//returns a choice >= 0 if success, -1 if quit
    template<class iter>
    int create_menu(int num_options, iter it, const std::string &menu_name, bool allow_quits = false) {

        int selection = 0;

        iter start = it;
        while (1) {
            it = start;
            system("CLS");
            printf("%s\n", menu_name.c_str());
            printf("Enter 'w' to move up\n");
            printf("Enter 's' to move down\n");
            printf("Enter 'e' to select\n");
            if (allow_quits) {
                printf("Enter 'ESC' to quit\n");
            }
            printf("\n");

            if (!num_options) {
                printf("No options available!\n");
                system("PAUSE");
                return -1;
            }

            for (int a = 0; a < num_options; a++, it++) {
                if (a == selection) {
                    printf(" > ");
                } else {
                    printf("   ");
                }
                printf("%s\n", it->c_str());
            }
            printf("\n");

            char input = tolower(_getch());

            if (input == 'w') {
                selection = std::max(0, selection - 1);
            } else if (input == 's') {
                selection = std::min(num_options - 1, selection + 1);
            } else if (input == 'e') {
                return selection;
            } else if (allow_quits && input == KEY::ESC) {
                return -1;
            }
        }
    }