New module "EasyMenu" (Alpha!)

[WebBird]

EasyMenu lets you manage your menus with ease. It installs as an "Admin Tool" and gives you a nice admin backend that lets you add, modify, and delete menus. Each menu can have lots of features, but in fact, the only ones you really need are

* decide what kind of menu you'd like to have (horizontal or vertical)
and
* choose a menu style from a list of styles shipped with the module.

After adding a menu, you will have to include a little code snippet to your template (file: index.php):

Code:

<?php include_once( WB_PATH.'/modules/easymenu/include.php' ); easymenu(1); ?>

(EasyMenu can do this for you! See below!)

The number is the number of the menu you wish to include.

Note: If you include a menu number that isn't defined in the database, the menu will show up as a simple unordered list. This can be used as a very simple trick to create a sitemap.

You can have as many menus as you like, and you can define separate menus for separate templates, if you wish. (This is nice for testing templates. I am switching the "skin" very often to see how my modules look like when using another layout.)

Theres a bunch of ready-to-use "Themes" that come with this module, but of course, you can also use your own. Later, you will be able to export and import themes. (This feature is not implemented yet.)

This module is at a very early stage, but I'd like to hear what you're thinking about it. You're welcome to post your thoughts and suggestions, but please "keep a civil tongue in your head". Thank you.

How to create a menu:

• In the admin backend, choose "Admin Tools" -> "EasyMenu"
• Click on the [Templates] tab
• Click on the orange icon next the menu you wish to replace
• Change the settings, if you wish
• Choose a Layout from the list

Now, you'd see a nicely styled menu.


Current version: 0.51 Alpha; download at AMASP: http://www.websitebakers.com/pages/admin/admin-tools/easy-menu.php?lang=EN

This module requires wblib! http://www.websitebakers.com/pages/libs/wblib.php

[doc]

Hello,

tested your module but is does not show up in the section Admin-Tools. To let the module show up their, $module_function should be set to "tool" instead of "page". However, doing so, gives me a fatal error "Class 'wbDatabase'" not found. However, I like the idea so keep on baking.

Regards Christian

[WebBird]

Oops, I'm sorry. I inserted the module by hand into my DB. Please try again, if you wish. Thanks for testing.

Edit: Removed attachment. (old version)

[Vincent]

Sounds promising, WebBird!

But...after installing the module and selecting it in the admin tools section nothing happens...It says the EasyMenu is selected, but the content part of the page is empty.
My fault, or is something not correct?

Regards, hope to see a working version soon,

Vincent

[WebBird]

Hm. Do you have PHP5?

[WebBird]

Here's a screenshot of the admin backend (menu settings). Sorry - german language.

[Vincent]

I have PHP5.2.8 on my testing server (Xampp).

Vincent

[vizmotion]

Hello WebBird,

Just saw this module and tried it out. Really neat idea. I wrote a module for template modification. Maybe there is a way that the two modules can work together? As an example:

1) Use easy module to develop the menu type and theme that you want.
2) Add it to the template and use the template modifier to make color modifications to the template and menu to get the desired overall template.
Just some initial thoughts.

My goal is to make modifying templates as easy to use as creating a full website.

VizMotion

[WebBird]

Thanks for your thoughts. I'll see what I can do to get the module working for those who had problems. Please check back next week for an improved version.

I also like the idea to combine EM and template modification module. Maybe Viz and I can make a neat combination of both to create a "template creator". But first, please let me get EM working reliably. Thanks.

Edit: EasyMenu is already added to AMASP: http://www.websitebakers.com/pages/admin/admin-tools/easy-menu.php

[WebBird]

I did not test this extensively, but hopefully it works for you now. Please try it out and let me know.

Edit: Removed attachment. See below for new version.

[vizmotion]

Hey WebBird,

I got your previous EasyMenu running no problem. I am running WB2.7 along with PHP5.2.5. I will try and install the new version.

VizMotion

[vizmotion]

Hello WebBird,

Here are my initial thoughts on what I ideally would like to see. A template builder that allows me multiple layers of decisions.

1) Just pick a template and make some default theme changes.
2) Pick a template and make some individual color scheme changes
3) Pick a template and make color scheme changes and menu type changes
4) Design a template at a more detail level and then same the changes as a theme

These are just quick thoughts that I have.

Another random thought. I was also thinking about with the templates that have graphics (i.e. banners, etc.) we could have a repository of graphics on the WB or AMASP site that people contribute to. Then the template editor would allow the different graphical items to be tested in the different templates. Once a user decides on a particular graphic for the template then they click a button for it to be downloaded to their site and made a part of the template. This would allow us to continually update the graphics, not increase memory usage for graphics that people are not using and potentially create a large pool of images.

