Index

ProMenu is a rapid-access menuing system that displays menus directly underneath the mouse pointer.  This makes it easier and faster to work with most applications since menus are now at your "fingertips", rather than at some arbitrary location on the screen.

Copyright

Quick Start

Rapid Reference

Procedures

Main ProMenu commands

Application ProMenu commands

ProMenu options

About ProMenu


Copyright

(C) Copyright 1991-1993 Cain International Corporation.  All rights reserved.

ProMenu is a trademark of Cain International Corporation.

Microsoft and MS are registered trademarks, and Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.

Paintbrush is a trademark of ZSoft Corporation.


Quick Start

Overview

To display a ProMenu, simply press the right mouse button (actually the begin menu button) while over a Windows application.  The resulting ProMenu is a copy of the application's menu, but displayed under the mouse, rather than at the top of the application's window.  This lets you rapidly display and select a menu command without having to shift your attention to another part of the screen.

To display ProMenu's ProMenu, press the right mouse button over the desktop window.   This ProMenu contains commands that apply to all applications.  For example, the Icons command lets you immediately start any Program Manager icon without having to first open its group window, then click on the icon itself.

Examples

 For example, if you click the right button while inside a Program Manager window, the ProMenu at left is displayed.  Similarly, if you click inside another application's window, the ProMenu for that application is displayed.

Clicking the right mouse button on the desktop displays ProMenu's ProMenu.

Notes:

1.  To select a ProMenu item, release the right mouse button over that item.  If you do not want to select a menu item, release the right mouse button anywhere other than over an item.

2.  Pressing the right mouse button now (while in the help window) will bring up the Win Help ProMenu.


Rapid Reference

Click on the field(s) of interest.


Procedures

Configuring ProMenu options

Displaying a ProMenu

Event pass-through

Menu rotation

Menu scaling

Selecting a command from an inactive program


Displaying a ProMenu

Displaying a ProMenu

To display a ProMenu, press the begin menu button.  To erase the ProMenu, press (or release) the end menu button.

Which ProMenu is displayed

If the begin menu button is pressed within an application window, the corresponding application ProMenu is displayed.  If the begin menu button is pressed in the desktop window, the main ProMenu is displayed.

Excluded regions

To avoid conflict with standard windows operations, clicking the begin menu button over the following areas will not display a ProMenu:

dialog boxes

icons

scroll bars

window frames

window captions

standard menus


Event Pass-Through

Overview

Event pass-through allows ProMenu and other applications to share the begin menu button.

Explanation

With event pass-through turned off, ProMenu intercepts the begin menu button and displays the application's ProMenu.  The application never realizes the button was pressed.

With event pass-through selected, ProMenu intercepts the begin menu button and displays the application's ProMenu as before.  However, if you then press the menu button a second time immediately after releasing the first press, that second click will be passed-through to the application.  (You may also simply double-click the menu button to pass the second click through to the application.)

Event pass-through is useful in applications that use more than one mouse button.  For example, in Microsoft Excel 4.0, pressing the right mouse button over a cell brings up a menu that applies to cells.  If you have set ProMenu's begin menu button to the right button and event pass-through is turned off, then you will never see Excel's cell menu.  However, with event pass-through turned on, ProMenu and Excel may both use the right mouse button:  a single click displays the ProMenu, while a double click shows Excel's cell menu.

Hints

Configuring the event pass-through time period

The time period during which a second click may be passed-through to the underlying application is the same as Windows' "Double Click Speed".  This time period may be changed by selecting the mouse icon in the Windows Control Panel.

Event pass-through for double clicks

The easiest way to pass a double-click through to an application (as opposed to just passing a single-click) is to press the begin menu button and pause briefly  Then, release the menu button and immediately double-click.


Menu Scaling

Overview

Menu scaling allows you to rapidly select a subMenu item without first moving into that subMenu.

Explanation

Whenever the mouse pointer is within a menu item that has a subMenu (and menu scaling is turned on), the position of the pointer with respect to the parent item is scaled to its corresponding position within the subMenu.  For example, if the mouse pointer is in region #3 of the parent item (at left), then subItem 3 is also highlighted.  Furthermore, pressing (or releasing) the end menu button while in region #3 of the parent item will select subItem 3 in the subMenu.

