I need to author (put a main menu to) a CD-R to be viewable on a
windows PC.  Please walk me through the complete process (including if
i need a specific progra or templates)

The CD-R will contain mostly text files, please tell me how to have
the main menu button:

1. Open a word doc directly

2. Open a window that would allow the person to double click and open
one or more documents as they normally would in windows.

3. Add a picture and audio to the main menu.

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Clarification of Question by illuminae-ga on 19 Mar 2006 21:32 PST

possibly easier said... put a main menu to organize a data disk.

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Request for Question Clarification by sublime1-ga on 19 Mar 2006 22:13 PST

illuminae...

There are several programs which allow you to create a professional
menu for your CDs, and all come with plain instructions. Here's a few:

CDMenu:
http://www.cdmenu.de/

CDMenuPro:
http://www.cdmenupro.com/

AutoPlay Express:
http://www.kl-soft.com/autoplay-tutorial.php

Many offer free trial downloads for testing.


Additionally, here's a page with several CD menu creation programs
which are freeware, along with some other CD-R/W utilities:
http://www.webattack.com/Freeware/system/fwcdrtools.html


There's more here:

create document CD menu
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=create+document+CD+menu&btnG=Google+Search


If this satisfies your interests, I'll post it as an answer.
Otherwise, please post a Clarification on what else you need.

A user's guide on this topic is on skermit-ga's site, here: 
http://www.christopherwu.net/google_answers/answer_guide.html#how_clarify 
 
sublime1-ga

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Clarification of Question by illuminae-ga on 19 Mar 2006 22:36 PST

1. please make a recommendation or some ratings.
2. do i really get more for my money if i upgrade from freeware?

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Clarification of Question by illuminae-ga on 19 Mar 2006 23:40 PST

1. please make a recommendation or some ratings.
2. do i really get more for my money if i upgrade from freeware?  
3. will these programs work if i burn a data DVD-R?  (just use a DVD
instead of a CD)

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Request for Question Clarification by sublime1-ga on 20 Mar 2006 00:29 PST

Unfortunately, I'm as unfamiliar with these programs as you are,
and couldn't rate them without taking the time to download and
install them, and then burn some sample CDs in order to test them.
Even if I had the time to do so, I'd be presuming to know what you
would find preferable with regards to their features and interface.
I can't offer any personal recommendations.

---

Clarification of Question by illuminae-ga on 20 Mar 2006 17:15 PST

i understand your comment reguarding my preferences, but will i be
able to use the software to create a DVD-rom instead of a CD-R... if
more space is needed on the disk?

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Request for Question Clarification by sublime1-ga on 20 Mar 2006 18:42 PST

I personally don't own a DVD-R, so I'm unfamiliar with the 
similarities or differences between burning a data CD and
a data DVD.

The programs I've pointed you to thus far seem not to mention
DVDs, with the exception of CDMenuPro:

"Create Autorun CDs and Autorun DVD's using CDMenuPro"
http://www.cdmenupro.com/


Also, a search including both terms turns up menu creation software
that indicates functionality with both:

CD DVD menu
://www.google.com/search?q=CD+DVD+menu

Such as SamLogic CD-Menu Creator 2004:
http://www.samlogic.net/cd-menu-creator/cd-menu-creator.htm

FenriSoft's Simple CD/DVD Menu 1.3.2
http://www.fenrisoft.com/SimpleMenu.php

BrowserBob's CD/DVD Menu tool:
http://www.browserbob.com/solutions/cd_menus.html

There's more in the search results above.

Let me know if this satisfies your interests...

sublime1-ga

illuminae...

I haven't heard back from you for awhile. I'll go ahead and
post what I've provided as an answer, and if you need any
further clarification, you can still post one.

-----------------------------------------------------------

There are several programs which allow you to create a professional
menu for your CDs, and all come with plain instructions. Here's a few:

CDMenu:
http://www.cdmenu.de/

CDMenuPro:
http://www.cdmenupro.com/

AutoPlay Express:
http://www.kl-soft.com/autoplay-tutorial.php

Many offer free trial downloads for testing.


Additionally, here's a page with several CD menu creation programs
which are freeware, along with some other CD-R/W utilities:
http://www.webattack.com/Freeware/system/fwcdrtools.html

---

Unfortunately, I'm as unfamiliar with these programs as you are,
and couldn't rate them without taking the time to download and
install them, and then burn some sample CDs in order to test them.
Even if I had the time to do so, I'd be presuming to know what you
would find preferable with regards to their features and interface.
I can't offer any personal recommendations.

---

I personally don't own a DVD-R, so I'm unfamiliar with the 
similarities or differences between burning a data CD and
a data DVD.

The programs I've pointed you to thus far seem not to mention
DVDs, with the exception of CDMenuPro:

"Create Autorun CDs and Autorun DVD's using CDMenuPro"
http://www.cdmenupro.com/


Also, a search including both terms turns up menu creation
software that indicates functionality with both DVDs and CDs,
such as:

SamLogic CD-Menu Creator 2004:
http://www.samlogic.net/cd-menu-creator/cd-menu-creator.htm

FenriSoft's Simple CD/DVD Menu 1.3.2
http://www.fenrisoft.com/SimpleMenu.php

BrowserBob's CD/DVD Menu tool:
http://www.browserbob.com/solutions/cd_menus.html

Additional information may be found from an exploration of
the links resulting from the Google searches outlined below.

sublime1-ga


Searches done, via Google:

create document CD menu
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=create+document+CD+menu&btnG=Google+Search

CD DVD menu
://www.google.com/search?q=CD+DVD+menu

The Windows system reads a data DVD-R just the same as a data CD-R,
you don't have to worry about that. If you like, it considers a data
DVD-R just a big CD-R.
So if you make a manu using one of these programs, it will work on
both types of media.

As to wich one you should use, it's entirely up to you, you'll have to test them.