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1991-04-25
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MSI Menu System
Copyright (C) 1991 by Micris Softworks, Inc
All Rights Reserved
Except as Granted Herein
The MSI Menu System is distributed as Shareware. Unaltered
copies of this program may be freely distributed on diskette or
through Electronic means so long as no charge is made, other than
a cost of diskette charge, without the prior written permission
of Micris Softworks, Inc. Permission is hereby granted for
recipients of this program to evaluate without charge the MSI
Menu System for a period not to exceed 30 days. The software
must be registered for use beyond that time.
The following Registration fees are effective with the release
of Version 1.3: (All amounts in U.S. Dollars)
$45.00 - Full Registration. This includes:
* The latest version of MSI.
* Printed & bound User's Manual.
* Unlimited Technical Support.
* Unlimited FREE upgrades (as available)
* New Product Notices
$25.00 - Technical Support Registration. You will receive a
Registration number giving you access to UNLIMITED
technical support, including support by telephone,
plus notification of upgrades and new products.
$15.00 - Simple Registration of software and inclusion in our
notification list of upgrades and new products.
On all correspondence and Registrations
PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR FULL NAME AND COMPLETE MAILING ADDRESS.
Micris Softworks, Inc.
2907 St. Tropez Dr. Ontario, CA 91761
Remember, Shareware is supported SOLELY by voluntary
registration of the software. The registration fees allow us
to continue developing MSI and to provide quality documentation
and technical support. If you like MSI, are using it but don't
really require the support and other benefits, you can now
register for just $15.00.
Help keep Shareware alive. REGISTER TODAY!!
- DISCLAIMER -
The MSI Menu System is distributed 'as is'. Micris Softworks,
Inc. makes no warrants, either express or implied, as to
appropriateness or suitability for any particular use of this
product, or to the accuracy of this or other related
documentation, nor to the error-free operation of the software.
Except as may be provided by law, Micris Softworks, Inc. and
its duly authorized representatives may not be held liable for
any damages or loss resulting from the use of, or the inability
to use, this product.
'C' Programmers Note:
MSI utilizes a simple text window driver compatible with Turbo
C. TextWin, is also available as a shareware product. If you
can't find a copy of it on your favorite BBS contact Micris at
the address given at the beginning of this document to receive
an evaluation copy.
Using this Documentation.
To help you find the information you need, this document
contains special locators that you can use with the search
feature of your editor or word processor to quickly find
certain command or feature descriptions. Use your search
command to locate any of the following words or phrases, using
upper and lower case as shown. Do not type in the quotation
marks. They are only there to identify the individual search
strings.
"What is MSI?" "Who can use it?" "How do I get started?"
"PROGRAM FILES:" "TERMS:" "INSTALLING MSI:"
"NAME:" "CURSOR BAR:" "EDIT:"
"PROMPT:" "PROMPT LINE:" "MOVE:"
"HELP:" "FOR THIS OPTION:" "DEFINE:"
"SELECTION OPTIONS:" "SELECTS:" "DELETE:"
"PASSWORD:" "MENU:"
"STEPPED:" "ACTION:"
"SHADOWED:" "DUAL:"
"BORDER:" "TYPE:"
"BACK:" "NORMAL:"
"FORE:" "TEXT ONLY:"
"QUIT:"
What is MSI?
Basically, MSI provides Dealers, Consultants and individual
computer owners an easy-to-define set of windowed menus which
tie together and provide easy access to the various programs on
a computer system. Dealers and Consultants will find this an
invaluable tool for easing new users past DOS and into the
applications for which they purchased the computer in the first
place. Individual users will find that the menus will 'clean
up the workspace' while still providing fast and easy access to
DOS when it is absolutely necessary.
Who can use it?
Primarily MSI was designed as a Consultant's and Dealer tool.
This suggests some familiarity with DOS, in particular Batch
File commands, but no special hardware or programming
expertise. Of course the more you understand about DOS, the
more involved and powerful your menus can become.
However, if all you know is that "I type this to get into the
program..." you can still make efficient use of MSI. Each menu
option can be assigned to an 'Action'. When the option is
selected the Action is performed. "I type this..." becomes the
Action you define for a menu option. Now, instead of typing
'this...' you simply select the option from the menu. With MSI
you can gather all of your hard-to-remember 'thises...' into
one or more easy-to-use menus. Almost all of the commands you
will need to create your menus will be there on screen while
you work.
How do I get started?
Unlike some systems, MSI is nearly all self-contained. That
means that there are only three files to the whole system, and
you will only be working with one of them, ever.
PROGRAM FILES:
First, check to make sure that you received the following
files:
MSI.EXE - This is the program file.
MSI.DAT - Menu definitions are stored here. The original
MSI.DAT contains some sample menus for you to
explore. When you are ready to define your own
menus rename this file to MSI.SAV.
M.Bat - This is the DOS batch file used to start MSI and
control 'Actions'.
README.DOC - Contains important information on each release
of MSI plus installation instructions.
MSI.DOC - This file, which you obviously have received...
If you did not receive a .DAT file then you still have the
complete program; MSI will create a new .DAT file when you
make your own menus.
-->> When MSI is first run it will check the CURRENT directory for
MSI.DAT. If the data file is not present then MSI will create
a new one containing a single menu and help screen.
INSTALLING MSI:
IMPORTANT: Read the sections marked '-->>'.
If you have downloaded or received the MSIxx.ZIP file, where
'xx' is the version n