New module "EasyMenu" (Alpha!)

[vizmotion]

Hey Mr-Fan,

Thanks for your support. Sorry I got it wrong about the designer but actually I think that is the beauty of what we are doing. Different people can contribute different skills so someone like you contribute menus, someone else contribute standard layouts, someone else contribute images for header or background, etc. Soon we will have a template that can be used in different ways.

======== GENERAL COMMENTS =============
Would it help to have an area that we can work on templates together? I can put up a wb site that we can use to develop the easy layout creator templates.

One quick question for us as we go on. I am thinking of this project as a way of having layouts that can be easily modified but not really creating a way of building layouts from scratch. What are others thinking about this?
=====================

Hey WebBird,

Thanks for not being here:) Please also enjoy your holiday if you are on holiday. Glad we are thinking about this similarly. I like the easymenu parameter idea.

One question I have been thinking about is how to hook a template up with an easymenu in a automated way. So here is what I mean. Let's say I create 5 layouts (1 column-menu-top, 2 column-menu-leftside, 2 column-menu-rightside, 3 column-menu-leftside, 3 column-menu-rightside). I give each of the templates a menu id (1 - 5). Now someone else comes along and creates a new template and they give their templates one of the preciously used id ( 1 ). So now with I change easymenu 1 it changes for my template and the other persons. Is there a way to automatically assign ideas and not have them conflict with each other. I hope this is clear.

Another question. How do you install an easymenu with a template?

OK that is all for now. Did not mean to be so long winded. I think we are making great progress by the way.

I want to create those 5 templates above and give us a core of templates to maybe start playing around with. What are others thoughts on this?

[WebBird]

So now with I change easymenu 1 it changes for my template and the other persons.

Well, each Easy Menu is created using the Admin Tool by now, not by including it to the template. You're right, we (I) will have to find a way to automate this.
One way to avoid ID number clash is to give the menu a unique name and use the easymenu_named() markup. EM could automagically create a DB entry if it finds a menu that is not in the DB yet. (Maybe only if called by "Easy Layout Template Whatever".) What do you think?

Another question. How do you install an easymenu with a template?

You have to edit the index.php of the template to include the code.

I think we are making great progress by the way.

Yes, I really like this project! It shows how great the community is. (Or can be - there are negative examples, too. One of them lead me to create this module. )

[WebBird]

I want to create those 5 templates above and give us a core of templates to maybe start playing around with. What are others thoughts on this?

Have you thought about including/using YAML Builder?

[vizmotion]

Hey WebBird,

Yes, I looked at YAML and think that it is a really good program. I just don't think it really fits into what we are doing? (NOTE this is just an opinion for discussion.) I think that for a lot of the WB users there needs to be a very simple interface that allows gradual progression of complexity. So a user can:

1) Select a template to use (currently we have that)
2) Select a template with certain preset parts (easy template with preset conditions)
3) Make limited changes defined by the template developer (you can only change the background and the menu colors, etc)
4) Finally have full capabilities to change anything

Numbers 1 - 3 are the most important ones for me. If we have a set of standard templates that can be added to  then YAML is less significant. Column width, height, etc. can be changed in the css if the template developers wants those changes.

I am also not that excited by the license agreement for YAML but I know that can possibly be negotiated with the developer.

[WebBird]

Okay, let's keep out YAML Builder and do "our own thing".

Another thought: I think it should be possible to edit any template, not only the one currently used for the site. (Confused me when using Template Modifier the first time.) Is there a "skin chooser" module anywhere out there we could use? Did not find anything at AMASP...

[WebBird]

Made some changes to Template Modifier.

