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Smart Menu
Shareware Version
Version 2.0a
Son Productions
"Committed to quality shareware
at quality prices"
Written by John Campion
86 Collins Circle
Hanover, PA 17331, USA
11/30/93
Table of Contents
1. Introduction to Smart Menu
2. Disclaimer
3. Hardware Requirements
4. Installation
4.1 SM Update
4.2 SM 2.0 Update
4.3 Two Examples of Upgrading
4.4 Using Different Configuration Files
5. General Information
6. Smart Menu's On-Line Help
7. Mouse Information
8. Executable Files and Smart Menu
9. Video Modes and Smart Menu
10. Smart Menu's Built-In Screen Saver
11. Configuring Smart Menu
11.1. File Sub-Menu
11.2. Entries Sub-Menu
11.3. Colors Sub-Menu
11.4. Security Sub-Menu
11.5. Other Options Sub-Menu
12. Using Smart Menu
13. Miscellaneous
13.1 A Note to OS/2 2.x Users
13.2 Ways to Contact the Author
13.3 Smart Menu's History
INTRODUCTION TO SMART MENU
Smart Menu is a small and easy to use menu program. It was
designed for simplicity and the novice computer user.
However, even advanced computer users might enjoy Smart Menu.
If you are looking for a huge, powerful menu system for networks
and need thousands upon thousands of entries then this is not
for you. (However, SM can handle at least a few hundred.)
On the other hand, this could be just what you wanted.
Here are some of Smart Menu's best features:
- Full, on-line help, accessible everywhere by F1.
- Return to Root Option. This will cause SM to return
to the root directory on drives other than the one SM
is running from.
- LOG File keeps track of what everyone does in SM.
- Numerous Entries. Each menu can have 50 entries and
sub-menus The sub-menus can go as deep as 10 levels.
- Full Mouse Support. Every aspect of SM can use the
mouse. This includes the main program as well as the
configuration program.
- User Configurable Colors. Virtually every color that
you see can be changed. Smart Menu uses one of the
easiest methods of color selections available. With
this, the user can see every color available, and
choose from among them. (Sorry, but this option is
not available to monochrome users)
- State-of-the-Art Swapping. When running a program,
Smart Menu can swap out to EMS, XMS, or disk space.
This leaves only 1.8k in conventional memory. However,
if you cannot afford a 1.8k loss, SM can also be run
in batch mode, which takes no memory at all.
- Small Size. Smart Menu, even with 10 sub-menus takes
less than 100k of disk space. That is pretty
impressive considering all that it does.
- DOS Shell. SM contains a DOS Shell that allows users
to temporarily shell to DOS. This can be password
protected.
- Point 'N' Shoot file selection for choosing the file
you want to use in an entry. SM will display a listing
of the files on the drive, by directories, and you can
select one. The files can also be sorted by the user.
- Parameters. Smart Menu can automatically ask the user
for parameters to be passed to the program that is
being run.
- Passwords. Almost everything in Smart Menu can be
password protected. Each entry can have its own
password, the configuration can be protected, and even
exiting the program itself can be protected.
- A System Password. The System Password can bypass all
passwords in SM. This way, only one password has
to be remembered by the computer operator.
- Password Flexibility. The passwords are very flexible.
They can be case-sensitive, and the actual entering of
passwords in SM can be visible or not. Also, you can
optionally turn off the backspace key.
- Password Toggling. This enables the user to
temporarily turn off all the passwords except for the
configuration and exiting passwords.
- Built-in Screen Saver. SM has it's own screen saver
that works from any place in the menu. The time that
it waits before becoming active is user-configurable.
DISCLAIMER
I hate long disclaimers, so I'll make this as short as
possible. This software is provided AS IS, and I make no
guarantees on it working on every type of computer (from XT's
to Pentiums), or on every monitor (Hercules to SVGA). I am not
responsible for any damage inflicted by the incorrect usage
of this program, although I do not believe that it is possible.
I have tried to make the software as bug-free as humanly
possible. I believe that it WILL work on every type of IBM
compatible computer, with every monitor, but, like I said, there
are no guarantees.
Smart Menu may be legally distributed and copied without
written permission from the author, provided no files in this
archive are changed or altered in any way. No one may charge for
giving away this program, except for a maximum price of $3.00 for
a disk with Smart Menu on it.
Smart Menu is shareware, not freeware. This means that you
are expected to pay for it, if you use it. See page 14
(Registrations) for details.
If you have registered Smart Menu, thank you. Your support
is greatly appreciated.
All trademarks are property of their respective companies.
HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS
Smart Menu requires:
o Any IBM Compatible computer with at least 300k of free
RAM. (250k of XMS or EMS is also advised, but not
needed, for SM's swapping mode.)
o DOS 3.3 or greater. Version 3.3 or greater is needed to
run SM. SM has been tested with DOS 3.3, 4.01, 5.0, 6.0,
and 6.2, as well as DR-DOS 6.0 and OS/2 2.0 and 2.1.
o A hard drive. Smart Menu was designed to be used with
a hard drive, but I am sure that it will also work with
floppy drives.
o A monitor. Smart Menu has been tested on, and works with
all types of monitors, including monochrome. However,
color selection is not available on monochrome monitors.
o A mouse is not needed, but Smart Menu will let you
use it, if you have one.
INSTALLATION
Installation of Smart Menu is quite easy. Here are the
steps:
1. Create a Directory for SM, with the command MD.
The name of the directory does not matter.
E.G. "MD SM"
2. Extract the files from SM's archive.
Usually "PKUNZIP SM20.ZIP"
3. Copy all the files from the extracted archive to the SM
directory.
E.G. "COPY *.* C:\SM"
4. Change to the SM directory. E.G. "CD\SM"
5. Type "SM" (without the quotes), which will
automatically start SM in configuration mode,
because there is no SM.CFG configuration file.
6. Remember, in order for all of Smart Menu to work properly,
these files must all be in the same directory: SM.BAT,
SM_PROG.EXE, SMUPDATE.EXE, SM2UPDTE.EXE, and SM.HLP.
SM-UPDATE
This program simply updates Smart Menu CFG Files from Version
1.0 or 1.1 to Version 1.2. Usage is SMUPDATE <file name>
<File Name> is the name of the CFG File(s) you want to update.
You can put as many filename as you want, or use wildcards.
SMUpdate will ask you if the files is a Main Menu or Sub-Menu
file. Answer accordingly, if you used the file as a Main or Sub
Menu.
Please note that SMUpdate does NO type of error checking.
Please be careful. Only those who are upgrading from 1.0 or 1.1
to 2.0 will need to use this.
SM 2.0 UPDATE
This program is used automatically by SM 2.0 to update all
previous CFG files to the new encryption scheme. The first time
an old CFG is read by version 2.0 it will be upgraded. After
all of your CFG files have been used by version 2.0, you can
delete both of these update files.
EXAMPLES OF UPGRADING
Here are two examples of possible upgrades so you can
understand what is going on.
From Version 1.0 or 1.1 to 2.0. Run the SMUPDATE.EXE on each
CFG File from 1.0 or 1.1 and then run Smart Menu 2.0 as normal.
2.0 will convert the files to the new version.
From Version 1.2 to 2.0. You don't need to do anything, SM
2.0 will automatically convert them.
USING DIFFERENT CFG FILES
Beginning with version 1.2, Smart Menu has the capability to
receive a configuration file name from the command line. This
allows different main menu. To start SM with a different CFG
file than SM.CFG, type: "SM filename.cfg"
SM will take the filename you specify and use it as a main
menu, even if it had been created as a sub-menu.
GENERAL INFORMATION
This information is relevant to the entire program.
Using Menus: Every menu can be navigated by using the
cursor keys, or if the mouse option is on, the mouse. Enter or
the left mouse button selects the option that the highlight bar
is on, and ESCape or the right mouse button exits from the
current menu or function.
Dialogue Boxes: Quite often, and especially in the config-
uration program, dialogue boxes will appear for such things as
the entry's title, directory, password, etc. The dialogue
boxes are also used when inputting passwords and parameters in
the main screen of SM. Some of the keys are:
CURSOR KEYS: Move the cursor, accordingly
HOME: Moves the cursor to the beginning of the line
END: Move the cursor to the end of the line
ALT-D: Deletes the current line.
There are other keys used in certain parts of the program,
which will be mentioned in the appropriate section, of this
manual.
SMART MENU'S ON-LINE HELP
Starting with version 2.0, Smart Menu has a complete on-line
help facility. Help may be accessed anywhere in the program with
a press of the F1 key. To view an index of help topics, just
push Shift-F1. Help is cross referenced, that is if one topic is
related to another, you can push F1 again to get more help.
In order to use Smart Menu's Help, the SM.HLP file must be
in the same directory as SM_PROG.EXE.
MOUSE INFORMATION
Smart Menu makes full usage of the mouse, if one is
available. SM has been tested with genuine Microsoft, "fake"
Microsoft, Genius, and Logitech mice. SM is guaranteed to work
with these. If it does not, drop me a line, and tell me what
kind of mouse you have and what symptoms are occurring.
