Copyright: ® Roger Rene Kommer 1993
Citation: RRKMenu


Index

Important / Getting Started

Introduction

Quick Tips

Keyboard

How To Do

The Dialogues

Bugs, Limits, Help


Important / Getting Started
 Index

Important - read at first

What You have to read / know


Introduction
 Index

About the Author and The Program

 	Installation

 	Introduction to the Features


Installation
 Index
 Introduction

Requirements

Installation of the Menu

The Files

The Inifile


Elemente der Ini-Datei
The Inifile
 Index
 Introduction
 Installation

General Properties

Submenus in the INI-File


Eigenschaften des Menüs
Introduction to the Features
 Index
 Introduction

Preliminary Remark

Basic functions

The features


Auf die Schnelle
Quick Tips
 Index

What is it?

How to do:

Call the Menu

Ending The Program

Launch Programmes

Configure the Menu


The Dialogues
 Index

The Dialogue Menu - Editing

The Dialogue Menu - Edit Menuitem

The Dialogue - Delete Menuitem

The Dialogue - Delete a Submenu

The Dialogue Menu - General Properties

The Dialogue Menu - Execution

The Dialogue - New Menuitem in an empty Submenu

The Dialogue - Document Association


Bugs, Limits, Help
 Index

Known Bugs

Abnormal Reactions

It doesn't function - Help!!

??Beep!!

Internal Limits


How To Do
 Index

Customise the Menu

Include The Program-Manager

Using the Sticked Menus

Using Drag'n Drop

Using the Menu without a Mouse

.


Customise the Menu
 Index
 How To Do

Customise the Menuitems

General Properties


Customise the Menuitems
 Index
 How To Do
 Customise the Menu

Insert a New Menuitem

Add a New Menuitem

Edit an Existing Menuitem

Delete an Existing Menuitem


Using Drag'n Drop
 Index
 How To Do

Open any File

Insert Files as Menuitems


Include The Program-Manager
 Index
 How To Do

The Program-Manager as Menu

A single Program-Group as Menu

Edit Menuitems of a Program-Group


General Properties
 Index
 How To Do
 Customise the Menu

Hide the Program Icon

only Desktop

Menus with a 3-D-Effect

Choosing the Menu-Font

Use Icons in the Menus

Starting Options

Using the middle Mousebutton

Improve the Speed of the Menu

Avoid Conflicts with other Programmes


Using the Sticked Menus
 Index
 How To Do

Stick Menus on the Desktop

Move the sticked Menus

Minimise the Sticked Menus

Hold sticked Menus on the Top of the Desktop

Popup the local Editmenu in sticked Menus

Arrange all sticked Menu on the Desktop

Refresh the sticked Menus


RRKMenu  Contents
RRKMenu - Contents

© October 1993 -RRKMenu 0.9ec (English concept)

Attention

Reading this help can damage your good connections to the English language!!

(It is ten years ago I learned English at shool, and I wasn't good in English. Maybe there is anybody, who have mercy with my Help-File? 'Ghostwriters' should send me a mail.)

Roger René Kommer

Dörnbergstr.11

34119 Kassel

Germany

roger@architektur.uni-kassel.de

This software and the accompanying files are distributed "as is" and without any warranties.

The user must assume the entire risk of using the program.

For more, see : Important - read at first

Important

Important - read at first

Getting Started

What you have to read / know

Introduction

About the Author and the Program

Preliminary Remark

Basic functions

The features

Installation

Requirements

Installation of the Menu

The Files

The Inifile

General Properties

Submenus in the INI-File

Quick Tips

What is it?

How to do:

Call the Menu

Ending The Program

Launch Programmes

Configure the Menu

Bugs, Limits, Help

Known Bugs

Abnormal Reactions

It doesn't function - Help!!

??Beep!!

Internal Limits

How To Do

Customise the Menuitems

Insert a New Menuitem

Add a New Menuitem

Edit an Existing Menuitem

Delete an Existing Menuitem

Using Drag'n Drop

Open any File

Insert Files as Menuitems

Include The Program-Manager

The Program-Manager as Menu

A single Program-Group as Menu

Edit Menuitems of a Program-Group

General Properties

Hide the Program Icon

only Desktop

Menus with a 3-D-Effect

Choosing the Menu-Font

Use Icons in the Menus

Starting Options

Using the middle Mousebutton

Improve the Speed of the Menu

Avoid Conflicts with other Programmes

Using the Sticked Menus

Stick Menus on the Desktop

Move the sticked Menus

Minimise the Sticked Menus

Hold sticked Menus on the Top of the Desktop

Popup the local Editmenu in sticked Menus

Arrange all sticked Menu on the Desktop

Refresh the sticked Menus


Anmerkungen zur Programm-Geschichte
About the Author and The Program

My first experiences in programming I made with macros in Word and Excel two years ago, without any imagination, that I would ever look closer to Computers things. (Normally I busy with the philosophical problems of the Aesthetic of Architecture and Music, and by the way I study Architecture.)

More by accident than by willing I contact in autumn 1992 with Visual-Basic, amazed, how simple programming for Windows can be.

At this time first I had the idea for a Menu, popped up with the right mousebutton, to launch applications - the beginning of my career as a 'leisure time programmer'.

Until the end of the year 1992 I create a version of the Menu in Visual Basic.

This first version supports Submenus and Icons (but not with text and Icons).

But the program could not satisfy me, because it needed a lot of System resources.

How easy Visual Basic might be, it is not usable to realise a popup menu.

The standard in programming is C / C++. In spring 1993 I got a C / C++ compiler, before ever heard something about Pointers, Classes, sortable trees, or Callback-functions and Windows-Messages; first to learn the language, and second - because it is boring writing only hello world Programmes - to write this Program: my first and single non-trivial program. So I do.

1 1/2 month ago I got an access to Internet, and I looked for other Programmes, which has the same idea. I found "Backmenu", "Hotpop", "Usher" and "Flashmenu".

All of these Programmes have one fundamental problem: They load the Menu and all Submenus at the start of the program. If you want configure several Submenus, it worsts a lot of System resources - and it doesn't matter if you have 36 MB RAM installed at your Computer, the System resources are absolutely limited under Windows. My Menu generates the Submenu first, when you open the Submenu, and frees all System resources by clicking on the desktop. (By the way: Some of these Programmes already doesn't free the resources by ending the program!).

Until this time, I assess my Program only as a fingering-exercise to learn C / C++ and the Windows-API, don't think might be interesting to public. But I see, other programmers are also not wizards. So now, I throw this program into the world.

The Version 0.9 means, that some features aren't absolutely clean and a few features aren't implemented.

Remarks to the Programming technics:

I wrote the program in a mixture of C and C++. This means, most of the code is programmed near to the Windows-API in C, and only for memory management I created my special classes.

This Program surly doesn't corresponded to a well-behaved Windows program. Anarchy can only hold out, being a little bit brutal. So I used some undocumented function - documented by Schulman et al.

An Example:

If there is any Menu active on the desktop, you normally couldn't popup any PopupMenu. So you have to use the undocumented Function EndMenu(). In case an other Popup-Menu is active (f.e. the right-menu button-Popup in Excel 4), this causes a catastrophe. So you have first walk through all Windows, looking, if there is any Popup-Menu. First if you sure there is non, you can use EndMenu().

The function EndMenu() have to handle with care. But I'm asking me, what is the reason, why f.e. the Function FastWindowFrame() is undocumented.

But there are still many questions to the Windows-API...

Literature:

Besides the documentation of Borland C / C++ 3.1 and parts of the Windows SDK I used this literature:

•	Schildt, Herbert; C - Befehlsbibliothek; Hamburg 1987 McGraw-Hill Book Company

•	Petzold, Charles; Programmierung unter Microsoft Windows 3.1 (Programming Windows); München 1992 Microsoft Press

•	Schulman, Andrew; Maxley, David; Pietrek, Matt; Undocumented Windows; Bonn (...) 1992 Addison-Wesley

'Stolen' Ideas:

•	'Open Look' by Open Look Foundation
The Pin to stick Menus on the desktop.

