Pretty-Face DOS (Command Prompt) Menu System via Batch File Programming

Written on January 25, 2003 (3 WE).

MENU – self-extracting file; version 1.0, January 2003.
IONMENU – self-extracting file; version 1.0, July 2004. A template of Ion Saliu's DOS lottery system.

I am aware of how much freeware I offer. Much, sometimes, creates difficulty. There is no common menu to run all my freeware from one point. I suggested users follow the batch menus found in some of LotyWon packages and adapt the menus to other packages. I think I solved now the problem for the most part. This also answers so many questions and requests.

I created a general-purpose menu system to run all my free software from a central command and control. The menu can be adapted to any software packages, or to an entire computer. The menu is DOS-based. It requires that the command (DOS) prompt is enabled in the Windows operating system (a.k.a command prompt). The menu system can also run Windows applications, via the START command.

The DOS files are in a self-compressed package named MENU. It is available as a free download.
First, I suggest you configure your DOS system using the included AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS. I guarantee, they are safe. I use them everyday. They will make your DOS screen look really pretty. I like it better than the Windows screens.
AUTOEXEC.BAT

@echo off
set TMP=c:\windows\temp
set TEMP=c:\windows\temp
prompt $p$g
PATH C:\;C:\windows;C:\windows\command;c:\q;c:\util;c:\bat;c:\lottery;C:\ION;
ECHO 
LoadHigh c:\windows\Command\doskey /BUFSIZE:1024
macros.bat

CONFIG.SYS

device=c:\windows\himem.sys
device=c:\windows\emm386 noems
DOS=High,UMB
devicehigh=c:\windows\command\ansi.sys /X

Check first your files. They may have other commands that you need to keep. Only add what's missing. Especially be careful with the PATH statements.

Another important batch file is MACROS.BAT:

doskey co=copy $1 $2
doskey d=dir /O:N /P
doskey da=dir A: /O:N /P
doskey dc=dir C: /O:N /P
doskey dd=dir D: /O:N /P
doskey de=dir E: /O:N /P
doskey re=xcopy $1 $2 /D /U /Y
doskey bk=attrib +A $1$Txcopy $1 $2 /M /-Y
doskey xc=xcopy $1 $2 /M /-Y
doskey x=exit
doskey bcg=bellcurvegenerator
doskey b=cd\$Tcd\BJACK$TBJ.bat
doskey l=cd\$Tcd\lottery$Tsee.bat
doskey h=cd\$Tcd\horses$Th.bat
doskey R=cd\$Tcd\ROULETTE$TGOR.bat
doskey s=cd\$Tcd\SPORTS$TSP.bat
doskey mdi=start c:\progra~1\mdiedi~2\mdiedi~1
doskey rev=start CoolRevGui
doskey f=formula
doskey i=cd\$Tcd\ion$Tstart.bat

It creates really handy shortcuts. For example, I can run MDIEditor and Lotto at the DOS prompt by typing mdi. You can type d and have an ordered list of current directory. You can type i and start this menu system. It will take you to the C:\ION directory. The INSTALL.BAT creates such a directory and copies to it all the files in MENU (after you decompressed it).

@ECHO OFF
MD\ION
COPY *.* \ION

There are two tiny programs you always need in C:\ION. WAITS.COM waits for you to press a function key and thus perform an operation. BORDER creates a nice screen border.

The package includes several screens as text files. They were created with QEdit. The screens are loaded by the main batch file: START.BAT.

