Category : File Managers
Archive   : RUN-BTNS.ZIP
Filename : README.DOC

INTRODUCTION:

Menu is a program written in Turbo C++ V1.0. It was written
to facilitate running executable programs by reducing the amount
of typing, and therefore time, required to move through levels of
sub-directories in order access and execute a given program.

Menu displays two columns of "pick buttons" each of which
can be assigned to write out a batch file to run an executable
program. When the user selects a button to assign, Menu prompts
for a title to provide the button and for a description of the
path to, and the name of, an executable program. The data input
is then copied to a data file so that the next time the assigned
button is picked, menu will write out the appropriate batch file,
run the executable program, return to the Menu display and await
another command. The user can then pick another assigned button,
assign another button or exit Menu.

Thus you only type the path to an executable file once. Menu
stores it and types it for you at the pick of a button from then on.

**************** REQUIREMENTS ***************

DOS 3.0 or above
IBM XT, AT or compatibles
CGA, EGA or VGA driver.
Microsoft mouse or compatable ( keyboard works if no mouse)
For Keyboard: Arrow keys..... move cursor
INS key ...... picks (like mouse button press)
Gray + - keys.. change the amount of cursor movement
for each press of arrow key.
***************************

MENU VERSIONS INCLUDED:

Included in the zipped file are two versions of the menu
program:

1. menu.exe ......Requires DOS 3.3 or higher and
always returns recursively after running aother
program. This version uses the batch command CALL
which did not exist prior to DOS 3.3. DOS will
output "bad command or filename" if you use this
version with DOS 3.2 or lower.

2. mnu.exe ........Runs with any version of DOS, but
sometimes (although rarely) leaves you in the in
the executable program's directory after running
the requested progran, without returning recursively
to the Menu display. If this happens, you need only
to type mn (if you installed mnu.exe in your root
directory or defined a path to the directory in
which you install mnu.exe) to get back to the display.
This sometimes happens when programs, which require
a lot of memory (eg. CAD programs) are run.

Page 2

The menu program set consists of the following 4 files
(replace "menu" with "mnu" if you use the mnu.exe version):

menu.exe...... the main program
menu.dat...... data file output and maintained by menu.exe
Stores path to menu.exe and batch file data
input by user.
menu-out.bat.. batch file output by menu.exe. It is overwritten
each time a button is selected. It calls the
executable program selected then calls mn.bat.
mn.bat........ Batch file which calls menu.exe then runs
menu-out.

menu.dat is written as soon as menu.exe is started.
menu-out.bat and mn.bat are written when a button is picked.


NOTE: If any files with the 4 names listed above exist in
the directory where you keep menu, you should remove or
rename them prior to copying these files there. If you
cannot remove or rename existing files with these names,
and if you request it, for a small fee I will reprogram
menu.exe to use filenames of your choice.


USING MENU:


*************** First Time ***************

First time.. type menu (or mnu). You will see two columns
of buttons, the number of buttons in each column depends
on your screens vertical resolution and can vary from 6 to 26.

In the upper right corner you will see a green "assignment"
button, and a red "exit" button. Pick the red button and
exit Menu.

Menu is now initialized. It has, found it's own directory
and stored it in menu.dat, and has written menu-out.bat
and mn.bat.

Page 3
***** After the first time *****

To run menu and run programs, type mn. You can then proceed to
interactively assign batch programs to any of the buttons in the
two columns displayed and the data you enter will be saved to the
menu.dat (or mnu.dat) file.

Assigning Programs:...Using a mouse or the keyboard, pick the
green "assignment button" at the top right corner of the screen.
You will prompted to supply data for menu so that Menu can find and
run your programs. You are prompted as follows:

Prompt: Select a Button to Assign
Expected Response: Pick one of the buttons in the two columns.

Prompt: Enter a Title for the Selected Button
Expected Response: Type a one line title, up to 19 characters,
including underscores and dashes, as yout description of the program
you want to run. What you type will be displayed next to the button
as it's title.
eg 3D-Drawing_Programs

Prompt:Enter Drive for 3D_Drawing_Program eg. A, B, C
Expected Response: Enter the letter of the drive from which the
program will be run. eg. c

Prompt: Enter the executable program name
Expected Response: Type the name of the EXE, COM, BAT..file that
starts the program you want to run when you next pick this button.
eg. If your drawing program is started by typing acd to call
the program acd.exe, your response here should be acd.

Prompt: Enter path to file "acd".
Start at the top directory on drive "c"
Press [enter] to quit
Directory 1_
Expected Response: Type the name of the main directory, and up
to 4 additional sub_directories to describe the route to take to
reach the executable file. If your executable program does not
reside 5 directories deep, just press [enter] in response to the
request for additional directories and Menu will quit asking.

***************************

That's it. You will see your title displayed next to the
button that you selected. If you want to run the program bound
to the button, just pick it and menu will output the batch file
"menu-out.bat" to call and run your executable file then return
and display the buttons.

Page 4
NOTES: * If you decide to change the directory from which the
Menu program runs, you should also move the menu.dat
because menu will write an empty menu.dat file if it
can't find one to read. You can delete mn.bat and
menu-out.bat because they are written anew each time
Menu runs and a button is picked.

* You can reassign a button to write a different batch
file than the one it currently writes simply by picking
the assignment button first, then picking the button you
want to reassign and answering the prompts to provide
new data. Old data is deleted and the new data is
copied in its place and stored in menu.dat.

* You can delete data assigned to a button by first picking
the assignment button, then picking the button you want
the data deleted form and pressing [enter] to each prompt.

* If Menu returns to the display without running the selected
program it is most likely because a directory or executable
filename was misspelled when answering prompts. This version
does not check the validity of input data. If this happens,
then simply reassign the button correctly.


***************************



I hope you find this program useful. If you do, please consider a
contribution in whatever amount that you feel is appropriate.
No amount is too small and I would sure appreciate it.

Any comments or suggestions are welcome, also, if the are any bugs
please let me know by writing to:

Rick Scott
5438 Luckpenny Pl.
Columbia Md. 21045

You are encouraged to copy and distribute Menu and it's related
files, including this one, and charge no fee of any kind. Freely
you have received, freely give !