Tutorials

StarMenu is a powerful menu bar utility that puts essential tools right at your fingertips. This tutorial will help you get started with all the features StarMenu has to offer.

 

Getting Started

 

When you launch StarMenu, you'll see a star icon in your menu bar (top-right area of your screen). Click this icon to access all of StarMenu's features.

 

Main Menu Overview

 

The StarMenu menu is organized into several sections:

 

Tools - Image and video conversion tools, system monitoring

Units - Unit converters for various measurements

Files - Convert individual files

Folders - Convert multiple files in a folder

Texts - Clipboard text management

Computer Information - View your system specs

Preferences - Configure app settings

About - App information and updates

 

Unit Converters

 

StarMenu includes converters for many different units:

 

Currency - Convert between different currencies with real-time exchange rates

Time - Convert seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years

Temperature - Convert between Celsius, Fahrenheit, and Kelvin

Length - Convert meters, feet, inches, miles, kilometers, and more

Volume - Convert liters, gallons, cups, milliliters, and more

Data Storage - Convert bytes, kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes, terabytes

Weight and Mass - Convert pounds, kilograms, ounces, grams, and more

Area - Convert square meters, square feet, acres, hectares, and more

Speed - Convert miles per hour, kilometers per hour, meters per second, and more

Pressure - Convert atmospheres, bars, pascals, PSI, and more

 

How to Use Unit Converters:

 

1. Click the star icon in your menu bar

2. Select Units

3. Choose the type of converter you need (Currency, Temperature, etc.)

4. A window will open with two unit selectors and an input field

5. Enter a value in the input field

6. The conversion happens automatically as you type

 

You can open multiple converter windows at the same time. Each converter remembers your last used units, making repeated conversions quick and easy.

 

Image Conversion Tools

 

StarMenu offers several ways to convert images:

 

Image Formats Tool - Interactive converter for single images

Image Cropping - Crop images to specific sizes

Icon Generator - Create app icons from images

 

Converting Images from the Menu:

 

For Single Files:

 

1. Click the star icon

2. Select Files

3. Choose the conversion you want (e.g., "PNG image to JPEG")

4. Select your image file when prompted

5. Choose where to save the converted file

6. The conversion happens automatically

 

For Multiple Files:

 

1. Click the star icon

2. Select Folders

3. Choose the conversion you want (e.g., "PNG images to JPEG")

4. Select the folder containing your images

5. A progress window will show the conversion status

6. Converted files will be saved in a new "Converted_XXX" folder

 

Supported image formats: PNG, JPEG, TIFF, BMP, GIF, WebP

 

Video Conversion Tools

 

StarMenu can convert video files between different formats:

 

Video Formats Tool - Interactive video converter

Video Trimming - Trim videos to specific lengths

 

Converting Videos:

 

1. Click the star icon

2. Select Files or Folders, then choose a video conversion option

3. Or use Tools > Video Formats for the interactive converter

4. Select your video file(s)

5. The converted video will be saved to your Documents folder

 

Supported video formats: MP4, MOV, M4V

 

Note: Video files larger than 500MB cannot be converted. Please use smaller files.

 

System Monitoring Tools

 

StarMenu includes real-time system monitoring widgets:

 

CPU Usage - Shows current CPU usage as a circular gauge

Memory Usage - Shows current RAM usage as a circular gauge

Disk Space - Shows disk usage as a circular gauge

Network Usage - Shows network activity

 

How to Use Monitoring Tools:

 

1. Click the star icon

2. Select Tools

3. Choose the monitoring tool you want

4. A floating gauge window will appear

5. Right-click the gauge to resize it (Small, Medium, Large) or close it

6. Drag the gauge to move it anywhere on your screen

 

These gauges stay on top of other windows, so you can monitor your system while working.

 

Internet Speed Test

 

Test your internet connection speed:

 

1. Click the star icon

2. Select Tools > Internet Speed Test

3. Click "Start Test" in the window

4. The test will measure both download and upload speeds

5. Results are displayed in Mbps (Megabits per second)

 

The speed test uses multiple servers for accurate results.

 

Clipboard Text Management

 

The Texts menu helps you manage frequently used text snippets:

 

Adding Text Snippets:

 

1. Click the star icon

2. Select Texts > "Add new clipboard sentence..."

3. Enter a name for your text snippet

4. Enter the text content

5. Click Add

 

Using Text Snippets:

 

1. Click the star icon

2. Select Texts

3. Click on any saved snippet name

4. The text is automatically copied to your clipboard

5. Paste it wherever you need it (Command-V)

 

Managing Text Snippets:

 

1. Click the star icon

2. Select Texts > "Manage sentences..."

3. Edit, delete, or reorder your snippets

4. Click Done when finished

 

StarMenu can store up to 100 text snippets, with a total size limit of 10MB.

 

Computer Information

 

View detailed information about your Mac:

 

1. Click the star icon

2. Select "Computer Information"

3. A window will display:

   - Processor details

   - Memory information

   - Graphics card information

   - Storage details

   - Operating system version

 

Preferences

 

Customize StarMenu to your preferences:

 

1. Click the star icon

2. Select Preferences

3. Configure settings such as:

   - Start at login

   - Image compression quality

   - WebP encoding settings

 

File and Folder Conversion Tips

 

Image File Limits:

- Individual files: No size limit for single conversions

- Batch conversions: Files larger than 100MB are skipped

- Converted files maintain original quality settings

 

Video File Limits:

- Maximum file size: 500MB per file

- Batch conversions: Each video is processed individually

- Output files are saved to your Documents folder

 

Best Practices:

- Always keep backups of original files

- Test conversions with one file before batch processing

- Check file sizes before converting large batches

- Use the progress window to monitor batch conversions

 

Keyboard Shortcuts

 

While StarMenu doesn't have built-in keyboard shortcuts for menu items, you can:

- Use Command-Q to quit the app (when menu is open)

- Use Command-W to close converter windows

- Use Tab to navigate between input fields in converters

 

Troubleshooting

 

Conversions Not Working:

- Check that file formats are supported

- Ensure files aren't too large (videos must be under 500MB)

- Make sure you have enough disk space

- Try converting a single file first

 

Menu Not Appearing:

- Check if the star icon is in your menu bar

- If hidden, look for it behind other menu bar icons

- Try quitting and restarting the app

 

Converter Windows Not Opening:

- Make sure no other windows are blocking the view

- Check that you have sufficient screen space

- Try closing and reopening the converter

 

Getting Help

 

If you need additional help:

 

1. Visit the About window (Star Menu > About)

2. Click "Visit Elonovo.com" for more information

3. Check for updates using the "Check for Updates" button

 

Tips for Power Users

 

- Open multiple converters simultaneously for quick comparisons

- Use the clipboard text manager for email templates and signatures

- Keep system monitoring gauges open for real-time performance tracking

- Batch convert entire folders of images for efficient workflow

- Save frequently used unit conversions in your clipboard manager

 

Conclusion

 

StarMenu is designed to make your daily tasks easier by putting powerful tools in your menu bar. Whether you're converting files, measuring units, or monitoring your system, everything is just one click away.

 

Take some time to explore all the features and find what works best for your workflow. Happy converting!