@ECHO OFF
BORDER
ECHO 
:TOP
CLS
TYPE MENU_0.SCR
:KEY_0
WAITS.COM
IF errorlevel 69 goto KEY_0
IF errorlevel 68 GOTO F10_0
IF errorlevel 67 GOTO F9_0
IF errorlevel 66 GOTO F8_0
IF errorlevel 65 GOTO F7_0
IF errorlevel 64 GOTO F6_0
IF errorlevel 63 GOTO F5_0
IF errorlevel 62 GOTO F4_0
IF errorlevel 61 GOTO F3_0
IF errorlevel 60 GOTO F2_0
IF errorlevel 59 GOTO F1_0
GOTO KEY_0
:F1_0
FORMULA
GOTO TOP
:F2_0
C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\EDIT.COM
0OTO TOP
:F3_0
CLS
TYPE MENU_3.SCR
:KEY_3
WAITS.COM
IF errorlevel 69 goto KEY_3
IF errorlevel 68 GOTO F10_3
IF errorlevel 67 GOTO F9_3
IF errorlevel 66 GOTO F8_3
IF errorlevel 65 GOTO F7_3
IF errorlevel 64 GOTO F6_3
IF errorlevel 63 GOTO F5_3
IF errorlevel 62 GOTO F4_3
IF errorlevel 61 GOTO F3_3
IF errorlevel 60 GOTO F2_3
IF errorlevel 59 GOTO F1_3
GOTO KEY_3
:F1_3
rem the tutorial file here: EDIT.COM filename
GOTO F3_0
:F2_3
EDIT.COM
GOTO F3_0
:F3_3
CLS
TYPE MENU_33.SCR
:KEY_33
WAITS.COM
IF errorlevel 69 goto KEY_33
IF errorlevel 68 GOTO F10_33
IF errorlevel 67 GOTO F9_33
IF errorlevel 66 GOTO F8_33
IF errorlevel 65 GOTO F7_33
IF errorlevel 64 GOTO F6_33
IF errorlevel 63 GOTO F5_33
IF errorlevel 62 GOTO F4_33
IF errorlevel 61 GOTO F3_33
IF errorlevel 60 GOTO F2_33
IF errorlevel 59 GOTO F1_33
GOTO KEY_33
:F1_33
GOTO F3_3
:F2_33
EDIT.COM
GOTO F3_3
:F3_33
GOTO F3_3
:F4_33
GOTO F3_3
:F5_33
GOTO F3_3
:F6_33
GOTO F3_3
:F7_33
GOTO F3_3
:F8_33
GOTO F3_3
:F9_33
GOTO F3_3
:F10_33
GOTO F3_0
:F4_3
CLS
TYPE MENU_34.SCR
:KEY_34
WAITS.COM
IF errorlevel 69 goto KEY_34
IF errorlevel 68 GOTO F10_34
IF errorlevel 67 GOTO F9_34
IF errorlevel 66 GOTO F8_34
IF errorlevel 65 GOTO F7_34
IF errorlevel 64 GOTO F6_34
IF errorlevel 63 GOTO F5_34
IF errorlevel 62 GOTO F4_34
IF errorlevel 61 GOTO F3_34
IF errorlevel 60 GOTO F2_34
IF errorlevel 59 GOTO F1_34
GOTO KEY_34
:F1_34
GOTO F4_3
:F2_34
EDIT.COM
GOTO F4_3
:F3_34
GOTO F4_3
:F4_34
GOTO F4_3
:F5_34
GOTO F4_3
:F6_34
GOTO F4_3
:F7_34
GOTO F4_3
:F8_34
GOTO F4_3
:F9_34
GOTO F4_3
:F10_34
GOTO F3_0
:F5_3
CLS
TYPE MENU_35.SCR
:KEY_35
WAITS.COM
IF errorlevel 69 goto KEY_35
IF errorlevel 68 GOTO F10_35
IF errorlevel 67 GOTO F9_35
IF errorlevel 66 GOTO F8_35
IF errorlevel 65 GOTO F7_35
IF errorlevel 64 GOTO F6_35
IF errorlevel 63 GOTO F5_35
IF errorlevel 62 GOTO F4_35
IF errorlevel 61 GOTO F3_35
IF errorlevel 60 GOTO F2_35
IF errorlevel 59 GOTO F1_35
GOTO KEY_35
:F1_35
GOTO F5_3
:F2_35
EDIT.COM
GOTO F5_3
:F3_35
GOTO F5_3
:F4_35
GOTO F5_3
:F5_35
GOTO F5_3
:F6_35
GOTO F5_3
:F7_35
GOTO F5_3
:F8_35
GOTO F5_3
:F9_35
GOTO F5_3
:F10_35
GOTO F3_0
:F6_3
GOTO F3_0
:F7_3
GOTO F3_0
:F8_3
GOTO F3_0
:F9_3
BellCurveGenerator
GOTO F3_0
:F10_3
GOTO TOP
:F4_0
CLS
TYPE MENU_4.SCR
:KEY_4
WAITS.COM
IF errorlevel 69 goto KEY_4
IF errorlevel 68 GOTO F10_4
IF errorlevel 67 GOTO F9_4
