X-Cart forums

[hoosierglass]

It has been a while since I did anything on the backend of X-Cart and we needed to do some upgrades. I am using the buymac template from x-cart. I want to have a horizontal drop down for the categories menu in the speed bar and not the left side menu. Could someone guide me to something to read on this? I remember the older versions of x-cart had the fancy categories that would allow you to do this but I am totally lost right now.

Mike

[carpeperdiem]

Mike,

RUN, don't walk, and get xMenus from TXS

http://www.thexcartstore.com/xmenus-menu-manager-xcart.html

It's an amazing module that can change the entire feel of your store and bring your design into the 21st century.

Link to any page from any menu item (combine products, categories, pages, external URLs and images into a single menu), embed images into menus and design a user interface that is appropriate for your store, products and customers.

There are other ways to make menus, but this mod has everything. Watch the videos!

[totaltec]

Jeremy, Is Xmenus open source or is it encrypted? I have had major issues before with encrypted mods that could not be changed or made license calls, that is why I am asking. The control freak in me wants full access to the source so I can fix it myself.

Does it require php and database changes? This isn't a deal breaker, but it makes a difference when you consider upgrades. I endeavor to keep changes in the skin directory if possible, the less php and database edits the better.

Hoosierglass,
I can show you creative ways to combine product/category menus with speed bar links. No problem to arrange it however you want. Styling it to be in a drop down list can be done with some simple CMS.

Really, if you want to define links for each page product and category manually, the speed bar is great for the job by itself. But you can easily write a template that will loop through your categories, then show links from your speed bar. Or if you want to get into the PHP, then you can setup multiple speed bars for different menus, or different sections of a drop down.

So if you want to go hands-on I can help, but Xmenus looks like a great solution for a great price.

[totaltec]

Here is a starting point for a simple, no-frills CSS drop down menu.

CSS:

/* Drop Down Menu */
ul#nav {
  position: absolute;
  top: 105px;
  margin: 0;
}

ul.drop a { 
  display:block; 
  color: #fff; 
  font-family: Verdana; 
  font-size: 14px; 
  text-decoration: none;
}

ul.drop, ul.drop li, ul.drop ul { 
  list-style: none;
  margin: 0; 
  padding: 0; 
  /*border: 1px solid #fff; */
  background: transparent; 
  color: #fff;
}

ul.drop { 
  position: relative; 
  z-index: 597; 
  float: left;  
}

ul.drop li { 
  float: left; 
  line-height: 20px; 
  vertical-align: middle; 
  zoom: 1; 
  padding: 5px 20px; 
  font-size: 14px;
}

ul.drop li.hover, ul.drop li:hover { 
  position: relative; 
  z-index: 599; 
  cursor: default; 
  background: #555; 
}

ul.drop ul { 
  visibility: hidden; 
  position: absolute; 
  top: 100%; 
  left: 0; 
  z-index: 598; 
  width: 195px; 
  background: #555; 
  /*border: 1px solid #fff;*/
}

ul.drop ul li { 
  float: none; 
  background: #107BB8;
  font-size: 12px;
}

ul.drop ul li a{ 
  font-size: 12px;
}

ul.drop ul ul { 
  top: -2px; 
  left: 100%; 
}
ul.drop li:hover > ul { 
  visibility: visible;
}
ul.drop li:hover ul { 
  visibility: visible;
}

Template structure:

<ul id="nav" class="drop">
  <li><a href="home.php">{$lng.lbl_site_path}</a></li>
  <li><a href="#" onClick="return false;">{$lng.lbl_products}</a>
      {*Drop Down List*}
      <ul>
         <li><a href="product.php?productid=1">Product 1</a></li>
         <li><a href="product.php?productid=2">Product 2</a></li>
      </ul>
      {*/Drop Down List*}
  </li>       
</ul>

To loop through the speed bar, instead of the handwritten code above use this in place of the {*Drop Down List*} <ul> above:

      {foreach from=$speed_bar|@array_reverse item=sb name=nav}
          <li><a href="{$sb.link}">{$sb.title}</a></li>
      {/foreach}

To loop through the categories (untested):

{foreach from=$categories_menu_list item=cat name=top_cats}
  <li><a href="home.php?cat={$cat.categoryid}">{$cat.category}</a></li>
{/foreach}

If you want to do your entire category list, turn on Flyout menus, but be sure to uncheck cache the menu in settings. Working with the cached menu is better, but more complicated.

[carpeperdiem]

Originally Posted by totaltec

Jeremy, Is Xmenus open source or is it encrypted?

php files encrypted with ioncube
no phone home that I am aware of
there is also a serial number activtion
I'd copy protect my modules if I were a commercial dev

4 files are edited:
service_js.tpl
service_css.tpl
one php file and
one template file (for the admin menus)

One of the easier installations you'll ever see.
The configuration on the other hand can be as complicated as your merchandising skills can get because each menu can be any product/cat/manufacturer/static/free URL/image/divider
and each menu can have multiple columns
and each menu can have submenus
if you can edit css, it's freaking amazing.
it's incredibly deep.

granted, I did bitch about some image serving issues... but that was easily resolved.

I think TXS will demo auth it for you for a limited time if you're at all interested.

[totaltec]

Originally Posted by carpeperdiem

I'd copy protect my modules if I were a commercial dev

Of that, I have no doubt. :p

Thanks, for clearing up my questions. I respect TXS and other devs that choose to encrypt, but look at X-cart itself. Where would we all be if QT had encrypted XC?

I have trouble allowing any portion of my software to be encrypted this way, and my biggest issue is when/if the company goes away, who is around to support it and make changes? We have all seen that happen. To date, I have never needed an encrypted module to accomplish my goals with XC, I think it is a purist attitude and probably not always prudent in the real world of budgets and deadlines. And, admittedly, it is easy for me to develop my own.

Thanks again, Xmenus looks like a robust offering and a good trick to have up your sleeve.

[websupport]

Here is an example of some modified xmenus to the fullest.

http://www.minnierose.com/newstore/

Store is set to go live next week. But I had to make xmenus responsive.....this was before they released a responsive version of it.