Extension talk:CSS MenuSidebar

Submenus hidden under main content area
1.The Sub-Menu in the Menu of the sidebar hide under the page how to bring them on top?
 * I think that should only happen on IE 6 and I haven't figured out how to fix it yet! Try playing around with z-index in the css. The page (or content) has z-index: 2;
 * --W.stoettinger 21:42, 28 July 2009 (UTC)
 * With a default MediaWiki and CSS MenuSidebar, I've attempted changing the z-index for both the CSS for the Sidebar and Monobook and it still shows up behind the context. Also, how would I be able to move it up the list?


 * --Insydius 19:26, 30 January 2010 (UTC)

/* /* this has to be overridden for every menu */ overflow: visible; }
 * MenuSidebar
 * 1) p-Menu, #p-Menu_1, #p-Menu_2, #p-Menu_3 {

Amend the css as above to make the example work
 * - 116.14.107.184 11:14, 19 February 2010 (UTC)

2.Is it possible to shrink toolbox into a menu?
 * This is not possible yet.
 * --W.stoettinger 21:42, 28 July 2009 (UTC)

One Solution
You can avoid submenus being cut off by the edge of the sidebar area with these adjustments (monobook and vector respectively):

MediaWiki:Monobook.css /* Allow popup submenus to overflow the sidebar area for the Monobook skin */ .portlet { overflow: visible !important; }

MediaWiki:Vector.css /* Allow popup submenus to overflow the sidebar area for the Vector skin */ overflow: visible !important; } /* Positioning tweak for submenus specific to vector */ .menuSidebar ul div { top: -1px !important; /* vertical offset of submenus */ } --Tlosk 21:21, 23 October 2010 (UTC)
 * 1) mw-panel div.portal div.body ul li {

Instructions need clarification
I don't quite understand the instructions.

What must the css be renamed to? I have installed this extension but menus in the sidebar still show up as normal (nested) lists and do not do the popout. I am naming the menu the same as the test css (Menu), but it doesn't work. How must I structure and name the Mediawiki:Sidebar list that I wish to do the CSS popup?

As an example, I did the default install, and then am trying something like: But they just show up normally in the Sidebar.
 * Menu
 * Item1
 * Item2
 * Item3

Clarification ²
I don't get that CSS part either.

I tried every possible name, changed my sidebar and CSS countless time, but couldn't get it to work.

Clarification would be more than welcome please, this looks like a fantastic extension! --81.64.119.70 09:20, 27 August 2009 (UTC)


 * Yeh the instructions are a bit unclear for me, and my results are promising, but not good. First, what I did.  Install the extension to the extensions/ directory, added the require_once into LocalSettings.php, added the css into Mediawiki:Common.css with changes to the following bits:

/* /* this has to be overridden for every menu */ overflow: visible; } /* this has to be overridden for every menu */ margin: 0; padding: 0; } and in Mediawiki:MenuSidebar added
 * MenuSidebar
 * 1) p-Shortcuts,
 * 2) p-Menu2,
 * 3) p-Menu3 {
 * 1) p-Shortcuts div,
 * 2) p-Menu2 div,
 * 3) p-Menu3 div {
 * Shortcuts
 * linkA
 * GreatMenu
 * Main Page
 * linkB
 * This is the relevant bit of the html produced by the main page:

Shortcuts linkA GreatMenu &gt; 

 Main Page  BMT ARGOSS

  


 * where I've replaced some of the actual names with {}'s. And of course, I used forced refreshes with any changes.  Problem is, in Firefox 3.6.6, hovering over "GreatMenu" changes the background colour but does not display the menu list.  I briefly tested it in IE in WinXP (sorry, didn't check the version), and the menu does pop out but only if you hover over a sliver at the right end of the "GreatMenu" box area.  I needed to jump across to the menu very quickly or it would vanish, but once "on" the menu, it it functioned well.  So in both cases, not usable.  Anyone have any ideas, suggestions/requests for tests or further information? Hoogs 14:02, 1 July 2010 (UTC)

An error
I have an error after installation this extension:

"Undefined variable: lines in /var/www/mediawiki/site/extensions/MenuSidebar/MenuSidebar.php on line 46 "

Why it has occurred? What will advise?

Font Size decreases with each nesting in Vector
Because vector uses a font size modifier that's less than one, each nested menu's font is smaller than its parent menu. If you use 3 or 4 sub-menus the font can get so tiny you can't read it. You can change the default value of 0.75em to a fixed size font or to a value closer to 1. For example putting this in Mediawiki:Vector.css will keep the font from shrinking with each nesting:

/* keeps nested list font sizes from continually decreasing with each nesting */ font-size: small !important; }
 * 1) mw-panel div.portal div.body ul li {

Change the arrow symbol for submenu
If you don't like the look of the > sign used to indicate a submenu you can change it to something else more to your liking. Open MenuSidebar.php in wiki/extensions/MenuSidebar and look for the part that says:

$content = substr($content,0,-4). " &amp;gt; ";

and replace the &amp;gt; (greater than symbol) code with one of your choosing. I think &amp;rsaquo;&amp;rsaquo; looks nice myself.--Tlosk 13:18, 24 October 2010 (UTC)

Problems
This extension is useful, but has some problems :

How to place the MenuSidebar on the top ?

In the code :

this is an example to make the list of the second entry bigger e.g. when ther is a longer text in a list item

but this doesn't work.

And when there is a big list of items, a part of the list goes out the screen, at the bottom.

It seems to need some improvments to be really utilisable.

MediaWiki version 1.16.x
Please see:
 * http://ac.wikkii.net/wiki/Special:Version

It says it is using this extension. The MediaWiki version currently listed on that page is 1.16.1. It is using the Vector skin as the default skin. I can see that by looking at the HTML source for any page on that wiki, and I find this:


 * var skin="vector"

It looks like the extension is working with the monobook skin too:
 * http://ac.wikkii.net/?useskin=monobook

I edited the Extension:CSS MenuSidebar page to remove this:


 * doesn't work with 1.16

Should 1.16.1 be added to the top-right infobox?

See also: Forum:Sidebar Menus working now. CSS MenuSidebar updated for MediaWiki 1.16.x and Vector skin. --Timeshifter 02:44, 3 February 2011 (UTC)

Cell Size
Is there a way to make the "fly-over" cells a big longer in length? It is autowrapping, but would prefer to have it iether 1) autosize length, or 2) i can specify length.
 * btw; I have a Successful implementation of the script with the Vector.css and UsabilityInitiative (collapsible menu's) on mediawiki version 1.16.2
 * example Lynxpedia
 * helpful information. If you use the Dynamic (true) aspects and use the double brackets, it allows the MenuSidebar to be functional on iOS devices

Lynxcub 19:50, 7 April 2011 (UTC)

Special:Version is blank
This extension works great, but when you go to Special:Version, it brings up a blank page. If I disable the call in localsettings.php to menusidebar.php the Special:Version comes back. Any help resolving this issue?
 * Found the answer out, changed line 21: Orig: 'author' => 'Wolfgang Stöttinger', to 'author' => 'Wolfgang Stottinger'.  Took out the "o" with the double dots

Lynxcub 01:21, 16 April 2011 (UTC)