Shareware Overload Trio 2

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Smart Menu Shareware Version Version 2.5 Son Productions "Committed to quality shareware at quality prices" Written by John Campion 86 Collins Circle Hanover, PA 17331, USA 2/5/94 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 $5.00 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 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 very easy. Here are the steps: - Change to the directory or floppy where Smart Menu is located, or was unzipped. - Type 'INSTALL' and press Enter, and follow the instructions. - When it is finished, it will ask if you want to run Smart Menu 2.5. Press 'Y' to continue the installation. The Install Program will copy Smart Menu to your hard drive and offer to add the Smart Menu directory to your path, and to run Smart Menu when your computer is turned on. NOTE: Smart Menu backs up the computer's startup files before changing them. The first time you run Smart Menu, the configuration screen will come up. The Home Directory will automatically be set to the current directory. --------- 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 CTRL-LEFT: Moves the cursor one word to the left CTRL-RIGHT: Moves the cursor one word to the right 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. ------------- ENTRY OPTIONS ------------- Each entry, or program, on the menu has six options that can be editted via the configuration program. The Title can be up to 22 characters in length and is simply the name of the program that is to be run. This is required. The Description can be up to 72 characters long and is displayed on the bottom line of the main menu screen when the highlight bar is on that entry. This is optional. The Path is the directory where the program is to be run from, and the Command is the progam's executable file that actually starts the program. These are required. The Message is a one-line message that is shown to the user when he or she selects the program. They must press any key to continue. This is useful for prompting them to insert a CD-ROM or floppy disk. This is optional. The Password is a word that must be entered in order for the program to be run. If it is entered incorrectly, the user is told so and is not allowed to run that program. -------------------------- 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. At the top of the window is the current entry number and the total number of entries. 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 many keys used here to edit and navigate the entries, in addition to the ones mentioned in "General Information," and they are listed in "buttons" that are displayed on the screen. In Version 3.0, you will be able to use the mouse to select these buttons. Here they are, in alphabetical order. CTRL-A : This adds a blank entry to the end of the list, and takes you there to edit it. CTRL-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 CTRL-D : This deletes the current entry. If you push ESCape at the message, then you can restore the deleted entry. CTRL-E : Pressing this clears the entire entry. Be careful! There is no confirmation of this action. CTRL-G : This brings up a list of all the entries, and allows you to select one to go to. CTRL-I : This inserts a blank entry right after the current entry. CTRL-L : This deletes the current line. Same thing as above, no questioning, it just does it! CTRL-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. CTRL-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. PGUP : This key takes you to the previous entry in the list. PGDOWN : This key takes you to the next entry in the list. CTRL-PGUP : This key takes you to the first entry in the list. CTRL-PGDN : This key takes you to the last entry in the list. Each of these options can also be accessed by using a miniature menu that is accessed either by pressing the left mouse button, or by pressing ALT-M. Press ESCape 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. MOVE ENTRIES ============ This option allows you to order the entries in any way that you would like. To move an entry, use the cursor keys to select it and press the Enter key. Then select the new position of the highlighted entry, and press the Enter key. You can repeat this as many times as you want. Press ESCape to stop moving entries. 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 you can select which entries you want to delete. Then, press "D" to delete the entries. 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. MESSAGE WINDOW ============== The window that shows the selected entry's message line that the user has to read and then press any key. MESSAGE LINE ============ The line that shows the selected entry's message that the user has to read and then press any key. 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". 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. 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. 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. 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 the section called SMART MENU'S BUILT-IN SCREEN SAVER for more details. 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. RESTORE SCREEN ON EXIT ====================== If this option is on, then Smart Menu will restore the screen to its original state upon exitting the menu. This works best in swapping mode, where the screen can be preserved at the start. In batch mode, the screen left by the last program to be run is shown. ---------------- 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. When there is more than one screenful of entries, small arrows are placed at the top or bottom of the window to let you know that there are more programs available. Press PgDn or PgUp to view them. 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 credits 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, you must 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, with Windows 3.1. 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. 3. 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! 4. 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. 2/5/94 - Released as Version 2.5 -------------------------------- Bugs Fixed: - Fixed problem with upgrades from previous versions. Users would receive 'File is not locked' error messages. (In 2.0a) Enhancements/Additions: - Added an install program to facilitate setting Smart Menu up on your computer. - Added the ability to restore the screen upon exitting. In swap mode, the screen will be restored to what it was when Smart Menu was first started. In batch mode, it will show whatever screen the last program that you ran left. - Added Ctrl-Left and Ctrl-Right keys to all input boxes, except for passwords. Ctrl-Left will now take you to the next word to the left, and Ctrl-Right takes you to the next word to the right. - Added an optional description for each entry that is displayed at the bottom of the main screen when the highlight bar is on the entry. - Added an optional message to be displayed when a program is run. The user has to press a key to continue. This can be useful to prompt the user to insert a CD or floppy disk containing the program, or to remind the user of the cheat codes for a game. - Totally overhauled the entry editting system, which eliminated the need for the "Pick 'N' Edit" option. The following changes have been made to the entry information screen: - Added current entry number and total entries to the top line. - PgDn and PgUp will go to the next and previous entries. - Ctrl-PgDown goes to the last entry. - Ctrl-PgUp goes to the first entry. - Ctrl-I inserts a blank entry after the current one. - Ctrl-D deletes the current entry. - Ctrl-G selects an entry to go to from a list. - Ctrl-A Adds a blank entry to the list. - Ctrl-M brings up a menu of all these options. - Ctrl-L now deletes the current line The entry information window has been changed to show "buttons" for each option to remind you of what key to push. These "buttons" will be used by the mouse in version 3.0, due out late this summer. - Added a long-awaited Move Entries option. This allows you to put the entries in whatever order you want them. - Revised and improved the help contents to reflect the latest changes. Cosmetic Changes: - Added down and up arrows in the main screen to let the user know if there are more programs available.