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M e n u M a s t e r
Command Menu for IBM-PC Computer *
(and other compatible Computer Systems)
Version 1.50
May 16, 1985
by
John Franck
1200 Jefferson Davis Rd.
Martinsville, Va. 24112
(703) 632-3845
CompuServe 70077,3453
OWNER'S MANUAL
( BBS EDITION )
* IBM-PC is a trademark of
International Business Machines Corp.
MENU MASTER OWNER'S MANUAL - VERSION 1.50 1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
-----------------
Introduction to Menu Master 3
Installation - Hard Disk Systems 4
- Floppy Disk Systems 5
Using Menu Master:
Program Start-up 6
Main Menu Screen 7
Modify or Examine Menu Settings 8
Customizing Menu Master:
Change Screen Colors 10
Change Menu Title 10
Reference:
Modifying Settings 11
Deleting Settings 11
Deleting All Settings 11
Maximum Setting Lengths 11
Changing Screen Colors 12
Changing Menu Title 12
Batch Files 13
Automatic Start-Up 13
Program Improvements 14
Payment Information 14
Invoice 15
MENU MASTER OWNER'S MANUAL - VERSION 1.50 2
INTRODUCTION
--------------
MENU MASTER allows you to create a Customized Menu for use with
your various application programs and frequently used DOS
routines. Applications can be run at the touch of a single key
instead of typing in commands. No more forgetting commands or
DOS directory names - all these are entered one time only and
it remembers the commands for you. Use MENU MASTER as your
"Home Base". MENU MASTER frees you from the burden of
remembering commands and lets you concentrate on getting your
work done.
MENU MASTER's features include:
- Simple to Learn, Easy and Fast to use
- Up to 12 Menu Items with user-defined Menu Prompts,
Directory Paths, and Commands.
- Customize your own Screen Colors
- Personalized Menu Title with your Own or Company name
- Date and Time Display
- Clock chimes softly on the hour.
- Screen Blanks after 4 minutes to prevent Screen Burn-in.
It was designed for Hard Disk Systems, but many have also
found it extremely useful for Floppy Disk Systems as well. If
you have not seen MENU MASTER at work, please take a few
minutes to try it on your System. You'll like what you see!
MENU MASTER OWNER'S MANUAL - VERSION 1.50 3
INSTALLATION - Hard Disk Systems
-----------------------------------
Note: If you are NOT using a Hard Disk, skip this
section and read "INSTALLATION - Floppy Disk
Systems".
In order for MENU MASTER to work properly, the following 2 files
must reside on the Root Directory of your Hard Disk:
MM.BAT - Program Initiation File Required
MMPRG.EXE - MENU MASTER Program Required
The program also self-generates a file called MENU.STG which
contains all of the Menu Settings that you will enter.
To Run MENU MASTER, at the "C>" prompt:
type MM and press <return>
----
NOTE: If you should ever lose the MM.BAT file, you can
re-create it as a Batch File with the below
listing:
ECHO OFF
CLS
MMPRG
RUN
MENU MASTER OWNER'S MANUAL - VERSION 1.50 4
INSTALLATION - Floppy Disk Systems
-------------------------------------
Note: If you ARE using a Hard Disk, skip this section
and refer to "INSTALLATION - Hard Disk Systems".
When using MENU MASTER with a Floppy Disk System, it is
important that the Disk containing MENU MASTER's files is
"bootable". In other words, that disk must contain the DOS
Operating System in addition to the MENU MASTER files. The
best way to accomplish this is to do the following:
1. Format a New Diskette, containing the DOS Operating System.
- Place your DOS diskette in Drive A and turn on the
Computer.
- Enter the Date and Time and obtain the "A>" prompt.
- Insert a BLANK diskette into Drive B.
- Type FORMAT B:/S and press <return>.
2. Copy the MENU MASTER files to the floppy.
In order for MENU MASTER to work properly, the following 2 files
must reside on the Root Directory of your "bootable" Floppy:
MM.BAT - Program Initiation File Required
MMPRG.EXE - MENU MASTER Program Required
The program also self-generates a file called MENU.STG which
contains all of the Menu Settings that you will enter.
