Opinions on design of site regarding drop downs and links

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toolmania1

New Member
Hey all,

I would like some opinions on the layout of a site in general. I am working on a site, and drop downs in css only are proving to be complicated. I don't want to see the arrow. But I may have found a way around that. This is side tracked a little, but I wanted to mention that since it plays into the decision.

Is it best to have drop downs or many pages with links on them? Is it best to allow a user to get to every single page on the site from every other page on the site? I have a navigation bar, but the only way to fit all the pages into it would be with drop downs. Should a site map type thing also be added at the bottom in which every page is listed?

Also, if javascript was to be used in the drop downs instead of just css, and the user had it turned off, how do you overcome that to make sure they can still hit every page on the site?

Thanks in advance.
 
chrishirst

chrishirst

Well-Known Member
Staff member
Okay, so explain what you mean by this:
I don't want to see the arrow
Click to expand...

Or is that you are not using CSS "drop down menu" but a HTML select box with a javacript event to change the window location?

"Best practice" really depends on the target audience for the documents.

Also, if javascript was to be used in the drop downs instead of just css,
Click to expand...
CSS is a styling language it cannot be used instead of javascript and javascript does not replace CSS
 
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toolmania1

New Member
If I use <select> and <option> in html, there is an arrow for drop downs. It's annoying to look at. I cannot style it away with css. But, I googled this and found if I make the <select> size larger than the <div> it is inside, the arrow is supposed to disappear ( have not tried yet ). Seems like a hack to me and I want my code to be solid. But, that arrow is annoying. So, this lead me to javascript. But, I run the noscript add on in Firefox. Then, I thought, if some others do that or disable javascript, I don't want the only way for them to be able to get to the other pages to have disappeared. So, that is why I thought about the site map too. It all ties together. Which is why I am asking for general advice on site layout I guess...lol

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/...to-assume-my-visitors-have-javascript-enabled

They note above there to do your site without javascript, then add the bells and whistles later. That may be what I end up doing.

Also, I know css and javascript are not the same. The trick I mentioned above was what I meant when I said instead of javascript. I know what you mean though. I should have reworded that. Thanks for pointing that out also. I don't want to confuse anyone.

Anyways, I am looking for advice on site layout.
 
chrishirst

chrishirst

Well-Known Member
Staff member
Using select boxes for general navigation is very poor for accessibility and for Search. Search engine useragents cannot "follow" such links, neither can they trigger the javascript "jump" function.
 
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toolmania1

New Member
Sounds good. I will keep in mind to not use the select then. w3 schools shows that as being a way to do this. They should put something else on there indicating this is not the best way to do it.
 
chrishirst

chrishirst

Well-Known Member
Staff member
W3 schools shows purely technical solutions and examples. Just because something can be done, doesn't it should be done nor it is the "best way"

W3schools also shows ways to make bright green text on a pink background would you want to that just because you can?
 
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toolmania1

New Member
Ya, that's true. I do like w3 schools and have learned a lot from them.

What do you think about using a bread crumb trail instead of drop downs?

Also, what is a good way(s) to put all links on a page without using drop downs if you have, let's say, 50 links?
 
Phreaddee

Phreaddee

Super Moderator
Staff member
yes to breadcrumbs
yes to sitemap
yes to at least top level navigation from anywhere.
personally I don't like dropdowns but thats just me.
and they are not very usable on mobile devices.
 
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toolmania1

New Member
I thought about google's site

http://www.google.com

I cannot get to blogger from the main page. But, I can click on More and then Even More to get to many of the underneath sites. I did not register this as a problem when I did it. So, I agree. A minimum of top level navigation. Of course if you can get all pages listed there, even better. But with 50 or so, that is tough to do.
 
Phreaddee

Phreaddee

Super Moderator
Staff member
I thought about google's site

http://www.google.com

I cannot get to blogger from the main page. But, I can click on More and then Even More to get to many of the underneath sites. I did not register this as a problem when I did it.
Click to expand...

how many people would go to blogger through the google menu?

that menu is bad! real bad! and I'd never use that as a example, except for an example of how to confuse the f**k out of people! "More" and "Even More" are not very descriptive names to signify the type of content contained within. personally I think that approach is totally stupid...
 
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