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M.O.M. - Menu Organization Manager 1.1 Page 1 ------------------------------------------ Documentation Manual Copyright (C) 1989 N.E.Ware MOM is a powerful yet easy to use menu system for computers with hard or floppy disk drives. The power of MOM comes from the fact that it has only a single program file. There are no long lists of batch files, text files, or command files. There is just MOM.COM, which is a lean 22k, so you can have various copies of it on your hard disk without it using up all your disk space. MOM never uses memory-residency, so you don't have to worry about it using up your RAM, nor does it load a separate copy of COMMAND.COM as a shell, which also eats memory. When MOM runs a a program for you, it leaves no traces of itself in memory, so your program can run unaffected. MOM'S menus are easy to setup and easy to revise. To make a change, just bring the menu up, press a function key, and make the revision. That's all there is to it! All of the menu selections can be executed with a single key- press, or you can move the cursor with the cursor control keys and press the ENTER key. The colors of the menus can also be changed, along with other parameters, so you can design the menus to suit your preference. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS To run MOM, you need a 100% IBM compatible computer with MS- DOS 2.0 or above. A hard drive is recommended but not required. MOM uses only 22k of memory while it is running, so it should run on a minimum memory machine. If a monochrome video adapter is used, certain features of MOM will not work, such as the ability to change colors, and snow suppression. MOM FILES The MOM menu system has only three files: MOM.COM The menu program. MOM.DOC This documentation file. MOMPASS.COM The password setup utility. (Provided to registered users only) INSTALLATION Important - When changes are made to a menu, the MOM.COM file in the current subdirectory is modified. For this reason it is highly recommended that you keep the original copy of MOM.COM on a separate floppy disk and in a safe place. Installing MOM is easy. Just copy the file MOM.COM into your root directory. You will eventually copy MOM.COM into all sub- directories you want a menu in, but you should wait until you configure the copy of MOM.COM in the root to your liking. If you don't have a hard drive, you must copy MOM.COM to all diskettes that you want the menu to control. Again, wait until you have one copy of MOM.COM configured. M.O.M. - Documentation Manual Page 2 MENU FUNCTIONS At MOM's main screen, there are four functions you can perform: 1) Select a menu item to execute. This can be done by pressing the selection letter, or moving the cursor to the selection and pressing ENTER. (HOME and END keys are functional.) 2) Quit MOM by pressing ESCape. 3) Enter the Configuration Menu by pressing function key F1. 4) Execute an immediate DOS Command by pressing F2. CONFIGURATION Configuring MOM allows you to adapt the program to your needs and preferences. Let's look at the configure commands. Escape Key - Exit the configuration menu. You will be asked if you want to save the changes made. If you answer N(o), the changes you made will stay in effect for the current run of MOM but will be lost when you exit MOM or execute a menu selection. Revise Item - Allows you to add or revise a menu selection. Just type the selection key you want to revise or cursor to it and press ENTER. First, you will be asked to enter a Selection Title. This is what will appear on the menu screen. Next, you will be asked for a DOS Command, which is what will be executed when this selection is chosen. See the part on ENTERING DOS COMMANDS for instructions. Copy Item - With this you can copy a menu selection to another selection position. You will be prompted first for the source position and then for the destination position. The source selection will not be changed. Swap Items - Lets you swap two menu selections. After you enter the two selections, they will switch places, along with their appropriate DOS Command. Delete Item - Will delete a selection from the menu. Remember, this deletion is not permanent until you answer YES to the save configuration prompt. Erase All - Will delete all selections on the menu. This will normally be used to clear a menu after it has been copied into another subdirectory. You will be asked to confirm this choice. Titles - Allows you to revise the menu titles. There are two titles, the Main Title and the Menu Title. The Main Title could be used for your company name and the Menu Title could be used to describe the function of the menu such as 'GAMES', 'UTILITIES', etc. If the Main Title is blank, the menu border will fill in the space. (Note: Unregistered versions of MOM do not allow the Main Title to be revised.) M.O.M. - Documentation Manual Page 3 CONFIGURATION (cont) New Colors - Allows you to change the menu colors. First, select the menu text that you want to change the color of. Then, cursor to the new color and press ENTER. The screen border is a special case because there is no background color, so you can only select one of the 16 foreground colors. There are two default screen setups that can be used by pressing the F9 or F10 function keys. F9 gives you the default color set and F10 gives you the default Black & White set. Again, remember that these color changes are not