SmallMenu/SmallMenuPlus Help

SmallMenu/SmallMenuPlus are Pocket PC softwares which integrate task manager and cascading program launcher. Users can execute, switch, and close programs with SmallMenu/SmallMenuPlus.

Executing SmallMenu/SmallMenuPlus will bring up an integrated menu which contains a task list with icons and cascading program menus.

Remarkable features of this software include:

1. Compact, fast and light.
2. Shows task and program icons including Pocket Outlook icons that other task managers do not display.
3. Non stylus operations. Executing, switching, and closing programs can be accomplished when the program is assigned to a hardware button.
4. Cascading program menus.
5. Easy custom program launch menu configuration.
6. Battery status can be displayed on the Navigation bar. (except Pocket PC 2000)
7. Easy battery monitor icon configuration. (except Pocket PC 2000)
8. Selecting "Today" item on the main menu raises "Today" screen. (Plus)
9. Replacing Start Button to raise SmallMenu. (Plus)
10. Easy Start Button image configuration. (Plus)
11. Lists recently executed programs. (Plus)
12. Automatically closes tasks which exceed the limit specified by the user. (Plus)
13. Background tasks can be closed without raising the window on the top. (Plus)
14. "Favorites" can be easily accessed via cascading menus. (Plus)


15. Main menu items are flexibly configurable. You are able to list most accessing program items in the main menu. (Plus)


16. Pocket PC can be turned off via the menu. (Plus)

Easy one-handed task management operation can be achieved with the Action Control of your Pocket PC.

When assigning SmallMenu/SmallMenuPlus to a hardware button, for example, to record button, you can push the button to pop up SmallMenu/SmallMenuPlus and choose the desired program/task by rocking up/down the action control.

Tapping SmallMenu in Programs will start SmallMenu/SmallMenuPlus.

In the case of SmallMenuPlus, we recommend that users place the SmallMenuPlus start button in the left upper corner of the navigation bar. Tapping the start button will pop up the main menu of SmallMenuPlus.

There is a command line option /s which prevents SmallMenu/SmallMenuPlus from popping up menus.

You can quit SmallMenu/SmallMenuPlus by choosing Exit from SmallMenu in the main menu.

You can execute SmallMenu/SmallMenuPlus automatically whenever you soft-reset your Pocket PC device by creating a shortcut in the windows startup folder to SmallMenu.

In order to have SmallMenu startup automatically after a soft reset without having the actual menu raise, use the /s command line option.

Choose Settings... from the main menu, then check Launch SmallMenu on every soft reset.

The above step will create a shortcut file to an executable file in SmallMenu with the shortcut target containing /s command line option.

When the entire screen becomes covered by a startup window after a soft reset, SmallMenuPlus will not be able to capture the regular Start Button as a transparent Start Button. And when program menu trees are built on a memory card which is recognized by Pocket PC a few seconds after a soft reset, SmallMenu will not be able to create program menu trees correctly. In such cases, specify a delay, for example, like /s3 for 3 second delay, or via launch delay at General page.

To stop trial messages, users must select SmallMenu (freeware) on the registration dialog box or purchase SmallMenuPlus by following the direction written on the Registration section.

To open the registration dialog box, choose SmallMenu > Settings... to pop up settings dialog box, then choose About tab and push Register....

Choose SmallMenu > Settings... then tap Plus tab. Then, check "Use start button" box. Only SmallMenuPlus has this option.

Choose SmallMenu > Settings... and tap the Plus tab. Then check the "Use external skin for start button" and specify the bitmap file in the edit box.

The bitmap width will vary according to Pocket PC locale settings of the device and the Pocket PC version.

The bitmap file should be about 25x26 dot large for US version Pocket PCs 2002/2003. and 21x26 for US version of Pocket PCs (2000). Adjust the width of the bitmap file according to the Start Button width of your Pocket PC.

SmallMenuPlus is compatible with tGetFile.dll of Tillanosoft, so that, users can use the "refer" button (...) to select a bitmap file without the "\My Documents" restriction.

