Mouse over pop up

Creating a good navigation structure.

[Webber]

I'm trying to get a good navigation structure. So, I wish all pages to be linked to all pages. This is a little bit too much, isn't it?

So, I want to group the pages into categories and create a mouse over pop up. When a user goes with the mouse over the category, I want a box with my pages to slide out.

How to do this?

[Distel]

This is a DHTML thing (unless you use Flash). I can't help you with the code, as I quite dislike DHTML (which is why I write this reply, to give my view on such navigation).

1. DHTML uses JavaScript. Although the numbers vary from source to source, it's pretty safe to say that 10% of internet users do not support JavaScript, and will therefore not be able to use your navigation.

2. Personally, I absolutely hate this kind of navigation systems, and I'm definitely not the only one. It doesn't give you a good overview of your options, it happens more than often that the slide-out menu disappears on me because I slide my cursor too far away, etc.

3. To access all pages, users can use a sitemap. The actual navigation system should be clear, intuitive, simple, and easily accessible. I seem to remember some kind of study which says the average user prefers a menu in which each section contains about 5 to 7 links.

Just my 2 cents.
Hope it helps. ;)