To Run MENU MASTER, place your newly created disk into Drive A.
At the "A>" prompt:
type MM and press <return>
----
NOTE: If you should ever lose the MM.BAT file, you can
re-create it as a Batch File. See Page 4.
MENU MASTER OWNER'S MANUAL - VERSION 1.50 5
USING MENU MASTER
-----------------
Before using MENU MASTER, you should have installed it either
on your Hard Disk or a "bootable" Floppy Disk. If you
haven't done so, complete the steps outlined in the
"INSTALLATION" section of this manual.
If you haven't already done so, begin running MENU MASTER by
doing the following:
type MM and press <return>
----
The following screen should appear:
==============================================================
= =
= =
= M e n u M a s t e r =
= =
= Version 1.50 =
= May 16, 1985 =
= (C) Copyright 1984, 1985 by John Franck =
= =
= If you find this program useful to you, =
= a payment of $25 per system is requested. =
= =
= John Franck =
= 1200 Jefferson Davis Rd. =
= Martinsville, Va. 24114 =
= =
= Please copy this program and share it with others. =
= =
==============================================================
Press any key to continue ...
This TITLE SCREEN appears only once per day, so as to not
interfere with MENU MASTER's ease-of-use. Just press ANY KEY
to continue...
MENU MASTER OWNER'S MANUAL - VERSION 1.50 6
The next screen, MAIN MENU, is the one you will normally see
when using MENU MASTER. It is from this screen that you
select your Applications at the touch of a single key.
=============================================================
= =
= 05-16-1985 M e n u M a s t e r 8:06:10 am =
= =
=============================================================
= =
= A - G - =
= =
= B - H - =
= =
= C - I - =
= =
= D - J - =
= =
= E - K - =
= =
= F - L - =
= =
=============================================================
= = = =
= ESC = DOS = ALT-letter = Modify = F10 = Colors =
= = = =
=============================================================
About the MAIN MENU:
The MAIN MENU displays the current Date and also provides a
digital Clock. The Clock chimes softly every hour.
Up to 12 Menu Selections can be entered into MENU MASTER,
with their prompts appearing on this screen.
Whenever you finish running a program, MENU MASTER returns
you to this screen so you can quickly move on to something
else.
To prevent "Screen Burn-in", the screen will go blank after
about 4 minutes of no activity. The Time will continue to be
displayed and updated. To re-draw the screen, simply press
any key.
MENU MASTER OWNER'S MANUAL - VERSION 1.50 7
MENU SETTINGS
-------------
To Modify or Examine Menu Settings, hold down the "ALT" key
and press the letter (A-L) of the item you wish to modify.
As an example, let's enter a menu setting for Formatting Floppy
Disks. This will allow you to Format Disks at the touch of a
single key from MENU MASTER's Main Menu.
We know the following:
- We want "Format a Disk" to be Menu Item A
- The DOS FORMAT Command is located on the "Root" Directory
- The DOS Format Command, "FORMAT A:", formats a Floppy in
Drive A
To enter these settings in Menu Item A, hold down the ALT key
and press "A".
press ALT-A
The MODIFY Screen will appear.
This MODIFY screen is used to enter new or to modify existing
menu settings. You also can use it to examine settings which
have already been entered. There are 4 fields to enter for
the "AstroCalc" menu setting. Enter them now under "New
Settings" as described below:
Current New
Settings Settings
--------- ---------
Menu Prompt Format a Disk <return>
Directory Path <return>
Command FORMAT A: <return>
Command <return>
You will note that we did not enter anything for Directory
Path or the 2nd Command setting. The Directory Path setting
is needed only if your application program resides on some
sub-directory other than the "Root" Directory. Refer to your
DOS manual if you need information on Directory Paths.
The 2nd Command setting field is optional for use if a second
command is necessary. Many settings will not use this field.
After entering the 2nd Command Setting, the program prompts you
to press <return> once more. This returns you to the MAIN MENU
screen.
