Introduction

SyMenu allows you to manage portable applications resident on a removable drive.
SyMenu can be installed in pen drives, external USB disks, memory cards and even CD and DVD.
It's easy to use and configure and take the power of its search-as-you-type menu in your removable media.

No more lacks of your preferred programs at work, in your just-installed system, even in old PC of your grandmother.
You'll be always ready to operate with your preferred tools.

Prerequisites

SyMenu needs the following requisites to work:

• .NET Framework 2.0 (available at the Microsoft web site) or higher (compatibility has been extended to Frameworks 3.0, 3.5, 4.0);
  
• a portable device.

Supported operating systems are the ones in which you can install .NET Framework 2.0 or higher:

• Windows 2000;
• Windows XP;
• Windows Server 2003;
• Windows Vista;
• Windows Server 2008;
• Windows 7;
• Windows 8.

It doesn't matter if your OS is 32bit or 64bit version.

Installation

SyMenu is very easy to install.
These are the detailed steps to follow:

• Download the SyMenu last version from http://www.ugmfree.it/SyMenuDownload.aspx;
• Unzip downloaded file inside an empty folder of your removable device (for example: f:\SyMenu);
• Execute SyMenu.exe;
• SyMenu asks you to select your preferred language;
• SyMenu asks you to accept the licence terms;
• SyMenu asks you to choose some important options:
  • Check for a new version at startup - every time that SyMenu starts, it checks if it is updated to the latest version;
  • Enable shortcuts manager - if it is checked, SyMenu can use your custom shortcuts to start configured SyItems and the the main shortcut to show its contextual menu (SyMenu default main shortcut is ALT + F1);
  • Enable gestures manager - if checked SyMenu can be configured to pop up its contextual menu with a simple mouse gesture (SyMenu default main gesture is CLICK MOUSE RIGTH BUTTON + MOVE MOUSE DOWN). All your SyPrograms can be configured to be executed with a custom gesture;
  • Backup configuration files - allows SyMenu to backup its configuration files (SyMenuConfig.zip and SyMenuItem.zip) every time they change as a result of your choices;
• SyMenu shows a splash screen and puts its icon, with the unit letter overlay, on Windows task bar. According with your choose in the form options you can remove the unit letter overlay too.
  

N.B. In case of Windows can't execute SyMenu and returns an error, it means that your hosting PC doesn't have the .NET Framework 2.0 installed.

First execution

During the first execution SyMenu configures itself creating various folders and files.
Since SyMenu is a real portable application every operation it does against the file system only concerns its home folder and related subfolders.

Contextual menu is activated in several way:

• left-clicking or right-clicking SyMenu taskbar icon;
• double clicking the SyMenu executable file again;
• using the customizable key shortcut (see Advanced menu - Options chapter);
• using the customizable mouse gesture (see Advanced menu - Options chapter).

The appearance of a not yet customized SyMenu is similar to the following figure:
while a configured SyMenu looks like this one: and this is SyMenu in compact mode:

Configuration

SyMenu saves its configurations in three files located inside the folder Config: SyMenuConfig.zip, SyMenuItem.zip and SyMenuRecent.zip.
Every zip file holds an xml file with the same name that is the real configuration container.
SyMenuConfig.xml contains the program configuration.
SyMenuItem.xml contains the configuration for all the configured SyItems.
SyMenuRecent.xml contains a list of the last executed SyItems.

If Backup configuration files option is active, every time that a configuration file changes, SyMenu creates a backup of it. In this way you have a chance to retrieve the last valid configuration.
Backup files are called SyMenuConfig.zip.bak and SyMenuItem.zip.bak. Naturally the file with the recent executed SyItem list is not subject to backup.

Contextual Menu

Execute SyItems

SyItems are executed simply making a click with mouse or confirming current selected item with Enter key on your keyboard.
Contextual Menu is navigable either with mouse or arrow keys.
ESC key closes Contextual Menu or currently opened sub menu.