•	'Corel Draw 3' by Corel Corporation
The Roll Up Button.

•	'Informant' by James S. Straub
The idea, that you can simulate a movement of windows in 'real Time' (like NEXT). I improved this simulation through a Message Loop in WM_MOUSEMOVE to restore the uncovered Regions. But it is still flickering.


Preliminary Remark

Why using this Program?

It is a question of taste, not a question of needing.

But the Program Manager of Windows have several aspects, which can't satisfy the (power-?)user.

•	You can't create subgroups in the Program Groups.

•	Often you have to fish the Program Manager out of the overcrowded Desktop.

•	It doesn't to be worth to install Documents of your actual Projects in the Program Manager.

Enough of lamentations! How I tried to compensate this faults, see: Basic function of the Menu


Basic functions of the Menu

Some other Graphic User Interfaces have not a Program Manager, known by Windows. They use a menu to launch programmes. This menu normally appears by clicking on the desktop.

The model for my Menu is the Desktop Menu of OpenLook (may recognisable by the pin).

After popuped the Menu with the right mousebutton, you can start programmes or open documents.

Similar to Program Groups of the Program Manager you can group all the programmes in Submenus: Often used programmes and documents in Submenus and seldom used programmes and documents in SubSubSub...Menus.

For an overlook to important features of the Menu see: The features of the Menu.


The features of the Menu

•	Permanently only 1 % - 2 % of system resources needed (Program Manager ~ 4 - 5 %).

•	Permanently only ca. ~25 KB non-discardable RAM needed (Program Manager ~16 KB. But in the time of virtual memory this might be more theoretical. If there is enough RAM, the Menu allocates ~140 KB, the Program Manager ~190 KB).

•	A free customisable Menu, with Submenus as many as you like.

•	Supports the right as well as the middle mousebutton. (You can use the Menu also without a mouse.)

•	Shows automatically the icons of programmes and documents in the menus in 3 possible sizes.

•	Free customisable Menu-font.

•	Supports following generic Menuitems

•	Supports ambiguous filenames (like c:\mydir\*.txt), so you can list all existent files matching a Searching Directory

•	You can include a little generic 'File Manager' in your Menu, in which all Subdirectories of your harddisk showed by Submenus, and all programmes and document of a directory are listed.

•	You can include the Program Manager or single Program Groups in your Menu.

•	Submenus, which becomes too long fitting on the desktop, will break and continued in a new Submenu called More... (It was very hard to realise this. The obvious things are the most complicated.)

•	A Task-List, to switch quickly to an application.

•	You can stick the Menus with the pin on the desktop.

•	It is possible to hold the sticked Menus on the top of the desktop

•	Minimise the sticked Menu with Roll-Up-Button.

•	Supports Drag and Drop with the File Manager to install Files as Menuitems in a sticked Menu.

•	Supports Drag and Drop with the File Manager to open any File with a program, installed in a sticked Menu.


Keyboard

The keys to configure the Menu only function, if you have popuped the Menu and highlighted a Menuitem - respectively a sticked Menu has the focus.

If you haven't a mouse look at Using the Menu without a Mouse.´

F1	shows the Help

F2	calls a dialogue to change the General Properties

F5	calls a dialogue to Configure the Menu and edit a Menuitem

F6	Edit a Menuitem

F7	Add a Menuitem

Del	Delete a Menuitem

Ins or F4	Insert a Menuitem

F9 or 4 on the Numpad:

Arrange all sticked Menus left on the Desktop

F11 or 8 on the Numpad:

Arrange all sticked Menus left on the Desktop

F12	Refresh a sticked Menu.

Ctrl while selecting a Menuitem:

to change the Commandline before Execution

Alt + Pause	to popup the Menu by keyboard


Document

A Document is a file associated with a program, declared by the file-extension.

For example: A File with the file extension .wri is a Write - Document.

You can associate Files with Programmes in the dialogue Dokument -Association.


Sticked Menus

You can stick the Submenus on the desktop by clicking on the green Pin. Indeed, it isn't really a Menu, but it reacts quit similar to a menu.

In contrast to normal Menus, the sticked Menus don't disappeared by clicking on the desktop. You can move the sticked Menus by dragging it on the head of the Menu; You can roll it up and down with the red / green arrow button; With another click on the pin you can hold the Menu at the top of the desktop and you can close it by a 3th click on the pin.


More ...

The menus supports an automatically 'menu break'. If a Submenu tends to become too long, at the end of the menu a Submenu called more ... is appended. This Submenu contains the rest of the Menuitems.


Highlight Menuitems to edit a Menuitem

In normal, non-sticked Menus

•	If you want to edit a Menuitem, at first you have to popuped the Submenu, by pressing the right (respectively the middle) Mousebutton.

•	Secondly you have to highlighted the Menuitem with the left Mousebutton.

•	While highlighting the Menuitem, you can use one of the Edit keys (f. e. F5).

•	After the Menu is disappeared an a dialogue appears, you can release the left Mousebutton.

In sticked Menus

Either:

•	Highlight a Menuitem an release the Mousebotton.

•	Press an Edit keys (f. e. F5).

or:

•	In sticked Menus you have only to click with the right (respectively with middle) Mousebutton on the Menuitem to edit.

•	In the popuped Edit Menu you can choose an edit option.


Default Icons

 General program (Windows or DOS), without an own Icon.

 Document of a program, associated with a program without an own Icon.

 A COM-Program (DOS-Program).

 A DOS-Batch-File.

 A DOS-Program with a PIF-file.


Das Menü aufrufen
Popup the Menu

•	If you have select the option only Desktop in the Submenu Menu Setup, you have to move the mouse cursor to a place, where the background of the desktop is visible.

•	Push the right (respectively the middle) Mousebutton.

or:

•	Push the Alt and the Pause - key.

Close the Menu:

•	Click anywhere on the desktop.

or:

•	Push one ore several times the Esc-key.


Menuitem

A Menuitem conventional contains a command like 'File - Open'.

In the RRKMenu normally a Program will be started by selecting a Menuitem.

Some Menuitems contains Submenus (cascading Menus).


Stick Menus on the Desktop

•	Click in a popuped (Sub-)Menu on the green pin.

•	To hold the sticked Menu always on the top of the Desktop, click a second time on the green pin, or press the Shift - Esc - keys.

•	To close the sticked Menu, click a third time on the green pin, or press the Shift - Esc - keys.


To move the sticked Menus
move the sticked Menus

•	To move a sticked Menu, drag the Menu with the left mousebutton on the Headline of the Menu, or use the Shift and the arrow-keys.

See also: Arrange all sticked Menus


Minimize the Sticked Menus
Minimise the Sticked Menus

•	Click with the left mousebutton on the Roll-Up-Button.

or:

•	Push the Shift and the PgnDown - Key

To restore the size of sticked Menu:

•	Click with the left mousebutton on the Roll-Up-Button.

or:

•	Push the Shift and the PgnUp - Key

See also: Arrange all sticked Menus


Pupup the local Editmenu in sticked Menus
Popup the local Editmenu in sticked Menus

If the mousecursor is over a sticked Menu and you push the right (middle) mousebutton, a local Editmenu is popped up.

If you want to edit a Menuitem in a sticked Menu, you can click with the right (middle) mousebutton on the Menuitem, and select in the Editmenu the edit-command.

(Hint: Click with the left mousebutton on the Menuitems.)


arrange at top

Minimises all sticked Menus and orders them on the top of the desktop.

If an sticked Menu is active, you can also use the 8 on the Numpad or the F11-key.


arrange at left

Minimises all sticked Menus and orders them at the left side of the desktop.

