Syslinux - Mar 2005 - RESEND: Problems with menu.c32, and some feature request for menu.c32

I am resending this message because I have not recieved any response back.

I have found two bugs in the menu.c32 utility, part of the syslinux-3.08-pre5
build, and have a couple of requests.

Problem 1:

If you use the ^ symbol to define a number as a hotkey, ex. MENU LABEL ^1 Option
#1 , the menu will not print the number highlighted.  It will use it as a hot
key, it just will not highlight it.  It does highlight the hotkey if a letter,
A-Z, is specified.

Problem 2:

When the statement "MENU PASSWD" is used to define a password the
label that it is used in and all following labels require that password.  All
preceding LABELs do not require a password.

Request #1:
When a timeout is spedified it would be nice if a countdown timer could be place
on the screen, say the lower right hand corner.  This could be enabled/disabled
through a menu option.

Request #2:
It would be nice if the following vars in the menu.c could be set in the config
file so the program would not have to be recompiled to change these values.
#define WIDTH		80
#define MARGIN		10
#define PASSWD_MARGIN	3
#define MENU_ROWS	12
#define TABMSG_ROW	18
#define CMDLINE_ROW	20
#define END_ROW		24
#define PASSWD_ROW	11

Request #3:
Add an option to the config file that would enable HOTKEYING.  What is
hotkeying?  Currently when you press a hotkey the menu item is highlighted and
then you have to press enter to execute the menu item.  HOTKEYING would, when
the hotkey is pressed, highlight the menu item and automatically execute the
menu item without the need to press the enter key.

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On Sun, Mar 27, 2005 at 01:13:48AM -0500, Eugene Pressley
wrote:
> I am resending this message because I have not recieved any response back.
And what have you done in those three days ?
> I have found two bugs in the menu.c32 utility, part of the
> syslinux-3.08-pre5 build, and have a couple of requests.
> 
> Problem 1:
> 
> If you use the ^ symbol to define a number as a hotkey,
> ex. MENU LABEL ^1 Option #1 , the menu will not print the number
> highlighted.  It will use it as a hot key, it just will not highlight
> it.  It does highlight the hotkey if a letter, A-Z, is specified.
You could have reply on the original posting with
chances on the syslinux manual where this behaviour is documented.
> Problem 2:
> 
> When the statement "MENU PASSWD" is used to define a password the
label
> that it is used in and all following labels require that password.
> All preceding LABELs do not require a password.
Sounds to me like an interresting feature.
Normal boot doesn't need a password
and special boots do.

Those who want "only boot with password" should place "MENU
PASSWD" on
top of the config file.
> 
> Request #1:
> When a timeout is spedified it would be nice if a countdown timer could
> be place on the screen, say the lower right hand corner.
> This could be enabled/disabled through a menu option.
IMNSHO it is very harsh to ignore a polite request.
So less harsh is to say: That is a request for adding bloat.
> Request #2:
> It would be nice if the following vars in the menu.c could be set in
> the config file so the program would not have to be recompiled
> to change these values.
> #define WIDTH		80
> #define MARGIN		10
> #define PASSWD_MARGIN	3
> #define MENU_ROWS	12
> #define TABMSG_ROW	18
> #define CMDLINE_ROW	20
> #define END_ROW		24
> #define PASSWD_ROW	11
And when or how benefits the bootloader from this?
Please elaborate the request.
> Request #3:
> Add an option to the config file that would enable HOTKEYING.
> What is hotkeying?
> Currently when you press a hotkey the menu item is highlighted and
> then you have to press enter to execute the menu item.
> HOTKEYING would, when the hotkey is pressed,
> highlight the menu item and automatically execute the menu item
> without the need to press the enter key.
I have no clue what the impact of that request is.
It will demand a (huge?) change on the user input routines.



Cheers
Geert Stappers

Who thinks that a bootloader should do bootloading.
(and when you want more, then do more)

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Eugene Pressley wrote:
> I am resending this message because I have not recieved any response back.
Doing this is considered rude.  This is not a paid support hotline.

> I have found two bugs in the menu.c32 utility, part of the
syslinux-3.08-pre5 build, and have a couple of requests.
> 
> Problem 1:
> 
> If you use the ^ symbol to define a number as a hotkey, ex. MENU LABEL ^1
Option #1 , the menu will not print the number highlighted.  It will use it as a
hot key, it just will not highlight it.  It does highlight the hotkey if a
letter, A-Z, is specified.
> 
> Problem 2:
> 
> When the statement "MENU PASSWD" is used to define a password the
label that it is used in and all following labels require that password.  All
preceding LABELs do not require a password.
These are indeed bugs, and I will put them on my list to fix them.  A 
patch would be appreciated.

> Request #1:
> When a timeout is spedified it would be nice if a countdown timer could be
place on the screen, say the lower right hand corner.  This could be
enabled/disabled through a menu option.
 >
> Request #2:
> It would be nice if the following vars in the menu.c could be set in the
config file so the program would not have to be recompiled to change these
values.
> #define WIDTH		80
> #define MARGIN		10
> #define PASSWD_MARGIN	3
> #define MENU_ROWS	12
> #define TABMSG_ROW	18
> #define CMDLINE_ROW	20
> #define END_ROW		24
> #define PASSWD_ROW	11
> 
> Request #3:
> Add an option to the config file that would enable HOTKEYING.  What is
hotkeying?  Currently when you press a hotkey the menu item is highlighted and
then you have to press enter to execute the menu item.  HOTKEYING would, when
the hotkey is pressed, highlight the menu item and automatically execute the
menu item without the need to press the enter key.
None of these requests is particularly difficult to implement; however, 
again, a patch would be appreciated.  I do have a finite amount of time, 
and unfortunately it looks like syslinux is going to have to play second 
fiddle for a while.

	-hpa

On Mon, Mar 28, 2005 at 06:32:36AM -0800, H. Peter Anvin wrote:
 
[thread with subject:
 Problems with menu.c32, and some feature request for menu.c32]
> None of these requests is particularly difficult to implement; however, 
> again, a patch would be appreciated.  I do have a finite amount of time, 
> and unfortunately it looks like syslinux is going to have to play second 
> fiddle for a while.
Including symlink support in extlinux?


Cheers
Geert Stappers