[WebBird]

Here's a new version. I added some AJAX functionality when adding a new menu. There are some known bugs:

* When changing the menu type (horizontal/vertical), the preview is not updated correctly sometimes. This is because there are two independent AJAX functions triggered, and the second one doesn't "know" the changes of the first one. I will work on it next week.
* Cancel-Button doesn't work at the moment.
* Preview Update is not included for now when editing a menu. (JavaScript calls will be added later.)

@Viz: Let's talk about that later. I'd like to finish my module first.

Edit: Removed attachment. See below for current version.

[vizmotion]

Sounds good. Looking forward to our conversation. When you are ready just DM me.

[WebBird]

Work's going on. Here's another little update.

* [Cancel] should work now.
* Preview should work on settings page, too.
* Added two more layouts (vertical -> buttons from Andreas00 Template, horizontal -> a simple green one called "Superfluous Banter")
* Menus can be included by name now:

Code:

easymenu_named('This is the menu name')

There are much changes in the code you may not see.

Just give it a try and let me know what you're thinking. Feel free to make suggestions.

Edit: Removed attachment. New version available.

[WebBird]

I've started a doc in German.

http://www.webing.de/webbird/websitebaker/EasyMenu

There are also some screenshots.

[mr-fan]

hi bianca,

hab mir dein modul grad ein wenig angeschaut:

1. eindruck == perfekt (endlich ein richtiger ansatz für noch mehr einfachkeit bei wb!)
2. ein paar dinge sind mir aufgefallen wenn man von vertikal auf horizontal wechselt ändern sich die liste sofort wechselt man zurück ändert sie sich erst nach reload der seite...
3. wenn ich auf das +Plus geklickt hab und "kein" menü anlegen will (ich/user will erst später) dann auf abbrechen gehe sagt er "bitte namen eingeben" und ich komme nicht zurück zur übersicht! die meldung sollte doch nur kommen wenn ohne namen gespeichert wird - oder?
4. ich habe versucht ein wenig falsch anzufangen - also hab ich ein menü mit dem modul generiert ohne es in der info.php anzulegen? es nimmt alle menupunkte die als pages angelegt wurden - also wie und wo (info.php) lege ich die tiefe oder den inhalt der menüs fest?

soviel zum kurztest - weitere folgen wenn ich an ostern bisschen zeit freimach!

und wenn dein modul beta is - dann gibt chocware- contribution  muss noch mal nachlesen wie ich dir das schicken kann aber ich machs - soviele richtig gute teile wie du vom stapel lässt ist echt klasse!

grüße aus dem bayernlande

martin

[WebBird]

Hallo "mr-fan".

2. ein paar dinge sind mir aufgefallen wenn man von vertikal auf horizontal wechselt ändern sich die liste sofort wechselt man zurück ändert sie sich erst nach reload der seite...

Steht auch nicht umsonst oben als "known Bug".

3. wenn ich auf das +Plus geklickt hab und "kein" menü anlegen will (ich/user will erst später) dann auf abbrechen gehe sagt er "bitte namen eingeben" und ich komme nicht zurück zur übersicht!

Welche Version hast Du getestet? In der 0.06 war das definitiv noch so, mit 0.07 sollte das eigentlich behoben sein.
Edit: Nee, besteht auch mit 0.07 noch. Behebe ich.

4. ich habe versucht ein wenig falsch anzufangen - also hab ich ein menü mit dem modul generiert ohne es in der info.php anzulegen? es nimmt alle menupunkte die als pages angelegt wurden - also wie und wo (info.php) lege ich die tiefe oder den inhalt der menüs fest?

Im Admin-Tool unter "Einstellungen" (in der Menüliste auf das Icon mit dem Stift klicken).

Edit: Bisher gibt es nur eine Menüvariante, durch Einstellung des Mindest- und des Maximallevels kann man aber beispielsweise schon mal ein "1-Level-Menü" erzeugen. Ansonsten wird derzeit immer der aktuelle Zweig aufgeklappt, weil das wohl die häufigste Menüversion sein dürfte. Weitere Varianten werden aber noch folgen.

In der index.php (!) stellt man gar nichts ein. Das ist ja grad der Trick. Sonst könnte man ja auch einfach bei SM2 bleiben...

Danke für Deine Tests und die ausführliche Rückmeldung! Vorschläge sind auch willkommen!

[mr-fan]

first sorry - i didn't mentioned that i was in the english-part.....