If an sticked Menu is active, you can also use the 4 of the Numpad or the F9-key.


Edit Item

If you want to edit (change) a Menuitem in a sticked Menu, you can click with the right (middle) mousebutton on this Menuitem. Select Edit Item.

In the Edit dialogue you can change the properties of the Menuitem.

See also: Edit an Existing Menuitem


Insert Item

If you want to insert a new Menuitem in a sticked Menu, you can click with the right (middle) mousebutton on the Menuitem, which marks the point to insert. Select Insert Item.

In the Edit dialogue you can declare the properties of the new Menuitem.

See also: Insert a New Menuitem


Add Item

If you want to add a new Menuitem in a sticked Menu, you can click with the right (middle) mousebutton on the Menuitem, which marks the point to add. Select Add Item.

In the Edit dialogue you can declare the properties of the new Menuitem.

See also: Add a New Menuitem


Delete Item

If you want to delete a Menuitem in a sticked Menu, you can click with the right (middle) mousebutton on the Menuitem to delete. Select Delete Item, an confirm the dialogue to delete.

See also: Delete a Menuitem


gener. Properties

Calls the dialogue general Properties.


Arrange all sticked Menu on the Desktop

If you want to arrange all sticked Menus in lines at the top of the desktop:

•	select in the local Editmenu arrange at top,

or:

•	push the F11-key.

If you want to arrange all sticked Menus in columns at the left of the desktop:

•	select in the local Editmenu arrange at left,

or:

•	push the F9-key.


Hold sticked Menus on the Top of the Desktop

It might be desirable to hold a sticked Menu every time on the top of the Desktop.

To doing that, click with the left mousebutton on the pin, so the pin looks like:

You can also use the Shift- and Esc-key.

If you click once more on the pin, the Menu will be close.


Refresh the sticked Menus

In different cases it is usable to refresh a sticked Menu:

•	If you changed the icon- or font size in the Dialogue for changing general Properties

•	If you have a Searching Directory in your sticked Menu, and you create or delete a File.

•	Last but unfortunately not at least, if there is nonsense in the Menu, or the Menu becomes too long.

To refresh a sticked Menu:

•	activate the Menu (there are to thin lines showing, when the sticked Menu has the focus).

•	And push the F12-key.

The Menu might be disappeared, after pushing F12-Key. In this case, the sticked Menu contains a Drive Directory.


The Head of a sticked Menu


Requirements

The Menu needs following Hard- and Software:

•	Windows 3.1

•	A mouse with 2 better 3 mousebuttons
(It functions also without a mouse, but it is not recommended)

•	A harddisk cache is recommended.


Installation of the Menu

The Installation of the Menu is quite simple.

Copy the File MENUxxxx.ZIP in a new created directory, and unzip the file. After doing that you can delete the MENUxxxx.ZIP.

The file RRKMENU.EXE is the executable.

At the first start of RRKMENU.EXE a dialogue asks You, which language you prefer.

In case of English, You can delete the files RRKMGER.DLL, RRKMGER.HLP and BWCCGER.DLL.

Deinstallation

To clean up Your harddisk from the RRKMenu, simply delete the whole directory of RRKMenu. RRKMenu neither create files outside its directory nor remarks its existent in the WIN.INI.

Lock also: The Files


Entries in the WIN.INI

The RRKMenu doesn't remark its existence in the WIN.INI


Inidatei - General Properties
The Ini-file - General Properties

This chapter documents the switches for general Properties in the RRKMENU.INI

Section [Language]

FirstStart=0
After starting the Menu the first time, it is 0

German=0

1 = German dialogues and help file are used;

0 = English dialogues and help file are used.
(Don't change it by Hand, it's better to reinstall the RRKMenu)

Section [General Properties]

Item=default

OnlyDesktop=0
0 = Off; 1 = On.
On: The Menu only will popuped, when the cursor is over the background of the desktop

KeySub=1
0 = Off; 1 = On.
Using Alt + Pause Hook, to popup the Menu

ShowEnhanced=1
0 = Off; 1 = ON.
Shows the Menuitems with a 3-D-effect and customisable Font.

WithIcons=1
0 = Off; 1 = ON.
Shows the Program Icons in the Menu.

IconSize=16
16, 24 or 32
The Icon size in the Menus.

AsShell=0
0 = Off; 1 = On.
Using the Menu as Shell.
(Don't change this by Hand, it wouldn't function!)

IconVisible=1
0 = Off; 1 = On.
Shows or hide the program icon on the desktop (the black arrow).

mMouseBotton=0
0 = right Mousebutton; 1 = middle Mousebutton.
The Mousebutton to popup the Menu.

SaveDT=1
0 = Off; 1 = On.
Saves and restore the sticked Menus on the desktop by ending the Menu, and restore them by restarting the Menu.

IDXinRAM=1
0 = Off; 1 = On.
Hold the index file RRKIDX.xxx and parts of the REG.DAT in the RAM.

RealMove=1
0 = Off; 1 = On.
Simulate a movement of the sticked Menu in 'Real-time', known by the NEXT desktop.

MinRessource=7
0 = Off; 1 = ON.
Minimal left of resources
(No dialogue option, only used for debugging.)

Zeit=50
General Time Variable
(No dialogue option, only used for debugging.)

[MenuFont]

Name=MS Sans Serif

Size=-11

Weight=400

Width=0

Italic=0

Underlined=0

(Don't change this option by hand)


Submenus in the INI-File

Don't delete the sections [Hauptmenü], [MainMenu], [Menü Setup], [Menu Setup], [Konfig_ResMenu], [Konfig_PerMenu]

This chapter documents the entries for Submenus and Menuitems in the RRKMENU.INI. Indeed, You don't need to edit the RRKMENU.INI by hand. All is editable by dialogues. But I think, it is a standard to document the important files.

The RRKMENU.INI has the normal format of Windows INI files. Using my own format might be improve the speed of Menu for a few milliseconds, but for the disadvantage of human unreadable file format it isn't worth.

Each Submenu are marked with brackets "[" "]". Below the Menuitems are listed.

Following Submenus are reserved:

[MainMenu]
The (Sub)Menu shows at first.

[Menu Setup]
There are some items to configure the Menu.

[Konfig_ResMenu]
The local Editmenu in sticked Menus.

[Autostart]
Running the Menu as Windows Shell, all Items listed will be started at the beginning of Windows. (You can create this Submenu in the same way, as other Submenus.)

Example:

[My Submenu]

;	The name of the Submenu.

1=0|Paintbrush|pbrush.exe

2=1|Files|NIX

3=2|*.DOC|C:\D\C\MENU\*.DOC

4=8|c:\windows\|c:\windows

Grammar:

MenuitemNumber=Typ of Menuitem|Label|File [Arguments][>Working Directory][<WindowSize]

[] = optional

•	MenuitemNumber: individual Number in the order of the Menuitems

•	Type of Menuitem:

0:	normal Menuitem
The Label is showed in the Menu and the File will be executed

1:	Submenu
The Label is showed in the Menu as a Submenu. It links to an other Submenu. The File is a Dummy (NIX == Nothing), produced by the Menu.

2:	Searching Directory
The Label is a Dummy, produced by the Menu. All Files are listed in the Submenu, these are matching to File.

8:	Drive Directory
The Label is showed in the Menu as a Submenu. The File is the starting directory; all Subdirectories of this starting directory are generate as Submenus, all Programmes and Documents are showed as Menuitems.

128:	vertical Dividing Line. Label "-" and Filename "x-"; x is a individual number.

256:	horizontal Dividing-Line  Label "'" and Filename "x'"; x is a individual number.

8193: Program Groups
Generate a Submenu with the Programmes installed in a Windows Program Manager Group.

