Lostgallifreyan wrote in
:

I didn't have trouble
with the main menu, so long as I keep it small. Currently three main
branches, all with few entries, Editors, Key-Switch, and Storage.

I forgot to mention I have a few entries in the menu root, as well as the
three branches. They work by numeric call, Ctrl+Esc (or the 'Win' key if
there but I don't use it) followed by a number. 1 for main Explorer window, 2
for audio console, 3 for text editor, 4 for calculator, 5 for registry
editor, 6 for a pixel magnifier (ZoomIn). I never needed to use more, except
0 for commandline window, where 01 through 04 get a window each in different
fixed positions, and 05 gets me a big 50 line window. Once I set these sorts
of assignments I never change them, that way no matter how tired I get, it's
like picking up real-world stuff, I just know how without thought.

I might set up 7 for Paint Shop and 8 for Sound Forge, possibly 9 for a
submenu for some electronic design tools, but for that stuff I focus on the
work so data file associations work better. The 'ShellNew' registry method is
also good, if there is no convenient data file in a location, and I need
one, I can right-click the space, make one, then open it. But that is another
menu that I keep VERY small. Most programs can open a totally empty file so
the tiny fumble of making a new text file, changing the extension, then
opening it directly in its associated program, is still faster than most
other methods.

There are LOTS of ways we can use the methods that have been around since
W95, and I'll do anything so long as it works fast, and feels like handling
real stuff. That way there's no conflict with how I handle real stuff.