Program name: "The Main Menu"


   Description: "The Main Menu" is a simple and easy way to create a  main
   menu list  of specific  programs that  you run  frequently.   "The Main
   Menu" is ideal as  a boot-up menu for  computer novices who never  will
   master  DOS  commands.   You  can  shield  the  end-user from having to
   remember where  their programs  are.   Just create  a menu  list with a
   text editor once,  and let "The  Main Menu" take  it from there.   Once
   the end-user  has selected  a program  from "The  Main Menu" menu list,
   that program will  run.  Once  the program they  selected has completed
   running "The  Main Menu"  menu list  will appear  again!   This way the
   end-user never has to see a DOS prompt.


   Getting started: Place the following files in your C:\ root directory:

   MENU.BAT
   MENU.LST
   MENU.MY
   MENU.PWD
   MENU_EXE.EXE
   REGISTER.EXE  (only necessary during the evaluation period)

   If  these  files  are  not  placed  in  the C:\ root directory then the
   program will NOT operate properly.

   Then add the following line to your C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT file:

   MENU.BAT

   The MENU.BAT  should be  the very  last line  in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file.
   This is the file that starts the ball rolling.

   When  your  computer  boots  up,  the  MENU.BAT  will  execute and will
   display a menu  list containing the  programs that you  have defined in
   the MENU.LST file.  YOU  ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR CREATING A  MENU.LST FILE!
   Use  a  text  editor  to  create  your  own  custom MENU.LST file.  The
   MENU.LST file should be formatted in this manner:

   Program name, Directory where program resides, Filename of program

   Separate each parameter with a comma.  Here are some valid examples:

   MicroSoft Works Word Processing,  C:\WORKS,               WORKS.EXE
   Tommy's Trivia,                   C:\GAMES\TRIVIA,        TRIVIA.EXE
   Tommy's Gin Rummy,                C:\GAMES\RUMMY,         RUMMY.EXE
   Tommy's Blackjack,                C:\GAMES\BJACK,         TOMMYS21.EXE
   Disk Note Librarian,              D:\DLOG,                dnote.exe
   QuickBasic,                       C:\DOS,                 QBASIC.EXE
   Tiny Editor,                      C:\UTILITY,             ted.com

   You can place each  field in neatly arranged  columns if you wish,  but
   this  is  not  necessary.   In  other  words,  the following is just as
   acceptable as the example above:

   MicroSoft Works Word Processing,C:\WORKS,WORKS.EXE
   Tommy's Trivia,C:\GAMES\TRIVIA,TRIVIA.EXE
   Tommy's Gin Rummy,C:\GAMES\RUMMY,RUMMY.EXE
   Tommy's Blackjack,C:\GAMES\BJACK,TOMMYS21.EXE
   Disk Note Librarian,D:\DLOG,dnote.exe
   QuickBasic,C:\DOS,QBASIC.EXE
   Tiny Editor,C:\UTILITY,ted.com

   The important thing  to remember is  to separate each  parameter with a
   comma.  You  must separate the  program description from  the directory
   path with a comma,  and a comma must  also separate the directory  path
   from the program name.

   Note that the programs you define  in the MENU.LST file will be  listed
   ALPHABETICALLY in "The  Main Menu" menu  list.  If  you do not  wish to
   have  the  list  sorted  alphabetically,  then  add  the following line
   somewhere in the MENU.LST file (don't forget to include the semi-colon)                                                                    :

   ; SORT=OFF

   If you  wish to  display the  program description,  program paths,  and
   filenames in "The Main Menu" menu list, then insert the following  line
   somewhere in the MENU.LST file:

   ; Details=ON


   Background color:  To change  the background  color, add  the following
   line somewhere in the MENU.LST file:

   ; COLOR=x

   ...and replace "x" with a number from 0 to 6 where...

      0=black  1=blue   2=green   3=cyan   4=red   5=magenta  6=brown

   For example, to make  a red background, add  the following line to  the
   MENU.LST file:

   ; COLOR=4

   -----------------------------------------------------------------------

   Distribution: "The  Main Menu"  is distributed  as shareware  software.
   Shareware is  a "try  before you  buy" software  marketing concept that
   allows  the  user  to  obtain  fully  functional copies of programs for
   evaluation.  The  distribution and copying  fee that you  may have paid
   to obtain this disk does not  cover the cost of the software  contained
   on  this  disk.   Shareware  programs  such  as  the  one that you have
   obtained require separate payment to the author if it is found to be  a
   useful  product  and  if  it  is  used  beyond  a reasonable evaluation
   period.


   Registration fee: $12.00 (single user license)


   Site license: The $12.00 registration fee required for continued use of
   "The Main Menu" is for a single installation,  single user license.  If
   you or your company wish to use  "The Main Menu" on multiple PCs,  then
   please contact the author for discounted site license details.


   Program author: Philip Kapusta
                   406 Monroe Avenue
                   Falmouth, VA 22405 USA

   Send e-mail to: 74170.3550@compuserve.com

   Visit our Internet Web site: http://members.aol.com/shareware/
   for more useful, reasonably priced  "try before you buy" software.   Or
   call our 24-hour BBS at (540) 372-9680.