•	Label: see Type of Menuitem

•	File: see Type of Menuitem
reserved expressions:
mnu_hintergrund: switch the option Only Desktop
mnu_symbolverstecken: switch the visible of the RRKMenu icon
mnu_info: Shows the RRKMenu Info
mnu_konfiguration and mnu_konf: Call the dialogue General Properties
mnu_ende: Ends RRKMenu
mnu_tasks: Generates a Submenu with all running Programmes
mmu_progman: Generate a Submenu with all Program Groups of the Program Manager
mnu_setup: for the Menu Setup Submenu (only relevant for the Icon)

mnu_oben (sticked Menus at the top), mnu_links (sticked Menus at the left), mnu_edit, mnu_ins, mnu_add, mnu_del:
It doesn't make sense to use this commands at an other place, then at the origin.

•	Arguments:
The arguments of a Program
Only used if the Type of Menuitem == 0
Default is no argument

•	Working Directory
default is the directory of the program

•	WindowSize:
The size of starting Program
0 = hidden; 1=normal; 2=minimized; 3=maximized
Only used if the Type of Menuitem == 0
Default is the default of the program.

(Comment: "Unsinn" is German and means nonsense. Ignore this entries.)


The Files

RRKMENU.EXE : The Program.

RRKSHELL.EXE: to run the Menu as Windows Shell

RRKMNDLL.DLL: for hooking the mouse and the keyboard.

BWCC.DLL: English Dialogue-DLL from Borland International.

RRKMENU.INI: Initialisation file of the Program

RRKMENG.HLP: English help file.

RRKMGER.HLP: German help file.

BWCCGER.DLL: German Dialogue-DLL from Borland International

README.TXT

LIESMICH.TXT: German README.TXT

Following files may created in the directory of RRKMENU.EXE:

RRKDAT.xxx

RRKIDX.xxx

If You use the feature to show the program and document Icons, the RRKMenu extract the Icons from the Programmes and write this information in two database files.

The fileextentions "xxx" are named after a combination of the Icon size and the colour resolution of Your graphic driver.

If You use a colour resolution with two colours (black and white) the Bitmap-file needs 1 Bit for each pixel (.01x) 16 colours needs 4 Bits (.04x) and 256 colours etc. 8 bit (.08x) etc.

If You use an icon size of 16 Pixel the third 'x' is a 1 (.xx1); by using an icon size of 24 Pixel a 2 (.xx2) and for 32 Pixel a 3 (.xx3).

The file RRKIDX.xxx is the index file for RRKDAT.xxx. In last the Icons are stored (Not really a Windows-Icon, res. a Windows- Bitmap, more a Core-Dump of a Bitmap, because real Bitmaps would be to slow. This causes the different xxx's. In the case You use the Icon size of 32 Pixel with a Colour resolution of 16 million colours this file (RRKDAT.243) might be become huge.)

If you change the colour resolution of Windows, or you want to change the Icon size, You can delete the old files. But always delete both files!


Restart Windows

Yes
Windows will be end and restart.
If you have choosed the Option As Shell, instead of the Program Manager of Windows the Menu will start at the beginning of Windows.

No
Windows will not restart.
If you have choose the Option As Shell, instead of the Program Manager of Windows the Menu will start at the next beginning of Windows.

Cancel
Our changes for the option As Shell will be discarded.


Sorry; Drive directories, Searching Directories...
Sorry; Drive directories, Searching Directories and PM-Groups can't be edited in sticked Menus. Use the Edit-Keys.

You can't edit Drive Directories, Searching Directories and PM-Groups in sticked Menus. To change the Menuitem popup the Menu, highlight the Menuitem and use the Edit keys.


There is no Menuitem selected!

You have to select a valid Menuitem, which You want to edit. Use the right (middle) mousebutton and click on the Menuitem to edit.


File-Error - File can't be opened
File-Error - File can't be opened.

Restart Windows to close all files.


A Hint: You can only edit the beginning of a Drive Directory!

You highlighted a Menuitem contains a Drive Directory.

If this Menuitem is not the beginning of the Drive Directory, changes won't have an effect.


You have to declare a Label and a File!

Look: The Edit Dialogue


You use a reserved expression!

The expression as filename "mnu_"... is reserved. You can't edit Menuitems, containing this expression.


Attention! Do you wish to keep the old Submenu?

If you edit (change) a Menuitem containing a Submenu, you have to choose, the old Submenu should be deleted or preserved.


Exit Windows?

Yes:
Exit Windows.

No:
Neither Windows nor the Menu will be ended.


This File-Extension is already associated
This File-Extension is already associated with a Program! Before making a new Association, detach the old one.

Look: The Dialogue Document - Association


You have to declare a Program-File and a File-Extension!

Look: The Dialogue Document - Association


The declared Association is not present!

Look: The Dialogue Document - Association


Known Bugs

Problem:

If you are to fast by selecting Submenus in sticked Menus, it can be ignore your mouse-action.

Solve:

Keep calm, do the same, but a little bit slower.

Problem:

Sometimes (maybe depending on the mouse-driver) the Menu annoy you, popping up, although you don't press the right (middle) Mousebutton.

Solve:

Press the left and after that once more the right Mousebutton.

Problem:

Seldom the Menu can corrupt other normal menus. If you recognise, that other menus are changed in an abnormal way, you must restart Windows.

There is a seriously bug in the Windows-Management of the menus. (CreatePopupMenu(), AppendMenu(...) and DeleteMenu(...) seem sometimes to fail in the depth of the Windows-API by stressing out of the normal efforts. Sometimes calling CreatePopupMenu() I even received the HMENU from the System-Menu!!! (That's a Bug!!!) Any idea?)

Problem:

The vertical Dividing Line is do not function in a desirable way. Especially if you stick the a Menu, containing a vertical Dividing Line the sticked Menu can become to long.

Solve:

In this version of RRKMenu - if you aren't failed in love with this option - avoid it.

Problem:

The Menu may be crashed, by opening a Program-Groups-Submenu.

Solve:

The corresponding GRP-file may be corrupted. The Program-Manager is more tolerant with his own files, as RKKMENU (this file format is really bad documented in the SDK).

Probably it is useful to change the numbers of colours in the Windows Setup, restart Windows, and re-change the numbers of colours. In this Way the Program-Manager rebuild the GRP-Files.


Abnormal Reactions of the Menu

•	Subject: Edit keys.

The Edit keys (F5 etc.) don't function, if a DOS- box is active (maybe depending to the mouse-driver).

•	Subject: Editing of Searching Directory.
It is not possible to edit Searching Directories in sticked Menus

•	Subject: Association.
If you marked the option Index in RAM in the Dialogue General Properties, the Menu evaluates the file REG.DAT, otherwise the sections in the WIN.INI are used.
If you change the section "Extensions" in the WIN.INI by hand, the menu may  doesn't recognise these changes.


It doesn't function - Help!!

Problem:
The Menu don't popup by pressing the right Mousebutton.

Try it with the middle Mousebutton or deactivate the Option middle Mousebutton

or

You marked the option Only Desktop

Move the Cursor over the Background of the desktop and try it again.
or:
Deactivate the option Only Desktop.


Internal Limits

•	Showed Menus and Submenus at one time:
If you reach the limit of the System resources a Beep will be sound.
(The Menu frees the System resources, if you clicking on the Desktop.)

•	Listed Menuitems in a sorted Searching Directory or an Drive Directory
1000 (only inlcuding programmes and Documents).

•	Maximum of Submenus and Menuitems
The file RRKMENU.INI must not be bigger than 32 KB.

•	Registered (and showed) Icons in the Database file RRKIDX.xxx
The file RRKIDX.xxx must not be bigger than 32 KB.

•	Sticked Menus
50


!!BEEP??

The RRKMenu sounds in follow cases:

You selected a Menuitem and execute it,
The Program or document can't be found.