permanent until you answer YES to the save prompt. Note: This function is not available if MOM is run on a computer with a Monochrome Video Adaptor. Video Snow - This program uses direct memory access to put char- acters on the screen. This causes a problem with some video controller cards and will show 'snow' on the screen. With this option, you can turn on snow suppression which will slow down the video output slightly and stop the snowing. Note: This function is not available (or necessary) if MOM is run on a computer with a Monochrome Video Adaptor. Audio - Allows you to toggle the sound on or off. Fix NumLock - Normally, the numeric keypad is automatically set so the cursor controls are active and the numlock key is disabled. This prevents you from accident- ally running selection '2' when you press 'cursor down'. However, on extended keyboards the numeric keypad and the cursor control keys are separate. In this case, you want the numlock key active so you can use the numeric keypad for entering numbers. This option will toggle the automatic numlock. Configuration Notes: 1) Press ESC at any time to abort the current operation. 2) You can select any option on the setup configuration menu by pressing the first letter in the option name. 3) If you do not select one of the configuration options prior to exiting the configuration menu, you will not be asked if changes should be saved. (Since there aren't any.) M.O.M. - Documentation Manual Page 4 ENTERING DOS COMMANDS When you enter a DOS Command, you are actually typing the key strokes that will be executed when that selection is chosen. You can type in more than one command by separating them with the F10 key. The command to reexecute MOM.COM will automatically be added to the end of the entered command so you should not do that your- self. Also, you should make sure that if your commands leave you in a different directory from the one where you started, there should be a copy of MOM.COM there. If not you will get an error message because you can't run MOM from a directory where MOM.COM is not present, even if MOM.COM is on the DOS Path. Therefore, if you change directories during a DOS Command, you should make sure you eventually change back to the original directory. (Unless, of course, you are going to a different MOM menu.) Example: Run a program called TEST in the subdirectory \UTILITY. DOS COMMAND: CD \UTILITY|TEST|CD \ Important: Note that the above DOS Command contains no command to return to MOM. This command will be automatically appended at the end during execution. Putting the command 'MOM' at the end of your DOS Command will cause problems. If you notice that MOM is double running (coming back to the menu immediately after leaving it), this is probably the cause. One thing to keep in mind when entering DOS Commands, is that the commands are executed in the form of a batch file. (A batch file is an executable program with a .BAT extension.) One of the oddities of MS-DOS is that you can't execute one batch file as a subroutine of another batch file. In other words, if you call the batch file BAT2 from within the batch file BAT1, when BAT2 is finished it will not pass control back to BAT1, and all remaining commands in BAT1 will be ignored. For our situation, this means that if you try to execute a batch file within your DOS Command, the remaining commands will never be executed, including the one to return to MOM. To get around this problem, you could examine the batch file you want to run (with the DOS TYPE command) and duplicate its commands in your DOS Command. Or, you could append the commands necessary to restart MOM at the end of the batch file (using EDLIN or another text editor). Note: Another way around this problem is to use the COMMAND command with the '/C' parameter to execute a batch file. ex: COMMAND /C BAT2.BAT This is an advanced DOS feature that could cause problems for the program you're trying to run. See your DOS manual. M.O.M. - Documentation Manual Page 5 ENTERING DOS COMMANDS (cont) When entering a DOS Command, you can use the left and right cursor keys, the HOME and END keys, and the DELete and backspace keys. Pressing the END key while holding down the CTRL key will delete to the end of the line. The INSERT, CAPS LOCK and NUMLOCK keys are all active. In insert mode the cursor will be full size. ESCape will abort the command entry. Another feature available when entering a DOS command is the block function. Normally, the command to rerun MOM is added auto- matically to the end of the DOS command. However, if you place a 'block' at the end of the command, (by pressing ALT-F10), MOM.COM will not be rerun. Everything entered after the block will be ignored. RUN DOS COMMAND You can execute an immediate DOS Command from the main menu by pressing F2. After you type in the command and press ENTER, MOM will run the command just as if it were a menu selection. If you press ESC while entering the command, or enter a blank command, no command will be run. When you run an immediate DOS Command, the command itself is passed back to MOM as a parameter when MOM is restarted. Because of this, when you select F2 to run a DOS Command during the next run of MOM, the previously executed DOS Command will be shown as the default. @MOM.BAT When a menu selection or DOS Command is executed from MOM, the batch file named @MOM.BAT is created containing the commands in the DOS Command. You should not