A mouse can be used everywhere that the cursor keys can be
used, such as in all the menus, selection boxes, etc. The
only place it cannot be used is in the keyboard dialogue boxes.
Generally, it's safe to say that the left mouse button
is the same as the ENTER key, the right button acts as the ESCape
key and the up/down/right/left movements of the mouse are the
same as the cursor keys.
EXECUTABLE FILES AND SMART MENU
Smart Menu is compatible with all types of executable
files. The only stipulation is, that to use different, or
"strange" type of executable files, SM must run in batch
mode.
Batch mode is where everything is run from a batch file.
SM is started from a main batch file and the selected program
is run from a batch file. This enables SM to execute
virtually any type of file capable of being run by the
computer at the command line. (E.G., If you use JP
Software's 4DOS, you can run .BTM files from SM.)
Another advantage to batch mode is that it takes up no
memory from the program that is being run. However, batch mode
tends to run a slight bit slower, and if you want a high
security system, where no one can break out of SM, then you
don't want batch mode, as almost anyone can break out of a
batch file.
However, to overcome the slowness and security problems,
SM also includes a "swapping" mode. This swaps almost all
of SM out of conventional memory when running a program,
and it is much faster and more secure then running from
batch files. However, swapping requires almost 240k of
either expanded or extended memory or disk space. It also takes
up 1.8k of conventional memory. This is really not much,
unless you need every byte you can get.
The limitation to this is that you can only
run .EXE, .COM, and .BAT files from SM. Some people will not
see this as a limitation, but others will.
SM lets you decide which mode you want it to run in, in each
sub-menu. This way, one sub-menu can swap programs, and another
can be run in batch mode. You can also tell one sub-menu to swap
to XMS, and another to EMS, or whatever.
Note that for both modes to work properly, SM.BAT must
always be used to run Smart Menu.
The choice is up to you. I recommend swapping mode,
because it's faster, but I included batch mode because
some people may need the extra memory.
VIDEO MODES AND SMART MENU
Smart Menu is designed to work with all types of video
modes, as long as they are 80 columns. SM will work with
whatever type of video mode it is started in. It has been
tested with 25 lines (everything), 43 lines (EGA/VGA), and
50 lines (VGA). SM should also work with any other
"non-standard" modes, such as 28 lines.
I was thinking about adding an option in SM to start in
whatever mode you choose, but I decided not to. If you
disagree with this idea, please let me know.
SM has also been tested with monochrome monitors. However,
when run in monochrome mode, there is one limitation in SM.
That is, you cannot change any of the colors in the
program.
SMART MENU'S BUILT-IN SCREEN SAVER
Smart Menu has its own built-in screen saver. This will
become active after an amount of time that you specify
in the configuration program. The screen saver will pop-up
anywhere in Smart Menu - the main menu, the configuration,
the help screen, etc. - anywhere! The screen saver
simply clears the screen and prints random, colored dots on
the screen. It does not use any graphics modes, so it will
work with any monitor, and/or video mode.
After the screen saver has popped up, you can press any
key, or move the mouse to restore the screen to its normal
state. Whatever key you press, or mouse movement you make,
is not passed back to Smart Menu, so do not be afraid of
pressing a "bad" key.
Included in Version 2.0 is a new screen saver password and a
key to push to activate the screen saver at any time.
If you have defined a password for the screen saver, it will
have to be entered before returning to Smart Menu from the screen
saver.
The F8 and Alt-A keys will activate the screen saver from
anywhere within the program.
Note that you can optionally turn off the screen saver.
CONFIGURATION
The configuration of Smart Menu is all run from a series
of pulldown menus. These menus use the standard keys for
selecting an option. In the middle of every configuration
screen, there is a line that shows whether you are working on
the main menu or a sub-menu, as well as the title of the current
menu.
A brief explanation of the menu option that the highlight
bar is on is displayed at the bottom of the screen.
The explanation of the configuration will go on a menu-by-
menu basis, starting from the left.
FILE
This is the sub-menu for anything that has to do with files,
saving, and exiting.
EDIT A SUB-MENU
Select this option, and a box appears with all of the
names of the sub-menus in your current list of entries.
Using the cursor keys to move the highlight bar, select a
sub-menu to work on. After doing this, a momentary
pause will occur, while SM is preparing itself to edit a
sub-menu. Then, the main configuration menu will
appear again, but everything you add or change applies
only to the current sub-menu.
Note that when you create a new sub-menu the title
line is the same as the Entry Title, initially.
