                        Disk Menu System version 4.4
                        ----------------------------
                  Written by South Herts Software Systems
                  ---------------------------------------
             Review by: Graham Jenkins - DataServe Systems BBS
             -------------------------------------------------

     South  Herts  Software  Systems  DISK  MENU  v4.4,   DataServe
     Systems BBS "SOFTWARE OF THE MONTH" has outstanding qualities,
     superior  to  many  menuing  systems that are available on the
     Shareware circuit.

     I unpacked the software into  a  directory  on  my  hard  disk
     called C:\MENU and then added the directory to my path. My one
     failing  as  with  most people is I try and install a piece of
     software without printing or reading the docs. In the case  of
     DISK  MENU  SYSTEM v4.4 - The documentation is a helpful guide
     to all sorts of procedures. However, I set up several menus in
     the matter of  30  minutes  or  so  without  the  aid  of  the
     documentation,  with one exception.  The System Administrators
     password. Although obvious, the software house default had  to
     be  looked  up.   Anyway, the sign of a good piece of software
     is that a programmer takes account of  the  user  who  doesn't
     look at the documentation.

     Please  Note:  I  have  printed  the documentation out now and
     have checked what I did and there was very little  differences
     found.


                           THE PACKAGE FEATURES:-
                           ----------------------
                       UP TO 10,000,000 MENU OPTIONS
                Up to 10 options / sub-menus from each menu
                 Use of Keyboard / mouse to select options
                     Restricting of User exits to DOS
                    Optional password for System Set-up
                Optional password for Editing menu entries
                   Optional password for Exiting to DOS
                        Optional Sub-menu passwords
                         Optional option passwords
            Customisable front-end colour schemes for all menus
             Times & Date displayed automatically on very menu
                           Optional Screen saver



                REQUIREMENTS & DATASERVE SYSTEMS BBS TESTS:-
                --------------------------------------------

     Disk   Menu  System  requires  an  IBM  PC,  XT,  AT  or  100%
     compatible with a hard disk running MS-DOS 3.3  or  higher.  I
     have  tested  it running under Dos 5.00 and under Norton v6.00
     NDOS.COM Shell, without any problems whatsoever. It  has  also
     been  tested  on  an  RM  NIMBUS  running  under  Dos 3.1 with
     SETPC.EXE (the IBM emulator), and again I experienced no major
     problems.  Tests have also been carried out using DR Dos v6.00
     with no problems.

     Note: I have not tried the package out on a  network,  but  as
     far  as I can see, I don't see why it shouldn't.  File sharing
     may be the only problem.



                      SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS:-
                      -----------------------------

     After exhaustive tests, I can safely say  that  I'd  recommend
     the package to anybody without any reservations.


     Points  For  MENU v4.4:

     Ease of operation.

     Easy to install and get up and running.

     Passworded access to Dos and Exit from Menus.

     Lots of nested menus.

     Uncomplicated documentation.

     LOW REGISTRATION FEE...(See below)


     Points Against:

     After a glowing review of this package there just has to be  a
     bad  point.  The one I have found is that if you set an option
     for something like a chkdsk or virus scan etc. etc. or  for  a
     dos  command that does not have a pause to exit, then MENU 4.4
     does not cater for a pause to exit. Nevertheless, it does  not
     impair the performance of the package as far as I'm concerned.

     However  after  consultation  with  the  software  house  this
     feature will probably be implemented in future versions.



     REGISTRATION: 5.95 + (Optional 1.00 for printed manual.)

     RATING: *****  (Highly recommended)

                           - - - - - - - - -

     Review Ratings:  *      Bad programming
                      **     Reasonable (Needs a lot more work)
                      ***    Average
                      ****   Very Good
                      *****  Highly recommended



                                 Ends.