Contextual Menu includes some particular entries that are not customizable by you.
On the top area you can find SyMenu title which doesn't have any particular function.
Just below the title you can find Executor Modifier which is described in next chapter.
Search Items opens a sub menu that allows to search between all configured items and over (see Search Item Bar).
Recent allows to access the recently launched SyItem list.
Then you can find Tools item which opens a sub menu that gives access to several core functions:

• Configuration loads the Configuration form;
• Enable/Disable Extension Manager changes Extension Manager current state;
• Autoexec on start launches all programs configured for auto-execution on start even if you have been disabled Autoexec (see Auto Execute);
• Check for Update verifies if SyMenu is updated checking latest version on this website. If version is not updated SyMenu suggests to start automatic update process. If SyMenu detects that you are connected to the Internet through a proxy server it suggests to set the required configuration;
• Elevate SyMenu re-executes SyMenu with elevated privileges in Windows Vista, 7 and newer OS, for users that have UAC enabled;
• Reload refreshes SyMenu configured items and re-initialize the shortcut manager and gesture manager.

In the bottom area you can find the Exit entry which, of course, shuts down SyMenu.

Executor Modifier

Under the title bar, Contextual Menu shows active execution mode.
Normal state for execution mode is Run Item. This means that a click on any SyItem will run it.
SyMenu offers three other modes to execute SyItems: Open Folder, File Properties, RunAs item.
Alternative modes can be accessed clicking with mouse pointer onto Executor Modifier area or simply pressing CTRL key while Contextual Menu is opened.

Open Folder mode allows to open selected SyItem container folder.

File Properties mode asks operating system to show Windows file properties dialog of the selected SyItem.

RunAs item mode allows to execute any SyItem with different credential. Naturally new credential is valid only if alternative user exists on local PC or in network domain.
SyMenu stores alternative credential specified through RunAs for every item so you have to provide user name and password once per item.
Particular items such as SyWinCommand can be executed only in normal mode (Run Item) because since commands are not files, they don't have properties and they don't reside in any folder.
On the other hand execution in RunAs mode is allowed even for SyWinCommand items.

Search Item Bar

SyMenu has a great feature which is the Search Item bar.
It works in a very similar way to Windows Start Menu because it allows to search between SyItems only writing some letters of their names.
For example to search for SyItem PADGen, you can write the letters "padg" to retrieve it as the first item (see next figure).
It is also possible to enable the "search inside the item names" mode that allows to write a text like "adge" to find PADGen.

Search Item Bar - Tools integration

SyMenu integrates the searching result list with the built in items available on the Tools sub menu.
In that way you can search, for example, the Configuration entry through the search item bar instead of its Tools menu.
As every other element in SyMenu, the search tools are translated too. So that if you want to find the "Check for Update" feature you can write: "chec ..." if SyMenu is set in English or "véri ..." if it is in French or "auf ..." if it is in German.
Watch figure above to undestand how SyMenu works in this case

Search Item Bar - Windows integration

SyMenu can integrate the searching result list with items configured on the host PC. Besides you can access several Windows utilities located in System32 folder.
In this way you can access every PC installed programs from a single place: the SyMenu Search Item Bar.
It's very useful when you want to execute not portable programs such as Word, Excel, Photoshop, Internet Explorer, games and so on.
SyItems and Windows Start Menu items remain always separated.
Watch figure above to undestand how SyMenu works in this case: the top items are SyItems and the ones below the separator line are host PC items. By default, integration with Windows Start Menu is enabled and limited to five items but it's possible to increase this number or completely disable the feature (for example to increase performance or to reduce memory occupation) through the Advanced menu - Options.

Search Item Bar - File system integration

Since versione 2.03 SyMenu is able to directly search inside the host PC file system.
This new search mode is reachable from the always useful Search Item bar, clicking on the little icon on the right or pressing F3. When you enter in Files system search mode (FS) you have the opportunity of:

• search files inside SyFolder tagged as searchable (see SyFolderLink);
• search files and folders inside current unit when your search string starts with the character "\". In this case SyMenu understands the command and starts to enumerate all files and folders currently inside the root of your unit;
• search files and folders inside a certain unit when your string starts with the unit identifier (i.e "C:").

SyMenu updates the found entries every time you add a single caracter on your search string.
In case you would like to auto complete a folder or file name, you simply have to highlight the desired entry (using the cursors arrow up and down) and pressing TAB key.
Finally when you reach the folder or file you were interested in, click it with the mouse or press ENTER to open it.

To avoid that in some keyboard you have to press the key ALT to write the symbol "\" (backslash), SyMenu allows you to write either the symbol "/" (slash) as a folder separator.

Search Item Bar - Large items

Since version 2.04 SyMenu can show the found items in a large version that allows you to examine the item path without opening the tooltip.
Almost all item could be enabled in their large versions through the Advanced menu - Options.
The path is shown in its most significant part that its last one.