However, you can still change it.
SAVE FILE
This option saves the current configuration file, and
remains in the configuration program, instead of
returning to SM, or the previous menu.
SAVE FILE AS
This option allows you to save the current
configuration file under a new name. When the input
box appears, enter any legal DOS filename. SM will
then save the file under that name.
SAVE AND EXIT
This will save the current configuration file and
return you back to Smart Menu's main screen, or the
previous screen
EXIT W/O SAVING
This option will return you to SM, or the previous
menu, without saving the current file.
Note that no confirmation is asked for, so be careful!
ENTRIES
This is the sub-menu for adding, editing, deleting, and
sorting entries.
REVISE/ADD ENTRIES
Selecting this option brings up an entry-information
screen that allows the user to enter and revise
all necessary information about each entry.
The difference between this option and "Add Entries" is
that this option starts at the beginning of the list,
allowing you to edit each entry, where as "Add Entries"
starts on a new entry, not revising the old ones.
To change between the various lines of information,
you can use the up/down cursor keys, as well as TAB and
SHIFT-TAB.
Pressing ENTER on a blank entry, or pressing ESCape,
anytime returns you to the main configuration menu.
(Pressing ESCape does NOT clear the current entry, if it
is not blank.
There are several extra keys used here in addition to
the ones mentioned above, in "General Information," and
they are also listed at the bottom of the screen, for your
reference.
Here they are, in alphabetical order.
ALT-B : Starts the file browser. This only
works when the entry is not a sub-menu.
The file browser is used to automatical-
ly add the path and file name (command) to
the entry. All you have to do is
select the file.
The default sorting of the filenames
can be selected the "Other Options"
menu, from the main configuration menu.
The file browser only shows
the .EXE, .COM, .BAT files, and
subdirectories in each directory.
If you want something other than
these, you will have to manually type it
in yourself.
If a file is selected and the "Title"
field is blank, then the name of the
file selected is put in that field, with
the first letter capitalized. (E.G., If
the file "castles.exe" is selected, then
"Castles" is put in the "Title" field
Here are some keys that are used here:
General Keys:
- F1: Displays a small help screen
- ALT-B: Changes to the root directory
- Up, Down Cursor Keys and Mouse:
Moves the highlight bar
- Right, Left Cursor Keys and Mouse:
Changes the drive
(Note: This does not work with
floppies)
- ENTER or left mouse button:
On a Directory: Changes to that
directory
On a Filename: Selects the current
file
- ESCape or right mouse button: Exits
File Browser
Sorting Keys:
- ALT-D: Sort filenames by their date
- ALT-E: Sort filenames by their
extension
- ALT-N: Sort filenames by their name
- ALT-S: Sort filenames by their size
- ALT-T: Sort filenames by their time
ALT-C : Pressing this clears the entire
entry. Be careful! There is no annoying
question asking, "Are you Sure?" because I
absolutely hate that! ("Of course I'm
sure, otherwise, I wouldn't have pushed
ALT-C!" - At least, that's the way I see
it.)
ALT-D : This deletes the current line.
Same thing as above, no questioning, it
just does it!
ALT-P : This is a toggle switch for
"Parameters." When this is on, "(Asking
for Parameters)" appears next to the
field heading, "Command:".
When this option is turned on, every
time that particular entry is selected
from the menu, SM automatically asks the
user for any parameters that he/she
wants to pass to the program being run.
ALT-S : This is a toggle switch for
"Sub-Menus." When this is on, "(Sub-Menu)"
appears next to the field heading,
"Title:". Also, when an entry is a
sub-menu, a path cannot be entered.
In place of a command field, there
is a field for the name of a con-
figuration file for that sub-menu.
Only the first eight letters of the
filename can be entered, as SM automati-
cally adds the extension, ".CFG".
SM uses a separate configuration file
for each entry. While this may seem
strange, it's purpose is to allow each
sub-menu to have it's own color selection,
among other things. See the menu item,
"Sub-Menus" for further information about
them.
Each of these options can also be set by using a
miniature menu that is accessed either by moving the
mouse to the right, or pressing CTRL-RIGHT ARROW. Move the
mouse to the left or press ESCape or the left cursor key
to exit from this menu.
The purpose of this menu is to allow the mouse to be
used for almost every function in the information box,
except for typing in the information for each entry.
ADD ENTRIES
This option is the same as "Revise/Add Entries"
described above, except that this option simply
starts adding new entries to current ones.
See above for details on editing entries.
SORT ENTRIES - ASCENDING
This option simply sorts the current list of entries,
in ascending order.