* Created backend.css
* Moved most layout settings to backend.css
* Created a "Tabbed" Layout you may like
* Made some corrections for valid XHTML (not finished)
* Removed invalid "font-style: underline;" from CSS (must be "text-decoration: underline;")

I also made some changes for the integration of EM into TM, but it's too early to release a new alpha. Going to "Easter fire" now. (Have some beer, steaks and "Bratwürstchen". )

[WebBird]

Found a small bug in edittemplate.inc:

Code:

$tmp = explode("/", $path);
$template = $tmp[count($tmp)-1];

This doesn't work under Windows. (Windows uses Backslashes.)

This should work OS independent:

Code:

$template = basename($path);

[vizmotion]

Hey WebBird,

Thanks for all the hard work. It is looking really good! I will download and give your changes a test.

Had another thought. Can you use a text string instead of just a number for menu designation. The thought is that for easymenu in a template without a designation the template would default to the directory that the template is in. These names will be unique for any installment and if you have multiple menus then you can do something like the directory name _#.

I hope you had a great time at the "Easter fire". Sounds like a great time.

[vizmotion]

Fixed the basename issue now OS independent thanks.

I really like the clean up you did WebBird. Incorporated all your changes and made a few more changes to backend.css and edittemplate.inc so it did not conflict with the initial backend of admin_tool to pick a template. Hope this makes sense. I put a <div class=tempmod> for the edittemplate.inc then put the table and its parts as part of the class in the backend.css.

[vizmotion]

Here is a two_coloum_leftside template shell. It is not fancy but someone can take it an make it a lot better.

WebBird - I had trouble adding easymenu to it. Can you look at it and let me know what I did wrong.

I am hoping that this might get some designs started.

[mr-fan]

@webbird: i've found some troubles with the menus

if i create the site's in backend (localtestarea with portable &XAMP) and install easymenu and make a menu with call in template or on code² page AND then i change the sitestructur (maybe i make one site as child of the first site or something) THEN the menu get in trouble...hmm if made some pics!!

@vizmotion: in the german part of the forum there is an error with de deinstallation of your module

http://www.websitebaker2.org/forum/index.php/topic,13524.msg82759.html#msg82759

in this case somebody installed your mod and deinstalled (with changes in the index.php and the edti.php in the template-folder

his problem was that after the deinstallation the FCK editor was hidden/or dead he installed the FCK again and everything works well! i mean you should know that

keep on good working!

regards martin

[vizmotion]

Hello Mr-Fan,

Thanks for letting me know about the problem in the German track. Please apologize the the person for me. I don't do anything with FKeditor or any install/uninstall functions. Do you know what version he was using? I will keep track of this problem and see if the problem comes up again.

[WebBird]

WebBird - I had trouble adding easymenu to it. Can you look at it and let me know what I did wrong.

I think you forgot the include.

[WebBird]

if i create the site's in backend (localtestarea with portable &XAMP) and install easymenu and make a menu with call in template or on code² page AND then i change the sitestructur (maybe i make one site as child of the first site or something) THEN the menu get in trouble...hmm if made some pics!!

I'll have a look at this later.

Edit: Can you please try to alter file includes/functions.inc.php line 207:

Code:

    ORDER BY pages.level, pages.position ASC";

(Add the pages.level thing)

[WebBird]

Had another thought. Can you use a text string instead of just a number for menu designation.

Yes, this is what easymenu_named() is for. Good idea using the template name with optional _#.  I'm going to add an option to parse templates for show_menu[2]() and replace it with EM-Calls.

I hope you had a great time at the "Easter fire". Sounds like a great time.

Hundreds of people staying 'round a large fire, drinking beer and eating steaks, talking... It's nice. This year, it was dry (the ground) and warm (the air). It's a tradition here in Germany to burn on Easter what is cut from bushes and trees in the early springtime.

Here's a picture (not "our" fire): http://www.derwesten.de/nachrichten/staedte/halver/2009/4/13/news-117017636/detail.html

[mr-fan]

I think you forgot the include.

nope can you try to move with drag&drop your sites and setup a parent and save - then look at the easy menu?

if you've got no problems i must try again with complete new testwbinstallation. ..

regard martin

[WebBird]

So here's another update.

