Best language for a Web navigation bar? [company header] [body frame]
Q: Hi,
I have a website for a company that is coded in HTML. It has 3 frames. The top frame is firm header, the left frame contains the navigation menu, and the other frame, the body frame.
Currently is encoded in flash navigation. There are six links in the navigation menu. Two of the links are the main items that are embedded sub heading (ie you click on the + sign and then the breakdown appears below). The problem is, I have received notification that some customers still on the website of browsers that do not flash. These people will not be able to see the menu at all. Someone called and complained they could see nothing. The website is useless if the navigation bar work.
I could go through the process of suggesting them to download Flash, but what about all the potential customers that we can lose if they do not have Flash?
So, I decided to get rid of the flash. Now Im not up to date on the various web languages, but Im pretty good at thinking them out, esp. When I see how others are doing it.
So code, the question is, what would be the most backward, forward, and cross-platform (eg Mozilla, i. Explorer, Firefox, etc.) compatible bar into the framework ?
Also, please post some sample code or direct me to a site that he has. I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks!
Re:http://projectseven.com/
Re:Originally posted by: guy
Originally posted by: notfred
plain old HTML.
:thumbsup:
The only scripting I would add would be SSI/php to inject the code of a menu file. That way you only need to update the file that contains the menu information and it will be included in the site for every page that requests it.
For the special effects of sub links and what not, I think it would be better to have a simpler layout that would take you to a subportal page with each link. I only encourage this because you are serving clients with your page, and you probably want the most static, simple (technology wise and layout wise) page possible. Stick to basics and enhace usability, that should be your main focus.
I would definately say ditch flash, take a look into javascript or CSS for design, but remember, the simpler the better, you don't necesarily want a boring page, but don't make it all eye candy for the developer, after all you aren't the audience of the site.
Re:Originally posted by: notfred
plain old HTML.
:thumbsup:
Re:The most browser compatible way would be to render the submenus on the server side. So every time they click one of the top level items a new page request is sent, specifying which item was clicked on and you send back a new menu with the proper part expanded. That could be a pain though.
Another way is to use javascript to hide/unhide the submenus on the client side. It's possible that you'll run into browsers that don't play well with normal javascript but that's far less likely than no flash.
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Tags: body frame, company header