EDIT - This is exactly the place to put it, and welcome aboard!

1> The "process" you are looking for is called file-packing.
If you do a deep search in these forums you will find some freeware ones
that can be used with A7. For some reason they just dont get discussed much.

OR if you splurge and buy the professional version of gamestudio, it comes
built-in under the generic term "resources" or WRS files.
You should be able to find some reference to resources in the manual,
regardless of what version you are currently using. The manual you have
is no different to the one that comes with Pro.

2> As for menus, it has no easy answer, as there are so many types of
menus you can create, and so many ways to create each one.
Keep looking through the tutorials, especially in the AUM magazines.
To aid your search, be aware that most menus are using "panels" in some form.