EASYMENU v1.0 (c) GDSOFT 1993. Compatible
with any IBM PC 286 or Better using an
EGA/VGA monitor. Sorry, it WILL NOT WORK on
8088 machines or monochrome monitors. It is
small (about 40K), FAST, slick, and easy to
use. When programs or DOS commands are
executed, it takes up ONLY 384 bytes of
memory, and DOES NOT use batch files. GREAT
for laptop machines or in applications where
you need a menu "right NOW" without a lot of
fuss and bother. There is ONLY one 48K 'EXE'
file and the MENU.DAT file required. There
is NO LIMIT to the number of menus and
sub-menus that can be created. Shareware.

EASYMENU v1.0 (c) GDSOFT 1993

WHAT IT IS AND AIN'T
--------------------

EASYMENU is compatible with any IBM PC 286 or Better using an EGA/VGA
monitor. Sorry, it WILL NOT WORK on 8088 machines or monochrome monitors.
It is small (about 40K), FAST, slick, and easy to use. When programs or DOS
commands are executed, it takes up ONLY 384 bytes of memory, and DOES NOT
use batch files unless you want.

It's GREAT for laptop machines or in applications where you need a menu
"right NOW" without a lot of fuss and bother. There is ONLY one 48K 'EXE'
file and the MENU.DAT file required. There is NO LIMIT (except memory and
disk space) to the number of menus and sub-menus that can be created.

GETTING STARTED
---------------

EASYMENU was written to provide a simple to use, and yet exciting way of
executing programs. Also, I wanted EASYMENU to be able to do lot's of other
stuff than just run programs. The FIRST order of business is to review the
sample menu data files included. ESPECIALLY look at SAMPMENU.DAT which is
heavily comment.

Where to put the EASYMENU Files :
---------------------------------

Generally all of the EASYMENU files should be kept in the ROOT directory.
This insures that EASYMENU will run the fastest. If you create another
directory for the EASYMENU programs, make sure that your PATH statement
includes this directory.

On Floppy based systems, The file EASYMENU.EXE and MENU.DAT are all that
are required to run EASYMENU.

EASYMENU can be executed directly from the DOS command line if you wish.
However, I recommend that you use the file RUN.BAT to load EASYMENU . Take
a look at the sample RUN.BAT included with the distribution files. You
could name this file anything such as 'GO.BAT'.

This makes executing EASYMENU as easy as typing 'GO' or 'RUN' at the command
line. Also, it gives you the opportunity to include a path statement and
whatever else you want done before and after EASYMENU.

EASYMENU Data Files
-------------------

EASYMENU uses a simple ASCII data file which can be created with any text
editor to allow easy creation of your menus. See the SAMPMENU.DAT file for
an example. Each menu that you create can have up to 30 items. If your new
to DOS, you access F11-20 by pressing SHIFT and F1-10 , and F21-30 by
pressing CTRL and F1-10 .

Menus can load other menus, and there is virtually no limit to the number
of levels that you can go. The only requirement is that your file MENU.DAT
must be the first level menu data file. From there, the the limit is your
computer memory.

Here are some sample menu data file lines.

Load TURBO PASCAL 5.0 %D:\TURBO @TURBO.EXE
Load Lotus 123 %D:\LOTUS @123.EXE
Display Directory %D:\ @DIR/W @PAUSE


Notice that each menu selection must be entirely on one line. The first
part of the line is what EASYMENU will display on the menu. Of course, a
function key from 1-30 will be added in front. The % sign indicates the
start of the path where you program is located. After that, the @ sign
indicates the name of the program to be executed. Multiple programs or DOS
commands may be executed by separating them with the @ sign.

Load Sub-Menus :
----------------

Here is a sample menu data file line to load a sub-menu.

Load File Utility Menu %C:\ @$UTILMENU.DAT
Load Communications Menu %C:\ @#UTILMENU.DAT

Notice the inclusion of the '$' Dollar-sign character after the '@' sign.
This indicates to EASYMENU that this is a REGULAR SUB-MENU file. This type
of sub-menu will have the same format as your main menu, and can itself
call yet another sub-menu. There is NO limit except memory. The second type
of sub-menu is indicated by the '#' pound sign. This type of menu is a
"point-shoot" type menu, and MAY NOT be used to call another sub-menu. Your
taste will decide which you use. I often use BOTH !

EASYMENU Memory Usage
---------------------

By default, EASYMENU "Swaps" itself to EMS,XMS or DISK when a program or
DOS command is executed. It leaves behind ONLY 384 bytes of memory when it
does this, making it the SMALLEST footprint of any menu system available.

Sometimes you may want to have EASYMENU COMPLETELY remove itself from
memory prior to loading a program. This is commonly know as CHAINING. Here
is how to do it.

Load Lotus 123 %C:\LOTUS @!123.EXE

Notice the exclamation '!' character. This tells EASYMENU to COMPLETELY
remove itself from memory prior to loading "123". You might want to use a
batch file and have EASYMENU load that, which would then load "123" and
when finished, would re-load EASYMENU , otherwise, you will get the DOS
command line when the program is finished.

