CDMenuPro

Tutorial

The Button

Before you start creating buttons, you have to make sure that all the documents and programs referenced by CDMenuPro have been copied into the CDMenuPro project folder or into any of its sub-folders. The structure of the sub-folders is up to you.

Inserting a button

Click on the "insert button" button in the vertical toolbar and keep your left mouse key pressed; now drag the mouse pointer into the menu window. The cross is used to symbolize the top corner of the button.

As soon as the button is in position, release the left mouse key. The properties dialog window for buttons will open automatically.

In the following example, we will be inserting a button for exiting the menu.

This means that "Exit" will be entered into the text field marked "Button Text".

Now click on the register item marked "Link" and select the following from the drop-down menu under "Function": "Exit (terminates CDMenu)".

Now click on "Ok" in the properties dialog window. The properties dialog is closed and you will see that an button lettered "Exit" has been created in the menu window.

The button is surrounded by a dotted line, which indicates that the object is selected. If you move your mouse cursor over the item, you will see that it changes into a cross. This cross is used to tell you that the object can be moved.

Now position your cursor over the button, click and hold the left mouse key and move your button into the position of your choice. The dotted line moves with the button. Once the button is in the right position, release the mouse key.

To deselect the button (or menu object), click in an empty space in the menu window with the left mouse key.

2. Example

In the next example, we will be inserting a button for the purpose of starting a text file. We start by clicking on the button for "Buttons" in the object bar and dragging it into the menu window while keeping the left mouse key pressed. Now release the mouse key.

A dialog window for the button's properties will now open.

A field for entering the button's lettering and the optional Tool Tip text field.

• Button Text: This field is used to enter the text that will appear as lettering on the button.
  
  
• Tool Tip: Text entered into this field will be allocated to the button as a "Tool Tip". This text can be no more than 240-characters long. In addition to this, you will have to enable the tool tip function, which you will find under Menu "Objects - Tool Tip...". The global definitions can also be set in this dialog window.

Specifying the position and style of the button.

• Button position: This register item allows you to change the position and size of the button. Button size can only be specified for the following styles: "Window", "Image" and "Transparent". The size of a bitmap button is determined by the size of the bitmap used; the size of a hypertext button is determined by the text and font size.

• Selecting button style:
  Window: The button mirrors the standard Windows button.
  
  Image: The button's image is integrated into the background image.
  
  Transparent: The button's appearance is transparent against the background image.
  
  Hypertext: Mirrors the way in which a hyperlink text is displayed in a browser.
  
  Bitmap: The button's image is integrated into an external bitmap file.
  
  Office style: The button is displayed in the same way as in XP Office products. You will have to create a small bitmap button to do this.
  
  Outlook style: The button is in color when focused in on, otherwise in grey. You will have to create a small bitmap button to do this.
  
  

Important: Please note the following for image and bitmap buttons:
If the button text is integrated into a bitmap, then the field marked "Button Text" in the dialog window must remain empty. But you can also let CDMenuPro take care of the lettering. This is advantageous for bitmap buttons in that you only have to create one button; it also makes creating the menu much more flexible.

Important for bitmap buttons: Make sure you copy the image file into the project folder or one of its sub-folders before you reference it.

Tip: The buttons can be aligned more easily when the check box "Position Objects on Grid" under "Editor - Settings" has been checked.

Defining the button link.

• If you would like to display a registered document type (i.e.: *.txt *.htm *.doc), enter the name of the file and its path in the field marked "Document"; you might want to use the "Browse... button" Select file. (You can leave the "Application" and "Parameter" fields empty. (see diagram)
  
  
• If you would like to start a program, enter the program's path and name into the field marked "Application"; you might want to use the "Browse..." button to find the program. The program's parameter values can also be entered into the field marked "Parameter" (optional). (see diagram)
  
  
• Select the buttons function
  Please see Button Functions

The sound settings linked to the button.

A sound file and/or the background sound can be started or stopped respectively for each button function.

The following diagram illustrates how a button action is performed:

Examples for starting documents:

You want to cue a page from an online website:
     Document: http://www.rest-of-url.xxx.

You want to display a Html file from a CD/disk:
    Document: Drive:/path/filename.htm(l).

You want to start an e-mail program with the destination address:
     Document: mailto:mail@cdmenu.de

You want the file Explorer to display the contents of C:\path:
    Document: C:\path

Notes on the button text

The button text is centered as standard. If you would like to right or left-justify the text, you will need to fill the rest of the button with empty spaces and then place it between $ character brackets:
$Text        $   left justified
$        Text$   right justified
The $ character is not displayed.

If you would like to right justify your text, please bear in mind that this is highly risky. This is because the font size might be set at a different size on the target computer and would mean that your text would move right or left accordingly. There is no problem with left justifying; the text will always be displayed.

You cannot place inverted commas (double or single) around the button text.
"Text"   not permitted!
'Text'   not permitted
$'Text'$   allowed. The $ characters will be invisible.

You can also use the percentage symbol % as an alternative to the $ character.