navigation menu problems

[elbandito999]

I'm redesigning my school website at the moment

-example page is

http://www.mcjs.co.uk/myweb2/news&events1.htm

The current navigation menu is done using javascript. However, some browsers can't read it, and search engine spiders can't follow the links. Apparently I'm also not following EU law on accessibilty as it can't be read with a text reader.

So the question is - how can i do this sort of menu with slideout menus without using javascript, or is there a way of adapting my current one?

I don't actually know javascript properly (the menu was done using webmenushop), and my html is pretty basic.

Thanks in advance for any help.

[fredmv]

http://www.udm4.com/

[elbandito999]

Originally posted by fredmv
http://www.udm4.com/

This looks to do what i want - thanks - however...

...on a first look it seems like all the links need to be done via html on each page. Obviously when setting it up you would use a template, but would this not mean that if you wanted to add a link after the site was complete then you would have to add it to every page? As I have 120 pages on my site this doesn't seem like such a good idea.

Am I right or is there a way round it?

[Vladdy]

SSI

[elbandito999]

Originally posted by Vladdy
SSI

um I'm not an expert - could you be a bit clearer please?

[fredmv]

Originally posted by elbandito999
um I'm not an expert - could you be a bit clearer please? He's referrng to Server Side Includes (SSI). For more information, see: http://httpd.apache.org/docs/howto/ssi.html. Basically, you'd have on file with your navigation data in it, and use SSI to dynamically include it on every page in which you want the menu to appear on. SSI is likely to be the easiest solution since most servers have it available, however, PHP (and other server-side technologies) is of course another option.

[elbandito999]

and if my server doesn't permit SSI (which it doesn't)...

am i stuffed?

i guess you'll probably say - switch to another server?

[fredmv]

Are you sure it doesn't? If not, are you sure you don't have any other server-side languages in which have the ability to dynamically include files available? This is actually a huge downfall as it is a really useful feature to have, and thus as you've already said, you should really consider switching your host.

[elbandito999]

does anyone know anything about floating frames -a friend suggested them - are they any good & could i put the udm menu in one?

[fredmv]

I assume you're referring to iframes. No; do not use them. They're inaccessible and should be avoided completely. Include the file dynamically via server-side. Again, consider switching to a better host.