Spiderable Menu

A lengthy menu needs to be spiderable, but visually pleasing.

[seoGuy]

I have a large list of text links that currently run down the left side of my web pages. This is unacceptable as it creates a large amount of white space under the main content of all my pages. I would like to give the user the option to scroll through the list of text links so that I can set the height of the link menu to be more appropriate for the content on the page. My first thought was to put the menu into a layer (div tag) and set the layers clipping properties to cover some of the links and then to set the overflow to scroll. This does the job, but because the page sits inside a table that is centered, every time I adjust my browser window, the layer does not move with the rest of the page. Is there anyway around this other than adding a lot of javascript to detect the screen resolution and then adjust the layers left property accordingly? If anyone has any thoughts on this, I would really appreciate a response.

Thanks in advance.

[traffik daddy]

I take it that you are just trying to keep the height of your menu to an appropriate size?

I like using text links, I like using text =)

One method I tried a while ago was to split all of the menu links into catagories (which appears on the main pages). For instance, on your homepage use this example of the text link:

Home
HTML
Javascript
ASP
PHP
DHTML
XML
Perl
VBasic

Only when you click on the html link will sub catagories appear. Example:

Home

HTML
Tutorials
Free Scripts
Support

Javascript
ASP
PHP
DHTML
XML
Perl
VBASIC

Obviously this sub catagory will be text links on JUST your HTML page.

You will then do the same for Javascript, ONLY for Javascript.

Example:

Home
HTML

Javascript
Tutorials
Free SCripts
Support

ASP
PHP
DHTML
XML
Perl
VBasic

As you see the html text links are coded into your Javascript page but there are no links in the HTML part of the menu.

This is the best way possible I can think of to keep a text menu to an acquired height. It like a kind of text spider menu but a lot less flashy, yet effective if used properly and planned cleverly. It can also depend on how big your site is. If you run a big site then you may have some tricky planning ahead of you.

You would do this with the rest of your links where appropriate. I don't like using layers. Keep it simple I say. Web design has got far too complicated when trying to research new technologies, even the search engines turn their noses up at some of them.

Anyway, I hope this was the kind of advice you were seeking =)

Good luck
Terry

[seoGuy]

Terry,

Thanks for the great response. I really appreciate the effort you put into your reply.

With the material we have, I'm not exactly sure if categorizing our links is a possibility, but I DO think the type of system you speak of will be helpful and I’m sure we can apply it to our current system.

Thanks again.

[traffik daddy]

Anytime seoGuy,

If your trying to pinch every inch that you can to keep your pages to an acceptable size then may I suggest putting your main links across the top of your pages (home, about, contact, etc)? Unless of course you have already done this...

May I ask of the reason for text links? Is it for optimisation purposes or for site loading speed, or both? Do you use keywords in your anchor tags?

Maybe if you can give me an example of the material on your site and I'll see if I can come up with an alternative for you. You could even use your main links on your home page and create a jump menu on the product/service/information pages informing the visitor that this menu is for further viewing to navigate into deeper pages, sort of like matching pages, or similar pages. As long as each page is accessable at least 2 clicks away from the home page then you should be okay.

Sticky me with your URL and I'll have a look see if I can create an idea.

Do you use a site map?

I'm always willing to help anybody, thats what these boards are for =)

Terry