IF errorlevel 66 GOTO F8_4
IF errorlevel 65 GOTO F7_4
IF errorlevel 64 GOTO F6_4
IF errorlevel 63 GOTO F5_4
IF errorlevel 62 GOTO F4_4
IF errorlevel 61 GOTO F3_4
IF errorlevel 60 GOTO F2_4
IF errorlevel 59 GOTO F1_4
GOTO KEY_4
:F1_4
rem the tutorial file here: EDIT.COM filename
GOTO F4_0
:F2_4
EDIT.COM
GOTO F4_0
:F3_4
GOTO F4_0
:F4_4
GOTO F4_0
:F5_4
GOTO F4_0
:F6_4
GOTO F4_0
:F7_4
GOTO F4_0
:F8_4
GOTO F4_0
:F9_4
BellCurveGenerator
GOTO F4_0
:F10_4
GOTO TOP
:F5_0
CLS
TYPE MENU_5.SCR
:KEY_5
WAITS.COM
IF errorlevel 69 goto KEY_5
IF errorlevel 68 GOTO F10_5
IF errorlevel 67 GOTO F9_5
IF errorlevel 66 GOTO F8_5
IF errorlevel 65 GOTO F7_5
IF errorlevel 64 GOTO F6_5
IF errorlevel 63 GOTO F5_5
IF errorlevel 62 GOTO F4_5
IF errorlevel 61 GOTO F3_5
IF errorlevel 60 GOTO F2_5
IF errorlevel 59 GOTO F1_5
GOTO KEY_5
:F1_5
rem the tutorial file here: EDIT.COM filename
GOTO F5_0
:F2_5
EDIT.COM
GOTO F5_0
:F3_5
CLS
TYPE MENU_53.SCR
:KEY_53
WAITS.COM
IF errorlevel 69 goto KEY_53
IF errorlevel 68 GOTO F10_53
IF errorlevel 67 GOTO F9_53
IF errorlevel 66 GOTO F8_53
IF errorlevel 65 GOTO F7_53
IF errorlevel 64 GOTO F6_53
IF errorlevel 63 GOTO F5_53
IF errorlevel 62 GOTO F4_53
IF errorlevel 61 GOTO F3_53
IF errorlevel 60 GOTO F2_53
IF errorlevel 59 GOTO F1_53
GOTO KEY_53
:F1_53
GOTO F3_5
:F2_53
EDIT.COM
GOTO F3_5
:F3_53
GOTO F3_5
:F4_53
GOTO F3_5
:F5_53
GOTO F3_5
:F6_53
GOTO F3_5
:F7_53
GOTO F3_5
:F8_53
GOTO F3_5
:F9_53
GOTO F3_5
:F10_53
GOTO F5_0
:F4_5
CLS
TYPE MENU_54.SCR
:KEY_54
WAITS.COM
IF errorlevel 69 goto KEY_54
IF errorlevel 68 GOTO F10_54
IF errorlevel 67 GOTO F9_54
IF errorlevel 66 GOTO F8_54
IF errorlevel 65 GOTO F7_54
IF errorlevel 64 GOTO F6_54
IF errorlevel 63 GOTO F5_54
IF errorlevel 62 GOTO F4_54
IF errorlevel 61 GOTO F3_54
IF errorlevel 60 GOTO F2_54
IF errorlevel 59 GOTO F1_54
GOTO KEY_54
:F1_54
GOTO F4_5
:F2_54
EDIT.COM
GOTO F4_5
:F3_54
GOTO F4_5
:F4_54
GOTO F4_5
:F5_54
GOTO F4_5
:F6_54
GOTO F4_5
:F7_54
GOTO F4_5
:F8_54
GOTO F4_5
:F9_54
GOTO F4_5
:F10_54
GOTO F5_0
:F5_5
GOTO F5_0
:F6_5
GOTO F5_0
:F7_5
GOTO F5_0
:F8_5
GOTO F5_0
:F9_5
BellCurveGenerator
GOTO F5_0
:F10_5
GOTO TOP
:F6_0
CLS
TYPE MENU_6.SCR
:KEY_6
WAITS.COM
IF errorlevel 69 goto KEY_6
IF errorlevel 68 GOTO F10_6
IF errorlevel 67 GOTO F9_6
IF errorlevel 66 GOTO F8_6
IF errorlevel 65 GOTO F7_6
IF errorlevel 64 GOTO F6_6
IF errorlevel 63 GOTO F5_6
IF errorlevel 62 GOTO F4_6
IF errorlevel 61 GOTO F3_6
IF errorlevel 60 GOTO F2_6
IF errorlevel 59 GOTO F1_6
GOTO KEY_6
:F1_6
rem the tutorial file here: EDIT.COM filename
GOTO F6_0
:F2_6
EDIT.COM
GOTO F6_0
:F3_6
GOTO F6_0
:F4_6
GOTO F6_0
:F5_6
GOTO F6_0
:F6_6
GOTO F6_0
:F7_6
GOTO F6_0
:F8_6
GOTO F6_0
:F9_6
BellCurveGenerator
GOTO F6_0
:F10_6
GOTO TOP
:F7_0
CLS
TYPE MENU_7.SCR
:KEY_7
WAITS.COM
IF errorlevel 69 goto KEY_7
IF errorlevel 68 GOTO F10_7