Visit the following URL to learn more about tGetFile.dll.

http://tillanosoft.com/ce/tgetfile.html

Pop-up the Start Menu and tap Settings, then tap the Buttons applet. Choose your favorite hardware button, then select "SmallMenu" in the Button assignment dropdown list.

• Press the button to pop-up the menu.
• Press the button to close the popped up menu.

A cascading program menu will be created when SmallMenu/SmallMenuPlus starts. Users can create menu items by placing shortcuts and folders in "\Windows\Start Menu\Programs". The folder location varies according to the Pocket PC locale. SmallMenu/SmallMenuPlus automatically follows locale settings.

If you would like to create your own menu other than the default folder, check "Use custom menu at" box in General page of SmallMenu Settings, then fill the edit box with your preferred alternative folder.

It is recommended that the alternative folder for custom menus be located below the Start Menu folder, that is, below the "\Windows\Start Menu", for example, "\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Program Menu". This enables SmallMenu/SmallMenuPlus to add the icons of launched programs at the top of the regular Start Menu.

Choose SmallMenu > Refresh from the main menu to update menu contents.

See this page to learn about the custom menu folder.

Choose SmallMenu > Settings... then tap Battery tab. Then check Show Battery Monitor.

Choose SmallMenu > Settings... then tap Battery tab. Then check Show Battery Monitor and Use alternative battery icons to specify bitmap file in the edit box.

Refer to Battery settings to learn more about the icon bitmap file.

You can uninstall SmallMenu/SmallMenuPlus via the Remove Programs applet in the control panel. Select "Tillanosoft SmallMenu" and tap the Remove button.

Launch SmallMenu on every soft reset

By checking this item, a SmallMenu executable shortcut file will be created in the Windows startup folder, and SmallMenu will be automatically launched after a soft reset.

Reference

• How to automatically start SmallMenu(Plus)

Launch delay

When the entire screen becomes covered by a startup window after a soft reset, SmallMenuPlus will not be able to capture the regular Start Button as a transparent Start Button. Or when program menu trees are built on a memory card which is recognized by Pocket PC a few seconds after a soft reset, SmallMenu will not be able to create program menu trees correctly.

In such cases, specify an appropriate delay here.

Use file icons instead of window icons in the task list

By checking this item, SmallMenu will use file icons in its task list instead of window icons. Some programs for Pocket PC do not assign small icons for their window icons, and thus this caused SmallMenu to show a part of large icons in its task list. Showing file icons may remedy the problem.

Edit hidden task list

This button is not available for v3.19. This button will be enabled in some minor update (v3.x).

Use custom menu at

You can specify a custom folder for creating cascading menus in the edit box. Placing shortcuts under the folder will generate menu items in the menu. Placing subfolder will generate sub menus.

If this entry is unchecked, the SmallMenu/SmallMenuPlus will use "\Windows\Start Menu\Programs" as the default folder.

Please note that the default folder may vary according to your Pocket PC locale. SmallMenu/SmallMenuPlus automatically follows locale settings.

Reference

• How to create custom menus

The following settings only apply to SmallMenuPlus.

Use start button

When this item is checked, tapping the Start Button will raise SmallMenu menu instead of the regular Start Menu.

Hide the Start Button from the password screen

When this item is checked, the SmallMenu's start button will be hidden when the Pocket PC is turned on and the password or information screen is displayed.

Use external skin for start button

The Start Button image can be specified in the edit box. Use BMP file with about 25x26 dot large for US version of Pocket PC 2002/2003. 21x26 for US version of Pocket PC (2000).

Please note that the width of the Start Button may vary according to the locale settings of your Pocket PC device and/or Pocket PC version.

Show Close Task Icons

When the "Show Close Task Icons" is checked, SmallMenuPlus will display close task icons (X shaped icons) to the right of each task item. Task can easily be closed by tapping the close icon.

Close tasks when the number exceeds

When this item is checked, tasks which exceed the limit specified in the edit box will be automatically closed when the SmallMenuPlus main menu pops up.