Configuration form

Clicking 'Tools - Configuration' entries from Contextual Menu, you can access to the configuration form.
Next picture shows configuration form with an already configured SyMenu.

SyItems

On the left hand side you can see the programs tree that contains every configured SyItem.

SyItems are the various entities that SyMenu allows to configure:

• SyContainer
• SyWebLink
• SyWinCommand
• SyFolderLink
• SyProgram
• SyDocument
• SySeparator

SyContainer are SyMenu logical folders that can contains every kind of SyItem.
SyWebLinks are URL that are launched inside the predefined host browser.
SyWinCommands are items that allow to launch Windows DOS commands (such as Dir, Find, MD, Xcopy...).
SyFolderLinks are items that link to existing folders inside the removable drive.
SyPrograms are items that link to programs inside the removable drive.
SyDocuments are items that link to any file except programs inside the removable drive.
SySeparator are graphical separator for SyItems.

Clicking on a SyItem you can see its properties on the right hand side of the main form.
Every kind of SyItem has its particular property set.

SyContainer

SyContainer has got four properties: Name, Icon, Description and URL.
Name is the item label identifier.

Icon is an optional property that allows to customize the container appearance. The default icon for SyContainer is an opened folder similar to one used in Windows Explorer.

To customize SyContainers it's possible to use multi colour folder icons or any other icon that you can choose.
Description is a custom text that describes the SyItem.

URL represents the web page Internet address that is linked by SyWebLink.
SyWebLink supports and accepts the following protocols: http://, https:// and ftp://.

SyWebLink

SyWebLink has got the same properties than SyContainer.

SyWinCommand

SyWinCommand has got Name, Windows Command, Icon and Description properties.
Windows Command property supports every command included in Windows command console.
Besides, since version 1.06, SyWinCommand can link even .cpl, .msc and .exe files. The only requirement is that linked program has to reside on one of the registered path (ask for "path" in windows command to know registered path in your system). Otherwise full path must be specified.
Multiple command can be assembled in one SyWinCommand with correct separator (semi-colon)

Examples:

main.cpl - makes Mouse properties dialog appears

main.cpl;perfmon.msc;dir c:\; - makes Mouse properties dialog and Performance monitor appear. Besides in command window SyMenu executes dir command for C:\ unit

C:\Windows\System32\systeminfo.exe - asks that SyMenu executes in command window systeminfo program. In this case it's possible to achieve the same result with a SyProgram item

If mapped command take path as parameters, remind to enclose it between quotation marks.
For example if you want to list folders and files inside the Windows folder of your host PC you have to write: dir "c:\Windows".

For compatibility requirement the entire command list consists of commands included in Windows XP shell.

N.B. SyWinCommand path parameters could be written using Universal Unit Identifier
For example dir #:\ lists all folders and files of the current unit drive in which SyMenu is executing.

SyFolderLink

SyFolderLink has got four properties: Name, Path, Icon and Description.
Path is the physical path to the pointed folder.
If you want your folder is searchable by the Search Item Bar with the file system integration simple check the Searchable option.

SyProgram

SyProgram is the most complex and useful SyItem. It allows to link your SyItem to executable files (.exe, .jar) residing on your removable device.
SyProgram properties are Name, Path, Icon, Description, Shortcut, Program Arguments, Home Page and Version.
Shortcut allows to specify a key combination to launch the SyProgram without searching and clicking for it.

There are other options available for SyProgram configuration into the tab Additional Params, Gesture and Advanced.

SyProgram - Additional Params

Program Arguments allows to send parameters to launched programs. Usually program guides, list any available command line parameters. Read them to learn your favourite programs command lines list.
Home Page and Version allow to stored further information about the program.

Parameters example:

If you want to launch Firefox (not the portable version but the normal one), you have to specify the profile folder in which Firefox takes and stores its profile information. Reading command line guide, you can realize that the profile folder can be specifies with the -profile [path] parameter.
So if you want to retrieve your Firefox preferred customizations even when you launch it from removable device, you have to specify this parameter property: -profile "#:\SyMenu\Profiles\Firefox"

N.B. Note that in SyProgram Parameters property it's permitted to use Universal Unit Identifier if referred folder or file resides on SyMenu removable drive.

