Q58568: How to Use Customize Menu Command of Utility Menu in QBX.EXE
Article: Q58568
Product(s): See article
Version(s): 7.00
Operating System(s): MS-DOS
Keyword(s): ENDUSER | SR# S900118-14 | mspl13_basic
Last Modified: 26-FEB-1990
This article explains how to use the Customize Menu command in the
Utility menu in the QBX.EXE (QuickBASIC Extended) environment. The
Customize Menu command allows you to add your own DOS commands
(internal, external, or batch files) to the Utility menu. This
provides easy access to these commands rather than having to shell out
to DOS and type them in at the command line prompt.
This information applies to Microsoft BASIC Professional Development
System (PDS) Version 7.00 for MS-DOS.
The following is a brief summary of the features of the Customize Menu
dialog box:
Applications List - A list of the DOS commands already included in the
Utility menu.
Add button - Adds a new command to the Applications List. For
details, see farther below.
Edit button - Edits the information associated with a command
already in the Applications List.
Delete button - Deletes a command from the Applications List.
To Begin button - Puts the currently selected command at the top of
the Applications List.
To End button - Puts the currently selected command at the bottom
of the Applications List.
Save button - Saves all the changes made to the Applications
List and closes the Customize Menu dialog box.
Cancel button - Cancels all the changes made to the Applications
List and closes the Customize Menu dialog box.
Help button - Provides online help for using the Customize
Menu command.
The Customize Menu command in the Utility menu is a handy way to
execute DOS-level commands from inside the QBX.EXE environment. It
allows you to execute internal commands, external commands, and batch
files by selecting a menu item with the keyboard or mouse. There is no
need to shell out to DOS. When the command or batch file is finished,
you can be prompted to "press any key to continue" or you can specify
for QBX to reappear automatically.
Adding, deleting, editing, and ordering commands in the Utility menu
is very simple, and the discussion above should be adequate enough for
every feature except the Add button, which is discussed below in
detail.
Add Button
----------
When selected, the Add button brings up another dialog box containing
edit fields that are used to enter information about the command to be
added. The following is a list of the edit fields and buttons of this
dialog box and information about each one:
Menu Text (20 chars) - Enter the name you want displayed in the
Utility menu. This name will also appear in the
Applications List. This may or may not be the
name of the actual command.
Pathname - Enter the name of the command if it is internal
or the full path to the file if it is external
or a batch file. For example, "DIR" or
"C:\CHKDSK".
Arguments - Enter the arguments passed to the command. For
example, this may be "a:" if the command is
"FORMAT" or "/w" if the command is "DIR", etc.
Initial Directory - Enter the name of the directory you want the
command to operate in.
Prompt Before - Select this option if you want to be prompted
Returning with "press any key to continue" before control
is returned to QBX.
Accelerator Key - Select the None button if you do not want to
use an accelerator key or select the ALT+F
button if you do. The values that may be
entered into the box following ALT+F range from
2 to 10, specifying the function keys F2
through F10.
OK button - Select this button when you are satisfied with
the information in the dialog box. The Add
dialog box closes and the name of the new
command is added to the Applications List.
However, none of the changes to the Utility
menu are saved unless the Save button is
selected.
Cancel button - This button cancels the information entered in
the edit fields and closes the Add dialog box.
Help button - This button displays more online help.
Below is a step-by-step example illustrating how to use the Customize
Menu command. This example shows how to add the DOS command "DIR" to
the Utility menu. This DIR command operates on the current directory
and uses the "/w" parameter to display the listing in many columns
rather than one. Also, an accelerator key (ALT+F5) is linked to the
command for easy keyboard access and the user is prompted to "press
any key to continue" after the DIR command is finished.
1. Choose Customize Menu from the Utility menu. This can be done by
holding down the ALT and U keys together, followed by the C key
alone.
2. The Customize Menu dialog box appears. Press the TAB key once to
highlight the Add button and then press ENTER.
3. Another dialog box appears, containing edit fields used to enter
information about the command. The cursor is placed in the top
edit field, "Menu Text (20 chars)." Type in "DIR" for this field
and press TAB.
4. The cursor advances to the next edit field, "Pathname". Since DIR
is an internal command, it has no path, so you only need to enter
the name of the command by itself, "DIR". Do this and press TAB
again.
5. The next edit field is "Arguments". A common argument to pass to
the DIR command is "/w". The "/w" argument (called a switch)
breaks the directory listing into columns rather than listing them
in one long column, which frequently scrolls off the screen. Type
"/w" and press TAB.
6. For the "Initial Directory" edit field, you can enter any valid
pathname. Leaving this field blank causes the command to use the
current pathname. Press TAB to leave it blank.
7. The cursor is now placed inside the button titled "Prompt Before
Returning." You can press SPACEBAR to toggle this button on or
off. Toggle it on and press TAB.
8. The cursor advances to the button titled "None". By default it is
also selected, specifying that no accelerator key is to be defined
for accessing the DOS command from the Utility menu. To enter an
accelerator key, press the RIGHT ARROW. This toggles the None
button off and the ALT+F button on. Press TAB to advance the
cursor to the edit field following the ALT+F button and enter a 5
(specifying F5). Press ENTER to continue.
9. The current dialog box closes and the main Customize Menu dialog
box reappears. You will see that "DIR" has been added to the
Applications List. Press TAB until the Save button is highlighted,
then press ENTER.
10. The Customize Menu dialog box closes. You can now choose the DIR
command from the Utility menu either by pulling down the menu and
then choosing DIR or you can use the accelerator key sequence,
ALT+F5. After displaying the contents of the current directory, you
will be prompted with "press any key to continue" before control is
returned to QBX.
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