This option can be checked only when Tasks or Close have been selected as menu items in the Edit Menu Items settings.

Edit Menu Items

By tapping the Edit Menu Items button, a dialog box appears and users can edit menu items in the main menu of SmallMenuPlus.

Users can configure the following main menu items: Today, Recent Programs, Programs, Favorites, Tasks, Close, Settings and Suspend in this dialog box.

When you choose an item in the list view window, you can configure how the item appears in the menu. You can configure "Locate items in the main menu" and "Maximum number of located items".

Users can configure the above main menu items to be located in the main menu and how it appears in the main menu.

"Locate items in the main menu" means the items will be listed in the main menu. If this is not checked, a sub menu will be created and the items will be listed in the sub menu.

"Maximum number of located items" will limit the maximum number when the items are located in the main menu. Items over the limit will be listed in a "More..." sub menu or will be just omitted.

In some items, there exists a restriction for the configuration. For example, "Locate items in the main menu" can not be turned off for "Today".

The battery settings page appears when SmallMenu/SmallMenuPlus runs on Pocket PC 2002 and versions thereafter.

Show Battery Monitor

Check this item to show the battery monitor icon on the Navigation bar of Pocket PC 2002/2003.

Use alternative battery icons

Users can use customized battery icons by checking this item and enter the bitmap file name which contains 7 icons representing battery status.

The bitmap file should be 112x16 or 128x16 large. Each battery bitmap file contains 7 icons. When a 112x16 bitmap file is used, the color of top left pixel will be the background color. Users must use a 128x16 sized bitmap file if the top left corner color is to be the foreground color. When a 128x16 bitmap file is used, the color of the top left corner right edge icon (the eighth icon) will be the background color.

In case you are using Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition Pocket PC and your Pocket PC device has VGA screen, the bitmap file can be 224x32 or 256x32 large. Specifying such larger bitmap file may introduce more detailed icons.

Seven icons indicate battery status (empty, low, medium, high, charging and online).

SmallMenuPlus is compatible with Tillanosoft tGetFile.dll. Hence users can use the "refer" button (...) to select a bitmap file without the "\My Documents" restriction.

Visit the following URL to learn more about tGetFile.dll.

http://tillanosoft.com/ce/tgetfile.html

Notification settings

When the battery monitor appears on the navigation bar, users can turn on/off Pocket PC low battery notification balloons by tapping the notification settings button.

Tap "Notification Settings" button then select "Low battery warning" from the notification settings dialog box pull down menu. Next, check/uncheck appropriate boxes.

Users can configure systemwide menu settings on this page. All settings require a soft reset.

Animate

The menu animation default setting is set to "on". Users can turn "off" this setting by unchecking the Animate check box. When the Animate check box is turned off, menus will appear much faster.

This item is not available in Pocket PC 2000.

Specify the overlap/distance between main menus and sub menus

Users can configure the overlap/distance between main menus and sub menus in Pocket PC 2000/2002/2003.

Higher numbers move sub menus to the right, lower numbers move menus to the left.

Users can view the version, date, URL of author's homepage, and so on for SmallMenu/SmallMenuPlus. Users can also register registration key by pushing Register... button from the page.

You can also show SmallMenu online help, refresh SmallMenu menu contents, and shutdown SmallMenu, from this page.

Programs executed via Programs are listed in Recent Programs.

When Programs and Recent Programs are located in the main menu, programs executed from the main menu will not be listed in Recent Programs to conserve space.

SmallMenu/SmallMenuPlus can optionally display a battery monitor icon on the Navigation bar of Pocket PC device except Pocket PC 2000. Please see Battery settings to learn how to display the battery monitor icon.

Users can access help index page by tapping SmallMenu > Help in the main menu.

Users can access the dialog box help page from the SmallMenu settings dialog box by tapping Help in the regular Start Menu.

Closing a task when a sub menu is opened

When a sub menu is opened, it must be closed first before tapping the close icon (X shaped icon), otherwise tapping the close icon will only raise the task.