Just for reference, ascending is : Apple, Book,
Cookie...
Whereas, descending is : Cookie, Book, Apple...
SORT ENTRIES - DESCENDING
This option simply sorts the current list of entries,
in descending order.
Just for reference, ascending is : Apple, Book,
Cookie...
Whereas, descending is : Cookie, Book, Apple...
PICK 'N' EDIT
This option provides an easy way to edit one entry,
or as many of them as you want. When you select this
option, a box of all of the entries appears.
After selecting the entries that you want to edit,
press "E" to edit them. Then the entry information box
appears, where you can edit the information.
Here are the keys used here:
- CURSOR KEYS and Mouse: Moves the highlight bar
- SPACE or ENTER : Selects the current entry
(Note: when an entry is selected a check mark is
placed next to the entry)
- E : Edits the selected entries.
- ESCape : Exit to "Entries" menu.
The mouse is used in a special way here. Move the
mouse up or down to move the highlight bar. Pressing the
left button selects or de-selects an entry, and the
right button exits to the main menu. To edit the entries
you have selected, move the mouse to the right, and a
small menu will appear with two choices.
Select the first choice, "Edit Entries", to edit the
entries, or the second choice, "Exit to Main Menu", to
return to the main menu.
Moving the mouse to the left removes the menu, and
lets you continue selecting entries.
Note that the cursor keys can also be used instead of
the mouse for the menu.
DELETE ENTRIES
This option provides a way to delete one entry, or as
many of them as you want. A box appears with the
entries in it, and using the same keys as in "Pick 'N'
Edit", above, you can select which entries that you
want to delete.
The only difference is that you press "D" to delete
the entries.
Also, as in "Pick 'N' Edit", there is a mini menu
that can be accessed via the mouse or cursor keys.
As in the Entry Information box, there is NO second
chance. So, be sure you want to delete the entries.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
COLORS
When an option from this menu is chosen, the screen is
cleared and a box appears with all of the available colors
in it. The cursor is located in the color box. Using the
cursor keys and/or the mouse, you can select any of the
available colors for that option.
Whatever colors you select will be put into immediate
effect.
Note that color changing is not available in monochrome
mode.
Here are the choices on the menu, explained:
MAIN SCREEN
The main menu screen, the clock, registration and
version information, and the help prompt.
TITLE LINES
The title line "Smart Menu" and your own title line
on the main screen.
MENU WINDOW
The window on the main screen in which the entries are
displayed.
HIGHLIGHT BAR
The highlight bar that shows which entry is currently
selected.
PASSWORD AND PARAMETER WINDOW
The window that pops up whenever a password is asked
for, or parameters are to be entered.
PASSWORD AND PARAMETER LINE
The actual line where anything that is entered is
displayed on in the Password and Parameter Window.
HELP SCREEN
The screen that is displayed when F1 is pressed, or
"Help" is chosen from the Utility Menu.
ABOUT SCREEN
Also the shareware information screen, this is the
screen that is shown when "Credits" is selected
from the Utility Menu.
UTILITY MENU
The little menu that pops up, on the main screen, with
all of the choices on it, such as Help, Credits,
Configuration, etc.
UTILITY MENU HIGHLIGHT BAR
This is the utility menu's highlight bar.
ERROR MESSAGE WINDOW
This is the box that pops up whenever a error occurs,
or a message needs to be displayed to the user.
MAIN CONFIGURATION SCREEN
These are the main configuration program colors.
CONFIGURATION HIGHLIGHT BAR
These are the colors of the highlight bar used in the
configuration program.
CONFIGURATION HOT KEYS
These are the colors of the letters that represent the
hot-keys in the configuration menus.
CONFIGURATION ENTRIES WINDOW
This is the main color of the entry dialogue box,
where all of the information about each entry is
entered.
CONFIGURATION ENTRIES LINE
These are the lines where information is entered in
the "Entries Window"
-----------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITY
This is the sub-menu for all of Smart Menu's security
options.
Note that all passwords are optional, except for the
System Password, and if nothing is entered, this
defaults to "SM".
Also, all password entry boxes use the standard input
keys.
Here are the options, in order:
SCREEN SAVER PASSWORD
This allows you to define a password to be used with
the screen saver. It will have to be entered to return
from it.
CONFIGURATION PASSWORD
This allows you to enter or change the password that is
needed to access the configuration program.
EXIT PASSWORD
This allows you to enter the password that is needed to
exit Smart Menu.
DOS SHELL PASSWORD
This allows you to change the password that is needed
to use the DOS Shell option.