Hints

Limitations of Menu Scaling

Menu scaling "breaks down" with large subMenus (subMenus with more than about 13 items per column).  In other words, as you move the mouse in the parent item, some of the subItems will never get highlighted.  Those items may be selected by moving the mouse into the subMenu itself.


Menu Rotation

Overview

Menu rotation allows you to rapidly access any (running) application's ProMenu, even though that application may currently be inactive or even iconized.

When allowed

A ProMenu may be rotated whenever the standard ProMenu mouse pointer turns into the rotate mouse pointer (see left).  This occurs when a ProMenu is displayed and no menu items are currently highlighted.  (To unhighlight a highlighted item, move the mouse pointer outside of the ProMenu.)

Procedure

1.  Display the ProMenu by pressing the begin menu button.

2.  Move the mouse pointer (if necessary) to a region where menu rotation is allowed (see above).

3.  Click the menu rotate button.

Comments

1.  Selecting a menu command from a rotated menu will first make the corresponding window the active window.  Then the selected command will be executed.

2.  In order to distinguish which ProMenu belongs to which window, each ProMenu has a title which corresponds to the file name of the application's window.

3.  Menus are rotated through windows in the following order:

a.  the active window

b.  any parent windows of the active window

c.  the most recently-active window

d.  the desktop window

e.  back to the active window


Main ProMenu Commands

Note:  This ProMenu is displayed whenever you press the begin menu button over the desktop window.  (Click directly on the items at left for quick help.)

Options

Displays the options dialog that configures ProMenu options.

Attach

Re-attaches ProMenu over applications if ProMenu was previously removed.  ProMenu may be "removed" via the Application ProMenu.

Help

Displays the ProMenu help system.

Icons

Contains a subMenuthat allows direct running of most applications.  Select the Update option if you create or destroy icons within the Program Manager and want ProMenu to reflect those changes.

Programs

Contains a subMenu of running applications.  Selecting a subItem brings that application to the top.  Select the Update option if you start new applications and want ProMenu to add those applications to the Icons subMenu.

Update

Updates the Icons and Programs subMenu.

About

Displays the ProMenu About dialog.

Exit

Closes the ProMenu application.

Hints

The Update Command

Since ProMenu takes about 2 seconds to build the Icons and Programs menus, ProMenu does not automatically rebuild these menus when changes are made.  Hence if you open or close applications, or if you create, destroy or change icon properties while ProMenu is running (icon properties may be changed via the properties command of Program Manager's File menu), the Icons and Programs menus may no longer be accurate.  However, if you want ProMenu to reflect those changes, simply select the Update command.


Application ProMenu Commands

Note:  This is a sample application ProMenu.  (The actual title will be the same as the application's filename.)  The ProMenu subMenu is expanded to show standard ProMenu commands.

The control menu typically contains menu items that resize, move, minimize, maximize, and close windows, as well as items for switching to other applications.

Remove

Removes ProMenu from all applications (except the desktop window).  ProMenu may be re-attached to the applications via the Main ProMenu.

Switch to

Displays a list of running applications and allows you to switch to one of your choice.

Help

Invokes the ProMenu help system.


ProMenu Options

Note:  for quick help, click on the field of interest.

In Brief

1.  The Options dialog allows customization of ProMenu's default operations.

2.  To change a setting, click the left mouse button inside the desired field.

3.  The settings are automatically saved to and restored from the file "ProMenu.ini" in your Windows directory.

Field	Explanation

Represents a 3-button mouse.  (For a 2-button mouse, ignore the middle button.)  A down-arrow indicates pressing  the corresponding button, while an up-arrow indicates releasing the corresponding button.

Configures how the ProMenu is displayed.  The default setting at left means:  "Pressing the right mouse button down will display a ProMenu".

Configures how the ProMenu is erased.  The default setting at left means:  "Releasing the right mouse button will erase the ProMenu".

Configures ProMenu menu rotation.  The default setting at left means:  "Menus are rotated by clicking the left mouse button while a ProMenu is displayed".

If selected, ProMenu Help will be displayed whenever ProMenu is started.

