Products

Solutions

Resources

Partners

Community

Blog

About

QA

Ideas Test

New Community Website

Ordinarily, you'd be at the right spot, but we've recently launched a brand new community website... For the community, by the community.

Yay... Take Me to the Community!

Welcome to the DNN Community Forums, your preferred source of online community support for all things related to DNN.
In order to participate you must be a registered DNNizen

HomeHomeUsing DNN Platf...Using DNN Platf...Administration ...Administration ...Help, Is this navigation even possible?Help, Is this navigation even possible?
Previous
 
Next
New Post
9/18/2008 1:41 PM
 

* I'm a newbie, so I sincerly apologize if I'm not using this forum correctly.

[The Situation]
I am the sole web programer for a small city. So far I've only used Dreamwever and ASP.
An advertising firm was hired to design the 'Look' and navigation scheme for a completely new site.
While waiting on the design, I decided DNN was what I wanted to use to build the backend.
Just drop in calenders, notices, blogs, etc! (With DNN, it was love at first sight)

However the 'powers that be' have picked a design with a VERY complex navigation/layout.
Now I'm not sure I can use DNN 4.9; I'm at my wits end, and starting to panic. (fear for my job)

The site will be all CSS (no tables) with hundreds of pages of content grouped by 40+ departments and topics.

[HOME PAGE]
The front page has 4 columns of (accordion) navigation that lead directly to the most sought after (popular) stuff.
These may lead to a Department page or Content page (see below). Side note: The header has a link to a list of all departments.
I would have to maunally maintain these 'predigested' (guide them right to the featured content) menus.

[DEPARTMENT PAGES]
Each Department (Police, Water, Parks, ect) would have an (entry) page with their own '4 columns (topics)' of (accordion) navigation.
(somehow this page is supposed to have a way to 'pull-down / view' the original Home Page navigation)
A representatives from each department would maintain (add/delete/edit) their departments content.
Items on their menus should show up automatically as they add/delete Content pages.

[CONTENT PAGE]
Here the departments 4 columns of navigation would become 1 accordion (on the left) with some actual content on the right.
(and yes, these page would also have a way to 'pull-down / view' the original Home Page navigation)

 

Is this even do-able with DNN? (I really hope so)
Do I need some 'special' (multiple-accordion) navigation module?
Should every 'department' be a (child?) portal?
Any clues at all?

I thank you for any help,
Blackfeather

 
New Post
9/18/2008 2:50 PM
 

I would think the Navigation Suite from dnn360.net could do everything you need including the accordian.  It comes preconfigured with many styles.  Email the developer for details and possible additional menu styles.

The dnn360 website is a bit confusing since they have tried to demo quite a few menu styles but you can get a feel for how versatile this module / skin objet is.

Good Luck.

 
New Post
9/19/2008 11:56 AM
 

Thank you simondoz,

I just had another person outside this forum suggest the same module (dnn360).
Impressive selection of menus; Both the Accordion and the Expandcollapse look promising.
But (you're right) about their site; (geesh) just can not find 'support' or a 'contact'.

I've still no clue how to have 4 distinct side by side verticle navs (by topic) and then swap out a different 4 navs for every single department.
To my 'DNN newbie' eyes this proposed 'navigation' scheme is an impossible beast.

 
New Post
9/19/2008 3:28 PM
Accepted Answer 

I think this is where dnn360 module shines.  I mean the examples are cool, but I really didn't need 30+ menu styles.
There is more to it.  Below are some of the settings allowed for each instance.

  • Start From Level:  0 1 2 3 4 5 
  • Expand:  False True 
  • Deep:  #assigned
  • Deep:   All of your menu items +  [DEFAULT] [ACTIVE-TAB-AS-ROOT] [ParentTab as ROOT] [ADMIN & HOST items only]
  • Hide if out of scope above
  • Show protected pages
  • Use caching
  • Excluded tabs 
  • Roles can see

Using the above you can add and remove pages/tabs as you need for the menu you desire and add addtional permissions.
For easy manipulation of complex hierarchies I would suggest the Drag-N-Drop page administration tool also.

From your example I would give each department a page and assign Edit rights to the content owners.  This will give them the ability to create child pages for their departments.   Menu can be created for each department and would include by default the root department and children as they are created.

Sounds like the 'pull-down / view' original Home Page navigation would just need created once and can be copied to each page as needed.

I don't understand your explanation for "Content Page".
Don't forget the many tricks DNN has for managing content and pages.   Hidden pages can be created and then linked to by creating other pages.  Modules can be created on hidden pages and the entire module can be copied to other pages.

Have fun.  It's a trial and error thing but I am sure it's possible.

 

 
New Post
9/20/2008 3:08 AM
 

mm I am not so fond of this modulke way too much code, not nice and clean html inline scripting and you dont have full controll over css and script to use.

 

I would go for the snapsis navmenu and use the tempalte system to create anything you need from horizontal menus to accordeaons to whatever. You need to get your hadns dirty a bit more with css and javascript but you have far more control over html output. Any unordered list structure of the internet for menus and accordeans can be used to create hese features. for accordean see http://www.itbuzz.nl/   ( click the plus image enxt to the new items )

Do you have a screenshot or working version of this inerface you can show

 

 
Previous
 
Next
HomeHomeUsing DNN Platf...Using DNN Platf...Administration ...Administration ...Help, Is this navigation even possible?Help, Is this navigation even possible?


These Forums are dedicated to discussion of DNN Platform and Evoq Solutions.

For the benefit of the community and to protect the integrity of the ecosystem, please observe the following posting guidelines:

  1. No Advertising. This includes promotion of commercial and non-commercial products or services which are not directly related to DNN.
  2. No vendor trolling / poaching. If someone posts about a vendor issue, allow the vendor or other customers to respond. Any post that looks like trolling / poaching will be removed.
  3. Discussion or promotion of DNN Platform product releases under a different brand name are strictly prohibited.
  4. No Flaming or Trolling.
  5. No Profanity, Racism, or Prejudice.
  6. Site Moderators have the final word on approving / removing a thread or post or comment.
  7. English language posting only, please.
What is Liquid Content?
Find Out
What is Liquid Content?
Find Out
What is Liquid Content?
Find Out