Parameters with placeholder example:

Since 1.09 version SyMenu supports even placeholder in parameters like batch files (%1).

Let's see a complex example of using placeholder and extension manager too.

Create a Truecrypt volume named test.tc Configure Truecrypt with extension manager to manage extension .tc
In parameters add this line: /v %1 /l T /a /p abcdefg /q background
Enable extension manager.

From now every time you double click on a file with extension .tc (for example our test.tc), SyMenu Extension Manager intercepts this file and delivers it to Truecrypt (/v %1), mount it on T virtual drive (/l T) and uses abcdefg as password (/p abcdefg).

SyProgram - Gesture

You can choose a mouse gesture to launch every SyProgram.
A gesture is a combination of a mouse button click with a rapid movement of the mouse in some direction.
SyMenu detects until to 12 different gestures.
For example by default SyMenu contextual menu could be shown with this gesture: click on the right mouse button and move the mouse down.
The mouse button to use for gesture could be chosen in the Advanced menu - Options between the right and middle mouse buttons.
The Gesture tab shows the already used (and consequentially unavailable) gestures.

SyProgram - Advanced

SyProgram item allows to customize advanced params too. They concern about the runtime parameters that programs can be instructed to follow.
So if you want to instruct your program to use certain AppData folder or UserProfile folder you can try to complete the Advanced Params box.
This feature is not so reliable because not every program is built to follow Windows environment variables: usually they ask for Windows Special Folders that are not customizable.

Working directory instead could be really important for some programs and represent the folder in where process executes.
Since SyMenu version 1.10, Working directory is already set by default for every programs on same folder of executable file. Edit this parameter only if you need to specify a different Working directory than default one.

The environment variables managed by SyMenu are:

• WORKING DIRECTORY
• APPDATA, LOCALAPPLICATIONDATA, COMMONAPPLICATIONDATA
• USERPROFILE
• HOMEPATH
  
• PROGRAMFILES, PROGRAMS
  

SyDocument

SyDocument is a generic container that can link any file type (except .exe and .dll).
For some file type SyMenu provide a custom icon. Managed extensions are: url, htm, html, hlp, 7z, arj, gz, gzip, lzh, rar, tar, tgz, zip, jpg, jpeg, gif, tiff, tif, bmp, png, txt, nfo, ini, chm, doc, docx, rtf, xls, pdf, wav, mp3, mid.
This basic list is customizable "by hand" through SyMenuConfig.xml, which is the SyMenu configuration file.
Watch out! Every manual modification of the configuration file can break SyMenu. In this case delete SyMenuConfig.xml, replace it with a backup version and restart SyMenu.

SySeparator

SySeparator is a graphical separator to create logical areas inside the same SyContainer or inside the root container.
It is possible to give a custom name even to separators. A named separator allows to obtain a predictable order inside a SyContainer when your use the command to alphabetically sort it.

SyItems Attributes

Relative Path

It's useful to point up a fact. When SyMenu manages objects residing in removable devices, it can't store the exact path of a folder (or file) because the device unit could change between different machines.
So a linked folder (i.e. f:\Pictures) could be d:\Picture on PC at home, e:\Picture on PC at work and so on.
To avoid false paths, SyMenu supports relative path and universal unit identifier.

Support for Windows relative path is enabled for Path and Icon values.
Example:
If your SyProgram Notepad++ resides on f:/Symenu/ProgramFiles/Notepad++ folder and SyMenu resides on f:/SyMenu folder you can specify as path attribute: .\ProgramFiles\Notepad++\notepad++.exe.

SyMenu uses relative path when you drag and drop a new item from file system to the application tree or when you point to the program with SyMenu path button.

Universal Unit Identifier

When SyMenu find a universal unit identifier (#:\), it replaces it at run-time with the current unit (f:\, d:\, e:\) to be able to retrieve items on the file system.
Support for universal unit identifier is valid for Paths, Icons and Parameters.

Environment Variables

SyMenu support the Windows environment variables too so that a path attribute like %ProgramFiles(x86)%\Notepad++\notepad++.exe points to the real path c:\Program Files (x86)\Notepad++\notepad++.exe

Icons

To customize any SyItem with a particular icon, it only needs to browse to an .ico file: SyMenu will copy .ico file in its appropriate folder and make association with current SyItem.
Another chance it is to browse to an .exe or .dll file. In these cases SyMenu extracts from the file, the first available icon and copy it into its appropriate folder.

