Nested Side Bar Menu

[yoonmi]

1) Script Title: Nested Side Bar Menu

2) Script URL (on DD): http://www.dynamicdrive.com/style/cs..._bar_menu/P20/

3) Describe problem: I need to shift my submenu a little to the left and below is there a way to do this? Do I do this in the css or in the js file?

Thanks in advance.
YoonMi

[djr33]

A link to your page would help to let us know the relevant details. Is your page setup exactly as the demo page? If not, we'll probably need to see the page.

[yoonmi]

I could pm you a link but it's a large company and it's on a private server.

Well for the most part it is set up exactly, however the dropped down menu calls a separate include file.

Is there a way to PM you the link?

Thanks,
YoonMi

[djr33]

I'm not sure of the answer to this, and others may need to see the link to know if they can help. You can wait to see if someone else volunteers or you can create a temporary page at an address that you can post here. Otherwise you may want to hire a designer who you can give access to your site to.

[yoonmi]

var menuids=["sidebarmenu1"] //Enter id(s) of each Side Bar Menu's main UL, separated by commas

function initsidebarmenu(){
for (var i=0; i<menuids.length; i++){
  var ultags=document.getElementById(menuids[i]).getElementsByTagName("ul")
    for (var t=0; t<ultags.length; t++){
    ultags[t].parentNode.getElementsByTagName("a")[0].className+=" subfolderstyle"
  if (ultags[t].parentNode.parentNode.id==menuids[i]) //if this is a first level submenu
   ultags[t].style.left=ultags[t].parentNode.offsetWidth+"px" //dynamically position first level submenus to be width of main menu item
  else //else if this is a sub level submenu (ul)
    ultags[t].style.left=ultags[t-1].getElementsByTagName("a")[0].offsetWidth+"px" //position menu to the right of menu item that activated it
    ultags[t].parentNode.onmouseover=function(){
    this.getElementsByTagName("ul")[0].style.display="block"
    }
    ultags[t].parentNode.onmouseout=function(){
    this.getElementsByTagName("ul")[0].style.display="none"
    }
    }
  for (var t=ultags.length-1; t>-1; t--){ //loop through all sub menus again, and use "display:none" to hide menus (to prevent possible page scrollbars
  ultags[t].style.visibility="visible"
  ultags[t].style.display="none"
  }
  }
}

if (window.addEventListener)
window.addEventListener("load", initsidebarmenu, false)
else if (window.attachEvent)
window.attachEvent("onload", initsidebarmenu)

Can/How I remove offsetWidth+"px" on line 13 of the javascript?

I removed the offsetWidth+"px" and it works in firefox/chrome doesn't work in ie (the entire drop-down functionality doesn't work)...

[yoonmi]

otherwise I tried to use a set a margin-left: -100px;

.sidebarmenu ul li ul{

in the css but that doesn't work either. I can set a margin-left in my ul directly but it shows up differently on ie, and moz firefox / chrome.

[jscheuer1]

The ul and li elements are difficult to style for position/margin/padding (that sort of thing) cross browser. Whenever possible, use another element. In this case we may use the a tag. Additions (two places) highlighted:

 . . . lor: black;
}

/*Sub level menu items */
.sidebarmenu ul li ul{
position: absolute;
width: 170px; /*Sub Menu Items width */
top: 0;
visibility: hidden;
z-index: 2;
}

.sidebarmenu ul li ul a {
margin-left: -30px;
}

.sidebarmenu a.subfolderstyle{
background: url(right.gif) no-repeat 97% 50%;
}

 
/* Holly Hack for IE \*/
* html .sidebarmenu ul li { float: left; height: 1%; }
* html .sidebarmenu ul li a { height: 1%; }
/* End */

</style>

That worked out cross browser here. I imagine you can use just about any (within reason) margin there. Notice the added z-index. That's needed so that the sub-items aren't covered by their parent's siblings. However, in IE 7 this isn't enough. So we have to add extra z-index measures in the script here. Additions (two places) highlighted:

<script type="text/javascript">

//Nested Side Bar Menu (Mar 20th, 09)
//By Dynamic Drive: http://www.dynamicdrive.com/style/

var menuids=["sidebarmenu1"] //Enter id(s) of each Side Bar Menu's main UL, separated by commas

function initsidebarmenu(){
for (var i=0; i<menuids.length; i++){
  var ultags=document.getElementById(menuids[i]).getElementsByTagName("ul")
    for (var t=0; t<ultags.length; t++){
    ultags[t].parentNode.getElementsByTagName("a")[0].className+=" subfolderstyle"
  if (ultags[t].parentNode.parentNode.id==menuids[i]) //if this is a first level submenu
   ultags[t].style.left=ultags[t].parentNode.offsetWidth+"px" //dynamically position first level submenus to be width of main menu item
  else //else if this is a sub level submenu (ul)
    ultags[t].style.left=ultags[t-1].getElementsByTagName("a")[0].offsetWidth+"px" //position menu to the right of menu item that activated it
    ultags[t].parentNode.onmouseover=function(){
    this.getElementsByTagName("ul")[0].style.display="block";
    this.style.zIndex = 2;
    }
    ultags[t].parentNode.onmouseout=function(){
    this.getElementsByTagName("ul")[0].style.display="none";
    this.style.zIndex = '';
    }
    }
  for (var t=ultags.length-1; t>-1; t--){ //loop through all sub menus again, and use "display:none" to hide menus (to prevent possible page scrollbars
  ultags[t].style.visibility="visible"
  ultags[t].style.display="none"
  }
  }
}

if (window.addEventListener)
window.addEventListener("load", initsidebarmenu, false)
else if (window.attachEvent)
window.attachEvent("onload", initsidebarmenu)

