Before you start on your own version of a menu you should always keep a copy of the original. You do this so that if you totally screw up the menu you can always restore the original file. For those of you have never edited a menu before the file that you change has the .mnu or the .mns extensions. Autodesk suggests that you change the .mns file so that you will always have a copy of the original in the .mnu file. I edit the .mnu out of old habit. The .mns file did not exist prior to R14. Any text editor will work to edit either. If you use MSword to edit these files make sure you save as text only.
I've found a way to edit my menu from my menu (sounds funny but it works). I do it with a little known autolisp command called "startapp". Startapp has only been around since Rev 13 so if you are working on R12 or older this will not work for you. Startapp starts windows programs from AutoCAD. I use startapp here to start notepad and it starts it with my menu already open in it.
Put this line into your menu (the .mnu or the .mns file)
