What is FLEX-MENU

FBN Software proudly presents FLEX-MENU. FLEX-MENU is a menu
selection program for a Hard Disk system. The program is very easy to
run and requires the following files in your root directory (C:\) :

FM.BAT
FLEXMENU.DAT
FLEXMENU.EXE
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Program Activation

The selection menu can be entered at initial power on or upon
system reboot by inserting the line "FM" into your Autoexec.bat
file. Refer to the DOS reference book for the use of Autoexec.bat if you
are not familiar with the use of Autoexec.bat. The program can also be
activated by typing the command "FM" at the DOS operating prompt.

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Menu Use

Upon entry to FLEX-MENU, you will be presented with an attractive
display which can accomodate 26 menu items. You can use this menu to
call up a word processor and write a letter, or to change directories to
the "\Games" directory and play your favorite game. In fact you can
issue any set of dos commands you'd like to execute by a simple menu
selection. The program is devoid of an annoying "Shareware Beg screen"
which requires keyboard entry to remove so the menu is the first and only
screen which appears during program operation.

The advantage of using a program like FLEX-MENU is it saves you
keystrokes and you don't have to remember directory paths or command
formats to run a program or issue a DOS command. You only have to enter
a single keystroke (a-z or A-Z) to activate the menu selection of your
choice. Or if you prefer to use the cursor keys, move the menu high-
light bar to your choice, press "ENTER" and your menu selection will be
automatically executed. The program actions to be taken are read from
data stored in the file "FLEXMENU.DAT". FLEX-MENU reads "FLEXMENU.DAT" to
put your menu selection choices on the monitor screen and executes
commands stored for that menu selection stored in the "FLEXMENU.DAT"
file.

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Command Structure of FLEXMENU.DAT

The data stored in "FLEXMENU.DAT must follow the following format :

*MENU SELECTION - text following * appears on menu screen
+DOS COMMAND - any valid dos command ie CD\WP50
;COMMENT LINE - Comments can be inserted into the file

Each item (Menu Selection, Dos commands, or comment line) must be
entered on a separate line in FLEXMENU.DAT. The program ignores leading
spaces and ignores blank lines and lines containing only line feeds. A
menu line with a carriage return is interpreted as a blank menu entry.
The menu command file can be created on any text editor capable of ASCII
file output. Just be sure that your editor does not embed special
control characters with your text.

The following text shows how to enter a menu selection to enter Word
Perfect, print or edit a letter or your choice and return to the menu
program :

*Word Perfect (Display Word Perfect on the menu)
+CD\WP50 (Change to the WP50 directory)
+WP (Enters Word Perfect program)
+CD\ (Change back to the root directory at exit form WP)
+FM (Reactivate FLEX-MENU)

If you don't want to return to FLEX-MENU simply omit the last line of
text.

The file "SAMPLE.DAT" contains a sample command file for FLEX-
MENU. The menu selections are listed on the main program in the order
that they appear in the command file with the first 13 selections
appearing on the left half of the menu. You can position your menu
selection anywhere on the screen (Left side a-m, right side n-y) by
counting position from the top of the menu. You can position 13 menu
selections on the left of the screen and 12 selections on the right. A
"*" followed by a carriage return leaves a blank space on the menu
screen. Thus the format and location of menu items are under your full
control.

For your convienence, comment lines have been inserted into the
file "SAMPLE.DAT" to show menu selection screen position, and to
delineate the entry position for command entry. SAMPLE.DAT is intended to
be used as a template for making the file FLEXMENU.DAT. Copy "SAMPLE.DAT"
into "FLEXMENU.DAT, and edit FLEXMENU.DAT to create your command file.
Run the program by typing FM and view the menu screen layout. It doesn't
matter if the choices are valid for your computer - the sample screen
will be displayed and you can exit by pressing "z" without hurting a
thing.

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Program Limitations

The program was written to be simple, clean and flexible. Presently
the program can accept 25 menu items (Return To Dos is a built in menu
feature - not included in this count) and FLEXMENU.DAT is limited to a
total of 200 lines. The program does not contain pop up calendars,
calculators, the ability to change directories, or view files. These are
features that can be provided by a variety of commercial or shareware
programs which can be activated through a selection from the FLEX-MENU
main menu. So you are free to use your favorite programs for these
operations. At the present time sub menu selections are not apart of the
program, but will and can be added to the program if there is sufficient
demand.

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Program History

REV 1.0

The program was developed as a joint effort between my self (W.L.
Gill) and James M. Gant who I work with. Jim had written a Menu program
using a "BAT" file and the "ASK" program included with Norton's
Utilities to query for keyboard input. Jim wanted to display the time
and date on the screen and I developed a basic program to get the time
and date and provide an output to the screen - but this was awkward
because either the time file had to be continually be accessed from disk
or (Jim's first solution) finally called from a "RAM DISK". I was
convinced that the program could be written in a higher order language
that would eliminate the "Disks calls" for input queries and time update
and result in a smaller program to save disk file space. I decided to
write such a program using TURBO C 2.0. This program is our first
release and we would like to get your feedback and reactions to the
program. Neither Jim or I expect to become rich or famous with this
program but we are willing to continue the development of the program if
there is enough support and interest generated.

REV 1.1

Added menu selection via high-lighted cursor selection. Also incorporated
a dynamic program logo.
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Files Included on ZIP File

The following files should be included with the program :

FLEXMENU.DOC - This text file
FM.BAT - bat file to activate the program
FLEXMENU.EXE - to display menu selections and execute selections
FLEXMENU.DAT - Empty command file
SAMPLE.DAT - Sample command file


Problems & Freeware Pitch : We offer this program to the general public as
"Freeware". By this we mean you can make copies of the ZIP file and give
them to your friends. Just be sure to include all files (Including
FLEXMENU.DOC) in the FLEXMENU.ZIP file. If you have problems and want
support, I'll provide it to you for a negotiable fee (depending on the
difficulty of the problem). If you find a program bug or operational
error please notify us. A small donation of $15.00 would be appreciated
if you would like to see additional features added to the program.

You may send any correspondence and or money to :

FBN Software
ATTN. William L. Gill
12713 Brunswick Lane
Bowie,Md. 20715