Auto Execute

Auto Execute is a feature that allows SyPrograms to be automatically launched at SyMenu start-up or quit times.
So if you want that some programs are launched together with SyMenu, you have to check the Autoexec on start checkbox of each desired application.
Similarly if you want that some programs are launched when SyMenu closes, you have to check the Autoexec on close checkbox of each desired application.
Remember that flagging Autoexec checkboxes is not enough. To make Auto Execute works it's necessary to instruct SyMenu to activate this function flagging the appropriate checkbox in Advanced menu - Options.
Autoexec on start could be configured to launch programs with a custom interval from one to each other while Autoexec on close launches all program at the same time.

One Instance Only

SyPrograms that have this option activated can be launched only in one session per time.

Output Command

SyWinCommands are launched inside their own window (very similar to Windows command shell).
But sometimes you need to launch other programs in this same window.
So you can configure your command line program as a SyProgram and check the Output Command flag. When you launch your program the output will be shown through SyMenu command shell window.

Extension Manager

SyMenu tries to mimic Windows start menu but Extension Manager does more: it allows to replace the extension associations currently active in host PC. So when you double click on a .txt file in host PC you can configure that instead of Windows Notepad application, SyMenu launches another editor.
Naturally replacement can't be definitive but has to take place only during SyMenu activity.
To accomplish this task SyMenu listens any new process started in your host system.
If a new process try to open a file whom extension is managed by Extension Manager, SyMenu kills process and starts its corresponding program opening the same file.
Example.
If you map your SyProgram Notepad++ with .txt extension, when Windows open the file c:\test.txt with Notepad, SyMenu will kill Notepad and launch its SyProgram Notepad++ opening c:\test.txt file.

Extension Manager could be configured for any SyProgram but can be totally enabled or disabled with the appropriate menu entry.

Extensions managed by Extension Manager have to be unique inside SyMenu context. So if you try to configure .txt extension for your two SyPrograms Notepad++ and PSPad, SyMenu alerts you with an error message.

Drag and Drop

Item tree supports the drag and drop of any element.
You can change the position of your SyItems simply clicking with the mouse on it and dragging it away.
You can drop the dragged item inside an element container (SyContainer) or among two elements to move it in another position.

Clone an element

If during a drag and drop operation you click and hold the CRTL key, SyMenu allows to clone the currently dragged element.
You can clone any element except for SyContainers.

Dragging an element from host PC

The SyMenu item tree supports the drag and drop from host file system too.
So if you want to map in SyMenu a program residing on you pen drive or in your PC, the procedure is very simple: drag it into the item tree and SyMenu will make the work for you.
Drag and drop from file system works for: program files, archive files, folders, shortcuts and web links.
Dragging an executable file from file system allows SyMenu to automatically extract from it all its metadata such as the icon, the version number and the description if available.

Item tree shortcuts

Item tree supports some shortcuts to increase the productivity.

• DEL (delete/undelete) - The current item is deleted and to show its new condition its name is highlighted with a italic strikethrough font. Pressing the same button again makes the item to be undeleted. The item definitely disappears when you press the Save button;
• F2 (rename) - The focus is set inside the Name textbox allowing you to fast rename the current item;
• Enter - When the cursor is located in the textbox Name and you press Enter, the focus is set on the corresponding item on the treeview;
• F3 (hide/unhide) - The current item is hidden. An hidden item disappear from the contextual menu but remains in the configuration menu. It is highlighted with a gray italic font. Pressing the same button again makes the item to be unhidden;
• F11 (expand folders) - SyMenu expands all folders;
• F12 (compress folders) - SyMenu compresses all folders.

Configuration form menus

File Menu

File menu contains three commands: Reset, Save, Save & Exit.
Save and Save & Exit attend to save current SyItems configuration.
You can configure more than one SyItem per time, order them, test the configurations with testing buttons (Run, Open Folder, File Property, RunAs), but as long as you don't save configuration, you can rollback to the previous situation.

To rollback to the last saved configuration you need to press Reset button.
Saving a configuration fix it as stable and you can't automatically rollback anymore.

Since version 1.12 saving current SyMenu configuration means to save form size and position too. When you re-open configuration form SyMenu remember its last position and size and take this settings again.
The saved settings are connected with screen resolution, so that you can store the suitable settings for your small netbook and for your super large desktop monitor.