You have selected a Submenu
You reached the limits of the system resources
The Menu frees the System resources, if you click on the Desktop.

Otherwise:
A general fault - I hope it is not serious.


What is it?

The RRKMenu is a Popup Menu, in which you can install programmes and documents to launch.

If you push elsewhere the right mousebutton, this Menu will be popuped at the position of your mousecursor.


Call the Menu

Press the right mousebutton!

To close the popuped Menu

Click elsewhere with the left mousebutton on the desktop.

If you push on the green pin, you can stick the Menu on the desktop. If you want to get rid of this sticked Menu, click to times more on the Pin.


Ending The Program

•	Popup the Menu and select End in the Submenu Menu Setup.

or:

•	Select Close in the Systemmenu of the program-icon (a black arrow).


Launch Programmes

The Menu is not configured for your needings.

The Menu at first is only configured, with a few Menuitems. I supposed, your Windows is installed at c:\windows. In the case, my hypothesis is correct, you can access the Menuitems in the Submenu WinProgrammes. Otherwise you have to change these Menuitems.

I also supposed, you have an disk c:\.

(But this configuration really don't exhausts the possibilities of the program.)

If you select a Menuitem in the Submenus or Sub-Submenus WinProgrammes, C:\ or Progr. Manager normally a program will start or a Document will open.


Configure the Menu

Because the wishes of the users and also the possibilities of this program are manifold, I give here only a short hint:

If you have popuped the Menu and highlighted a Menuitem with the left mousebutton, you can push the F5-key, to edit, insert, add or delete a Menuitem.

See also Keyboard for more Edit keys

and read the chapters of How to do in the Index window.


 The Dialogue Menu - General Properties

(Hint: Click on the buttons and fields for more Information.)

How to get the Dialogue

Explanations

Comments


How to get the Dialogue:

•	Press in the popuped the F2-key.

or:

•	Select in the System menu of program icon (a black Arrow) general Properties.

or:

•	Select in the Submenu Menu Setup the Menuitem general Properties.

or:

•	Press in the popuped Menu the F5-key and select the dialogue general Properties.

or:

•	Over a sticked Menu push the right (middle) Mousebutton and select in the local Editmenu general Properties.

(You see: You can't miss it!)


Explanations

In this dialogue you can change the general Properties of Menu.


Comments

Nothing


Index in RAM

If you haven't seriously problems with your RAM, it is recommended to use this option: The menu gets faster by using this option.


Middle Mousebutton

If you have a mouse supporting 3 mousebuttons, it is recommended to use this option. To pop up the menu, you can use the middle mouse-button instead of the right mousebutton.

See also: Avoid conflicts with other Programmes.


As Shell

To use the menu as shell instead of the Program-Manager.

Look also: Starting Options


Save DT. (Desktop)

Saves the sticked Menus on the desktop by ending the menu and restore them by restarting. Submenus build by Drive Directories will not be restored.


Look Like - Graphical

The menu has a 3d-effect.

With Fonts you can choose a Font for the Menuitems.

Comment: The sticked Menus always are showed with the 3d-effect.


Look Like - Icons

One of the highlights of the RRKMenu is the feature, to show automatically the Icons of Programmes and Documents in the Menu.

But if you have a slow Computer, you may don't want this option.

Look also The meaning of the Icons


Iconsize

The Numbers corresponding to the size of the Icons.

The normal size of the Icons - showed also by the Program-Manager - is 32 pixels. 24 and 16 pixels are smaller.


Fonts

A standard dialogue for choosing the menu-font.

The standard font is MS Sans Serif 8 pt.


Associate...

Starts a dialogue to associate Documents (declared by the file extensions) with a program.

See also: Dialogue - Document - Association


Realmove

If you have a fast Graphic-System in Our Computer, you can use this option, to simulate a real-time movement of the sticked Menus, known by the NeXT-Systems (Try it, it is just a joke).


Alt + Pause Key

Principally the Menu can used without a mouse (on notebooks maybe). Using this option, you can popup the Menu by pressing the Alt and the Pause key. To navigate in the Menu and Submenus, use the Cursors on the keyboard.

The sticked Menus are also supported with by keyboard.

See also: Using the Menu without a Mouse


OK

To confirm the changes in this dialogue.


Cancel

Selecting Cancel will undo all changes, except the changes in "Fonts".


The Dialogue Delete Menuitem
 The Dialogue - Delete Menuitem

(Hint: Click on the buttons and fields for more Information.)

How to get the Dialogue

Explanations

Comments


How to get the Dialogue:

•	At first press the F5-Key in the popuped Menu and then select Delete;

or:

•	Press the F4- or the Del-Key in the popuped Menu;

or:

•	In sticked Menus select the corresponding Menuitems of the Editmenu.


Explanations

This Dialogue is to confirm the deleting.


Comments

None


(Sub-)Menu

The submenu, which contains the actual selected Menuitem, is showed here.


Label

The Label of the actual selected Menuitem.


Filename

The command line of the actual selected Menuitem.


Working Directory

The Working Directory of the actual selected Menuitem.


OK

To confirm the deletion of the actual Menuitem.


The Dialogue Delete a Submenu
 The Dialogue - Delete a Submenu

(Hint: Click on the buttons and fields for more Information.)

How to get the Dialogue

Explanations

Comments


How to get the Dialogue:

•	If you have selected a popuped Menuitem, which contains a Submenu and you press the Del-Key, the RRKMenu asks you, if you want only delete the Menuitem, without deleting the whole Submenu (Name), or if you also want to delete the entries of the selected Submenu (All).


Explanations

None


Comment

It is recommended to delete the whole Submenu - conditionally you don't need the Submenu at a other place in your Submenu structure - because the RRKMENU.INI must not became bigger than 32 KB.


Name

Confirming with Name, only the Menuitem, which links to the (Sub-)Submenu in the actual (Sub-)Menu, will be deleted. If you Insert the (Sub-)Submenu in an other (Sub)Menu of your Submenu structure, you can access the old Entries. This might be a way to move whole Submenus.


All

Confirming with All, the whole Submenu will be deleted. This will have the consequence, that other Menuitems with a link to this Submenu will be empty.


 The Dialogue Menu - Edit Menuitem

(Hint: Click on the buttons and fields for more Information.)

How to get the Dialogue

Explanations

Comments


How to get the Dialogue:

There is more than one way:

•	At first select in the popuped Menu a Menuitem, than press the F5-Key and choose in the dialogue Menu - Editing one of the buttons: Add, Insert or Edit.

or:

•	At first select in the popuped Menu a Menuitem, than press the F6-Key to edit (change) a Menuitem.

•	... the F7-Key to add a new Menuitem

•	... the F4- or the Ins-Key to insert a new Menuitem.

or:

•	Choose in a sticked Menu the corresponding Menuitem of the local Editmenu.


Explanations

In this Dialogue you can insert, add or change a Menuitem.


Comments

In subject with the sticked Menus and the Drag and Drop - method with the File-Manager, you can also add or insert new Menuitems, without needing this dialogue.

Look: Drag'n Drop: Insert files in a Submenu


(Sub-) Menu

The Submenu, which contains the actual selected Menuitem, is showed here.


Label

The Label, which is showed as Menuitem in the Menu. The Label must not longer than 30 chars. Internal (As a link to a Submenu) there is no different in case.


Filename

Normally a program-file or a Document- to execute by choosing a Menuitem.

("mnu_"... is reserved for internal command)


Working Directory

You can declare a standard working path for programmes.

(This will have only an effect for standard Menuitems.)


Menuitem

A normal Menuitem needs a Label and a Filename.

The Label is depending from your imagination. (f.e.: My fine Program)

Use Browse for picking a Program- or a Document- File for Filename. The trial to execute other Files, than Programmes or Documents are receipted by a Beep.

