[12334] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
Re: Menuing Software for Windows
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Public-Access Computer Systems For)
Wed Jul 22 20:04:11 1998
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1998 15:42:25 -0500
From: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <LIBPACS@UHUPVM1.UH.EDU>
To: PACS-L@LISTSERV.UH.EDU
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L@LISTSERV.UH.EDU>
3 Messages; 68 Lines
From: Roy Lewis <rcl@onramp.net>
Subject: RE: Menuing Software for Windows
Consider WinU it provides a menu program and security.
From: "Joseph W. O'Sullivan" <josephos@saintleo.edu>
Robert Cunnew wrote:
>
> Can someone recommend menuing software that will replace Program Manager
> in Windows 3.1, preferably with security attached? Our OPACs share PCs
> with public-access databases, CD-ROMs and computer-based training and we
> need a simple interface to guide users between these.
Roy Lewis rcl@onramp.net
http://rampages.onramp.net/~rcl/rcl.htm
Northeast Texas Library System
972/205-2571
FAX 972/205-2767
*-----
From: Cal Frye <cal_frye@wra.k12.oh.us>
RE>Menuing software for Windows 7/21/98
With regard to menuing software for public-access machines, I'm not sure how
to automatically log out of a program (ESPECIALLY a DOS box) after a period of
inactivity, but a cheap, durable, and fun menu system with pretty fair
security is Kid Desk, from Edmark. We use it a home, and it's simple enough
for a two-year-old. My kids leave each other voice and email messages in the
KidDesk system--patrons could perhaps email the librarian with suggestions,
etc. (of course, some messages might be undesirable...). The extra features
may be disabled for individual "users" (deny the patron user access to
voicemail, etc.). Just a thought.
--Cal Frye, Systems Support, Western Reserve Academy, Hudson, OH
*-----
From: Robert Cunnew <robert@cunnew.demon.co.uk>
>From: "Joseph W. O'Sullivan" <josephos@saintleo.edu>
>Why not just put a security program like WINSelect or Fortres on your
>WIN 3.1, and use Program Manager?
I'm warming to that idea. Until now I've rather assumed that a
significant minority of our users would find difficulty with Program
Manager. If you *don't* use computers a single-click menu system could
be easier to negotiate than Program Manager. Quite apart from the more
structured nature of a formal menu, those double-clicks can be quite a
hurdle for the uninitiated.
At present we do have a security program in place (Secure Group) but the
PC usually sits at a Novell menu, with Windows just one of many options.
>If you are going to upgrade to Win95 or Win98, check out WinU from Bardon.
>Their web site is www.bardon.com. We are currently using WinU and find it
>very useful in locking down the desktop as well as providing an attractive
>menu interface. You can select your own wallpaper, provide inactivity
>timeouts for programs so an inactive computer will automatically return to
>the main menu screen, and more. Let me know if you would like more info.
>Becky Rohr
That's worth remembering but we're stuck with 3.1 for the immediate
future.
--
Robert Cunnew
Librarian, Chartered Insurance Institute, London
