Zombit K-MENU Documentation

A modernized Windows evolution of the classic DOS K-MENU

Introduction

Zombit K-MENU is a Windows-based evolution of the original DOS-era K-MENU system. It provides a fast, keyboard-driven interface for launching programs, organizing submenus, and managing system utilities - just like the DOS version, but now with a glassy 2025-style UI.

The program retains many of the features and the familiar workflow of the original 1993-2000 Borland Pascal version. Zombit K-MENU also includes a separate built-in tool called Zombit Commander (ZC), accessible via F7, which is inspired by Norton Commander and provides a dual-pane file manager interface.

Key Features

Modern Windows UI with retro DOS layout
Full keyboard and mouse support
Live configuration editing (F9)
Password protection for security and access control
Auto-scan for installed software via “Search & Play” (F6)
Submenu support with nested structure
Splash screen logo and title banner customization
DOSBox integration for running legacy DOS programs
Built-in tool: Zombit Commander (F7) - dual-pane file explorer
Icon View Mode with square 140×140 icons
Mouse hover selection in both list and icon modes
Right-click context menus for menu items

Running Zombit K-MENU

Executable: kmenu.exe

Command-line Options

/nosplash       - Skip the splash screen animation
/file <file>    - Load a specific menu file (e.g., tools.dat)
/admin          - Load the admin menu (if defined)
/config         - Load the configuration menu directly
/export         - Export detected software data (internal use)
/?              - Show help and usage

Navigation and Controls

Key / Action	Function
Arrow Keys	Navigate menu items
Enter	Run selected program
ESC	Exit the menu (if allowed in config)
Ctrl + ↑/↓	Move item up/down (edit mode)
Ctrl + E	Edit selected menu item
F1	Quick help screen
F2	Add a new menu item
F3	Edit the selected item
F5	Show this full manual
F6	Trigger Search & Play
F7	Open Zombit Commander
F8	Delete the selected item
F9	Open the configuration editor
F10	Exit Zombit K-MENU (if allowed)
Right-Click	Open context menu for item
Mouse Hover	Highlights the hovered item in both list and icon views

Tip: In Icon View, scrolling works exactly like in list mode, and items are arranged in square 140×140 blocks that adapt to window size.

Menu Item Fields

Name - Displayed in the menu list
Description - Optional tooltip or help text
Command - Program to execute
Path - Working directory
Params - Optional parameters
Pause After Run - Whether to pause when done
Require Admin - Run as administrator (UAC prompt)
Help File - File opened via F1 on that item
Submenu File - Link to another .dat file
Icon File - .ico or resource-based icon
Password - Optional password required to run

Configuration Editor (F9)

The Configuration Editor lets you adjust global settings for Zombit K-MENU without editing .dat files manually. It appears centered on screen and is divided into two columns: General Settings and Appearance & Paths. Use LEFT/RIGHT to toggle Yes/No fields or switch between Save and Cancel. Changes are saved immediately to the currently loaded menu file.

General Settings (Left Column)

Logo Text: Text banner displayed at the top of the menu (not the splash screen).
Title: Window caption text shown in the title bar.
Password Lock: Locks the menu at startup. If the entered password is incorrect, K-MENU will exit immediately.
Enable Sound: Plays beeps and other effects when navigating.
Allow Exit (F10): Allows exiting Zombit K-MENU using ESC or F10.
Allow Menu Edit (F2/F3/F8): Allows adding, editing, or deleting menu items from the main UI.
Scan for Viruses: Triggers an antivirus scan on startup (if integrated).
Center Menu Box: Centers the main menu box on screen instead of left-aligned.
Hebrew Support: Enables Hebrew character encoding in menus.
RTL Mode: Right-to-left layout mode for Hebrew or Arabic users.
Mouse Control Keyboard: Moving the mouse automatically changes the keyboard selection.
Minimize to SysTray: Allows minimizing Zombit K-MENU to the Windows system tray.
Standalone Mode: Runs K-MENU without loading external .dat menus, allowing use from USB drives, network drives, or other portable locations.
Run at Startup: Automatically starts K-MENU when Windows starts.
Allow Config Edit (F9): Toggles whether the configuration menu can be opened.
: Tip: If unchecked, the only way to open the configuration dialog is by running kmenu /config.
Show Icons Menu: Displays menu items as icons instead of a text list.
Load EXE Icons: Automatically tries to load icons from the executable file even if no icon is defined in the menu.
Startup Password: Password required before the menu is displayed.
Config Password: Password required to open the Configuration Editor.
Screensaver (min): Idle time (minutes) before the built-in screen saver activates.
Date Format: Format for displaying dates (e.g., dd-mm-yy).
Week Starts On: Sets whether weeks start on Sunday or Monday.

Appearance & Paths (Right Column)

Font Size: Normal menu font size (list mode).
Icon Size: Normal icon size (icon mode).
When Maximized (Font): Font size when the window is maximized.
When Maximized (Icon): Icon size when the window is maximized.
Color Scheme: Choose from available color themes.
DOS Path: Path to DOSBox or other DOS runtime for launching DOS applications.
Background Image: Path to an image file for use as a menu background.

Color Schemes

Black background, white/gray text (minimalist)
Classic blue with yellow/white text
Blue with green selection
Blue with red selection
High-contrast (blue/black/white)

Splash Screen (kmenu.logo)

If a file called kmenu.logo exists in the folder, it will display on startup (unless /nosplash is passed). This should be plain ASCII (max 25×80). This is separate from the Logo Text field shown inside the UI.

Data File Format (*.dat)

Each menu is defined in an INI-style text file. Example:

[config]
logo=Zombit K-MENU
title=Main Menu
startup_password=letmein
conf_password=admin123
passwordLock=1
dateFormat=dd-mm-yy
startDaySunday=1
soundEnabled=1
colorScheme=1
screensaverMinutes=3
AllowExit=1
AllowEditConfig=1

Search & Play (F6)

Search & Play scans the computer for installed software and adds matching entries to the menu.

Automatically downloads the latest search.cfg rule file from the server.
Checks installed programs, Start Menu shortcuts, and other locations.
Creates categorized submenus automatically (e.g., Games, Utilities, Microsoft).
Users can create their own search.custom file with personal rules; these will be applied in addition to the default rules.

Tip: During scanning, a progress screen shows the percentage completed and the directory currently being checked.

Zombit Commander (F7)

Zombit Commander (ZC) is a dual-pane file explorer inspired by Norton Commander.

Left/right panel navigation
Mouse or keyboard operation
File command box with output capture
Ctrl+O toggles command pane - only in Zombit Commander
Can send keyboard input to the running process
More features coming soon

Technical Notes

Menu settings saved as INI files
Icons: .ico or DLL-based
Submenus reference other .dat files
DOS executables handled via DOSBox
Hebrew and RTL support available

Credits

Developed by: Kobi Shmueli

Originally created: K-MENU (Borland Pascal, 1993-1997)

Rewritten for Windows: Zombit K-MENU (2025)

Contact: kobi@zombit.net • Website: https://www.zombit.net