You can switch between SmallMenu and SmallMenuPlus via SmallMenu > Settings... > About > Register.

SmallMenu is freeware, and SmallMenuPlus is shareware. Users have a 30 day trial period to use SmallMenuPlus, after which they must purchase SmallMenuPlus if they wish to continue using SmallMenuPlus.

Please refer to this page to learn functions unique to SmallMenuPlus.

Visit the following URL to learn how to purchase SmallMenuPlus:

http://tillanosoft.com/ce/smenu.html

After purchasing SmallMenuPlus, the user will be issued a registration key by a reseller (Handango.com). To activate the registration keycode, tap SmallMenu > settings... > About > Register... and enter keycode.

3.19 2006.1.30 Default installation path changed

• Default installation path has been changed.

3.18 2006.1.25 Compatibility with WM5 improved

• Softkey 1 label was changed to "Notification" at Today screen if SmallMenu battery monitor was displayed. This problem has been fixed.
• SmallMenu no longer closes ActiveSync if the device is connected to Desktop PC and if the device is Windows Mobile 5.
• The battery remaining amount information shown in the battery monitor balloon is now present even if the device is charging.
• Added an icon to Settings item in SmallMenu main menu.
• SmallMenu settings now opens the same page the user opened last time.
• SmallMenu slowed down when Telephone or Light Mail program was running on Willcom W-ZERO3. This problem has been fixed.
• SmallMenu now adds icons for Contacts and Light Mail on Willcom W-ZERO3.

3.17 2005.8.12 A few task management problems fixed

• Switching to Calendar or Tasks via SmallMenu shows non working (ok) button on some condition. This problem has been fixed.
• Opening a document from PocketWord, or opening a message from Inbox showed multiple task items. This has been changed to show a single menu item for them. Still PocketExcel document windows are shown independently from its document list window. I left this as it is since users can open multiple documents simultaneously and conveniently from PocketExcel document list window.

3.16 2005.5.23 A few problems fixed

• Closing sub menus by left arrow button caused focus going away. This problem was introduced in v3.15. v3.16 fixed the problem.
• The way how SmallMenu closes ActiveSync changed back to a simple way. v3.16 now sends WM_CLOSE to ActiveSync. From v3.12, SmallMenu used a different method to close ActiveSync in order not to close it when ActiveSync is used for communicating with Desktop PC. But the method did not work properly on some devices or on some cases.
• The condition for showing programs on the task list has been slightly changed. v3.16 now shows programs with WS_POPUP style for its main window such as MioMap from MiTAC.

3.15 2005.2.22 Compatibility with other programs improved

• SmallMenu could not raise Settings Window when Settings Window was closed by WISBar Advance or by Magic Button. Now SmallMenu improved compatibility with these programs and it can raise Settings Window even when it is closed by the programs.
• SmallMenu uses special method for closing ActiveSync since closing ActiveSync is harmful if ActiveSync on Pocket PC communicates with Desktop PC. However, on some system condition, SmallMenu failed to close ActiveSync even when ActiveSync did not communicate with Desktop PC. There still remains the possibility of the failure, but the probability is much reduced.

3.14 2004.9.21 Completed compatibility with Windows Mobile 2003 SE

• SmallMenu has completed compatibility with Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition Pocket PC, including VGA screen support.
• Added an option to show file icons instead of window icons in task list.

3.13 2004.4.15 Improved compatibility with Windows Mobile 2003 SE

• SmallMenu has improved compatibility with Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition Pocket PC.
• Fixed a problem with tdLaunch, which prevented SmallMenuPlus from showing Pocket PC Settings Window.

3.12 2004.3.29 Settings menu item added to the main menu items

• SmallMenuPlus is now able to open the Pocket PC Settings Window. This is an experimental implementation, and is subject to change in future versions.
• Menu item check boxes maintain their checked/unchecked status when they are highlighted in Pocket PC 2002/2003.
• SmallMenuPlus now automatically closes ActiveSync when the user configures 'Close tasks when the number exceeds' to close tasks. Users should note that SmallMenu will not close ActiveSync while a Pocket PC and a Desktop PC are communicating via ActiveSync.

