Pop-out navigation menu system for the site

TenPercenter · #1 (**permalink**) 06-02-2005, 11:47 AM

I'd like to have some sort of easy-to-maintain menu system for the site. One that pops out from the upper left. I don't want to waste screeen space with a nav menu on the left that kills so much of every screen (see the articles page).

It would have to be placed in the header since that will take care of all site page.

Ideas?

EDIT: I added a poll, since you guys are the ones to use the site the most I want your opinion.

My Goal: Have an easy to navigate site so that I can start adding "areas" or section to house features that aren't just a forum. This site is right now just a big forum with a portal front page (useless and seldom viewed) and some added pages accessible only by a drop down box in the footer.

We curently have that two-row menu system up top, but it kills space and is limited on the items that I can place in it. We can do two things:

1. Replace that two-rows with one narrow row of buttons that "pop out" deeper navigation items. Like this demo: HEADER MENU WITH DROP DOWNS

2. Add a pop-out menu system to the left side of the screen, that you can expand and retract at will. We can leave the current items up top, or remove them for more real-estate space for the forum: POP-OUT FROM SIDE

smoore · #2 (**permalink**) 06-02-2005, 12:14 PM

tigra makes a great DHTML menu that's free:

http://www.softcomplex.com/products/tigra_menu/

(they are also the first hit for "free javascript menu" in google)

X-Files · #3 (**permalink**) 06-02-2005, 01:14 PM

What can run on your hosted server? (besides php)

X-Files · #4 (**permalink**) 06-02-2005, 01:42 PM

Do you want something like this?

http://www.karenwilliamscenter.com/

TenPercenter · #5 (**permalink**) 06-02-2005, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by X-Files

Do you want something like this?

http://www.karenwilliamscenter.com/

Well, I like both the horizontal type, and the popout side type. Meaning the tigra menu above vs. the "karen" one quoted above.

I've added a poll to the OP, I wonder what people would think.

chipper57AA · #6 (**permalink**) 06-02-2005, 07:51 PM

I voted for top header drop downs for 1 reason:

Anything more on the side would make the site waaaaaaayyy too wide. The ads on the botton already make the site a bit too wide unless you view the site in full screen mode.

Just be careful not to add too much too soon. Experiment a little and add a bit at a time.

Other than that - you're doing a great job with the site Ten. The site is much more stable now.

TenPercenter · #7 (**permalink**) 06-02-2005, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chipper57AA

I voted for top header drop downs for 1 reason:

Anything more on the side would make the site waaaaaaayyy too wide. The ads on the botton already make the site a bit too wide unless you view the site in full screen mode.

Just be careful not to add too much too soon. Experiment a little and add a bit at a time.

Other than that - you're doing a great job with the site Ten. The site is much more stable now.

Thanks. I mentioned in another post, that the width issue is caused by that biug blue banner at the bottom. I need to shave off the left side of that banner and it'll fix the site for 1024 wide screens.