You can also declare Arguments after a whitespace in Filename: f.e.: c:\mydir\myprogr.exe /v /r myfile.dat

In the field Working Directory you can declare a path for the program.

Also you can choose the window size of the starting program in Window-Size.


Submenu

A Submenu is a cascading menu.

Choosing a Menuitem, contains a link to a Submenu, this Submenu will be open. The Submenus are defined by their Labels. f.e.: Games and More

Intern there are no differences between capital and small letters. A declaration for a Filename is not necessary (NIX is 'short' form for "nothing").


horizontal Dividing-Line

Use this, if you want to structure your Menuitems in several sections.

You have to accept the suggested entries in Label and Filename.


Searching Directory

This option generate Menuitems by using DOS ambiguous file-names.

If you write c:\mydir\*.txt in the field Filename, in the Submenu all matching textfiles are listed in a alphabetical order. Entries in the field Label won't have an effect, because they are replaced by the found filenames (without the path).

You can use Browse to select the directory and a file.

(Comment: You can collect your actual project files in a Submenu, stick this Submenu on the desktop, and you doesn't need the Menu 'File - Open' in our application.)


Drive Directory

(The name may be unfortunately)

includes a little 'File-Manager' in the menu. In a submenu at first all directories and secondly all executable files and documents are listed in a alphabetical order.

In the field Filename you have to write the starting directories for example c:\ or c:\mydir\mysubdir.
(After choose this option, you can use Browse to chooese the starting path by selecting a Dummy - file.)

In the field Label you can use the defaults offers by Browse or you can declare your own Label.


Window - Size

The declaration of the Window - Size will have only a effect by using standard Menuitems. (I hope it is self-explained)


OK

After editing the Menuitem and confirming with OK the Menu will be change.


vertical Dividing Line

You can use this item to separate the Menuitems below the vertical Dividing Line in a new column.

(This feature is still 'Alpha')

You have to accept the suggested entries in Label and Filename.


Progr.- Manager

You can include the Program-Manager in the menu with this option.

You must accept the suggested default in the field Filename.

You can use the default in the field Label, or you can change it.


Progr.- Group

You can include a single Program-Group from the Program-Manager in the Menu.

Use Browse for searching a existing '*.grp'-file in your Windows-Directory.

In the field Label you can use the default, offers by Browse, or you can declare your own Label.

(Hint: You can edit the menuitems in "Progr. Manager" and "Progr.-Gruppe" in the normal way. But this option has the disadvantage, that the Icons are showed more slowly.)


 The Dialogue Menu - Execution

(Hint: Click on the buttons and fields for more Information.)

How to get the Dialogue

Explanations

Comments


How to get the Dialogue:

You have to press the Ctrl- Key while executing a Menuitem.


Explanations

You can change the filename and his parameters in dialogue before executing.

It is also a comfortable replacement for the Program-Managers "File - Execute" (or similar, I haven't the English Version of Windows)


Comments

None


Command line

Here is the Filename of the program or the document.


Parameter

Like a filename or flags, are expected by the program.


Working Directory

Some programmes needs to start in the a special directory, otherwise they can't find their files.


OK

After confirming, the program starts, respectively the document will be open.


The Dialogue Menu - Editing

(Hint: Click on the buttons and fields for more Information.)

How to get the Dialogue

Explanations

Comments


How to get the Dialogue:

Press in the popuped Menu the F5 Key.


Explanations

None


Comments

This dialogue is for people, which can't remember all the Keys.


End

Ends the Menu.

If the Menu is running as Windows Shell, after confirming Windows will shoot down.


Edit Menuitem

Opens a Dialogue, to edit the actual Menuitem.

Look: Edit a Menuitem
Dialogue Menu - Edit Menuitem


Delete Menuitem

Deletes the actual Menuitem.

Look: Delete a Menuitem
Dialogue Menu - Delete a Menuitem


Add Menuitem

Opens a dialogue, to add a new Menuitem below the position of the actual Menuitem.

Look: Add a Menuitem
Dialogue Menu - Edit a Menuitem


Insert Menuitem

Opens a dialogue, to insert a new Menuitem above the position of the actual Menuitem.

See: Insert a Menuitem
Dialogue Menu - Edit a Menuitem


General Properties

Opens a dialogue, where general Properties of the Menu can be changed.

Look: Dialogue General Properties


(Sub-)Menu

The Submenu, which contains the actual selected Menuitem, is showed here.


Label

The Label of the actual selected Menuitem.


Filename

The command line of the actual selected Menuitem.


Working Directory

The Working Directory of the actual selected Menuitem.


Browse:

This button will be open a standard-dialogue for picking a file.


Cancel

To cancel the action.


Cancel

To cancel the action.


Help

gives Help for the dialogue.


The Dialogue New Menuitem
The Dialogue - New Menuitem in an empty Submenu

(Hint: Click on the buttons and fields for more Information.)

How to get the Dialogue

Explanations

Comments


How to get the Dialogue:

If you insert a new Menuitem, and you highlighted an empty Submenu, this dialogue appears.


Explanations

To insert the first Menuitem in an empty Submenu, you have to highlight the empty Submenu and press the Ins-key.

After declare the new Menuitem in the Edit dialogue you can choose, if you want this new Menuitem as the first Menuitem in the empty Submenu.


Comments

None.


Normal

The blue Menuitem contains the empty Submenu. If you choose Normal, the new Menuitem (green) will be get the position above. The empty Submenu will be still empty.


Submenu

The blue Menuitem contains the empty Submenu. If you choose Submenu, the new Menuitem (green) will be become the first Menuitem of the empty Submenu.


The Dialogue Document Association
 The Dialogue - Document Association

(Hint: Click on the buttons and fields for more Information.)

How to get the Dialogue

Explanations

Comments


How to get the Dialogue:

•	Press in the popuped Menu the F2-key.

or:

•	Select in the Systemmenu of the programicon (a black Arrow) general Properties.

or:

•	Select in the Submenu Menu Setup the Menuitem general Properties.

or:

•	Press in the popuped the F5-key and select in the dialogue general Properties.

or:

•	Push over a sticked Menu the right (middle) Mousebutton and select in the local Editmenu general Properties.

And:

•	Select Associate


Explanations

In this dialogue You can declare Windows Documents by associate a fileextention with a program.

How to do:

Define a Document

Undefine a Document


Comments

Documents are defined by theire file extension. For example: A file with the file extension .wri is a Write - Document.


File Ext. (File Extension)

In this field You have to insert the File-Extension


List of the existing File Extensions

All File Extensions, defining a Document, are listed.

If You click on one File Extension, in the list Associated Programmes the Program associate with the document will be highlighted.


Associated Programmes

In this field You have to insert the Program.


List of the associated Programmes

Here all Programmes listed, are registered in the REG.DAT


Associate

If You have declared a File Extension in the field File Ext. and a program in Associated Programmes You can define a Document.


Detach

If You have declared a File Extension in the field File Ext. and a program in Associated Programmes You can undefine a Document.


OK

To close the dialogue.


Define a Document

Select in left list a File Extension to detach and push the button detach.


Undefine a Document

•	Declare a File Extension in the field File Ext.

•	Select a Program in the list Associated Programmes

or:

•	Use Browse, to pick up a program file.


Querverweis von VKN_DIALOG_HELP_ID auf vkndlg


Important  read at first
Important - read at first

Copyright:

This software an the documentation is copyrighted.

The file BWCC.DLL and BWCCGER.DLL are copyrighted by Borland International.

Agreement for Using / Warranty

This software and the accompanying files are distributed "as is" and without warranties as to performance of merchantability or any other warranties whether expressed or implied.

Because of the various hardware and software environments into which RRKMenu may be put, no warranty of fitness for a particular purpose is offered.

The program still have some bugs, see also Known Bugs.

The user must assume the entire risk of using the program.