</script>

Full updated demo code:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title></title>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">
<style type="text/css">

/*Credits: Dynamic Drive CSS Library */
/*URL: http://www.dynamicdrive.com/style/ */

.sidebarmenu ul{
margin: 0;
padding: 0;
list-style-type: none;
font: bold 13px Verdana;
width: 180px; /* Main Menu Item widths */
border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc;
}
 
.sidebarmenu ul li{
position: relative;
}

/* Top level menu links style */
.sidebarmenu ul li a{
display: block;
overflow: auto; /*force hasLayout in IE7 */
color: white;
text-decoration: none;
padding: 6px;
border-bottom: 1px solid #778;
border-right: 1px solid #778;
}

.sidebarmenu ul li a:link, .sidebarmenu ul li a:visited, .sidebarmenu ul li a:active{
background-color: #012D58; /*background of tabs (default state)*/
}

.sidebarmenu ul li a:visited{
color: white;
}

.sidebarmenu ul li a:hover{
background-color: black;
}

/*Sub level menu items */
.sidebarmenu ul li ul{
position: absolute;
width: 170px; /*Sub Menu Items width */
top: 0;
visibility: hidden;
z-index: 2;
}

.sidebarmenu ul li ul a {
margin-left: -30px;
}

.sidebarmenu a.subfolderstyle{
background: url(right.gif) no-repeat 97% 50%;
}

 
/* Holly Hack for IE \*/
* html .sidebarmenu ul li { float: left; height: 1%; }
* html .sidebarmenu ul li a { height: 1%; }
/* End */

</style>

<script type="text/javascript">

//Nested Side Bar Menu (Mar 20th, 09)
//By Dynamic Drive: http://www.dynamicdrive.com/style/

var menuids=["sidebarmenu1"] //Enter id(s) of each Side Bar Menu's main UL, separated by commas

function initsidebarmenu(){
for (var i=0; i<menuids.length; i++){
  var ultags=document.getElementById(menuids[i]).getElementsByTagName("ul")
    for (var t=0; t<ultags.length; t++){
    ultags[t].parentNode.getElementsByTagName("a")[0].className+=" subfolderstyle"
  if (ultags[t].parentNode.parentNode.id==menuids[i]) //if this is a first level submenu
   ultags[t].style.left=ultags[t].parentNode.offsetWidth+"px" //dynamically position first level submenus to be width of main menu item
  else //else if this is a sub level submenu (ul)
    ultags[t].style.left=ultags[t-1].getElementsByTagName("a")[0].offsetWidth+"px" //position menu to the right of menu item that activated it
    ultags[t].parentNode.onmouseover=function(){
    this.getElementsByTagName("ul")[0].style.display="block";
    this.style.zIndex = 2;
    }
    ultags[t].parentNode.onmouseout=function(){
    this.getElementsByTagName("ul")[0].style.display="none";
    this.style.zIndex = '';
    }
    }
  for (var t=ultags.length-1; t>-1; t--){ //loop through all sub menus again, and use "display:none" to hide menus (to prevent possible page scrollbars
  ultags[t].style.visibility="visible"
  ultags[t].style.display="none"
  }
  }
}

if (window.addEventListener)
window.addEventListener("load", initsidebarmenu, false)
else if (window.attachEvent)
window.attachEvent("onload", initsidebarmenu)

</script>

</head>
<body>
<div class="sidebarmenu">
<ul id="sidebarmenu1">
<li><a href="#">Item 1</a></li>
<li><a href="#">Item 2</a></li>
<li><a href="#">Folder 1</a>
  <ul>
  <li><a href="#">Sub Item 1.1</a></li>
  <li><a href="#">Sub Item 1.2</a></li>
  </ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#">Item 3</a></li>

<li><a href="#">Folder 2</a>
  <ul>
  <li><a href="#">Sub Item 2.1</a></li>
  <li><a href="#">Folder 2.1</a>
    <ul>
    <li><a href="#">Sub Item 2.1.1</a></li>
    <li><a href="#">Sub Item 2.1.2</a></li>
    <li><a href="#">Sub Item 2.1.3</a></li>
    <li><a href="#">Sub Item 2.1.4</a></li>
    </ul>
  </li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#">Item 4</a></li>
</ul>
</div>

</body>
</html>