
        MSI Menu System 1.5
        Copyright (C) 1991 by Larry B. Rice & MSI ShareWorks
        Distributed as Shareware.

        WHATS.NEW
        ______________________________________________________________

        What's New for Version 1.5:  Released -  ??????

        NOTE: MSI is now started with the command:   RUNMSI

        Bug fixes:

        * 'Prompt Line' is now handled correctly when defining a 
        Prompt string.  When the Prompt command key P is pressed, 
        'Prompt Line' will be set to 'Yes' and the menu will be 
        configured to leave room for the Prompt at the bottom of the 
        menu window.  After editing, the string will be checked for 
        valid characters and 'Prompt Line' set appropriately.

        * It is no longer possible to change menus after selecting an 
        item to to Move (F3) in the Menus Editor. 

        * BACKSPACE, INS and DEL will no longer cause extra spaces to 
        be left on the end of a new or edited menu item string. 

        * Using the BACKSPACE, INS and DEL while entering a Password 
        will no longer allow part or all of the user entry to appear.

        * The Text Editor has been updated to more intelligently 
        select colors for highlighting lines being edited, and to 
        work more efficiently with formatted menu items.


        New Features!

        !->   OnLine Support!  Regional Support BBS's are now being 
        established across the country.  See the file SUPPORT.MSI.  
        The ABSCO EMBASSY, (714) 465-1549 HST D/S, carries a local 
        support Conference for MSI ShareWorks.  Direct support, help 
        files and official releases are all available.  The ABSCO 
        EMBASSY is also a member of the RIME computer network.  Both 
        public and private messages may be addressed to me, Larry Rice, 
        through the Shareware or Common Conferences.  Routed and R/O 
        mail is sent via ->EMBASSY.

        !->   Screen Blanking.  This has been the single most 
        requested upgrade feature.  The delay time is set by pressing 
        F3 in normal menu mode.  Use the Cursor Up & Down keys to 
        change the time in 5 minute increments.  The default time is 
        five minutes without keyboard activity.  Changes in delay time 
        are stored as part of the MSI data file. 

        !->   A Home directory can now be specified as the environment 
        variable, MSIPATH, using the DOS 'SET' command.  This allows 
        MSI to locate important data files, regardless of the current 
        directory.
        
                          SET MSIPATH=Drive:\FullPath




        !->   An MSI Installation Utility.  This utility will 
        automatically run the first time you use MSI, IF the file 
        HOME.DIR is not found.  Shared copies of MSI might include 
        HOME.DIR.  If you DON'T see the Installation Utility when you 
        first run the program, enter the Menus Editor (F5) and press 
        CTRL-F6.  This allows you to re-install MSI. 
        
        This first part of the utility will establish the Home 
        directory; that is, the drive and directory where your MSI 
        files have been placed.  

        The second part of the utility WILL MODIFY YOUR AUTOEXEC.BAT 
        file.  IF you don't want this to happen, press N at the 
        'Continue? (Y/N)' warning prompt.

        If you do modify AUTOEXEC.BAT, both PATH and MSIPATH will be 
        set for you.  Also, you will have the opportunity to install 
        the menus so that they appear each time you start or re-boot 
        your system.  Your original AUTOEXEC will be saved as 
        AUTOEXEC.BAK.  If AUTOEXEC.BAK already exists, your old 
        commands will be found APPENDED to the bottom of the file. 

        !->   Pressing CTRL-F6 inside the Menus Editor allows you to 
        re-install MSI, should you ever move your files around. 

        !->   LifeTime Owners may now upgrade with shared or downloaded 
        copies of new MSI releases.

        !->   ESCaping from the Main Menu now lets you Quit MSI, 
        rather than executing a DOS Shell. 

        !->   CTRL-F1 executes a DOS Shell.  MSI remains Resident.

        !->   The Menus Editor screen has been redesigned.  ALL Menu 
        configuration options are now available on a single screen!  
        The original window to the left has been expanded to hold all 
        General Menu Settings.  Settings which apply ONLY to a 
        highlighted menu item now appear in a window above the menu. 