3.11 2004.3.17 A memory corruption problem in alternative battery icons fixed

• A memory corruption problem observed when the user specified alternative battery icons has been fixed. With Pocket PC 2002, the problem may not have been visible. However, with Pocket PC 2003, alternative battery icons did not work and specifying the alternative battery icons made SmallMenu behave incorrectly because of this problem.
• "Worker" class windows, such as, Pocket Word editing windows and Notes editing windows are now listed in the task list.

3.10 2003.9.10 Systemwide settings for menus added

• Systemwide settings for menus have been added.

3.9 2003.7.24 Start button refreshes when the theme changes

• SmallMenuPlus's start button refreshes automatically with theme changes.
• SmallMenu's Recent Programs remain on display after refresh.
• Sub menus of SmallMenu will have More... items when the number of menu items in the sub menu is too large to be displayed without scrolling. Additional menu items will appear in a sub-sub menu called More....
• The Speed Dial Window and Call Log Window in Pocket PC 2002 Phone Edition will no longer appear in the SmallMenu task list.
• A New detection method for "Power on". Now there is no longer a Storage Card problem. A warning message will no longer be displayed even when installing SmallMenu to a Storage Card.
• SmallMenuPlus 3.6, 3.7, and 3.8 automatically hide the start button when Password or Information Screen is displayed. Now hiding the Start Button is configurable. Hiding the button is performed by an additional thread. You can turn off the thread by turning "Hide the button" option off.
• In previous versions, SmallMenu could not list tasks when another menu was displayed. This problem has been fixed.
• A few other minor problems have been fixed.

3.8 2003.5.26 "Charging" icon added, and miscellaneous problems fixed.

• "Charging" icon has been added to the battery monitor.
• I have experienced cases of the transparent Start Button in SmallMenuPlus version 3.5, 3.6, and 3.7 becoming obscured in iPAQ 3955. Now the Start Button in SmallMenuPlus version 3.8 has an unobscured visibility.
• Installers in SmallMenu/SmallMenuPlus packages of previous versions choose wrong versions (Pocket PC 2000 versions) of SmallMenu/SmallMenuPlus when installing SmallMenu/SmallMenuPlus to Pocket PC 2002 via ActiveSync 3.7. I believe this is caused by a bug of ActiveSync 3.7, but the installer has been modified to work around this installation problem.
• SmallMenu/SmallMenuPlus only listed the volume control balloon as a task when the speaker volume balloon was displayed. Now, SmallMenu/SmallMenuPlus lists all tasks.
• In previous version of SmallMenu/SmallMenuPlus, Battery Monitor was listed as a task when the Battery Monitor balloon was displayed. Now the Battery Monitor balloon is not treated as a task by SmallMenu/SmallMenuPlus.
• In previous versions, creating shortcuts which pointed to an upper folder sometimes resulted in SmallMenu/SmallMenuPlus creating an infinite program menu tree. This problem has been fixed.
• Installing SmallMenu on a Storage Card might sometimes resulted in the error message "Cannot execute smenu.exe" when a Pocket PC device was turned on. Although this issue has been resolved, installing SmallMenu on a Storage Card is not recommended because the Start Button will not be hidden when Password Screen appears.
• A few other minor fixes have been made.

3.7 2003.3.25 WIS Bar related degradation fixed

• WIS Bar related degradation has been fixed. SmallMenuPlus 3.6 could not raise its menu by tapping the Start Button while WIS Bar was running.
• A safeguard has been added to prevent users from conducting a full reset operation in some circumstances. When a soft reset operation is performed while SmallMenu is creating menu trees, the next SmallMenu execution will raise the SmallMenu settings dialog box before creating the menu trees.