create any other files on your disk by this name or they will be overwritten. The disk contain- ing the current MOM.COM must not be write-protected, and there must be enough space on the disk to create @MOM.BAT. (Any free space is usually enough). @MOM.BAT is automatically deleted by MOM, but there may be some situations where you may see it when you get a directory listing. Usually it is best to leave this file alone and let MOM handle its deletion. M.O.M. - Documentation Manual Page 6 SYSTEM SETUP Now we will see the real power of MOM - the ability to have separate copies of MOM in separate subdirectories and chain them together. Let's say you have two subdirectories on your disk, one called \GAMES and the other called \UTILITY. You would then have three copies of MOM.COM on your disk, one in the root, and one in each of the subdirectories. The MOM menu in the root would have a menu selection with the title: GAMES MENU, which would contain the DOS Command: 'CD \GAMES'. When this selection was chosen, MOM would change the directory to \GAMES and then reload itself. However, the copy of MOM.COM loaded would be the one from the \GAMES dir- ectory and your games menu would appear. The games menu would have the selection MAIN MENU with the DOS Command 'CD \'. This selection would return you to the MOM.COM located in the root. The same procedure would be used to access the MOM.COM in your UTILITY subdirectory or even link the games menu with the utility menu. In this fashion you can have many copies of MOM.COM in many directories and be able to move between them with a single key. Setup Tips: 1) If you are going to have multiple copies of MOM.COM on your disk, you might want to configure the copy in your root directory first, and then copy this version to your subdirectories. This will save some time in configuring all of them. (Of course you may want to have each of your sub-menus a different color to set them apart.) 2) One efficient way to locate the menu selection options is to have the command to return to the parent menu of the current menu at position 0. This is the default position when MOM is started and you can move upwards through the structure by pressing the ENTER key. At the main menu, position 0 could contain the command to shut the computer down (such as PARK). 3) You should add MOM to the end of your AUTOEXEC.BAT file so that when you turn the computer on it comes up with MOM running. See your DOS manual for an explanation of the AUTOEXEC.BAT file. 4) If you do not have a hard drive, you should have a copy of MOM.COM on each diskette that needs a menu. Also, on each menu should be a selection with a title that has no DOS Command. You could call this option: SWITCH FLOPPY. When you want to change menus, put the new menu disk in the drive and choose the above selection. MOM will then reload itself from the new diskette. Keep in mind that the diskettes can not be write protected because @MOM.BAT must be written. M.O.M. - Documentation Manual Page 7 SYSTEM SETUP (cont) 5) If you are upgrading from a previous version of MOM.COM, you don't have to re-enter all your commands on the new menu. Just follow these steps: (Assuming the new version of MOM.COM is in drive a:) CD YOURSUBDIR (Change to MOM.COM directory) REN MOM.COM TEMP.COM (Rename current menu) COPY A:MOM.COM (Get new copy of MOM.COM) TEMP (Execute old version of MOM) <F1> (Press F1 to enter config mode) R (Press 'R' to revise a selection) <ESC><ESC> (Press ESC twice to quit config) Y (Enter 'Y' to save config) <F2> (Press F2 to enter command) DEL TEMP.COM (Delete old version of menu) SCREEN BLANKING If MOM is left unattended (no keypresses) for a period of time the screen will go blank. This is done to save the screen from being 'burned' with the menu image if left on too long. To return to MOM, just press any key. The length of time before the screen blanks will vary from computer to computer. STATUS INFORMATION The Status Information is displayed at the top of the screen. MOM's title and current version are shown, along with the current subdirectory. Also shown are the date and time, and the status of the keyboard, including the state of the CAPSLOCK, NUMLOCK and INSERT keys. PASSWORD PROTECTION (Supplied with registered copys of MOM only) If you have no plans to use any password protection with MOM, you do not have to read this section. All of the instructions up to this point have been for MOM without password protection. With MOM, you have the ability to embed passwords at various levels to protect any or all programs and files on your system. However, remember that no PC is entirely safe from someone who knows what they're doing. Passwords are placed in MOM.COM using the stand-alone utility program MOMPASS.COM. (Included along with the registered version of MOM.) For security purposes, this program should be kept on your original floppy disk and not copied to your hard disk. To run MOMPASS, put the diskette with MOMPASS.COM in drive A: (or B:). Next, locate yourself in the subdirectory that contains the copy of MOM.COM that you want to place passwords in and type 'A:MOMPASS'. If there is no copy of MOM.COM in the current dir- ectory, MOMPASS will abort. M.O.M. - Documentation Manual Page 8 PASSWORD PROTECTION (cont) There are varying levels of security passwords. They are: MASTER PASSWORD: This password is needed to rerun MOMPASS on the current MOM.COM. Also, this password can be used in