i'm trying to reproduce the first example (the green one) from templates and if i was successful i would not have been here.
i'm opening different sspro windows for every step of the authopsy (backward procedure)on that drop down menu (ungrouping, checking: sp. effects,which object is in which group,z order, etc).
there must be something i'm missing in the procedure. is there any project option changed or something on page editor that i'm missing, i don't know.
it's already the sixt time i go over that authopsy not getting any result.
the tutorial, also, does not got over the specific menu but explain generally.
aaaauuuuuufff!!!
i published the page please send me a private mail to know the address i don't like to post it.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: newer,

Drop down menus are difficult to get working when starting out, especially with deficiencies in the tutorials.

Klimt has pointed out a missing step in the SSPro DropDown tutorial. Insert this text after the paragraph headed Make a permanent group of the left-hand list

quote:

Send the permanent group 'Back'
Send the permanent group 'Back'. The button for this is on the bottom toolbar. The group should not be right 'To Back', but it needs to be at least far enough back for the interleaving to remain unchanged from what it was before. In particular, watch for the light blue menu items to all remain on top of the dark. You'll probably need to click 'Back' at least a few times to restore the interleaving.

Klimt has also produced another tutorial and some templates here: Navigation. They might help too.

"Drop down menus are difficult to get working when starting out, especially with deficiencies in the tutorials.

Klimt has pointed out a missing step in the SSPro DropDown tutorial."

Thank you Brucee. You made mee feel less stupid now.
Thank you Roma. You probably understood earlier that people needed help in that matter.

I apologize for what i will say to whom may take it as a complaint, explaining that this is just a constructive criticism:

VM : why don't you concentrate on producing better and perfectioning what you already have instead of coming out with new issues which produce (normally) more problems?
As an example you can tell by topics on mobile how many people are working on that, they can fit in one hand, while, i think much more people DO need just more normal stuff like a drop down menu or a nice colour background and God knows how many could come out.
Inside the VM forum a part from the gurus (thanks to all of them) the 90% of the people are fake honorary mechanics as i am, still in the need to solve basic problems.

I'm very serious, what's the problem with that?

Obviously there's no time or strength to dedicate to it.
A lot of people in this forum bought other party software thanks to deficiencies in SS and i would have done the same if i was convinced that you could not get SS better than it is now.
Please don't hide behind the low cost of the product, because i think that is not only me that would pay little more to have better.

Disclaimer for all:
Please don't take it wrong. I'm not upset at all. I just wish things to get better.
Francesco.

It has been 4 days that i'm playing again with drop down menu.
Specifically i was making a group composed by a text + and a rounded corner rectangle.
Following the tutorial procedure (missing step included) i was not getting anywhere.
I decided to start from basic just a rectangle and it did work at first attempt.

Is there any problem with grouping or z-order of objects in the group?

If yes, how can i make with ss a good looking button without being a group?
Do i have to create it with ss (or any other software) and importing it as an immage?
Thanks.

Honestly, if you want really good looking buttons, do not try to use SiteSpinner (standard or Pro). Neither is a full-fledged graphics program; they are not meant to be - they are HTML development tools.

I use Xara to make my buttons, but it is not a cost effective solution to just make a few buttons. Instead, I have found that Paint.Net, which is free, along with a buttons plug-in works very well. Install Paint.net, then move the unzipped plug-in DLL to the program's Effect sub-folder. This will yield a graphics button you can then use in SS via the image import tool.

Thanks Larry i downloaded the software... more things to learn.
i also wanted to know if the problem with the grouped objects is there, or it is me.
Thanks again.

The tutorial buttons are sensitive to both z-order and grouping, so for your first buttons I wouldn't deviate from the steps in the amended tutorial. In particular, make sure your z-order is exactly the same as specified in the tutorial, and avoid the temptation to add extra groups.

Once you have a first button set working, then is the time for experimentation -- and if you find an improved method of doing or explaining it, please do share.

