Hints, Tips and Solutions

Volume 12, Number 3, March 2002

A simple way to add custom commands to Expert's menu is implemented. It is possible to add menu items that execute xi-commands or procedures.

To do this, you must put a file named 'custom.mnu' with syntax described below into Expert's executable directory and start (or restart) Expert.

Below is an example custom.nmu file. This file may be found in the "Examples>>Expert" folder of the CELEBRITY installation.

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10 > Deb&ug New &Box = box 0 0 100 100; zoom;

-----------

Get &point = get_point();

> &Extra

&Wordpad = spawn("C:/WinNT/notepad.exe") /nowait;

Wordpad &2 = spawn("C:/WinNT/notepad.exe");

-----------

&Box big = box 0 0 1000 1000; zoom;

> &Point

Get &point = get_point();

&Box3 = box 10 10 100 100; zoom;

<

<

&Two Boxes = box 0 0 100 100; box 50 50 100 100; zoom;

<

11 > C&ustom

&Box = box 0 0 100 100; zoom;

-----------

Get &point = get_point();

< 12 > Test1

&Pmos = layer P-Act; box -2 -1 5 3; layer Poly; box -0.5 -2 2 5;

Pmos&2 = box -2 -1 5 3 /layer="P-Act"; box -0.5 -2 2 5 /layer="Poly";

Pmos&3 = box;

<

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Syntax: The syntax will be explained using the previous example.

"10", "11", "12"" are the positions in Expert's main menu for new submenus.

The > character marks the beginning of a submenu.

The < character marks the end of a submenu.

As you can see, submenus may be nested.

"Debu&g" shows how to define the name (Debug) of a submenu and its hotkey (G).

"New &Box = box 0 0 100 100; zoom;" This line defines a submenu command. Here, as above, "New &Box" defines the name and the hotkey for the command. It is separated from the actual command by the equal sign. You may put here several xi-commands separated by semicolon, as in:

&Box3 = box 10 10 100 100; zoom;

The line

&Wordpad = spawn("C:/WinNT/notepad.exe") /nowait;

is an example of calling other Windows programs from Expert.

More advanced customization of Expert's User Interface and functionality is possible via Expert API.