place of any other password on the menu. STARTUP PASSWORD: The user must enter this password to start MOM. To make this password be in effect, you also have to run MOM with the command 'MOM " " /P'. MOM will ask for this pass- word until it is entered, so the computer is effectively locked up until it is rebooted. The purpose of this password is to provide security for when your computer is first turned on or rebooted. If you place the above command at the end of your AUTOEXEC.BAT file, no one can boot your system without knowing the Startup Password. Also, if the user presses CTRL-P at MOM's main menu, the computer will be locked up until the Startup Password is entered. EXIT PASSWORD: This password will be required when the user hits the ESCape key to exit to DOS. This will keep users from getting to the DOS prompt. If this password is used, the RUNDOS password should also be used. (See below). CONFIG PASSWORD: The user must know this password when using the F1 key to reconfigure MOM. RUNDOS PASSWORD: When the user presses F2 to run an immediate DOS command, this password must be known. This password, along with the EXIT & CONFIG passwords, stops the user from entering undesirable DOS commands (like DEL *.*). SELECTION PASSWORDS: There are 36 selection passwords, one for each menu selection. Each password will be required when the user wants to run, revise, copy over, or delete the correspond- ing selection. When the user chooses the option 'ERASE ALL' on the configure menu, only those selections without a password will be deleted. To put any of the above passwords into effect, all you have to do is place any word into the password (using MOMPASS.COM). If a blank is put into a password, that password will not be in effect and will not be asked for. The passwords are case-sensitive. Any copy made of a MOM.COM that has password protection will also be protected. The only way to remove protection is by using MOMPASS.COM. M.O.M. - Documentation Manual Page 9 TERMS 1) This program and documentation are copyrighted. 2) The unregistered version of this program is for trial use only. You may copy this version and distribute it freely. 3) The registered version of this program may be copied only for the purposes of using the program for its designated function and making a backup copy. You may not give copies of this version to others. 4) You may not remove any copyright notice, or alter this pro- gram in any way. 5) By using this program, you accept all of the above terms. LIABILITY THE AUTHORS AND DISTRIBUTORS OF THIS PROGRAM MAKE NO WARRANTY, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, WITH RESPECT TO THIS SOFTWARE OR DOCUMENTATION, THEIR QUALITY, PERFORMANCE OR FITNESS FOR A PAR- TICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT WILL THE AUTHORS OR DISTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSE- QUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE, MISUSE, OR INABILITY TO USE THIS SOFTWARE OR DOCUMENTATION. All this legalese aside, N.E.Ware stands firmly behind all of our products. Our goal is always quality. We created this program to be the best menu system available, and we think it is. However, in the long run it's always the users who decide the worth of a program. We want to know what you think. Send us your comments, questions, and suggestions on how to make MOM better. N.E.Ware P.O. Box 152 Glenshaw, PA. 15116 M.O.M. - Documentation Manual Page 10 REGISTRATION This program and its documentation are copyrighted. They have been released thru shareware, which means you can try it before you buy it. If you decide to use this program regularly, you must become a registered user. Registration costs $25 for use on a single computer. Registration for additional copies is $15 each. Contact N.E.Ware for discounts on registering over 10 copies. With registration you will receive: * Full working copy of MOM.COM (Ability to revise main title.) * MOMPASS.COM - Password utility that installs passwords into MOM.COM. * Printed and bound copy of documentation manual. * Free updates for one year. * All disks sent are 5 1/4" Double Density. You are encouraged to freely copy and distribute the unregis- tered version of this program and distribute it. We ask, however, that you follow these rules: * Please distribute the two files together (MOM.COM & MOM.DOC) * Please distribute these two files in their original form. * No fee or charge may be accepted except for copying charges. Below is a registration form. To register, fill out this form and mail it, along with a check or money order, to the address shown. If you do not have a printer available, write the proper information on plain piece of paper. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - MOM REGISTRATION FORM - Copyright (C) 1989 N.E.Ware Name ________________________ Company _______________________ Address _________________________________________________________ City ________________________ State _______ Zip ____________ Country ________________________ Telephone ( ) _____________ Comment _________________________________________________________ No. of copies to register _________ Cost = $ _____________ Pennsylvania Residents add 6% Sales Tax = $ _____________ Add $5.00 shipping (ea.) for orders outside USA = $ _____________ Total Enclosed = $ _____________ Checks must be in U.S. Dollars, payable to N.E.Ware. Send completed form to: N.E.Ware P.O. Box 152 Glenshaw, PA. 15116