SYSTEM PASSWORD
This allows you to enter the one required password.
This password will work in place of any other
password in the program. This means that whoever is in
charge of the menu only needs to remember one pass-
word, instead of countless different ones.
CASE SENSITIVITY
This option allow you to choose whether or not the
passwords are case sensitive. (i.e. If they are case
sensitive, "PASSWORD" will not be accepted if
"Password" is entered as the password.
VISIBLE ENTRY
This option allow you to choose whether or not the
user can see what he/she is entering. If this is set to
off, then the user will see a small star for each charac-
ter that is entered. This way, people who are watching
cannot see the password.
ALLOW BACKSPACE
The option allows you to determine whether or not the
backspace key will be allowed during password entry. If
this is set to off, then when the backspace key is
pressed, nothing will happen. On the other hand, if the
option is on, backspace will delete the previous
character.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
OTHER OPTIONS
These are other miscellaneous options, relating to the
configuration and operation of Smart Menu.
TITLE LINE
When you select this option, a box pops up asking
you to enter the title line. The title line is the line
that is displayed at the top of the menu screen. You
may enter anything you like, using the standard input
keys.
MOUSE SUPPORT
This option allows you to enable or disable SM's
built in mouse support. The short delay that you may
notice each time you run SM is caused by SM looking for
a mouse. By turning off mouse support, if you don't
have, or use, a mouse, you save some time at the start of
SM.
RUNNING MODE
This option allows you to choose how Smart Menu runs
programs. You must decide between Batch Mode or Swapping
Mode. For a detailed description of each of these modes,
please see EXECUTABLE FILES AND SMART MENU, on page 4.
SWAP DESTINATION
This option, which is only available when the run mode
is swapping, allows you to tell SM where to swap itself
out to. The choices are EMS, XMS, DISK and ALL. They
are expanded memory, extended memory, disk, and which-
ever SM can find, respectively.
When disk is chosen, if the TEMP environment varia-
ble is set, SM will swap there. If not, SM swaps to the
current directory.
FILENAME SORT
This option allows you to determine how the files
will be sorted in the file browser. This is the
default setting, but you can temporarily change it when
you are in the file browser.
Here are the choices:
DOS ORDER: This is the order that DOS has the files in.
FILE NAME: Sorted by the file's name.
EXTENSION: Sorted by the file's extension.
FILE SIZE: Sorted by the file's size.
FILE TIME: Sorted by the file's time.
Personally, I find the file's name to be the best
choice, but you may prefer another sorting method.
HIGHLIGHT BAR TYPE
This allows you to choose how the highlight bar will
look in SM's main menu screen. There are two choices,
with an example of each on the screen.
The two choices are:
FULL LENGTH: This is the entire length of the
window.
TITLE LENGTH: This is only the length of the entry
title.
I find the full length to look the best, but you may
prefer the title length option.
SCREEN SAVER
This option allows you to choose the amount of time
of inactivity that SM will wait until the screen saver
becomes active. You can also completely disable the
screen saver. Simply pick the amount of time that
you want, or "None" if you want to turn it off.
See SMART MENU'S BUILT-IN SCREEN SAVER for more
details, on page 5.
HOME DIRECTORY
This option allows you to specify Smart Menu's home
directory, where SM can find it's configuration
files. To work properly from a PATH statement or in
batch mode, this option must be set correctly.
EXIT DIRECTORY
This option allows you to specify what directory you
will be in when you exit Smart Menu. This must be set to
a valid directory, or left blank. If it is left blank,
then SM will exit to whatever directory you were in when
SM was started.
CLOCK DISPLAY
This option will allow you to decide if you want the
clock displayed on Smart Menu's main screen.
If you do want the clock displayed, you can also
choose whether or not you want Smart Menu to display the
seconds or not.
LOG FILE
This option allows to tell Smart Menu if you want a
LOG file to be kept. If you select YES, a file called
SM.LOG will be created in SM's Home Directory.
When this option is selected, the time and date that a
user runs a program, starts the menu, uses the
configuration program, or exits the menu will be recorded
in this file.
This file is a pure ASCII file, so you can view it
with TYPE, List, or some other file viewing utility.
RETURN TO ROOT DIR
If this option is turned on, then Smart Menu will
return to the root directory of the drive after a program
has been run. However, this will only work on drives other
than the one that Smart Menu is running from.
USING SMART MENU
This is where SM is especially designed to be easy to use.
For a quick start, just move the highlight bar by pressing the
cursor keys, and press ENTER to execute the program. You can
also use the mouse.
These options are available in Smart Menu's Main Screen.