In other cases, you may want EASYMENU to use to old "batch" file approach.
This should be unnecessary with EASYMENU, but nevertheless, here is how to
do it. EASYMENU will create a batch file named $RUN.BAT with all of the
right commands to be executed.

Load Lotus 123 %C:\LOTUS @^123.EXE

Notice the Carat '^' character. This tells EASYMENU to create a batch files
($RUN.BAT) and execute it. NO MEMORY is used in this case as EASYMENU is
COMPLETELY removed from memory, the commandline is "STUFFED", and the
$RUN.BAT file is executed. It will re-load EASYMENU.

The Method that you choose will depend upon the memory requirement of the
program that you are going to run. Usually, DOS commands will NOT require
that EASYMENU be removed at all. Experiment to find the best method for
each program that you are using.

The EASYMENU "ASK" function :
-------------------------------

There are times when you want the menu to ask you for a drive designation
or or something BEFORE a program or DOS command is executed. For instance,
you might have a line in a menu data file that looks like this :

List Directory %C:\ @DIR/W@PAUSE

With this line, EASYMENU will list the directory on drive 'C', and then
pause for a key press. Change the line to look like this :

List Directory %C:\ @DIR/W "ASK What Directory" @PAUSE

Now, before the 'DIR/W' command is issued, EASYMENU will present you with
an input box and you will have an opportunity to indicate which directory
you want listed.

Notice that the "ASK" command must follow the command to be issued, and
that it MUST be included in (") quotes. That's all there is to it.


The EASYMENU Title :
--------------------

The last line of the data file will be used as the menu title it should
look something like this :

GDSOFT - Main Menu %@

Notice the %@ combination indicating the this is the end of the data.

Also, read the section on 3 EASYMENU Passwords

MENU PASSWORDS
--------------

The password system implemented here is SIMPLE and NOT FOOLPROOF . It does
however provide for the necessary protection against the execution of
programs by someone other than the person who is supposed to use them.
Individual programs can be password protected, and their is a MASTER
PASSWORD designed to prevent quitting the menu, shelling to DOS, executing
DOS commands, and the execution of several of the utility programs.

HOW ITS DONE
------------

EASYMENU uses a simple ASCII data file which can be created with any text
editor to allow easy creation of your menus. Before trying to understand
the password scheme, you'll want to set up your own menu data file. Read
the section on 2 Customizing MENU.DAT for more information on how to do
this, and take a look at the file SAMPMENU.DAT , especially the stuff about
PASSWORDS .


Here are some sample menu data file lines modified with passwords :

Load TURBO PASCAL 5.0 %D:\TURBO @[password]TURBO.EXE
Load Lotus 123 %D:\LOTUS @[password]123.EXE
Display Directory %D:\ @DIR/W @PAUSE


You will notice the password precedes the program name, and is enclosed in
brackets []. Any keyboard characters can be included in the password, and
at the attempted execution of the program, the user will be given three (3)
chances to enter the password correctly.

The EASYMENU Master Password :
------------------------------

The last line of the data file used as the menu title, should be modified
to look as follows :


GDSOFT - Main Menu % @[PASSWORD]

Once this is done, ALL attempts to quit the EASYMENU program WILL require
this password.

Please NOTE that once this MASTER PASSWORD is set, ALL subsequent menu
levels will use this SAME password, even if their title lines attempt to
change it. In other words, this password is set at the ROOT level, and is
used from there on.

!!! A WARNING !!!

PLEASE DO NOT USE PKLITE, DIET or ANY EXE COMPRESSOR ON GDSOFT FILES. I
HAVE ALREADY COMPRESSED THEM TO THE LIMIT, and YOU WILL EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS
IF YOU COMPRESS THEM AGAIN.

Well, that's pretty much it. I think that you will find EASYMENU easy to
use, FAST, and once you get used to using it, indispensable !!

If you like EASYMENU, then please register it. For those who do, I will
send my super dooper menu package $MENU as well. This system is the BIG
BROTHER to EASYMENU, and contains built-in features that you will LOVE.
Here are just a few :

FILE MANAGER with archive Manager
CALENDAR (appointment system)
TYPEWRITER emulation
COMPLETE Desktop
TWO Editors
PHONE Dialer
COMPLETE Communications package
... and MUCH, MUCH, MORE ...


In addition, you'll get the GDSOFT BONUS disk. Believe me there are many
goodies on this BONUS disk. including FILEMANAGER PLUS, an exciting NEW
program which does ALL that you could EVER want a file manager program to
do, including everything that EASYMENU does and MUCH MORE !!! ALL this for
ONLY $40.00 !!! WOW !!!

(These program CAN NOT be obtained any other way !! This is the only way
you can get it !!).

Send a FORMATTED, BLANK diskette to

G.D. DAVIS
57280 Osage Drive
Goshen, Indiana 46526

Please Include a $40.00 registration fee.

Make sure that you include your return address.


If you have any comments or questions, I would REALLY love to receive your
comments or suggestions. I can be reached by leaving mail on GENIE
(G.D.DAVIS) or CompuServe (72067,2726), or write to me at the above address
or better yet, call GDSOFT BBS (219) 875-8133, 5pm-5am (EST), HST
14400,8,N,1.

Thank you for choosing EASYMENU.