        !->   Many of the configuration settings can now be set with a 
        single keystroke.  The following only have two settings.  
        Pressing the command key will immediately change the current 
        setting, and update the menu window.  The command keys are 
        shown enclosed in (). 

            1. (T)ype - A top window option of Normal or Text Only
            2. Prompt (L)ine - Yes or No
            3. Sha(d)ow - Yes or No
            4. (C)ursor (Bar) - Yes or No
            5. St(e)pped - Yes or No



        !->   A new "Selects:" type has been added, RSIDNT.  RSIDNT 
        executes Action Commands with MSI still Resident in Memory.  
        Unlike DUAL, however, there is no sub-menu or second set of 
        Action Commands.  See the technical note at the end of the 
        file. 
        
        !->   'Peek-through' window shadows added.  While mostly 
        aesthetic, this does allow the clock to be displayed and 
        updated in the shadow of the new window in the Menus Editor. 

        !->   'Registered to:' credit may now be removed.  Registered 
        MSI owners will receive instructions for removing the credit 
        line if they so desire. 

        !->   A Control Key help line has been added to the normal 
        operating mode.  This will appear in place of the Copyright 
        notice when a Control Key is pressed. 

        !->   The Copyright line can now display the current drive and 
        directory.  Pressing CTRL-F2 toggles this display mode.

        !->   MSI.DAT is now tagged with a version code.  This allows 
        future upgrades to include changes to the data format which 
        MSI can 'silently' incorporate into earlier data files without 
        intervention on the part of the user. 

        !->   The Sample Menus are now distributed in SAMPLE.DAT.  See 
        the file README.1ST.

        !->   M.BAT has been renamed to RUNMSI.BAT.

        !->   PRINTQWK.BAT to print the files, WHATS.NEW, README.1ST 
        and README.DOC, and MANUAL.BAT to print the manual files.  

        !->   The SUPPORT.MSI file.  Lists the Online Regional Support 
        BBS's and Official Distribution BBS's for MSI. 

        !->   The README.1ST file.

        !->   This (WHATS.NEW) file!




        TECHNICAL NOTE:

        Earlier versions of MSI implemented ACTION and DUAL Action 
        Commands in different ways.  The ACTIONs were written to the 
        batch file, ACT.BAT, which was then executed by DOS.  The DUAL 
        Actions were issued individually as system commands. 

        MSI now offers three different ways of executing Action 
        Commands, and they all work alike.  I discovered that in the 
        Resident modes, DUAL and RSIDNT, executing the commands 
        through the ACT.BAT file saves about 6,000 bytes of RAM.  Not 
        a lot, but with the applications appearing today, every little 
        bit helps. 
             
        The Action Modes are; (i.e. "Selects:" is set to:) 

        ACTION:
             MSI is NOT in Memory.  160 bytes of RAM will be used by 
             DOS due to batch file use, but otherwise MSI is 
             completely removed.

           Advantages: More Memory available for large applications.

           Disadvantages: Slower return to menus since the program 
             must reload.  You will always return to the Main Menu. 

        RSIDNT:
             MSI remains in Memory.  Approximately 115,000 bytes of 
             RAM are used since a second copy of DOS is also loaded.

           Advantages: You will be returned to the same menu that the 
             RSIDNT item was called from, and you will be returned 
             much faster.

           Disadvantages: Some very large applications may not have 
             enough memory available to execute.
        
        DUAL:
             MSI remains in Memory (See RSIDNT).  The DUAL lets you 
             define a set of Actions to execute, then a sub-menu to 
             display, and a second set of Actions to execute when the 
             returns from the sub-menu.  I originally designed this 
             option to help control the configuration and use of a 
             TSR.

           Advantages: Same as RSIDNT in that the menus are still in 
             memory, giving better control.  Also, better control when 
             using TSRs.

           Disadvantages: Some very large applications may not have 
             enough memory available to execute.

        END OF FILE 