If selected, events may be passed through to underlying applications.

If selected, menu scaling is enabled.

Sets the current mouse selections without erasing the Options dialog.  This allows you to rapidly try several variations without having to redisplay the Options dialog each time.

Sets the current mouse selections and erases the Options dialog.

Restores the mouse selections in effect before the Options dialog was displayed.  Then erases the Options dialog.

Procedures

Moving the Options Dialog

Hints

Selecting the menu display button

It is usually best to set the menu display button to the least-used mouse button.  Most applications use the left mouse button the most, the right mouse button occasionally (or not at all), and the middle mouse button the least (or not at all).  Hence, the best choice for a 2-button mouse would be the right mouse button, and the best choice for a 3 button mouse would be the middle mouse button.


About ProMenu

In Brief

1.  The About dialog displays the copyright notice and company contact information.

2.  Select "OK" with the left mouse button to erase this dialog.

Button	Explanation

Erases the dialog box.

Procedures

Moving the About Dialog


Desktop

The background window on which all other windows are displayed.  Minimized (iconized) applications are displayed on the desktop.


Logical Buttons

The menu display and menu rotation buttons are logical buttons that may be matched to physical mouse buttons via the ProMenu Options dialog.  Note:  The settings shown at left are the defaults.  To see your current settings, display the actual Options Dialog.


Parent Item, SubMenu, SubItem

A parent item is any menu item that, when highlighted, displays other menu items.  SubItems are the menu items displayed by a parent item.  A subMenu is the region that contains subItems.


Options - Begin Menu

Configures how the ProMenu is displayed.  The default setting at left means:  "Pressing the right mouse button down will display a ProMenu".


Options - End Menu

Configures how the ProMenu is erased.  The default setting at left means:  "Releasing the right mouse button will erase the ProMenu".


Options - Rotate Menu

Configures ProMenu menu rotation.  The default setting at left means:  "Menus are rotated by clicking the left mouse button while a ProMenu is displayed".


Options - Help on Startup

If selected, ProMenu Help will be displayed whenever ProMenu is started.


Options - Event Pass-Through

If selected, events may be passed through to underlying applications.


Options - Menu Scaling

If selected, menu scaling is enabled.


Options - Apply

Sets the current mouse selections without erasing the Options dialog.  This allows you to rapidly try several variations without having to redisplay the Options dialog each time.


Options - OK

Sets the current mouse selections and erases the Options dialog.


Options - Cancel

Restores the mouse selections in effect before the Options dialog was displayed.  Then erases the Options dialog.


Moving a ProMenu Dialog Box

1.  Press the left mouse button down anywhere inside the dialog box (but not inside any of the fields).

2.  Drag the dialog box to its new position.

3.  Release the left mouse button.


About - OK

Erases the dialog box.


Main ProMenu - Options

Displays the options dialog that configures ProMenu options.


Main ProMenu - Attach

Re-attaches ProMenu over applications if ProMenu was previously removed.  ProMenu may be "removed" via the Application ProMenu.


Main ProMenu - Help

Displays the ProMenu help system.


Main ProMenu - Icons

Contains a subMenu that allows direct running of most applications.  Select the Update option if you create or destroy icons within the Program Manager and want ProMenu to reflect those changes.


Main ProMenu - Programs

Contains a subMenu of running applications.  Selecting a subItem brings that application to the top.  Select the Update option if you start new applications and want ProMenu to add those applications to the Icons subMenu.


Main ProMenu - Update

Updates the Icons and Programs subMenu.


Main ProMenu - About

Displays the ProMenu About dialog.


Main ProMenu - Exit

Closes the ProMenu application.


Application ProMenu - Remove

Removes ProMenu from all applications (except the desktop window).  ProMenu may be re-attached to the applications via the Main ProMenu.


Application ProMenu - Switch to

Displays a list of running applications and allows you to switch to one of your choice.


Application ProMenu - Help

Invokes the ProMenu help system.


Application ProMenu - Title

The title of each ProMenu is the application's filename.


Control Menu

The control menu typically contains menu items that resize, move, minimize, maximize, and close windows, as well as items for switching to other applications.