MENU MASTER OWNER'S MANUAL - VERSION 1.50 8
=============================================================
= =
= 05-16-1985 M e n u M a s t e r 8:06:10 am =
= =
=============================================================
= =
= A - Format a Disk G - =
= =
= B - H - =
= =
= C - I - =
= =
= D - J - =
= =
= E - K - =
= =
= F - L - =
= =
=============================================================
= = = =
= ESC = DOS = ALT-letter = Modify = F10 = Colors =
= = = =
=============================================================
Go ahead and "Format a Disk" now !
press A
When you have finished Formatting Disks, you can enter some
Menu Settings of your own.
MENU MASTER OWNER'S MANUAL - VERSION 1.50 9
CUSTOMIZING YOUR MENU MASTER
----------------------------
You already know how to enter Menu Settings, allowing you to
Custom-Design your own Menu. There are three other ways you
can Customize your MENU MASTER:
1. Change the Screen Colors (for Color Monitor Systems)
2. Write your own Main Menu Title
3. By-Pass the Title Screen
To modify item 1 or 2 above, simply press Function Key F10:
press F10
This takes you to a screen that will allow you to try out
various screen color combinations by selecting Foreground,
Background, and Menu Border colors.
When you have set your colors, you will automatically proceed
to a screen where you can set your own Menu Title. The Menu
Title you enter will appear at the top of the MAIN MENU and
replaces the "M e n u M a s t e r" logo.
Once your Title has been entered, press <return> until you
reach the MAIN MENU.
These setting changes are saved until you desire to change
them again.
Item 3: When you run MENU MASTER for the first time each
day, a TITLE SCREEN appears (see page 6 for illustration).
There is a SECRET way to by-pass this screen, but this
information is only available to registered users. You will
be notified of this simple procedure once payment has been
received.
MENU MASTER OWNER'S MANUAL - VERSION 1.50 10
REFERENCE
---------
MENU MASTER's features are very easy to learn and you already
know most of them if you went through the "USING MENU MASTER"
section of this manual. For reference purposes, here are a
few topics that may be of use.
MODIFYING - To modify Menu Settings, go to the
SETTINGS MODIFY screen of the Menu Item you wish
to modify by pressing ALT and the letter
of the Item. At the MODIFY screen,
enter the changes for your settings.
Press <return> if there are no changes
to a particular setting.
DELETING - To delete Menu Settings, go to the
SETTINGS MODIFY screen of the Menu Item you wish
to delete by pressing ALT and the letter
of the Item. At the MODIFY screen,
enter a Minus (-) into each of the 4
settings you wish to delete.
DELETING - All Menu Settings are stored on a file
ALL SETTINGS called MENU.STG. In case you ever want
to delete every setting on a Menu and
start over from scratch, this can easily
be accomplished by Deleting this file.
- Return to DOS by pressing the ESC key.
- Type: DEL C:MENU.STG <return>
The next time you run MENU MASTER, an
empty MENU.STG file is re-created
automatically.
MAXIMUM - Menu prompts must be 24 characters or
SETTING less in order to fit onto the MAIN MENU
LENGTHS screen. Directory Paths and Commands
can be up to 38 characters.
MENU MASTER OWNER'S MANUAL - VERSION 1.50 11
CHANGING - To Change Screen Colors (Color Monitors
SCREEN COLORS Only):
- Press F10 to activate Change Colors
Routine.
- Select your colors from the Color
Settings Screen.
- Press <return> to skip back to MAIN
MENU.
CHANGING - To change the title that appears at the
MENU TITLE top of the MAIN MENU screen, from the
MAIN MENU:
- Press F10 to activate Change Colors
Routine.
- Press <return> to skip through the
Color Settings Screen.
- Enter your New Title.
- Press <return> to skip back to MAIN
MENU.
CLOCK & DATE - The Clock and Date which appear on your
MAIN MENU screen are controlled by the
computer's System Clock. MENU MASTER's
clock chimes softly on the hour when the
MAIN MENU screen is displayed. You may
wish to include a "Reset Clock" item on
your Menu in case the system clock ever
needs resetting. The DOS commands
"DATE" and "TIME" can be used as Menu
Command Settings to accomplish this.
