Animated Menus 2.3 Release Notes

This file contains last-minute information about Animated Menus and additional information that enhances the usability of Animated Menus. We recommend you read this entire file before using Animated Menus.

Certain portions of this file pertain only to some editions (Evaluation, Standard, Developer) of Animated Menus. Wherever possible, when a topic concerns only specific editions this is also noted within the topic.

Unless otherwise noted, all materials provided in this version of Animated Menus are copyright (c) 1997-2000 by AnimatedMenus.com, Inc.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. WELCOME!
2. WHERE TO FIND INFORMATION
2.1. Information Files
2.2. Online Resources
3. CONTACTING ANIMATEDMENUS.COM
3.1. Installation Assistance and Developer Support
4. WHAT'S NEW
4.1. What's new in this version
4.2. Problems fixed
5. INSTALLATION
5.1. Source Files Installation
5.2. Compiled Library Packages Installation
6. DEMO APPLICATIONS
7. UTILITIES
8. DOCUMENTATION
9. INTERNATIONAL RESOURCES
10. KNOWN PROBLEMS

1. WELCOME!

Hello!

Thank you for downloading Animated Menus menu component suite for Borland Delphi and Borland C++Builder. This pack significantly expanded the potentialities of the TMainMenu and TPopupMenu components of the VCL included in the standard Borland Delphi package. Its components allow you to create a menu with really multimedia possibilities, which can enliven the interface of your application.

Hope you'll enjoy using this software.

Sincerely, Andrew Cher,
AnimatedMenus.com, Inc.

2. WHERE TO FIND INFORMATION

2.1. Information Files

This file, README.TXT, contains release notes for Animated Menus. See LICENSE.TXT for information on licensing allowances and limitations for Animated Menus and other AnimatedMenus.com software bundled with it.

2.2. Online Resources

You can get information from any of these online sources:

2.2.1. World Wide Web

Check AnimatedMenus.com 's Web site regularly. The Animated Menus Product Team will post white papers, competitive analyses, answers to frequently asked questions, sample applications, updated software, and information about new and existing products. You may want to check these URLs in particular:

--> AnimatedMenus.com
http://www.animatedmenus.com/

--> Information about the software
http://www.animatedmenus.com/am2000/

--> Animated Menus Programmer's Reference
http://www.animatedmenus.com/support/am2000/docs/

--> Online User Support Service
http://www.animatedmenus.com/support/am2000/

--> Demos
http://www.animatedmenus.com/downloads/demos.shtml

--> Updates for the software, demos, menus, additional components.
http://www.animatedmenus.com/downloads/

2.2.2. AnimatedMenus.com NewsFlash

To subscribe to electronic newsletters, type your email in online form at http://www.animatedmenus.com/ or email to NewsFlash-Subscribe@AnimatedMenus.com.

3. CONTACTING ANIMATEDMENUS.COM

3.1. Installation Assistance and Developer Support

AnimatedMenus.com offers a range of support services for Animated Menus (and other tools). For information, see the World Wide Web site for Delphi Developer Support at the URL:
http://www.animatedmenus.com/support/
or write email to:
Support@AnimatedMenus.Com.

To contact AnimatedMenus.com directly, use the following URL:
http://www.animatedmenus.com/writeus/
or write email to:
GeneralQuestions@AnimatedMenus.Com.

4. WHAT'S NEW

4.1. What's new in this version

* Run-time menu customization. This new feature of Animated Menus allows your users redesign menu the way they want. All changes will be stored in Windows registry and menus will be restored to its last state on the next application run. Changes can be implemented by simple drag'n'drop technology like menus in Microsoft Internet Explorer. Use mfCustomizable flag of Options.Flags property to enable customization for certain menus.

* Automatic menu promotion and demotion. Though menu promotion (hidden menu item becomes unhidden because of user selection) already implemented in Animated Menus, starting from this version promoted menu items will be stored in Windows registry and on next application run the menu state will be restored. Also after elapsing of some predefined timeframe (by default, 12 hours), rarely used menus becomes hidden. You can control the timeframe by setting the iDemoteTimeOut constant, which items to demote by the TMenuItem2000.Demotable property, or global menu demotion by mfEnableDemoting flag of Options.Flags property

* Support for OLE Container component. Now you can use Animated Menus as container's main menu. OLE server menu will be merged with OLE container menu and you'll be able to use it as regular menu. Visit Demo Downloads page at http://www.animatedmenus.com/downloads/demo.shtml and download the OLE Container Demo to preview this feature. Read readme.txt before running the application.

* New menu control named ctlText that allow you to take control over single menu item appearance. With this menu control you can set a special color, font, style, background for particular menu item. Visit Demo Downloads page at http://www.animatedmenus.com/downloads/demo.shtml and download the Multimedia Application Demo to preview this feature. Read readme.txt before running the application.

* Support for owner-drawn menu items via TMenuItem2000.OnDrawItem, TMenuItem2000.OnMeasureItem, and TMenuItem2000.OnAdvancedDrawItem events for all platforms. New event named TMenuItem2000.OnBeforeDrawItem allows you to implement pre-drawing operations like initializing menu item's bitmap from file system. This event will be fired only when menu item is about to be drawn so you can reduce the time you needed for initialization of menu items and initialize them only when they're actually needed.