Distribution:

This version of RRKMenu may be freely distributed, subject to the following restrictions:

It may be freely used by individuals, educational institutions and charities; use within commercial organisations is not permitted without the written consent of the author. The program may be stored in software archives or posted to Bulletin Board systems, and may be distributed by individuals. Apart from reasonable media and handling costs, no charge may be levied for its distribution.

Is prohibited to distribute the software and/or documentation with other commercial products without prior written permission.

The program should be stored with all the files listed in The Files.

Support:

A special Support is not offered by the Author.

Reports to bugs and mistakes in the program and the help are welcomed.

Registration / Feedback

RRKMenu is this Version FreeWare (not public domain), but if you want an actual version of the program (if there is one), you can send me 30 $ US or 50 DM (otherwise, I haven't the time to walk to the post office and I hate bureaucratic things).

Inquiries, comments, and suggestions regarding RRKMenu are welcomed and can be sent to

Roger René Kommer

Doernbergstr.11

D 34119 Kassel

Germany

Tel. (Germany) 0561 / 780 150

Internet: roger@architektur.uni-kassel.de


What you have to read / know

Following chapters you might have to read, to use the Menu:

•	You can get an overview of the features in: The features of the Menu.

•	In the chapters Getting Started (look at the Index window) the essential functions are described.

•	The chapters Bugs, Limits, Help (look at the Index window) may protect you for unwelcome surprises.

•	The Chapter Avoid Conflicts with other Programmes may give you hints exactly to do that.

•	you have to know the Edit keys for customising your menu.

•	In the chapters How to do (look at the Index window) the important Actions are descripted step by step.


Insert a New Menuitem

In standard, non-sticked Menus:

Comment

•	At first you have to popup the Menu with the right (or middle) Mousebutton.

•	After that, you have to select (highlight) a Menuitem with the left Mousebutton to reference the point of insert.

•	At the same time, push the Ins-Key.

•	and release the Mousebutton.

•	In the following dialogue you can declare the characteristics of the new Menuitem.

In sticked Menus:

Comment

Either:

•	You can highlight the Menuitem.

•	After released the Mousebutton, push the Ins-Key.

Or:

•	Push over the Menuitem to insert the right (or middle) Mousebutton,

•	and select in the Editmenu Insert Item.

•	In the following dialogue you can declare the characteristics of the new Menuitem.

Or:

Use the Drag'n Drop Method with the File-Manager.


Add a New Menuitem

There are the same methods, described in Insert a New Menuitem, with following differences:

•	You have to press the F7-key instead of the Ins-key.

•	The new Menuitem will be add after the current highlighted Menuitem.


Edit an Existing Menuitem

There are the same methods, described in Insert a New Menuitem, with following differences:

•	You have to press the F6-key instead of the Ins-key.


Delete an Existing Menuitem

In standard, non-sticked Menus:

Comment

Comment to delete a Dividing Line

•	At first you have to popup the Menu with the right (or middle) Mousebutton.

•	After that, you have to select (highlight) the Menuitem to delete.

•	At the same time, push the Del-Key.

•	and release the Mousebutton.

•	Confirm following Dialogue.

In sticked Menus:

Comment

Either:

•	You can highlight the Menuitem

•	After released the Mousebutton, push the Del-Key.

Or:

•	Push the right (or middle) Mousebutton over the Menuitem to delete,

•	and select in the Editmenu Delete Item.

•	Confirm following Dialogue.


Comments

•	If you can't remember all the Edit key, you also can choose the actions via F5 and the dialogue Menu - Editing.

•	Naturally you can't edit Menuitems in Drive Directory.

•	If you want to insert a new Menuitem in an empty Submenu, highlight the Menuitem, which contains the empty Submenu and press Ins.

•	If you insert, add, change or delete a Menuitem in a Program-Group, the changes will also effect the Program-Manager.


Comments

•	Searching Directories and Drive Directories can't be edit in sticked Menus.


Comment to Delete a Dividing Line

It is a little bit difficult to select a horizontal Dividing Line, but principle possible. The selection of a horizontal Dividing Line has no visual feedback by highlighted the Menuitem.

To delete a vertical Dividing Line, you have to select the continuation of the Head of the Menu in the second column.


Drag'n Drop:
Open any File using the File-Manager and a Sticked Menu

Often I want to view the contains of a file, that is not a document. If the file is not to huge, I start the notepad and use File - Open. If the file is bigger than 32 KB I have to use an other Editor. This seems me to be to complicated. Wy not use a simple Drag and Drop with the File Manager, to open any file with any Editor?. You can create a Submenu (maybe called 'Browsers') and install all your preferred Text- Hex- and docs-viewer in this Submenu. You can use sticked (Sub-)Menus as Drag'n Drop panel. If you drag files from the File Manager and drop them over an Menuitem, the files are send as arguments to the program installed as Menuitem. Of course, You can also install your Zip- and Unzip batchfiles in one of these Submenus.

•	Open the Submenu, which contains a Menuitem with a file viewer (f.e. NOTEPAD.EXE) and stick it on the desktop by using the pin.

•	It is recommended to click a second time on the pin, so it is complete sticked. The sticked Menu is now every time in the front of the desktop.

•	Open the File-Manager.

•	Choose the file to open in the File-Manager and

•	Drag the file with the left Mousebutton over the menuitem, which contains the file viewer and drop the file.

•	Now the program starts and normally opens the file.

Of course the file viewer must handle the file. Try to open a text file with Paintbrush will fail. Some programmes may also handle more then one File to open.

If you press the Alt-key while dropping the files, the menu will start for each file the applikation. This is usefull, because most of the applikations, which only can handle one document (f.e. Notepad or Paintbrush), also accept only one file as argument.

Otherwise the files are send as one package to the applikation.


Drag'n Drop:
Insert Files as Menuitems in a sticked (Sub-)menu

A very comfortable way to install new programmes or documents in a Submenu is using drag and drop with the File-Manager.

•	Open the Submenu, which should contain the new Menuitem and stick it on the desktop by using the pin.

•	It is recommended to click a second time on the pin, so it is complete sticked. The sticked Menu is now every time in the front of the desktop.

•	Open the File-Manager.

•	Choose in the File-Manager the file(s) to install and

•	drag the file(s) with the left Mousebutton over the menuitem, on which position the program or document should insert.

•	Press the Ctrl-key to add the new Menuitem after the position.

or

•	Press the Alt-key to insert the new Menuitem ahead of the position.

and

•	drop the file(s).


The Program-Manager as Menu
The Program Manager as Menu

Comment

It is possible to include the whole Program Manager as a Submenu containing the Program-Groups as further Submenus with the Programmes as Menuitems. The Icons are supported, but not the short-cuts and the option starting Programmes icon sized.

•	To include the Program Manager in a Submenu as a Menuitem, the same steps are necessary, described in Insert a Menuitem respectively in Add a Menuitem.

•	Select in the Edit dialogue the option Progr.-Manager. The suggested declarations for Filename must, and for Label can be accepted.


A single Program-Group as Menu

Comment

It is also possible to include a single Program-Group (a sub-window of the Program-Manager) as a Submenu in the Menu.

•	To include a Program-Group in a Submenu as a Menuitem, the same steps are necessary, described in Insert a Menuitem respectively in Add a Menuitem.

•	Select in the Edit dialogue the option Program Group.

•	Use Browse to pick an existing Group file (*.grp) in your Windows-directory.
(If you pick Group file not installed in the Program-Manager the Menu may be crashed!)


Comment

I hope the Program-Manager and the Program-Groups are quite transparent implemented, but there are still some problems.

However, you sure recognised, the Icons are considerably build slower than in normal Submenus.

I read in journal, that a serious replacement for the Program-Manager 'must' support the group-files of the Program-Managers. OK, I've done it, although it doesn't make much sense to me.