They are also listed on the F1-Help screen, as well as on the
Utility Menu (accessed by pressing F2).
UTILITY MENU
This menu is used to easily access all of Smart Menu's
primary functions in the main screen. Each option that is
explained below is available on this menu.
The Utility Menu can be popped up through one of several
ways:
RIGHT Action: This is the simplest way. Press the right
cursor key, or move the mouse to the right to pop up the
utility menu. Pressing the left cursor key or ESCape, or
moving the mouse to the left, removes the menu.
F2 or ALT-U: For those without a mouse, or those who
like to use the keyboard for everything. Pressing ESCape
is the only way to exit out of the utility menu when one
of these keys is used to get to it.
HIGHLIGHT BAR MOVEMENT
There are several ways to move the main highlight bar,
in the menu window. They are explained individually,
below.
UP or DOWN Movement: This can be accomplished with
either the cursor keys or the mouse. An up movement moves
the bar up, and vice versa when a down action occurs.
0 through 9: Using the number keys, one through nine,
you can enter the number of the choice that you want.
The way that the number system works is this: (There are
10 entries) The number one is pushed, and the bar moves to
entry one. Then when the number zero is pushed, the bar
moves to option number ten.
HOME and END Keys: Pressing the HOME or END keys moves
the highlight bar to the top or bottom of the list, re-
spectively.
SELECTING AN ENTRY
The are two different ways to select an entry: With or
without parameters being asked for. (Parameters are the
options that are passed to the program that is being
run).
NORMAL SELECTION
To select an entry to run normally, simply press
ENTER or the left mouse button to run the program.
Note that if the choice is configured to ask for
parameters every time it is run, they will still be
asked for.
ASKING FOR PARAMETERS
To select an entry and ask for parameters as well,
there are several ways to do it. You can push
CTRL-ENTER or ALT-P. You can also select "Parameters" from
the Utility Menu.
VIEWING MORE ENTRIES
To view move entries, if there are more than the screen
can hold, press PGDOWN. To return to the first screen of
entries, press PGUP.
CONFIGURATION
To start Smart Menu's configuration program, press
either F3 or ALT-C. You can also start configuration by
selecting "Configuration" from the Utility Menu.
ABOUT SM SCREEN
To view the credit screen, with the author's name and
other information, press F4 or ALT-R.
TOGGLING PASSWORDS
This is an option that I believe is unique to Smart
Menu. When you select this option, by pressing either
ALT-T or F5, the system password must be entered. If
the correct password is given, then no passwords will be
required for running any of the entries. The system
password must be entered again if you want to turn the
passwords back on.
Some people may find this option useful, especially if
someone like a teacher wants their class to do a certain
program one day, and then the next day, they can do
whatever they want. This way, all the teacher has to do is
turn off the passwords.
Note that passwords will still be required for
configuration, exiting, and the shell to DOS option.
SHELLING TO DOS
This option allows the user to temporarily exit to DOS,
by pressing ALT-S or F6. This allows you to enter any DOS
commands that you want, and quickly return to SM, without
having to restart it.
Note that to return to SM from DOS, type "EXIT" at the
DOS prompt.
EXITING THE CURRENT MENU
To exit the current menu, whether it is a sub-menu or
the main menu, press ESCape or the RIGHT mouse button. If
the menu that you are exiting from is the main menu, then
you will be returned to DOS.
EXITING SMART MENU
To exit Smart Menu, press ESCape from the main menu, or
press ALT-X or F10 from any menu, either the main menu or a
sub-menu, to exit directly to DOS.
You can also select "Exit SM" from the Utility Menu to
exit to DOS.
MISCELLANEOUS
1. A Note to OS/2 2.x Users.
Smart Menu has been tested with, and works with OS/2
2.x. However, in order for the mouse to work properly in
a DOS Window Session, you must tell OS/2 to give SM
complete control of the mouse when it is being run. You
can do this in the DOS setting box.
This setting is not needed if SM is run full-screen.
2. Credits, Source Code Availability, Programming Stuff, Etc.
A) Program Language
Smart Menu is the end result of hundreds, if not
thousands of hours of work in Turbo Pascal.
Version 7.0 of TP was used, as well as several
public domain programming libraries. SM was
programmed on a 80486DX2/66 with 16 megs of memory,
SVGA graphics, a 750 MB Hard Drive, a mouse,
modem, and a Sound Blaster Pro sound board, running
OS/2 2.1 and MS-DOS 6.2.
B) Source Code Availability
Source Code Availability is non-existent. Source
is not available to anyone at any price. After
all the work that I have put into this, I do not
want to distribute source at this time. Perhaps I
will at a future date.