* Support for VLM (very-large menus) provides you with the ability to use long menus. When menu too large for the user's screen, it will diplay vertical scrollers at the top and bottom of menu panel that will scroll the menu up and down.

* New properties and control variables: EnableCustomization, EnablePromotion, EnableDemotion.

4.2. Problems fixed

For full list of fixed problems please refer to Known Issues page on the Animated Menus Online Support Center.

5. INSTALLATION

Note: for Animated Menus Evaluation Edition it's recommended to install compiled packages, not source files.

5.1. Source Files Installation

In Borland Delphi 2 and C++Builder 1:

Beside the installation of already compiled files, you can also install the source files and compile them on your own.

1. In the Component menu select Install option.
2. Click Add button and select am2000reg.pas.
3. Press OK.

Borland Delphi and C+++Builder will compile Animated Menus and install it into the palette of components.

In Borland Delphi 3, 4, and 5 and C++Builder 3, 4, and 5:

Beside the installation of already compiled files, you can also install the source files and compile them by yourself.

1. In the File menu select Open Project option.
2. Browse to Animated Menus directory.
3. Select an appropriate package: am2000_d4.dpk for Delphi 3, am2000_d4.dpk for Delphi 4, am2000_d5.dpk for Delphi 5, am2000_c3.bpk for C++Builder 3, am2000_c4.bpk for C++Builder 4, am2000_c5.bpk for C++Builder 5.
4. Package Manager opens.
5. Press Compile.
6. Press Install.
7. Close the Package Manager.

Borland Delphi and C+++Builder will compile Animated Menus and install it into the palette of components.

If you encounter any problems during the installation of source files, please, remove all the compiled units, download new version from the Web-server, and try to install pre-compiled units. If it doesn't give any result, please, contact the AnimatedMenus.com Technical Support Service by using the following URL: http://www.animatedmenus.com/writeus/ or via email at: Support@AnimatedMenus.Com.

5.2. Compiled Library Packages Installation

In Borland Delphi 2 and C++Builder 1:

Because Delphi 2 and C++Builder 1 doesn't support design-time packages, we dropped the support for compiled versions of Animated Menus for these versions.

In Borland Delphi 3, 4, and 5 and C++Builder 3, 4, and 5:

Pre-compiled libraries are delivered in the form of Delphi/Borland Package Libraries, Delphi Compiled Units, Object Files and necessary resources. Before installation, download pre-compiled version from the web. For proper installation of these libraries:

1. In the Component menu select Install Packages option.
2. Click Add button and select am2000_d4.dpl for Delphi 3, am2000_d4.bpl for Delphi 4, am2000_d5.bpl for Delphi 5, am2000_c3.bpl for C++Builder 3, am2000_c4.bpl for C++Builder 4, am2000_c5.bpl for C++Builder 5.
3. Press OK.

The Animated Menus components will be added to your component palette automatically.

6. DEMO APPLICATIONS

At AnimatedMenus.com Web site at URL http://www.animatedmenus.com/downloads/demos.sthml you can find useful samples of using Animated Menus. Please visit our site for more information and more samples.

7. UTILITIES

Animated Menus comes with a number of helper, utility applications. These application programs serve a variety of purposes, from debugging applications to working with data tables. These utility programs include:

Universal Menu Convert
This utility updates menus in existing applications so it can use full functionality of Animated Menus.

AutoBitmaps™ Workshop
This utility helps you to review built-in AutoBitmaps™, AutoShortCuts™, and AutoHints™.

You can download thes utility programs from Utilities Download section of AnimatedMenus.com website at http://www.animatedmenus.com/downloads/utilities.shtml.

8. DOCUMENTATION

You can use Animated Menus on-line documentation at AnimatedMenus.com Web site at http://www.animatedmenus.com/support/am2000/docs/.

9. INTERNATIONAL RESOURCES

Animated Menus is a multi-language software. Its easy to use this software with any language. At present time you can download several localization add-ons from our Download section at http://www.animatedmenus.com/downloads/.

Download and unpack the localization add-on archive into the current directory with Animated Menus. Then recompile the software.

10. KNOWN PROBLEMS

To get the latest information about knows issues of Animated Menus please visit our online Knows Issues section at http://www.animatedmenus.com/support/am2000/issues/.

Though we are planning to fix these bugs in the next version, registered users can use the most up-to-date renovations available for download from the Animated Menus Online Support Site at http://www.animatedmenus.com/support/am2000/.

There is also a possibility of new unknown bugs appearance. In case of bug detection, please:

1. Download a fresh version of Animated Menus from the Download section of AnimatedMenus.com web site (do you remember the URL?).
2. Remove all files from the Animated Menus folder (including DCUs) and unpack a new version there.
3. Remove all the libraries from your enviroment (except the most essential).
4. Re-build the Animated Menus package.
5. If the bug is still here please contact us at http://www.animatedmenus.com/writeus/ or by email at: Support@AnimatedMenus.Com.

(c) 1997-2000 AnimatedMenus.com Incorporated. All rights reserved.

Copyright © 1997-2000 by AnimatedMenus.com, Inc.
All rights reserved. Legal Notices. Contact us.