Hi Bruceee,
it is obvious to me that will never work with grouped objects. Unfortunately to have a decent button you have to mix text with a shape. The alternative is tiling the text with a nice background but still no shape.
I'm wondering about the direction taken by VM in order to solve basic issues as this one. Really if revenue is generated from first buyers ( see other post) why nobody is caring about adding the missing step in tutorial, and since it is also known that dropdown menu will not work with grouped objects why not letting know new users about it?
As you are telling me about sharing "eventual" solutions i could find, why first VM does not share this problematics?
I think it would be very energy saving knowing them so we could address our time toward something more productive.
Bah!!!

I don't know if this is what you are looking for. I've done some experimenting and this is the result. All objects are created in SS.

If it's of interest I can make the .ims project file with this experiment available.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Klimt,

quote:

it is obvious to me that will never work with grouped objects. Unfortunately to have a decent button you have to mix text with a shape.

Did you try re-rendering the group to make a single composite image?

Another possibility is to create your image with text separately (again a single composite image) and import that via Mona Lisa.

I lean my head to your patience and knowledge Roma.

I'm truly amazed with the perfect understanding of what i was trying to achieve and with the absolute perfect result.

This is what i mean when (no matter how complicate could be) i would like SS able to do everything.

This is a tutorial well explained step by step and not the one we have in VM tutorials now.

Just to know since i did not experiment i just followed your instructions:
Is it the z-order or the rendering causing the problem (or both)?

P.S.
It is missing just the last mouse over on the group in order to disappear.

From my understanding it's both but the primary problem is the z-order. I had only about one hour to experiment and as I said I feel that it's not complete explenation. I'll try to take some time and describe the process step by step including the mouse over steps that are already described in the tutorial.

Here is another set of drop-down menu. This time with full description of the procedure. I just hope I didn't miss anything this time. Forgot to mention that the final menu can be made a permanent group as well.

[QUOTE]I just hope I didn't miss anything this time.QUOTE]
On last step (12) to add :"right hand objects (the one with links on it) should be on top of the left hand group in order to show".
Thanks a million roma. Again perfect.

It's certainly a valid point although not entirely correct. It applies to the two buttons carrying the link but the 'Menu' button, with the same colour as the buttons with links, is actually part of the left hand group.

here
you can find a problem that i have with this menu.
despite the fact that i reproduced every single step of your tutorial in many graphic experiments and all of them work fine, this has the problem that the object "grpx1" shows when the mouse points over the whole object and not just on the menu section.
I start thinking that there could be something wrong in the object.

At the moment since i don't have the knowledge to understand what is causing the defects i'm proceeding by attempts.
The more i digg the more i think the problem comes from the use of a polygon that gives a different rendering compared to the classical square with edited vertexes.
Could be a BUG?

I'm so happy that somebody on these boards recommended the free Sothink menu builder.

I have just used it in one project (one of mine) to test it, LOL!

Please have a look at shootpics and you will see a completely different menu to the previous one. It still needs some sorting out (colours/alt text) but I'm very pleased with it overall.

Very easy to use with a bit of common sense/logic and works wellwith SS IMHO.

mccifa

Hi Francesco,
Unfortunately didn't have much time today to have a look at the problem. Had a glimpse at your site and I think I've noticed that there might be some issues with the grpx1 object. It would be easier for me to have a look at you project file (if possible). You can either post the project name, so I can download it or you can send it to me by e-mail.

I've checked your project and found out that the menu works without problems (just move the 'grpapp' object 1px up on y-axis). The cause of the problem seems to be interference from the balls (probably the code generated by the action editor). Personally I haven't been working with action editor, so I can't say what part of the code is the culprit here. I usually make this kind of things using flash. Maybe Bruce, Larry or Harpo could have a look at it and explain why this is happening and possibly provide a workaround. I will try some experiments on my end but that might take some time.