Menu settings

The Split template comes with a number of menu options available. You can choose between the superfish menu and the panel menu using the extended menu module or any number of normal vertical or horizontal menu types using the default Joomla menu modules.

Configuring the menu settings in the template administrator.

At the bottom of the layout options in the template administrator you will find the settings available for controlling the behaviour of the superfish menu and enabling the panel menu. Both of these menu types require the use of the extended menu module.

Enable scripts for superfish menu

This setting ensures that the necessary javascript which creates the effects seen in the superfish menu is enabled.

Superfish Transition Type

This setting determines how the superfish menu behaves. You can choose one of the following transition/animation types:

• Vertical
• Horizontal
• Fade
• Horizontal and fade
• Vertical and fade
• Vertical and horizontal and fade
• Vertical and horizontal

Enable scripts for panel menu

This setting enables the accordion script required to enable the panel menu. The panel menu can be published to the left or right module positions.

Setting up the Extended menu module.

1. Install Extended Menu module v1.06 for use on Joomla 1.5.

2. Install the module by using the Joomla module installer.

3. Publish the module to the module position called menu.

4. Disable the module title.

5. Select the menu you want to use.

6. Select flat list as the menu type.

7. Set expand menu to yes.

8. Set use menu template to yes.

9. Set the menu path to superfish/menu.html if its not already set.

Parent/Child menus in Joomla - Setting up the drop down menu in Joomla:

In order for the drop down menu to have child items (eg items that are sub menu items of the main navigation items) you will need to set the menu accordingly in the Joomla backend.

1. In the back end of Joomla navigate to menu ---> main menu (or the name of the menu you selected in the previous step.

2. Create the new menu item as per the usual method. eg choose whether you want it to be a url link, component link, blog category link etc.

3. Write the name of the menu item.

4. Publish the menu item.

5. Set the parent item for the menu item. So if you want to have the menu appear on the main level of the menu then dont select anything here or make sure the menu item is set to top. If you want the menu item to be a sub level menu item then simply select the menu item that already exists that you want the sub level to appear under.

6. Configure any other options that may be relevant for your menu link.

7. Click Save.

If you have followed all of the preceding steps then you should have the sliding superfish happily sliding away on your site. If it isnt working then you'll need to refresh your steps and make sure you didnt miss anything else.

Here are some screenshots of the admin panel so you can see exactly the way we have created the drop down effect.

Configuring the Panel Menu

1. Install v1.05 of the extended menu module if you havent done so already.

2. Publish the module to either the left, right or inset position depending on your layout configuration.

3. Disable the module title.

4. Select the menu you want to use.

5. Select flat list as the menu type.

6. Set expand menu to yes.

7. Set use menu template to yes.

8. Set the menu path to accordion/menu.html if its not already set.

Here is a snapshot of the settings used to generate the panel menu.

Parent/Child menus in Joomla - Setting up the drop down menu in Joomla:

In order for the drop down menu to have child items (eg items that are sub menu items of the main navigation items) you will need to set the menu accordingly in the Joomla backend.

1. In the back end of Joomla navigate to menu ---> main menu (or the name of the menu you selected in the previous step.

2. The top level or parent menu items are seperators rather than menu items. The setup for a separator is the same as a menu item except you are creating a separator rather than a menu link. Create the separator item and give it the name that you want to use for your top level item eg the item that opens the panel with the sub menu items underneath.

3. Write the name of the menu item.

4. Publish the menu item.

5. Set the parent item for the menu item. So if you want to have the menu appear on the main level of the menu then dont select anything here or make sure the menu item is set to top. If you want the menu item to be a sub level menu item then simply select the menu item that already exists that you want the sub level to appear under.

6. Configure any other options that may be relevant for your menu link.

7. Click Save.

If you have followed all of the preceding steps then you should have a sliding panel menu that saves its state from page to page. This means that if a specific menu panel was open on the previous page then it will be open on the subsequent page.

Vertical and Horizontal menus

So that you can have more control over the menu layout the JB Framework puts all control of the menu layout in the module classes. Basically if you want the menu to appear as a vertical menu then you just need to add -vertical or if you would prefer a horizontal menu then use the module class suffix -horizontal. These settings are found in the administrator for the default Joomla menu modules as per the screenshot below.