DOS COMMANDS - Frequently-used DOS commands can be
executed easily by MENU MASTER. You
will find it to be an extremely handy
utility for such things as BACKUP
routines, Formatting disks, etc. These
commands are found in your DOS manual
and can be entered as Menu Command
Settings.
MENU MASTER OWNER'S MANUAL - VERSION 1.50 12
NEED MORE - Currently, MENU MASTER supports a
THAN 2 maximum of 2 commands for a single Menu
COMMANDS ? Item. For a series of more than 2
commands, a Batch File can be created
under DOS. Creation of a Batch File is
relatively easy and is explained in your
DOS manual. Be sure to include the
command "MM" as the last command in your
Batch File so that it will return you to
MENU MASTER.
Use MENU MASTER to execute
your Batch File by including the Batch
Filename (without the .BAT) as one of
your Menu Command Settings.
A future version of MENU MASTER will
include a Batch File Editor and this
will be available, hopefully in your
next upgrade.
NOTE: The name of your Batch File
MUST be at least 2 characters long
and MUST include an alphabetic
character:
A.BAT = Wrong
12.BAT = Wrong
A1.BAT = Right
MENU MASTER - MENU MASTER can be run automatically
AUTOMATICALLY whenever you turn on your computer.
AT START-UP This is done by including the command
"MM" as the last item in your
AUTOEXEC.BAT file. Your DOS Manual has
a section which covers the AUTOEXEC file.
MENU MASTER OWNER'S MANUAL - VERSION 1.50 13
PROGRAM IMPROVEMENTS
--------------------
MENU MASTER is constantly being upgraded and improved by the
author. Chances are that a more recent version exists than
the one you are now using. Major rewrites of MENU MASTER or
other future software programs will be made known to you by
letter. Registered users of MENU MASTER are entitled to
upgrades, most of which are FREE.
Upgrades can be obtained by Registered users by sending a
blank diskette to:
John Franck
1200 Jefferson Davis Rd.
Martinsville, Va. 24112
(703) 632-3845
Be sure to indicate your Current Version Number. You will
soon receive the latest version by return mail.
PAYMENT INFORMATION
-------------------
MENU MASTER is distributed under the consideration that people
enjoy sharing software with each other. It takes some
experimenting with software to determine if it is actually
helpful in doing one's work. If after evaluating MENU MASTER
you find it to be useful, you are trusted to send a $25
payment. Corporations using MENU MASTER are expected to pay
$25 for Each system using the program.
Please let us know what version you are using so we'll know to
inform you of any MENU MASTER upgrades.
Once payment is received, you will be registered as
a user of MENU MASTER. Registration is important so that you
can be on our mailing list to receive upgrades to MENU MASTER
or other reasonably-priced software offerings. Corporations
be sure to include the name of your person in charge of PC
applications for mailing list and upgrade purposes.
Under this concept, you are ENCOURAGED to copy and share the
program with your friends and associates. This approach
keeps distribution costs to a minimum and these savings are
passed on to you in the form of a very low price.
Enjoy your MENU MASTER !
MENU MASTER OWNER'S MANUAL - VERSION 1.50 14
In case you need an invoice for Tax or Accounting purposes,
the following should suffice. You may retain this copy for
your records.
For your information, we pay all applicable Federal, State,
and Local taxes on proceeds from the sale of MENU MASTER.
--------------------------------------------------------------
I N V O I C E
Purchased from:
JOHN FRANCK SS# 224-62-0004
1200 JEFFERSON DAVIS RD.
MARTINSVILLE, VA. 24112
DATE: ___ / ___ /___ Invoice No. 31201
--------------------------------------------------------------
Unit Extended
Qty Price Price
--- ----- --------
"MENU MASTER" Software ___ 25.00 ________
Version 1.50
Add 4.0% State Sales Tax ________
Virginia Residents Only
TOTAL AMOUNT ________
Please make check payable to: JOHN FRANCK
MENU MASTER OWNER'S MANUAL - VERSION 1.50 15
le to: JOHN FRA