IF errorlevel 67 GOTO F9_7
IF errorlevel 66 GOTO F8_7
IF errorlevel 65 GOTO F7_7
IF errorlevel 64 GOTO F6_7
IF errorlevel 63 GOTO F5_7
IF errorlevel 62 GOTO F4_7
IF errorlevel 61 GOTO F3_7
IF errorlevel 60 GOTO F2_7
IF errorlevel 59 GOTO F1_7
GOTO KEY_7
:F1_7
rem the tutorial file here: EDIT.COM filename
GOTO F7_0
:F2_7
EDIT.COM
GOTO F7_0
:F3_7
CLS
TYPE MENU_73.SCR
:KEY_73
WAITS.COM
IF errorlevel 69 goto KEY_73
IF errorlevel 68 GOTO F10_73
IF errorlevel 67 GOTO F9_73
IF errorlevel 66 GOTO F8_73
IF errorlevel 65 GOTO F7_73
IF errorlevel 64 GOTO F6_73
IF errorlevel 63 GOTO F5_73
IF errorlevel 62 GOTO F4_73
IF errorlevel 61 GOTO F3_73
IF errorlevel 60 GOTO F2_73
IF errorlevel 59 GOTO F1_73
GOTO KEY_73
:F1_73
GOTO F3_7
:F2_73
EDIT.COM
GOTO F3_7
:F3_73
GOTO F3_7
:F4_73
GOTO F3_7
:F5_73
GOTO F3_7
:F6_73
GOTO F3_7
:F7_73
GOTO F3_7
:F8_73
GOTO F3_7
:F9_73
GOTO F3_7
:F10_73
GOTO F7_0
:F4_7
CLS
TYPE MENU_74.SCR
:KEY_74
WAITS.COM
IF errorlevel 69 goto KEY_74
IF errorlevel 68 GOTO F10_74
IF errorlevel 67 GOTO F9_74
IF errorlevel 66 GOTO F8_74
IF errorlevel 65 GOTO F7_74
IF errorlevel 64 GOTO F6_74
IF errorlevel 63 GOTO F5_74
IF errorlevel 62 GOTO F4_74
IF errorlevel 61 GOTO F3_74
IF errorlevel 60 GOTO F2_74
IF errorlevel 59 GOTO F1_74
GOTO KEY_74
:F1_74
GOTO F4_7
:F2_74
EDIT.COM
GOTO F4_7
:F3_74
GOTO F4_7
:F4_74
GOTO F4_7
:F5_74
GOTO F4_7
:F6_74
GOTO F4_7
:F7_74
GOTO F4_7
:F8_74
GOTO F4_7
:F9_74
GOTO F4_7
:F10_74
GOTO F7_0
:F5_7
GOTO F7_0
:F6_7
GOTO F7_0
:F7_7
GOTO F7_0
:F8_7
GOTO F7_0
:F9_7
BellCurveGenerator
GOTO F7_0
:F10_7
GOTO TOP
:F8_0
CLS
TYPE MENU_8.SCR
:KEY_8
WAITS.COM
IF errorlevel 69 goto KEY_8
IF errorlevel 68 GOTO F10_8
IF errorlevel 67 GOTO F9_8
IF errorlevel 66 GOTO F8_8
IF errorlevel 65 GOTO F7_8
IF errorlevel 64 GOTO F6_8
IF errorlevel 63 GOTO F5_8
IF errorlevel 62 GOTO F4_8
IF errorlevel 61 GOTO F3_8
IF errorlevel 60 GOTO F2_8
IF errorlevel 59 GOTO F1_8
GOTO KEY_8
:F1_8
rem the tutorial file here: EDIT.COM filename
GOTO F8_0
:F2_8
EDIT.COM
GOTO F8_0
:F3_8
GOTO F8_0
:F4_8
GOTO F8_0
:F5_8
GOTO F8_0
:F6_8
GOTO F8_0
:F7_8
GOTO F8_0
:F8_8
GOTO F8_0
:F9_8
BellCurveGenerator
GOTO F8_0
:F10_8
GOTO TOP
:F9_0
CLS
TYPE MENU_9.SCR
:KEY_9
WAITS.COM
IF errorlevel 69 goto KEY_9
IF errorlevel 68 GOTO F10_9
IF errorlevel 67 GOTO F9_9
IF errorlevel 66 GOTO F8_9
IF errorlevel 65 GOTO F7_9
IF errorlevel 64 GOTO F6_9
IF errorlevel 63 GOTO F5_9
IF errorlevel 62 GOTO F4_9
IF errorlevel 61 GOTO F3_9
IF errorlevel 60 GOTO F2_9
IF errorlevel 59 GOTO F1_9
GOTO KEY_9
:F1_9
rem the tutorial file here: EDIT.COM filename
GOTO F9_0
:F2_9
EDIT.COM
GOTO F9_0
:F3_9
GOTO F9_0
:F4_9
GOTO F9_0
:F5_9
GOTO F9_0
:F6_9
GOTO F9_0
:F7_9
GOTO F9_0
:F8_9
GOTO F9_0
:F9_9
BellCurveGenerator
GOTO F9_0
:F10_9
GOTO TOP
:F10_0
REM END
ECHO  May Almighty Number grant you the exact picks!

