Public Forums 71,145 posts

[elektrastudio Friend elektrastudioJoin date: April 2010Posts: 61Downloads:0Uploads:19 Thanks: 18 Thanked: 5 times in 1 posts]

#168115

Hello.

I need to present different Main Menus (horizontal menu with mega menu function, etc) for each area of my site.
The best solution I could come up with in my mind, as an intended architecture, and that could help many people do the same, is to replace mainmenu for topmenu and viceversa. This could also solve the problem with languages, that some people have.

Example:
1. I make the top menu my new main menu. In this way, I have a small, discrete menu, at the top of the site, with my four main areas of the site. Each menu will lead me to a main area. Each area will have its unique template theme, set up on a different profile.
2. On the position of the original main menu, I put another menu, the specific menu for my area of the site.

Here is an example of the intended architecture:

I’m not a programmer, so my questions are:
– How to I make the top menu become the mainmenu (the one Joomla cannot live without otherwise it will crash)
– How can I transform the original main menu position into a module position, so I can publish new menu modules to it, and taking full advantage of the template menu style?

Each section will have its own theme and profile, but that I can do, no problem.

Here is an example of section 1

Here is an example of section 2

Here is an example of section 3

Here is an example of section 4

Thank you very much.

Jonathan Roza
http://www.zott.com.br

---

Attachments:

1. 
2. 
3. 
4. 
5. 

[TomC Moderator TomCJoin date: October 2014Posts: 14077Downloads:58Uploads:137 Thanks: 948 Thanked: 3155 times in 2495 posts]

#410304

<em>@elektrastudio 264756 wrote:</em><blockquote>
How can I transform the original main menu position into a module position, so I can publish new menu modules to it, and taking full advantage of the template menu style?

Jonathan Roza
http://www.zott.com.br</blockquote>

What I am wondering is whether the original MainNav can be copied/duplicated – to INCLUDE the MegaMenu function with the new instance you just created. In theory, it should work – though if something is renamed, there can sometimes be an issue.

Another thought is – after having successfully created the position – once you “reassign/reposition” your MainNav to that top position you want, then create a subsequent new position for exactly where the original MainNav is/was. Once you do this, you can then assign any new menu you create to that position – and specific pages – to your heart’s content.

<em>@elektrastudio 264756 wrote:</em><blockquote>
I’m not a programmer, so my questions are:
– How to I make the top menu become the mainmenu (the one Joomla cannot live without otherwise it will crash)[/quote]
I want to check a couple of things before I give you an answer on this – just to make sure I don’t steer you wrong and screw something up with your site. 😎

1 user says Thank You to TomC for this useful post

1. elektrastudio

[elektrastudio Friend elektrastudioJoin date: April 2010Posts: 61Downloads:0Uploads:19 Thanks: 18 Thanked: 5 times in 1 posts]

#410309

Hi Tom.

Thank you for the fast answer.
Don’t worry about messing the site. The project is starting, so we can play.
For my first tests, if you can give the necessary steps, I’ll be using a quickstart of JA Minisite.
Only after this thing is solved that I will focus on other aspects of the site.

I hope this can solve the milti-language issue some people have with JA T3v2.

Maybe, if this works, JA can add this option to T3v2.
It would add an unprecedent level of flexibility to an already amazing framework.

Thank’s again.

Jonathan Roza
http://www.zott.com.br

[TomC Moderator TomCJoin date: October 2014Posts: 14077Downloads:58Uploads:137 Thanks: 948 Thanked: 3155 times in 2495 posts]

#410318

In association with my Support Team colleague, Jon Neubauer . . . . .

To make the top menu the mainmenu you have to do 2 things . . . . .

FIRST:
Make any menu item in there the HOME (i.e. “Default”) menu item (once that’s done you can’t delete that menu).
Then assign it to what would be your main menu position

SECOND:
There should be a module position (usually called “menu” or something) that is already in there that allows you to publish menus (or other modules like ‘Login”) in the menu position there.

In Joomla! 1.7, we now have template styles – there is a different style for each section, but using the same template base. So in each style, you just needs to change the menu that appears there. The top menu will provide navigation initially to whatever menu that that style is assigned to. Then, when you get there, the specific style parameters (in your case, an alternative menu) will take over.

1 user says Thank You to TomC for this useful post

1. elektrastudio

[elektrastudio Friend elektrastudioJoin date: April 2010Posts: 61Downloads:0Uploads:19 Thanks: 18 Thanked: 5 times in 1 posts]

#410368

Hi Tom.

Thank’s for your answer, and please, give Jon my thank’s also.

I will try your steps (have already done the “default menu” part sucessfully).

One question I still have is:
What is really __needed__ for Joomla! to work properly?
A menu called “mainmenu” or a menu marked as “default” (star)?

I always tought that we needed both, as a basic need for joomla to work.
That is why I asked to move the “mainmenu” (including its definition as “mainmenu”) to the top position.

Also, I would like to override this function (depicted below) on JA T3v2, as this seems to be the source of all language problems.
If JoomlArt could fix this function, making it work exactly as a module loader (a simple, by-the-book, system to load the stated menu in a module in the correct position, maybe including a locked (uneditable through the module manager) module on module manager), maybe the language problem would be gone.

This override will allow me to disable this (menu loading) function on template manager, and load the menu as a module (including language settings) in the module manager.

I know I’m asking too many T3v2 modifications, but also I’m trying to improve T3v2 so the language woes are gone, and give more control to the user. Maybe a checkbox “disable” beside this setting, so the user can have the option to load menu as a module, would be the preferred action. We keep the power of simplicity of menu chosing on template manager, but we also give power users the choice to load menu as a module.

I will study some Joomla! and T3v2 documentation on that, but if you already have an answer, that would be excellent.

Thank’s again for the help.

Jonathan Roza
http://www.zott.com.br

---

Attachments:

1. 

[TomC Moderator TomCJoin date: October 2014Posts: 14077Downloads:58Uploads:137 Thanks: 948 Thanked: 3155 times in 2495 posts]

#410431

<em>@elektrastudio 264860 wrote:</em><blockquote>Hi Tom.
One question I still have is:
What is really __needed__ for Joomla! to work properly?
A menu called “mainmenu” or a menu marked as “default” (star)?

I always tought that we needed both, as a basic need for joomla to work.
That is why I asked to move the “mainmenu” (including its definition as “mainmenu”) to the top position.[/quote]

hey Jonathan:

So long as you have one of your menus designated as “default,” you’re fine. Bear in mind, the menu item designated as “default” will be the page that your site opens up to – so I would think, for most, it would be ideal for this page to be your “Home” page. It does not matter where the menu is positioned on your page, though. (For example, I didn’t want a “Home” item in my man navigation menu, so I made the “Home” menu item a part of my footer menu and designated THAT as the “default” item.)

[elektrastudio Friend elektrastudioJoin date: April 2010Posts: 61Downloads:0Uploads:19 Thanks: 18 Thanked: 5 times in 1 posts]

#410548

Hi Tom.

Part of my objective is to avoid the language problem that several people have reported with T3v2 and the main menu.
The “new main menu” in the top position is set to all languages, because the itens of this menu are the titles of the sections (and that doesn’t translate).
Let’s see if this solve that part of the trouble.

The management part seem to be solved, and I managed to make the top menu the main one.
I will give you a result by tomorrow evening.

Thank’s again.

Jonathan Roza
http://www.zott.com.br

[Author]

Posts