Base ReadyTheme Navigation Sets / Layout Dropdown

[jsdva]

I see on the Base Readytheme you can click on top-navigation, and there is a drop down for the different styles of navigation layouts. When you change the layout in the drop down, does it update the navigation style on its own or do you need to put in the classes manually?

I ask because when I change the top navigation to any of the options, it does nothing to the code and no changes take place on the site when viewed in the browser.

I want a mega-menu.

Thanks,

Jamie

[jsdva]

Re: Base ReadyTheme Navigation Sets / Layout Dropdown

Well, I looked here:http://www.miva.com/videos/articles/...-documentation and I get the impression that it should automatically update based on what you choose in the drop down. Mine doesn't.

Yes, I have the readythemes.css with the code shown.

Jamie

[Brennan]

Re: Base ReadyTheme Navigation Sets / Layout Dropdown

Changing that drop down menu, updates the class the navigation structure gets. There should be some default styles in readytheme.css to adjust the styling a bit. If you have modified your menu structure at all (The code), it may not be getting this new class. Try reverting it back to default and see what happens.

Also the default styles are pretty basic so they will most likely need some adjustment to work within your design/layout.

[jsdva]

Re: Base ReadyTheme Navigation Sets / Layout Dropdown

Changing that drop down menu, updates the class the navigation structure gets. There should be some default styles in readytheme.css to adjust the styling a bit. If you have modified your menu structure at all (The code), it may not be getting this new class. Try reverting it back to default and see what happens.


Also the default styles are pretty basic so they will most likely need some adjustment to work within your design/layout.

I may be getting this, Brennan:

So this is telling me what the style is: &mvte:readytheme:layout; and in the browser I am seeing it change.

And, &mvt:navigationitem_level2:link; will display the level 2 categories

What I want to do is be able to list all of the categories under the All Products link to become level 2 categories and as the mega menu.

I have other code to do this, but I don't want to stray too far from the readytheme stuff (so yes it is still the default code.)

Is there some sort of readytheme code to help me do this? I am not finding a way to list all the categories otherwise, and the video only has the top level categories and then drop down for the subcategories.

Thanks,

Jamie

[jsdva]

Re: Base ReadyTheme Navigation Sets / Layout Dropdown

Following up on this part:

Is there some sort of readytheme code to help me do this? I am not finding a way to list all the categories otherwise, and the video only has the top level categories and then drop down for the subcategories.

Okay...so...by no response, I am getting the impression that I would need to skip the base ready theme code and just revert to how I used to do it pre-readytheme. I say this since I see no other way to add the categories/subcategories under the All Products link (of which I will link as None.)

Jamie

[Bruce - PhosphorMedia]

Re: Base ReadyTheme Navigation Sets / Layout Dropdown

Jamie,

I've been pondering situations such as yours for awhile now...and not to be dismissive of the benefits or coolness of ReadyThemes, I personally am leaning towards the idea that ReadyThemes are more appropriate for "Install, Make Pretty and move on" type of application. I don't think there is a huge advantage if your going to be doing any significant amount of custom features. Frankly, not sure if ReadyThemes was intended as a base for one off customization to begin with. We typically just start with the Bootstrap or our own cssui based framework.

But then again, I'm a fan of old school legos, not the modern version where 50% is already built for you.

[Rick Wilson]

Re: Base ReadyTheme Navigation Sets / Layout Dropdown

BTW, I agree (mostly) with Bruce. I do think Ready Themes (especially if you branch out and build your own) can be a "super framework" if you will, but philosophically they were designed to compete with the low end point and click market of Shopify, BigCommerce and Volusion.

If the store your building is too big to be on one of those small merchant platforms, then be prepared to spend a fair amount of time customizing a Ready Theme.

Or just do it "the old way" and build a custom site.

[jsdva]

Re: Base ReadyTheme Navigation Sets / Layout Dropdown

Jamie,

I've been pondering situations such as yours for awhile now...and not to be dismissive of the benefits or coolness of ReadyThemes, I personally am leaning towards the idea that ReadyThemes are more appropriate for "Install, Make Pretty and move on" type of application. I don't think there is a huge advantage if your going to be doing any significant amount of custom features. Frankly, not sure if ReadyThemes was intended as a base for one off customization to begin with. We typically just start with the Bootstrap or our own cssui based framework.

But then again, I'm a fan of old school legos, not the modern version where 50% is already built for you.

I've been pondering the use of Readythemes for a while too, Bruce! Especially now that I am trying to stick with the Base Readytheme. It is just not working out for me.

The only reason I went for it was that I thought it might make it easier on the site owner (all new documentation going toward Readytheme documentation and not the regular bootstrap framework or cssui) and the fact that all of the new template code for the previous updates was in it already.

I am thinking I am going to bite the bullet and stick with the bootstrap framework but update it as I go with new template coding...then guide the client as I always have pre-Readytheme.

I guess I am way too old school lego too. [grin] Always good talking to you Bruce...you always give me a grin or chuckle!!

Jamie

[jsdva]

Re: Base ReadyTheme Navigation Sets / Layout Dropdown

BTW, ...philosophically they were designed to compete with the low end point and click market of Shopify, BigCommerce and Volusion. ...

Or just do it "the old way" and build a custom site.

I've always hated point and click. You can never get them to customize enough for my liking...IMHO. It is a good thing for Miva to do for those that cannot custom code themselves though, so I'm not knocking it in that respect at all.

Jamie

[agenius]

Re: Base ReadyTheme Navigation Sets / Layout Dropdown

Just tagging on here, but are the navigation sets for ready themes (Suviant, Base and Optics) all dynamic pull or you add the cats as you wish. I thought it would just pull cats like old cat-tree did but doesn't look so, at least on Suviant. Also, are these themes going to work with custom toolkit type code??? Just trying not to waste too much time if they are feel-good themes only.
Thanks

[jsdva]

Re: Base ReadyTheme Navigation Sets / Layout Dropdown

Just tagging on here, but are the navigation sets for ready themes (Suviant, Base and Optics) all dynamic pull or you add the cats as you wish. I thought it would just pull cats like old cat-tree did but doesn't look so, at least on Suviant. Also, are these themes going to work with custom toolkit type code??? Just trying not to waste too much time if they are feel-good themes only.
Thanks

I decided to go the with the horizontal drop down for the client...thinking it would be easier...which it is easy enough I guess, but the only way I could figure to do it was to add all of the categories as children to the Readytheme's top navigation All Products/Shop link. That took a little while as there were plenty of categories and subcategories. What this means, though, if a category is added or deleted, then that will have to be updated manually within Readytheme's top navigation section. If adding a category/subcategory, then you will have to sort if you require it to be anywhere except the bottom.

For the toolkit with Readytheme top navigation question, I'll let someone else jump in, since I didn't go that far, because I was only concerned with the client's ease of use and felt it best to keep to the basics and not modify that nav too much.

Jamie

[lesliekirk]

Re: Base ReadyTheme Navigation Sets / Layout Dropdown

I'm wondering if another child navigation level is going to be added. I have stores that need more than two. I also can't seem to the the vertical fly-out menu to work. But if the limit to 2 children is in effect there too, I'll have to see if Suckerfish has a responsive version.

[Brennan]

Re: Base ReadyTheme Navigation Sets / Layout Dropdown

We may add a 3rd or 4th level in the future. However, most of the time going that many levels deep from a flyout creates a confusing navigation experience.