MenuInfo v2.49

85%

 
Utility
Fairware, all Ataris
Author: Dirk Hagedorn
Email: DHagedorn@t-online.de
URL: http://members.aol.com/DirkHage/indexeng.htm


 

Corner clock utilities have always been popular but as new
hardware and software enhancements are released most of these
suffer compatibility problems and fall by the wayside.

MenuInfo was first released in English several years ago and has
stood the test of time. MenuInfo can run as a program, a desktop
accessory or an autostart application under MagiC, consuming a
mere 50Kb memory.

MenuInfo's strength lies in its configurability, displaying all
conceivable variations of day, date, time, year, free memory (ST
and TT) along with other system details.

The ST-Guide English hypertext explains "placeholders" give us
total control over components of the display, allowing a free mix
of text to be used to add clarity. Seven configurations can be set
as default with more being loadable from a small .INF file.

Virtual screen (VSCR) support ensures the clock is displayed in
the screen corner irrespective of the resolution or hardware used
and text can be offset from the right or placed in a window to
avoid conflict with other utilities using the menu bar.

The incidental extras set MenuInfo apart from its competitors, two
LEDs displayed at the left of the screen display a caps lock
indicator and an open files indicator - used in conjunction with
Kobold's CHK_OFLS utility.

Clicking on the LEDs using combinations of the [Shift], [Control]
and [Alternate] keys and the right/left mouse buttons offers a
range of features which makes a whole host of desktop accessories
and utilities that clutter our hard drives redundant. MenuInfo
offers screen redraw, call file selector, ASCII table with special
characters handling, auto topping of the window under the mouse,
force or prevent a screen blanker, cut MenuInfo display to the
clipboard, call an external font selector and the ability to
launch a pre-defined application via the AV Protocol.

MenuInfo isn't perfect though. There's no drive access display, it
won't run with memory protection under MultiTOS and the
configuration dialog requires 640 horizontal pixels (ST medium
resolution or higher) to open - although placing a mouse over the
LEDs and pressing a number switches from one setting to another.
The screen blanker isn't very sophisticated - it checks for mouse
movement but ignores the keyboard, serial and MIDI ports but at
least it doesn't clash with the other popular alternatives.

In summary MenuInfo offers answers to many questions and comes
recommended.
 

Harry Sideras
 

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