanted report format is highlighted. MicroFox Company Page 148 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 APPENDIX G: ORDER FORM Send to: MicroFox Company Orders: (216) 659-9489 Order Department PO Box 447 All amounts in U.S.$ Richfield OH 44286-0447 USA QUANTITY $ AMOUNT Single Computer License Includes: 1. Registration of HDM ......... $50 per PC ________ ________ 2. Published HDM User Manual 3. Your choice of Disk Size (below) 4. Notice of Major Upgrades to HDM 5. Additional Programs from MicroFox 6. Support by Mail, Phone, Fax, CompuServe The following licenses include the number of published User Manuals shown in parentheses: 5-User Network License (1) $95 per Server 10-User Network License (1) $125 per Server 20-User Network License (2) $200 per Server Unlimited Network License (3) $275 per Server ________ ________ 15-User Site License (1) .... $195 per Site 40-User Site License (2) .... $395 per Site 90-User Site License (3) .... $695 per Site Unlimited Site License (4) .... $995 per Site ________ ________ 25-User Corporate License (2) $295 all Sites 100-User Corporate License (3) $795 all Sites 300-User Corporate License (4)$1395 all Sites Unlimited Corporate License(5)$1995 all Sites ________ ________ For LAN, Site or Corporate Licenses only: Additional HDM User Manuals ........ $10 each ________ ________ for LAN, Site or Corporate Licenses only: Additional HDM program disks ........ $2 each ________ ________ U.S.A. .......... $4 each Canada .......... $5 each SHIPPING CHARGES ________ ________ All others ...... $9 each REMEMBER TO ADD SHIPPING CHARGES ........ SUBTOTAL _____________ ================================ OHIO residents: 6.25% SALES TAX ________ TOTAL _____________ Unless specified, we ship on 3.5" HD disks 3.5HD (1.44 meg) 5.25HD (1.2 meg) 3.5DD (720K) 5.25DD (360K) Disk Size _____________ MicroFox Company Page 149 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 Contact ________________________________________________________ Company ________________________________________________________ Address ________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ Phone _________________________ FAX _________________________ Credit Cards Call 1-216-659-9489 to order, or complete this form and mail it. VISA or MASTERCARD number _______________________________________ Expiration Date _________ Signature ____________________________ How did you get your copy of HDM? _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ Suggestions or Comments: _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ MicroFox Company Page 150 HARD DISK MENU SYSTEM Version 5.03 Orders From Outside The United States Canada Canadian orders can be paid in U.S. dollars or Canadian dollars equal to the U.S. amount. The check can be drawn on a U.S. or Canadian bank. MicroFox Company is NOT subject to the Canadian withholding tax. All other countries Please make payment in one of the following ways: 1. By VISA or MasterCard - Call, fax, or mail the order form. 2. A check in your own currency. (equal to U.S. dollar amount) 3. A check in U.S. funds drawn on a U.S. or Canadian bank. 4. Cash sent by registered mail. (U.S. or your own currency) Do NOT send a check in U.S. dollars drawn on other than a U.S. or Canadian bank. Our bank will send this kind of check back to the country of origin. This results in large bank fees and long delays in receiving the funds. Notice To New Users Thank you for trying the Hard Disk Menu System. You are granted a 30-day trial license to use this product on your DOS computer system. This will allow you some time to "test-drive" HDM before purchasing it. After the 30-day period, you must register HDM or stop using it and erase it from you system. If you have already registered with MicroFox Company or are in the process of registering, we thank you and look forward to supporting your needs now and in the future with enhancements to our products. How To Contact Us Voice contact 10am to 6pm on Monday through Friday (216) 659-9489 Fax to the same number (1-216-659-9489) 24 hours a day on any day Send electronic mail to Jim Hass at: CompuServe 73057,3113 ComStar BBS (216) 661-9065 Internet 73057.3113@compuserve.com MicroFox Company Page 151