* Recoded menu tree creation. Hopefully works now.
* Added function to parse all installed templates for menus. (Only _shows_ the menus at the moment; option to replace other menus by EM will be added in next version.)
* Attribute 'type' is now 'orientation', for 'type' will be used for other purposes later. ("Expanding", "Sitemap", "One Level" or something like this selection)

[WebBird]

New: "Injection" into Templates nearly implemented.

How to

* Call the EasyMenu Admin Tool in the WB Backend (Admin Tools -> EasyMenu)
* Click on the Template Icon on top of the page (it's the same as in the WB Backend when hitting "Add-ons")
* You now get a list of all installed templates with all menus found in the index.php (see screenshot)
* Hit the yellow icon next the menu you want to replace (I will add an "Are you sure?" dialog in the next version)

What it does

* Create a database entry for the new EasyMenu named <Templatename>_<Number>
* Deactivate the original menu by prefixing the line with // (comment sign for PHP)
* Add the new EasyMenu below the original menu

This way, you can always reactivate the original menu if you wish.

Missing

* Option to reactivate the original menu from the backend (next version)

Known issues

* Injection will fail if the original menu entry spans more than one line

Happy testing.

[mr-fan]

soooo i've take some time

some good news and quests....

1. pagetree works with moved pages easy3.jpg

2. error in the backend easy.jpg...?

3. the include was not automatical generate i've added it manually and got this E in the frontend easy1.jpg

this in the fast - more comes later

regard martin

[ipfelkofer]

Bei mir hat easymenu bis zur Version 0.10 gut funktioniert.

Seit Version 0.11 erhalte ich ebenfalls die Meldung "Notice: Undefined index: type in C:\xampp\htdocs\aitest03\modules\easymenu\include.php on line 72".

Was mache ich falsch?

[mr-fan]

Was mache ich falsch?

du machst nichts falsch!!.....

Das modul ist "alpha" stadium.....d.h. so für laien wie mich&dich die grundfunktion ist gegeben jetzt werden fehler gebügelt und verfeinert/erweitert.....

diese meldungen sind hinweise zum debuggen für den programmierer/in 

- wenn du coder bist kannst du helfen...aber dann würdest du nicht so fragen (ich bin auch keiner  )

- wenn du kein coder bist kannst du auch helfen indem du fehler berichtest und die module unter verschiedenen 
  bedingungen/einstellungen testest....

mfg martin

[WebBird]

Seit Version 0.11 erhalte ich ebenfalls die Meldung "Notice: Undefined index: type in C:\xampp\htdocs\aitest03\modules\easymenu\include.php on line 72".

Du machst nix falsch, ich hab nur was umbenannt und es leider nicht in allen Dateien getan. Ist mit der nächsten Version behoben.

Edit: Maybe you want to try the version attached, but I'm not really sure if it's a "good one". So, handle with care. Well, it's V13...

[WebBird]

1. pagetree works with moved pages easy3.jpg

Great.

2. error in the backend easy.jpg...?

Yes, found some more of these, will be fixed in next version.

3. the include was not automatical generate i've added it manually and got this E in the frontend easy1.jpg

  Is this an error report or just a hint?

[mr-fan]

@ipfelkofer:   eins hast falsch gemacht und ich hab auch nicht aufgepasst.... hier ist der englische teil...

@webbird:

the message for the include.php in line 72 comes in ervery template i've put the includeonce call manually in front of the automaticaly switched EM...

i'm no coder but i can sort the stuff a little bit and the mainthing is i look at the code....

Code:

line72:   switch ( $EMSET[$E_MENU]['type'] ) {

BUT i don't know what the error meassage want say me....

if i don't put the includeonce manually then i've got this E in the frontend

Code:

Fatal error: Call to undefined function easymenu_named() in C:\XAMPP\htdocs\templates\allcss\index.php on line 79

regards martin

[WebBird]

Have you tried v0.13?