                          --- MenuEase EDITOR ---


                 The active function keys are listed below

F2 Edit menu title                  F7 Undo insert,delete,move command
F3 Check menu looks, set columns    F8 Insert blank space for new item
F4 Send DOS command to system       F9 Move change order of items
F5 Save/Load/Create menu file       F10 Delete item
F6 Jam keystrokes for application   ESC Exit editor


Editor Navigation Keys:

         <PgUp> selects previous menu item from left list
         <PgDn> selects next menu item
         <CURSOR_UP> select previous field of current menu item
         <CURSOR_DOWN> select next field of current menu item
         <CURSOR_RIGHT> move cursor to right in current field
         <CURSOR_LEFT> move cursor to left in current field
         <HOME> move cursor to left most character in field
         <END> move cursor to right most character in field


General Information:

The editor allows you to set up control of the menu environment presented to
the user and save them in a file for later use. The editor works with one
menu file at a time. Menu files are created after a editing session followed
by a 'save' command. As a menu may call any number of other menus, a menu
hierarchy may be set up easily.  No structure is enforced with the menu
calling sequence, your free to use any structure you like. Each menu may
have up to twenty-six items, and each item can have a password associated
with it.

The editor will display up to twenty-six menu items for you.  You can move,
delete, insert menu items within this twenty-six item limit.  The twenty-six
item slots are on the left side of the editor screen labeled A) - P), items
O) through Z) are invisible but available by scrolling past the A) or P)
position. Each menu item has several pieces of information associated with
it.  On the right side of the screen is the editor box labeled `Menu Item
Editor', here is where you can edit menu item data.  The left list gives you
an overview of menu items, to select a item to edit type <PgUp> or <PgDn>
and observe the highlighted text on the left.  In the `Menu Item Editor'
box, displayed data will represent the menu item selected, changing in
response to it.  The bottom two rows of the screen are for function key
definition and special help for the current operation.


Menu Item Fields:

These fields are within the upper right hand box.  Each of these fields
pertains to the menu item.  The field prompts are listed below with their
definitions

     Menu text   : Enter the text here you wish to appear in the menu
                   MenuEase will not recognize an item that has no name; the
                   bottom fields will be ignored if the menu text is
                   missing.  This allows you to put an empty place holder in
                   your menu. The empty place holder helps by spacing your
                   items apart. Effective when used between every 4th or 5th
                   menu item.

     Drive:\Dir  : Enter the drive:\directory where the program
                   resides. Leaving this blank will keep you in the
                   current drive:\directory.  If you have only one drive you
                   don't have to enter the drive: prefix letter. When a menu
                   item is invoked, MenuEase looks here to switch
                   directories. Upon completion of the menu item MenuEase
                   switches back to the original directory. If you want
                   MenuEase to stay in the directory you set in this field
                   without returning to the current directory, prefix the
                   directory specification with a " ~ " character.

                   Example: ~c:\menu

     Password    : Enter a password for the application or menu.
                   Leaving this blank will avoid the password prompt. All
                   users will have the same passwords for applications (if
                   the menu file is the same).

     Command#(1-7): Enter the program name, the same as in DOS.  This
                   could be a *.bat,*.exe, or a *.com file plus any
                   normal DOS command. Commands may also include the batch
                   file flow commands, (eg. if , goto etc.). Flow commands
                   are only valid in the BATCH mode of operation (the
                   default).


     NOTE: Command#1 can be prefixed with an ampersand `&' to signify
     a new menu file is to be loaded or a '!' to signify a direct command.
     Please see the TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS in the manual for more system
     information on the Command #1-#7 fields.


Loading New Menus:

To load a new menu file an ampersand '&' must prefix the file name on
Command #1  : field.  The menu files all have the same extension '.qmn'.
This extension is not needed when you type in the menu file name, MenuEase
will append it automatically for you.

Commands #2-#7 will be executed as normal DOS commands or programs.  This
allows you to switch directories, copy files etc.

Example:

        Menu text : Utilities Menu
        Drive:\Dir: c:\util
        Password  : sample      ;will prompt user for the "sample"
                                ; password
        Command #1: &util       ;load menu file util.qmn
        Command #2: dir /p      ; get a directory listing
        Command #3:             ; blank here, could be used for more
              :                 ; commands...
              :
        Command #7:             ; blank


Direct Commands:
It is recommended that you use the Direct Command mode for implementing DOS
commands.  To use MenuEase in the DIRECT MODE and keep it resident while
executing commands, place a '!' prefix in front of `Command #1  :' field.
Commands  #2-#7 are executed with MenuEase remaining resident as Command #1.
This is useful in doing batch files, implementing a menu entry for dos
commands such as 'dir', and when you know an application memory requirements
takes less than:

        Memory available - 200K  > application memory requirements

Example:  You have 640k ram installed in your machine. 640K - 200K = 440K.
          So you could keep MenuEase resident if your application took less
          than 440K of ram.