You'd better print out this file and study it a little bit. Basically, it uses the function keys as program labels. F1_0 is an easy to follow name for the function key F1 used in the top (main) screen (section). F3_0 starts the 'Lotto' package, which, in turn, has three sub-sections (nested routines):

:F3_3, with MENU_33.SCR – for lotto-5
:F4_3, with MENU_34.SCR – for lotto-6
:F5_3, with MENU_35.SCR – for lotto-7

If you press F9 in the main screen, you'll jump to package #9: Theory. The label is F9_0. If you press F9 again, you jump to the label identified as :F9_9. the application that starts that routine is BellCurveGenerator
You'll write the programs you want to run under the corresponding labels. A label always starts with :.

:F9_9
BellCurveGenerator
GOTO F9_0

After the application ended successfully, the operation GOTO F9_0 directs the menu back to the top of screen #9.

You can put a whole lot of applications in just one menu like this one. You will need to nest some functions; just be careful with the labels! I included also a few template (empty) screens in case your system is larger. MENU_1.SCR, MENU_2.SCR, the nested MENU_11.SCR, MENU_12.SCR, MENU_21.SCR, MENU_22.SCR. Further, you can save a screen under different names. In fact, I designed just two screens in QEdit. I edited a screen and saved it under a name. Edited the template screen again and saved it under another name, etc.

After you created C:\ION and copied CONFIG.SYS, AUTOEXEC.BAT, MACROS.BAT to the root directory (usually C:\), you need reboot (restart) your system.

IONMENU is a template of Ion Saliu's DOS lottery system. The screens enable all 12 function keys. Be sure to add the /X switch to CONFIG.SYS. The read me text file contains useful information. You should decompress IONMENU and MENU to separate directories. There are several files with the same names! Take a look at the files in both packages. I recommend you use IONMENU as your lottery template. You don't have all my programs. Add to the directory and subdirectories the programs you have. You can also add EXE files created by any developers in the world!

Ion Saliu

• Download MENU & IONMENU from the software site.
  Paid membership is required (just a nominal fee).

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