2. Ways to Contact the Author
A) U.S. Mail
My address is:
John Campion
86 Collins Circle
Hanover, PA 17331-3448, USA.
B) Support BBS
Smart Menu's Support BBS is:
Sawbuck's BBS in Hanover, PA.
Sysop: Thomas Miller
Node 1 - (717) 632-2788 - 300/1200/2400/9600/14.4k
With a USR Sportster 14.4
Many thanks to Tom for letting me use his board.
C) Registered users support
For those that have registered, free telephone support
is available (except for the Long-Distance charges).
Feel free to call John Campion, the author, at
(717) 633-1244, if you have any questions,
suggestions, or bug reports.
Those that have not registered are entitled to one
call only.
Please do not call collect unless you have a bug
report. Thanks!
3. Smart Menu's History
9/14/92 - Initial Release
11/14/92 - Released as Version 1.1
Bugs Fixed:
- Colors were not being reset to the same as they where before
SM was run. Fixed.
- Occassionally, some programs would not run, after returning
from a menu that uses swapping to a menu that uses batch.
- When ALT-X or F10 was pressed from a sub-menu, Smart Menu was
not exiting properly. Fixed.
- When saving a CFG file under a new name, SM did not add the
.CFG extension to the name. Fixed.
Enhancements/Additions:
- Added an option to the command to start SM with a different
configuration file than the default file, "SM.CFG".
- Now displays the name of the configuration file for the
current menu on the main configuration screen.
12/10/92 - Released as Version 1.2
Bugs Fixed:
- Title Line of new sub-menus wasn't being added when you edit
them for the first time.
- Text Input Lines were not being updated properly in the Entry
Information Screens.
Enhancements/Additions:
- Added an option to not display the clock on the main screen.
A few people did not like that clock there, so I added this
option.
- Enhanced the CFG Files. This is why SMUpdate is included.
In the new type of file, they can be used as either Main Menu
files or Sub-Menu Files with no problems.
Also made the CFG files so that SM could tell what version
they were made with and still be able to use them, even
if they were from an older version. (That's the main
reason for SMUpdate.)
- Added an option for SM to keep a LOG file of what users do
in Smart Menu. This is a file in SM's home directory, called
SM.LOG
- Included new program, called SMUpdate.Exe. This will update
CFG files from Versions 1.0 and 1.1 to 1.2.
11/20/93 - Released as Version 2.0
Bugs Fixed:
- After creating a new menu, SM would exit to DOS rather than go
to the new menu.
- The clock, during midnight, would show 0:01a.m.
- The screen was not being redrawn after returning from a DOS
Shell.
- The Passwords Backspace Option was not working properly.
- The Passwords Visibility Option did not work.
- Fixed problem with the clock sometimes not appearing.
- Fixed a problem with some files not running properly in
Batch Mode.
- Fixed a problem with non-existent CFG Files.
- Fixed a problem with pushing ESCape from the Color Selection
Screen.
Enhancements/Additions:
- Added hot-keys to the Configuration menus, and color
selection for them.
- Added a Change to root option to return to the root directory
after running a program.
- Added full, on-line help, available anywhere in the program,
by pressing the F1 key. This is what the SM.HLP file is
for. The help option was removed from the Utility Menu.
- Added a Help Index, available through the Shift-F1 key.
- A new encryption scheme is used in this version, but the
conversion is automatic and only happens the first time you
run the new version.
- Added more clock display options. You can now choose to show
the clock with or without seconds.
- Added more keys in the Color Selection Screen: PgUp takes you
to the top, PgDn to the bottom, and the mouse cursor now
moves diagonally.
- Added the ability to call the screen saver on demand by
pressing either the F8 or the Alt-A Key.
- Added a Screen Saver Password to lock up your system while
you are away from it.
- Changed the Configuration so that when you push ESCape it
asks you if you want to save the CFG File.
- Changed so that if you specify a CFG file on the command
line, you do not need to type the '.CFG'.
- Changed so that selecting All for a Swap Destination swaps to
XMS, EMS, and DISK, in that order, rather than EMS, XMS,
DISK.
Cosmetic Changes:
- Changed the 'Credit Screen' to 'About SM'.
- Changed 'Save' to 'Save File'.
- Changed 'Save As' to 'Save File As'.
- Added shadows in the menus and various places to improve the
appearance.
11/30/93 - Released as Version 2.0a
Bugs Fixed:
- Fixed problem with upgrades from previous versions. Users would
receive 'File is not locked' error messages