SyItems configuration settings reside on SyMenuItem.xml file.

Item Manager menu

Item Manager menu attends to add or remove SyItems. Moreover other commands are available to move items up level or alphabetically order them.
Same functions are equally available on programs tree by clicking mouse right button on any element.

Item Manager menu - Remove/Reset item

With this function it's possible to remove any configured item. A removed item will be display in the tree with a strikeout font.
When an item has been removed it is possible to reset it with Reset item command that take the place of Remove item.
Be careful in removing a SyContainer because its whole content will be marked as removed.
A removed item definitely disappears from the tree, and from SyMenu, only when you save the configuration with Save or Save and Exit commands.

Item Manager menu - Batch Import

Batch Import is very useful for a fast configuration of SyMenu. In fact with the Batch Import is possible to import an entire set of programs with a single operation.
Batch Import asks for a base folder from which it'll start to scan the disk for programs. Scanning operation concerns base folder and every subfolder.
It's possible to specify an Ignore pattern to avoid that files such as setup.exe, uninstall.exe and so on, could be retrieved.
When SyMenu finishes the scanning operation, it'll show, in a hierarchical way, all found items.
At this point user can select through checkboxes what programs have to be imported and what programs have to be ignored.
Batch import considers only .exe and .bat files.

Item Manager menu - Scan for unlinked

This tools scans all configured SyPrograms to find orphan items. Since portable programs are often and easily moved, deleted, renamed, SyMenu helps you to find any unlinked program to fix it.

Scan for unlinked allows you to mark for deletion the files that you want to definitely remove from SyItem list.
You can make a multi-selection on this list using SHIFT or CTRL keys along with mouse click.

Advanced menu - Enable Extension Manager

Advanced menu contains the activation command for Extension Manager (see Extension Manager chapter).

Advanced menu - Check for update

Verifies if your SyMenu version is up to date (needs the Internet connection).

Advanced menu - Create Autorun.inf

Autorun.inf is a particular file that could reside on removable device. It informs Windows that there are some activities to accomplish when the removable device is activated.
SyMenu creates Autorun.inf to customize removable device icon and to instruct Windows that launch of SyMenu is the preferred activity in that device. If you create Autorun.inf you'll see a new suggestion in Windows Autorun activities when you connect the device that contains SyMenu.

Unfortunately Autorun.inf feature has been removed since Windows Vista version for security reasons. The last Windows version in which autorun.inf works is Windows XP so the feature has been removed from SyMenu 1.13 too.

Advanced menu - Options

In Startup tab you can find some services available at SyMenu startup and some other at Windows startup.

Function to enable at SyMenu startup
In the first group there are some options that allow you to decide SyMenu behaviour during its startup phase.

• Splash Screen - if checked, during SyMenu startup, you'll see for a few seconds the splash screen;
• Compact contextual menu - if checked SyMenu contextual menu shows itself in its compact mode;
• Autoexec - if checked SyItems tagged with Autoexec on start will be launched automatically. It's possible to specify an interval in seconds from one launch to another;
• Extension Manager - if checked Extension Manager will be activated automatically;
• Drive letter overlay on task icon - allows to put an overlay on SyMenu icon in which current drive letter is shown; it's also possible to specify a fixed color for overlay background or randomize it with Randomize overlay color checkbox;
• Backup configuration files - allows SyMenu to backup its configuration files (SyMenuConfig.xml and SyMenuItem.xml) every time they change.
• Check Version - if checked SyMenu verifies if you are using the most recent SyMenu version. You have to be online to check version. You can configure proxy credential too if you use SyMenu in an environment that use this kind of connection;

If SHIFT key is pressed during SyMenu startup, Autoexec and Check Version don't fire even if they are normally enabled. You can realize that SyMenu starts in this mode (light mode) watching the flashing led of task bar icon: it is red instead of being green.

Function to enable at Windows startup
In the second part of the form you can find options related to functions that are executed at Windows startup. These functions cause SyMenu become not portable because they could left tracks of the program in Windows registry, menu or file system according to their needs.
For now there is only one not portable option available.

• Launch SyMenu at Windows login - if checked SyMenu will be automatically launched at Windows login.

In Closing tab you can check Autoexec checkbox to specify that all SyItems tagged with Autoexec on close will be launched automatically during SyMenu closing.
In the same way of Autoexec on start if SHIFT key is pressed during SyMenu closing, Autoexec doesn't fire even if it's enabled.