          
                            EDIT MENU TITLE <F2>

Typing the <F2> function key pops up an input requester where you can enter
a title.  The menu title will be displayed in reverse video on top and
centered to the menu body.  Placing a space before and after the title text
makes the title easier to read.  You can test your menu title by typing the
<F3> key (after you've exited from the title input requester).
Typing <ESC>,<ENTER>, or any function key will exit you from the input
requester.



                TEST MENU - SHOW/SET NUMBER OF COLUMNS <F3>

The <F3> function key asks for the desired number of columns (defaults to
the previously set number) for your menu.  Your allowed 1,2, or 3 columns.
If you ask for too few columns, the program will increment the number of
columns by 1.  If this occurs  MenuEase  will inform you with a message.
Once the number of columns is set MenuEase will display the columnized menu
items for you.  After looking at the displayed menu, press return to
continue.  After you press return MenuEase will ask you if you want to see
the columnized menu again. This will be your chance to select a different
number of columns. (press 'Y' or 'y')



                          SYSTEM COMMAND HELP <F4>

The <F4> system command function allows you to access DOS commands directly
from MenuEase.    If you would want to copy a file named "myfile.dat" to the
a: drive, type <F4> and type "copy myfile.dat a:" <ENTER>.  The command will
execute as if it were typed from the DOS prompt.



                      SAVE/LOAD/CREATE MENU FILE <F5>

All file functions use a common drive:\directory prefix defined in the
configuration section. To get to the configuration screen exit the editor by
typing <ESC>; "Y" to save any edits and then <F8>.

The SAVE feature is entered by typing "S" or "s" after typing <F5>. The
feature allows you to save the current menu file to disk. It first prompts
you for a file name with the current file name already typed in for you.
Just type <ENTER> to save to the file name shown. If the file already exists
MenuEase will display a YES/NO requester asking you if it's all right to
overwrite it. Type "Y" or "y" to overwrite, any other key to abort the SAVE
function.  If no file will be overwritten then MenuEase saves the new file
with no prompt.

The LOAD function is entered by typing "L" or "l" after typing <F5>.
MenuEase will then prompt you with the message `Save current menu file?',
enter a "y" or "Y" to save the menu file your working on or any other key
not to save the current file. The function then displays a list of all *.qmn
files in the common drive:\directory of MenuEase. Presently the display is
limited to 17 menu files, future versions will have 17 file window with
<PgDn> <PgUp> scrolling of all *.qmn files within the common drive:
\directory.   One can use the cursor keys to select a file from the list.
When you  select your file, type <ENTER> to load it.  Type <ESC> to exit
without loading a file.

The CREATE function is entered by typing "C" or "c" after typing <F5>. The
function then displays a prompt asking for the file name to CREATE. If you
leave this field blank and type <ENTER> you'll be put back into the editor
with nothing changed. You can enter up to eight characters for the file
name. Type <ENTER> to CREATE the typed file name, if the file exists in the
common drive:\directory you'll be prompted to overwrite it with a YES/NO
requester.  Type "Y" or "y" to overwrite the file, any other key to abort
the CREATE function.


                             JAM KEYBOARD <F6>

The jam keyboard function enables you to semi-automate your application.
This helps you overcome layers of a menu system built into the program.
MenuEase "types" in your saved keyboard sequence just before invoking the
program.

Example:  You want to get to a listing of possible documents to edit within
Q&A Integrated (c).  After editing the menu item, type the <F6> key. Select
the 'Write' module by typing "w|" (the '|' equals a <ENTER>).  Select the
'Get File' function for all *.doc files by typing "g*.doc|".  So the total
string entered at the input requester would be:  "w|g*.doc|".




                        MENU ITEM COMMAND <F7 - F10>

These function keys operate on the whole menu item.  This means the Menu
text,Directory,Password, and Command# 1-7 fields are affected by the
following:


               UNDO LAST MOVE, DELETE, or INSERT COMMAND <F7>

The undo command allows you to recover from the last command.  Type <F7> to
restore the data base to its last state.


                            INSERT COMMAND <F8>

The insert command will insert a blank menu item (space) at the current menu
item (highlighted).  Use a blank space to separate menu items for better
legibility.


                             MOVE COMMAND <F9>

The move command allows you to move the current menu item (A - V) to another
slot (A - V).  Input requesters guide you through the process.  Use the
<ESC> key to quit the move function.


                            DELETE COMMAND <F10>

The delete command deletes the current menu item.  The delete command is
confirmed with a simple yes/no requester.