3.6 2003.3.17 Configurable battery icons

• Battery monitor icons are now configurable. You can replace them via a bitmap file.
• Battery monitor now include charging status. (However, charging status has the same icon as "Online" status by default.)
• A button has been added to configure "Low battery warning".
• "Launch delay" option added. When the entire screen becomes covered by a startup window after a soft reset, SmallMenuPlus will not be able to capture the regular Start Button as a transparent Start Button. And when program menu trees are built on a memory card which is recognized by Pocket PC a few seconds after a soft reset, SmallMenu will not be able to create program menu trees correctly. In such cases, this option will solve the problems.
• SIP pop-up window automatically appears when the edit field is tapped.
• A smart installer/uninstaller is included in SmallMenu. Users can now do upgrades/uninstalls without having to exit SmallMenu. Before, users had to exit SmallMenu when they wanted to upgrade/uninstall SmallMenu.
• SmallMenuPlus now recognizes the Jornada 525/548 password screen before creating the transparent Start Button. Now SmallMenuPlus creates the transparent button after the jornada 525/548 password screen disappears.
• The SmallMenuPlus Start button is no longer located on the Pocket PC Password screen or Owner Information screen.
• A few other minor problems have been fixed.

3.5 2003.3.5 Default start button has changed to transparent one

• Default start button is now a virtual transparent button.
• Special treatments for WIS Bar has been eliminated since the transparent button made them unnecessary.
• SmallMenuPlus 3.3 and 3.4 did not display a background bitmap for WIS Bar. Now this problem has been resolved by the elimination of WIS Bar special treatments.
• Battery bar order has been changed to go from left to right instead of right to left.

3.4 2003.2.24 Battery Monitor added

• Optional Battery Monitor added which displays a battery status icon on the Navigation bar of Pocket PC 2002.
• A few linkage mistakes have been fixed on the online help file.

3.3 2003.2.5 An optional 'Suspend' menu item added

• An optional 'Suspend' item has been added. You can turn off your Pocket PC device via the 'Suspend' menu item.
• SmallMenuPlus now uses the WIS Bar skin automatically when WIS Bar is running.

3.2 2002.9.2 An option to generate an auto start shortcut

• An optional auto start shortcut file in Windows startup folder has been added.
• /s command line option now performs program menu trees and favorites menu tree caching so that the menu items can be rapidly accessed when the pop-up menu first appears. In previous versions, SmallMenu took a long time to pop up when the first pop-up menu appeared, especially when there were many menu items in the menu tree.
• Memory corruption problem has been fixed. Memory corruption may have been observed as a menu item strings corruption problem. The problem may have occurred in cases where there was a shortcut file which pointed to a folder in the SmallMenu's program menu folder/favorites folder, and when the shortcut file name was shorter than the target folder name.
• SmallMenu exhausted CPU power when files (non shortcut files) were located in SmallMenu's menu folder. This problem has been fixed.
• Plural setting dialog boxes could be opened. This problem has been fixed.
• Task managers listed-up SmallMenu just after SmallMenu was launched with /s command line option. This problem has been fixed.

3.0 2002.8.12 Flexible configuration for main menu items

• Edit Menu Items dialog box has been expanded to configure all main menu items.
• Favorites with a cascading menu is added.
• Minimum required memory for a menu item in SmallMenu has been reduced (From 36 bytes to 24 bytes).
• Today and Recent Programs can now be listed and changed before other settings are configured. In the version 2.2, they were not able to be listed nor any changes for their settings were saved before system registry entry for SmallMenu was created.

2.2 2002.7.30 Close Icon has been added

• Close Icon can now be added to each task item.
• New Edit Menu Items dialog box has been added, and the configurations of Today and Recent Programs are moved to the Edit Menu Items dialog box.

2.1 2002.5.27 The code base has been merged to ProgramMenu

• The code base of SmallMenu has been merged into ProgramMenu's code base.
• Custom menu folder can be chosen via tGetFile.dll's folder dialog box.
• Closing Contacts window while a contact item was opened prevented Contacts from re-opening until soft reset was performed. This problem has been fixed.
• Windows without class names such as Daniel Jackson's QTris now appear in the task list.
• A few other minor problems have been fixed.

2.0 2002.3.5 The first Pocket PC version