In Menu tab you can decide if SyMenu has to search inside the item's names or only in a "start with" mode.
You can define if including items from Windows Start Menu configured in host PC and you can also specify the maximum number of this items that SyMenu has to show per time.
Besides you can set if SyMenu has to remember the recent executed SyItems or not. You can set the number of the stored recent files too.
You can also set if SyMenu has to show tooltip information hover any SyItem in contextual menu and, in case, which information will be shown in tooltips.
Some tooltip information are available for every SyItem while others are available for some of them. For example url information is only available for SyWebLink items.
The last section defines which kind of items must be shown in their large version inside the Search Item Bar.

In Language tab you can choose your preferred language between available ones.
If you want to add your native language on SyMenu please contact me.

In Hot Keys tab you can activate SyMenu with keyboard without clicking with mouse pointer onto SyMenu task icon.
You have two available shortcuts:

• shortcut to show SyMenu (default is WIN+S)
• shortcut to show search bar (default is SHIFT+WIN+S)

If you want to change or set up a shortcut put the cursor inside the related textbox (you'll see blinking caret) and press your favourite keys combination.
Available modifier keys are: SHIFT, ALT, CTRL, WIN.

The menu position radio buttons allows to set the location in which SyMenu has to appear on a shortcut activation.

Unchecking Enable shortcuts manager involves that every shortcut customized in SyMenu for every SyItem (not only the native ones) will be disabled.

In Gesture tab you can configure the activation of SyMenu with mouse gesture.
You can completely disable this feature with the checkbox Enable gestures manager.
You can choose which mouse button SyMenu uses for the gestures between the right one and the middle one.
Finally you can choose the master gesture to make SyMenu contextual menu pop up clicking your preferred gesture button.

In Theme tab you can customize SyMenu look. You can choose color of any contextual menu element and menu transparency level.
You can also choose between four preset themes (gray, blue, olive, black).
In this section you can customize SyMenu icons too.
Just click an icon and choose your new image source (allowed sources are .ico, .exe, .dll files). Automatically SyMenu replaces default icon with the customized one. If you want to reset a customized icon simply make another click on that.
In System tab you can see some info about your host PC and some counters about configured SyItems.
Otherwise you can obtain a .csv report with a full list of every configured item with several attributes.

Help Menu

Help Menu hosts five commands:

• SyMenu Help - opens your predefined browser and take you to this guide (needs Internet connection);
• Visit SyMenu's Web Site - opens your predefined browser on SyMenu Web Site (needs Internet connection);
• Visit SyMenu's Forum - opens your predefined browser on SyMenu forum home page (needs Internet connection). In the forum you can read various post on possible configurations, new features requests, news on SyMenu, report bug and so on;
• Credits - shows the names and web sites or emails of SyMenu translators and helpers.
• About SyMenu - shows initial splash screen.

Search Menu

Search menu allows to search for a SyItem inside the program tree in the same way as Search Item Bar.

Plugin

Since version 2.00 SyMenu is able to load third party plugins.
The SyMenu plugins will be released through the SyMenu forum directly by the authors.
To install a plugin in SyMenu you have to copy the folder that contains the plugin files inside the SyMenu Plugin folder.
To uninstall it simply delete the folder.

Example:
The Backup plugin files are placed inside a folder called SyMenu.Backup.Plugin.1.0
Copy the SyMenu.Backup.Plugin.1.0 inside the folder Plugin on the root of SyMenu
Now start SyMenu
During its startup SyMenu will show the new folder and load the plugin.

You can find every loaded plugin in the contextual menu as shown in the picture above.

Auto Update

SyMenu is capable to auto-update when a new version has been released.
To be notified about new versions please enable "Check Version" flag on Advanced menu - Options - Startup tab

This feature works evern if you are behind a proxy. It's necessary to configure SyMenu with the url of your proxy and related credential. SyMenu can naturally works with several configuration because it recognize the current available proxy so feel free to store the proxy configuration of all your working pc. The proxy credential are stored into the configuration file SyMenuConfig.xml with the password value crypted. This kind of security is weak because it is possible to retrieve the password with a brute force attack. So please use this feature carefully and not for sensible data.

