* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
                         *        \\\|||///        *
                         *    ---->EZ-MENU<----    *
                         *        ////|||\\\\      *
                         * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

                              FEATURES OF EZ-MENU

     EZ-MENU can execute and executable  file  (BATCH,  BASIC,  COM  and  EXE) 
without any problem.  These are the only files appear on the menu,  to prevent 
cluttering.  If you want to add others,  look at the beginning of the  program 
and include or exclude the files.  COMMAND.COM and MENU.BAS will not appear on 
the menu.  EZ-MENU gets its directory by SHELLing "DIR >DIR.DIR".  This puts a 
file  called  DIR.DIR  on the current directory.  Leave space (a few K) on the 
disk for this file.  The more files shown with a DIR command,  the more  space 
you  will need for DIR.DIR.  EZ-MENU can handle two-hundred EXE,  COM,  BATCH, 
and BASIC programs.  If you have more, EZ-MENU will tell you what to do.  


                           

                            EZ-MENU'S REQUIREMENTS


     EZ-MENU needs COMMAND.COM to be present  during  execution  (see  BASIC'S 
SHELL  COMMAND  for more information.) Without it you will receive errors.  If 
you are using a hard disk as drive C:  you could execute the DOS command  "SET 
COMSPEC=C:\COMMAND.COM".  Although  you can't SHELL this command,  you can put 
it in the batch file  that  starts  EZ-MENU.  If  you  want  to  run  programs 
compiled  with  the  BASIC compiler through EZ-MENU,  you will need to use the 
technique with batch files as mentioned in the chapter BASIC'S SHELL COMMAND.  

     EZ-MENU can be used on a hard disk,  but it can't change disk directories 
for you.  To make EZ-MENU change directories,  put batch files in that will do 
it automatically,  for instance to change to \LEVEL1\LEVEL2 you might  make  a 
batch  file  called  LEVEL2.BAT.  Create  batch  files  by  typing  "COPY CON: 
LEVEL2.BAT <return> CD\LEVEL1\LEVEL2 <return> Ctrl-Z <return>" (hit Ctrl and Z 
together,  not at the same time.) If you make a mistake  during  this  process 
immediately hit Ctrl-Break and start over again.  

     When  EZ-MENU  executes a BASIC program,  it leaves a value of one in the 
variable MENU.  Your programs must check this value,  and if there is a one in 
it, they must return to EZ-MENU when they terminate.  



                              
                             BASIC'S SHELL COMMAND 
     
      EZ-MENU  makes  use  of  BASIC's SHELL command.  (DOS 3.00 & 3.10 users, 
pages 317-321 of the BASIC manual contain good documentation on this  command.  
Refer  to them for more information) Although my DOS 3.00 manual says that the 
SHELL command is just for that version,  it is available for DOS 2.00 and 2.10 
users.  It is not documented in the BASIC manual for either of those versions.  

      The SHELL command works in the following format: 
           SHELL [string] 

      Executing the SHELL command without a string returns you to DOS,  but in 
order to return to BASIC,  all you need to do is type EXIT.  Instantly you are 
back to your BASIC program and BASIC!  

      STRING is a string that will be executed  exactly  like  a  DOS  command 
(like "DIR A:MYFILE".) Use the same commands as you would from DOS.  

      One major disadvantage is the fact that COMMAND.COM must be available in 
order  for  BASIC  to  use the SHELL command.  Use the SET command from DOS to 
change the file name,  drive,  etc.  of COMMAND.COM (refer to the  DOS  manual 
under the SET COMSPEC command.) EZ-MENU needs COMMAND.COM to work properly.  




                               COMPILING EZ-MENU
                        
      If  you  try  compiling  EZ-MENU  with the IBM BASIC Compiler,  you will 
receive several errors.  The problem is that the compiler does  not  know  the 
BASIC command SHELL.  The only way around this that I can think of is to use a 
batch  file  (AUTOEXEC.BAT  is  okay) and to make EZ-MENU alter the batch file 
during execution then have EZ-MENU execute a SYSTEM command.  The  batch  file 
should  do  what  you told it to do when you modified it.  Next have the batch 
file execute another file containing the remaining program lines (compiled) in 
EZ-MENU.  I have not gotten this technique to  work  yet,  but  it  (probably) 
could  be done.  You will also need to use you batch file technique when BASIC 
programs are run.