Edit Menuitems of a Program-Group

Comment

I hope, it is designed transparent to you.

You can use the normal methods to edit the Menuitems in a Program-Group (also Program-Manager) build as Submenus.

You have to notice, that all changes (insert, add, edit, delete) will have also an effect to the Windows Program Manager!! For example: If you delete a Menuitem in a Program-Group, the installation of the corresponding Program in the Windows Program Manager will also be deleted.

But there are following differences:

•	In contrast to normal Menuitems it doesn't make a different using Add or Insert. At all: the positions of the menuitems are taken over in an accidental order.

•	Of course you can only insert normal Menuitems (no Submenus or else) in a Program-Group. In the Edit dialogue this limitation is presented with the option PM-Item.


Comments

•	The Icons are supported, but the short-cuts and the option starting Programmes icon sized will have no effects.


Menus with a 3-D-Effect

Comment

Instead of the normal appearance of Windows Menus you can supply the menus with a 3-D-Effect (At first it was only a fashion, it becomes more and more a standard. The programmers do anything for the users!).

Than you can also customise the Font, using by the Menu.

•	Select in the dialogue General Properties the option Graphic.

If You like the Look of the Desktop Menu of OpenLook, you can change the appearance of the Menus.

Unfortunately this option is not changeable in a dialogue.

Use the editor Notepad, open the file RRKMENU.INI and change in the section [General Properties] the entry OWL_LIKE=0 to OWL_LIKE=1. Before restarting the Menu, it is recommended to delete all the files RRKIDX.* and RRKDAT.*, because the Icons are different processed with this look.


Choosing the Menu-Font

Comment

To change the Menu font, it is necessary to check the Option Graphic.

•	Select in the dialogue General Properties the button Fonts and choose in the Windows standard dialogue your preferenced font.


Use Icons in the Menus

Comment

Comment 2

One of the highlights of RRKMenu is the feature, showing Programmes and Documents automatically by their Icons. For Programmes, which haven't an Icon, like DOS-applications, default Icons are used.

The first call needs a little bit more time to extract the Icon and write it in the database (RRKDAT.xxx and RRKIDX.xxx in the directory of RRKMenu). But normally the appearance is quite fast.

If you have a very slow computer you may deactivate this option.

•	Select in the dialogue General Properties the option Icons.

•	In the field Icon Size you can choose the preferenced icon size. 32 pixels is the normal size, also showed by the Program Manager. 24 and 16 pixels are equivalent smaller.


Comment

If you change the Font- or the Icon size, while sticked Menus exist on the desktop, you can refresh this sticked Menus with the F12-key. (This may be fixed in a later version.)


Starting Options

As Shell:

Normally Windows starts at first the Program Manager for Windows Shell.

If you like the Menu, and find the Program Manager unnecessary for you, you can use the Menu as Windows Shell:

(Comment: At my experience the menu is more economically with the System resources as the Program Manager.)

•	Select in the dialogue General Properties the option As Shell and restart Windows.

You can enjoy the purity starting Windows with a complete empty desktop (All wishes to order and purity tend to negate all things to nothing), and like a deus ex machina the Menu waits for you in the background.

But the Menu also supports a Submenu, called Autostart. It functions in the same way as in the Program Manager of Windows. Create this Submenu, if you want start applications at the beginning of Windows. The Menu also supports the run and load directives in the WIN.INI.

Save the Desktop by ending the Menu

If you have collected our preferences Applications and our Project-Files (may realised with Searching Directories.) in sticked Submenus on the desktop, you can induce the Menu to restore these sticked Submenus by restarting the Menu.

Submenus, build by Drive Directories, will not be restored.

•	Select in the dialogue General Properties the option Save DT.


Using the middle Mousebutton

Although the Microsoft Mouse has only 2 mousebuttons, 3 mousebuttons are supported by Windows. (It depends also by the used mouse driver)

If you have a mouse with 3 mousebuttons, it is recommended using the 3th, middle mousebutton to popup the Menu.

•	Unfortunately you can't test the 3th mousebutton in the Windows Control. For precaution at first it is recommended to unhide the Menu icon (the black arrow) by using Hide Icon in the Submenu Menu Setup or stick the Submenu Menu Setup on the desktop.

•	Select in the dialogue General Properties the option middle Mousebutton.

•	Test the middle mousebutton.

•	If your Mouse doesn't support the 3th mousebutton, undo this option.

Look also: Avoid Conflicts with other Programmes


Improve the Speed of the Menu

If you haven't serious problems with our RAM (286 / 1 MB) you can improve the speed of the Menu by

•	selecting in the dialogue General Properties the option Index in RAM.

Without this option the Menu needs permanently only ~25 KB non-discardable RAM, with this option ~ 100 KB more (It depends by the number of Document-Associations and registered Icons in the Menu-Database).

Commend


Avoid Conflicts with other Programmes

The Menu is a kind of TSR, hooking the mouse actions.

Unimportant which application is actual active, pressing the right (middle) Mousebutton the Menu comes up.

This may be causes problems.

To minimise these problems, the Menu is very jealous of other Programmes using the right (middle) mousebuttons. More and more Programmes supports the right mousebutton for local edit options. In this case, you normally can't access this features of the Programmes, because every time the RRKMenu is popuped.

•	If you have a mouse with 3 mousebuttons, it is simple to solve this problem: Use the middle Mousebutton for the Menu!

•	Otherwise can use the Option Only Desktop in the Submenu Menu Setup. Then the Menu only will popuped, when the mousecursor is over the background of the desktop. In the applications the right mousebutton will function in the normal way.
If you select the option Alt + Pause PopUp in the dialogue General Properties, You can still popup the menu independent of the position of the mousecursor by pressing the Alt- and Pause- Key.


Comment

This option is used by default.


Hide the Program Icon

One of the aim of the Menu is, to clean up the overcrowded Desktop. By consequence you can also hide the program icon of the Menu (a black arrow).

Either:

•	Select in the System menu of the program icon the menuitem hide Icon.

or:

•	Select in the Submenu Menu Setup the Menuitem hide Icon.

To unhide the Icon:

•	Of course you can unhide the icon only with the Menuitem in the Submenu Menu Setup.

 visible.

 hidden


only Desktop

If you want, that the Menu will only popuped, when the mousecursor is over the background of the Desktop, you can select only Desktop in the Submenu Menu Setup.

The Menu will popup on every place of the desktop.

The Menu will only popup, if the mousecursor is over the background of the desktop .

Look also: Avoid Conflicts with other Programmes


Using the Menu without a Mouse
Using the Menu without a Mouse.

Comment

If you want to use the Menu on a Computer, which haven't a mouse, it is principle possible.

•	You can use the Alt - Pause-keys to popup the Menu.

•	Use the Esc-key (maybe several times) to close the Menu. (excepting the sticked Submenu)

•	To launch a program use the Return-key.

•	Use the Up and Down Arrows on the Keyboard to highlight a Menuitem.

•	Use the Right Arrow or the Return-key on the keyboard to open a highlighted Submenu.

•	Use the Left Arrow or the Esc-key to close the last Submenu.

•	To stick a Menu use the Return-key, when the Menu head is marked (look at the pin).

For the next actions a sticked Menu must have the focus (showed by two thin lines in the Menu head).

•	Use the Shift-PgnUp-keys to roll up the sticked Menu.

•	Use the Shift-PgnDown-keys to roll down the sticked Menu.

•	Use the Shift-Esc-keys to hold a sticked Menu on the top of the desktop.

•	Use one or two times the Shift-Esc-keys to close a sticked Menu.

•	Use the F9-key to arrange all sticked Menus on the left side of the desktop.

•	Use the F11-key to arrange all sticked Menus on the top of the desktop.

•	Use the Shift and the Arrow- keys to move a sticked Menu


Comment

Several features are planned to support the Menu without a Mouse aren't implemented in this version.