Multi Execution

SyMenu allows more than one running instance from different execution paths.
In that way you can use SyMenu from different portable drives at the same time.
Overlay unit letter on task icon (see Advanced menu - Options - Startup tab), different fixed colors and different hot keys to show up SyMenu can help you to manage a multi session SyMenu system.
When SyMenu is executed from the same path of an already running instances, it doesn't execute but it makes that previous instance popups its menu.

Licence

END-USER LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR SYMENU IMPORTANT PLEASE READ THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS LICENSE AGREEMENT CAREFULLY BEFORE CONTINUING WITH THIS PROGRAM INSTALL: UGMFree End-User License Agreement ("EULA") is a legal agreement between you (either an individual or a single entity) and UGMFree. for the UGMFree software product(s) identified above which may include associated software components, media, printed materials, and "online" or electronic documentation ("SOFTWARE PRODUCT"). By installing, copying, or otherwise using the SOFTWARE PRODUCT, you agree to be bound by the terms of this EULA. This license agreement represents the entire agreement concerning the program between you and UGMFree, (referred to as "licenser"), and it supersedes any prior proposal, representation, or understanding between the parties. If you do not agree to the terms of this EULA, do not install or use the SOFTWARE PRODUCT.
The SOFTWARE PRODUCT is protected by copyright laws and international copyright treaties, as well as other intellectual property laws and treaties. The SOFTWARE PRODUCT is licensed, not sold.
1. GRANT OF LICENSE.
The SOFTWARE PRODUCT is licensed as follows:
(a) Installation and Use.
UGMFree grants you the right to install and use copies of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT on your computer running a validly licensed copy of the operating system for which the SOFTWARE PRODUCT was designed [e.g. Windows 2003, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 2008].
(b) Backup Copies.
You may also make copies of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT as may be necessary for backup and archival purposes.
2. DESCRIPTION OF OTHER RIGHTS AND LIMITATIONS.
(a) Maintenance of Copyright Notices.
You must not remove or alter any copyright notices on any and all copies of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT.
(b) Distribution.
You may not distribute registered copies of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT to third parties. Official versions available for download from UGMFree’s websites may be freely distributed.
(c) Prohibition on Reverse Engineering, Decompilation, and Disassembly.
You may not reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble the SOFTWARE PRODUCT, except and only to the extent that such activity is expressly permitted by applicable law notwithstanding this limitation.
(d) Rental.
You may not rent, lease, or lend the SOFTWARE PRODUCT.
(e) Support Services.
Because this software is “as is,” UGMFree may not provide support services for it.
(f) Compliance with Applicable Laws.
You must comply with all applicable laws regarding use of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT.
3. TERMINATION
Without prejudice to any other rights, UGMFree may terminate this EULA if you fail to comply with the terms and conditions of this EULA. In such event, you must destroy all copies of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT in your possession.
4. COPYRIGHT
All title, including but not limited to copyrights, in and to the SOFTWARE PRODUCT and any copies thereof are owned by UGMFree or its suppliers. All title and intellectual property rights in and to the content which may be accessed through use of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT is the property of the respective content owner and may be protected by applicable copyright or other intellectual property laws and treaties. This EULA grants you no rights to use such content. All rights not expressly granted are reserved by UGMFree.
5. NO WARRANTIES
UGMFree expressly disclaims any warranty for the SOFTWARE PRODUCT. The SOFTWARE PRODUCT is provided “As Is” without any express or implied warranty of any kind, including but not limited to any warranties of merchantability, noninfringement, or fitness of a particular purpose. UGMFree does not warrant or assume responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of any information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within the SOFTWARE PRODUCT. UGMFree makes no warranties respecting any harm that may be caused by the transmission of a computer virus, worm, time bomb, logic bomb, or other such computer program. UGMFree further expressly disclaims any warranty or representation to Authorized Users or to any third party.
6. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
In no event shall UGMFree be liable for any damages (including, without limitation, lost profits, business interruption, or lost information) rising out of ‘Authorized Users' use of or inability to use the SOFTWARE PRODUCT, even if UGMFree has been advised of the possibility of such damages. In no event will UGMFree be liable for loss of data or for indirect, special, incidental, consequential (including lost profit), or other damages based in contract, tort or otherwise. UGMFree shall have no liability with respect to the content of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT or any part thereof, including but not limited to errors or omissions contained therein, libel, infringements of rights of publicity, privacy, trademark rights, business interruption, personal injury, loss of privacy, moral rights or the disclosure of confidential information.