Im Admin-Tool unter "Einstellungen" (in der Menüliste auf das Icon mit dem Stift klicken).
Edit: Bisher gibt es nur eine Menüvariante, durch Einstellung des Mindest- und des Maximallevels kann man aber beispielsweise schon mal ein "1-Level-Menü" erzeugen. Ansonsten wird derzeit immer der aktuelle Zweig aufgeklappt, weil das wohl die häufigste Menüversion sein dürfte. Weitere Varianten werden aber noch folgen.

In der index.php (!) stellt man gar nichts ein. Das ist ja grad der Trick. Wink Sonst könnte man ja auch einfach bei SM2 bleiben...

i did not mean the settings of the level.... sry i take to less time to explain!

i mean the where you can setup what site is in what menu if you have 2 menus....? for this i asked for the info.php....

in the index.php only the call for the menu with the include - but for the implementation of a menu in the index with the current version 0.7 i didn't know if the php-snippet is right - i'd tryed a few possibiblitys....th is is what im using now:

Code:

<?php include_once( WB_PATH.'/modules/easymenu/include.php' );easymenu_named('Andreas'); ?>

i'm not sure if this is the real way to implement a menu? - but it works...

Danke für Deine Tests und die ausführliche Rückmeldung! Vorschläge sind auch willkommen!

this was just the beginning of testing..... i'm back from holiday and "ready to test" and your modul need the most attention because it is so important to have a modern and easy way to handle menu's better in WB!

if i get more behind the modul i can try to make a few scheme's - and send chok......

regards martin

[WebBird]

in the index.php only the call for the menu with the include - but for the implementation of a menu in the index with the current version 0.7 i didn't know if the php-snippet is right - i'd tryed a few possibiblitys....th is is what im using now:

Code:

<?php include_once( WB_PATH.'/modules/easymenu/include.php' );easymenu_named('Andreas'); ?>

i'm not sure if this is the real way to implement a menu? - but it works...

It is.

To include a second one, just leave the include_once out and call easymenu() or easymenu_named() with the number or name you configured for the second one. This can have different settings, of course, including different layout.

See german docs for more help. http://www.webing.de/webbird/websitebaker/EasyMenu

[mr-fan]

It is. grin

-ok this was the test to be a real tester......

where you can setup what site is in what menu if you have 2 menus....?

i've the option to make a menu with level 0 until 0 and a level with 1 until xx - but what if i want 2 separate menustrings.....

the menus of the modul didn't appear in the settings on the pages where you can change the menu?!?

regards martin

[WebBird]

i've the option to make a menu with level 0 until 0 and a level with 1 until xx - but what if i want 2 separate menustrings.....

As I said, this is not implemented yet.

the menus of the modul didn't appear in the settings on the pages where you can change the menu?!?

Hum? I don't know what you mean. You add the menu like a code snippet.

[WebBird]

Here, again, a brand new version.

* Fix: Cancel should work on all pages.
* Fix: Preview should work in all cases.
* Change: The menu type can be chosen on theme select dialog now (moved from settings dialog).

Please - let me know what menu types you'd like to use, so I can add that type of menu. (Examples: "Children of current page only") I'm surely not able to add all possible types to the first version, but I'd like to have the "most wanted" there.

For download, see here: http://www.websitebaker2.org/forum/index.php/topic,13427.msg81949.html#msg81949

[mr-fan]

As I said, this is not implemented yet.

sry im to fast...to furious....

Hum? I don't know what you mean. You add the menu like a code snippet.

this is yet important for having more than one menu....

actually:     -create a menu in the info.php
                 -create a more or less complicated sm2-call in the index.php
                 -css/images in the template files

your "newway":     -create/choose a menu in the admin-backend (css/images/settings all easy to change per backend)
                            -put the call in the index.php

my question on this fact:
how would you set up multiple-menus? in witch way?
is it maybe helpfull to ask the core/adminbackend developpers for get the right access to the pages-settings for the different menus?

i've a suggestion to for handle the schemes.... i don't know how difficult it is- maybe "ruud" has a solution....

is there a easy way to get a "scheme-edit" like the droplet-edit?
where i can modify the css of the choosen scheme...

i think only with this function can a user build up his own menu easy

and your perfect idea of a "menu-demo-system" for the setting of the schemes.

In combination with a editor of the css a user have something like a "test-area"...only minds...

regards martin

PS:

let me know what menu types you'd like to use, so I can add that type of menu.

i will try at "ostern" if i can make some easy schemes and i will send it to you if i've a success...

[vizmotion]

Line 42 in the EN.php file has an extra comma that causes the program to sow a blank screen.