DISCLAIMER:
The module is provided as is. It is the final version, so don’t ask me to do any modifications or upgrades to it. Thanks.
DOWNLOAD (VERSION 2.2)
Here you can download the latest version: mod_autgen_menu.zip
Link to Joomla! Extensions Directory: automatically generated menu page
ABOUT MOD_AUTGEN
I wrote MOD_AUTGEN_MENU when creating a Joomla website for www.lideahory.cz. The main purpose of the mod is to generate a menu contents automatically, by displaying links to all articles in the chosen section or category. So when you add a new article, you don’t have to link it to menu manually - the menu automatically displays the link. Categories in the chosen section may work as headings/separators among menus and/or they can link to the category list. The mod is quite light-weight and also offers a basic possibility to customize the output. The package contains english and czech language files.
INSTALATION
The instalation is the same as any other joomla module. Go to extensions -> install and install the .zip file. Then go to extensions -> module manager and enable module AutGen menu. Now you should have the module installed and you can click on its name in module manager to set it up.
SETTINGS
The left half of the module settings page is common to all modules, so you probably know it well. Better watch the right part, where you can set the Module Parameters. You can set section or category, from which the menu will be generated, how will be displayed the articles or category titles (links, text or hidden) and output mode (only ul/li list available at the moment, but you can make your own). Under it you can set the order of categories and then order of articles in each category. You can also set the limit to show just a certain number of items.
THE OUTPUT
This is the sample, how the generated HTML code could look like using the default template settings.
<ul class="menu"> <li><span class="separator">Heading 1</span> <ul> <li><a href="link1.html" title="Actual 1"><span>Actual 1</span></a></li> <li><a href="link2.html" title="Actual 2"><span>Actual 2</span></a></li> </ul> </li> <li><span class="separator">Heading 2</span> <ul> <li><a href="link3.html" title="Actual 3"><span>Actual 3</span></a></li> <li><a href="link4.html" title="Actual 4"><span>Actual 4</span></a></li> <li><a href="link5.html" title="Actual 5"><span>Actual 5</span></a></li> </ul> </li> </ul>
After some styling in CSS, you can create something like is the example bellow. This one is taken from www.lideahory.cz.
CUSTOMIZING THE OUTPUT
The template for the output is in /mod_autgen_menu/template.php. If you know just the basic syntax of PHP, you can write your own output format here. Default case(1) is bound to UL/LI output mode in module manager.
If you want to create your own output, just create new case(anynumber) above case(1) and insert your own code there. Then open file /mod_autgen_menu.xml, find param outputmode and insert there new option, having value the number you used for case() and text any name you want to describe your new output mode.
After uploading the files to the server, you should have your new output mode available to choose in module parameters and when you choose it, the function in your new case() should handle the output.
CONCLUSION
I hope you will find this module usefull and I will be happy for any comments or suggestions. If you create any improvements of the module, please let me know.
CHANGELOG
[2.2] Enhanced the template handling. Now it is easy to have custom template file in your Joomla theme to override default module output style.
[2.1] Corrected the bug when it was impossible to have more than one AGM module on one page. Should be OK now.
[2.0] Complete redesign, ability to choose from categories or sections, ability to have category titles as link, possibility to hide the articles and show just category list etc. Definitely worth upgrading.
[1.1] Added Module Class Suffix option allowing custom styling in CSS
Hi
I went to the http://www.lideahory.cz hoping to see the menu as a demo — but couldn’t find it.
Can you put up a demo of the menu. It sounds like a great idea.
Thanks
Rowby
2 Rowby:
Hi, on http://www.lideahory.cz is actually just the output to be seen. Have a look here: http://www.lideahory.cz/archiv - all the menus in left column are automatically generated. Its one section called Archive, in this section are categories by years and there are articles with names by each issue. And the left column shows, what mod_autgen_menu makes of it.
If you want the demo of the administration, thats nowhere available and wont be.. you have to try for yourself. Have a nice day.
Thanks for this module. I suggest adding an option for “Article ordering” to turn off or set to ‘no’ so that only category titles are shown. In my case, this would allow me to simplify navigation (and prevent a very long list). Other than that, a wonderful module - congratulations!
Hello,
Your module is great.
Thanks very much.
Somes suggests options for a new version :
1) enable more than one section
2) developpment or not the list of articles (or catégories if it is possible to put more than one section)
Great module! Simple, but very effective. Just one suggestion: it would be great if you could have the module display all articles in ONE category, instead of all categories in a section. This would enable the site visitors to navigate through all articles in the current category, without having to see ALL categories in the current section.
I would like to join to Eric and his suggestion, becouse ability to display all articles in one category is very useful and, actually, it is exactly what I need.
Anyway, it is still good extension.
Good luck
Great module! I have already gave it a great review at extensions.joomla.org (just sent it in, waiting for it to be approved.)
I’m using it a http://www.crimesdefense.com Currently using it for my InfoCentral Menu on left.
Only issue seems that it shows the name of the category “twice”, once as the menu title,and then immediately below it.
I am trying to tweak it, thinking it is something I did.
Can you take a look at http://crimesdefense.com/ at the Info Central Menu and let me know if I need to make some change in the configuration?
Here’s a link to a pdf of the module admin:
http://crimesdefense.com/automenu.pdf
Thanks
Rowby
Ah, I see now — the solution was right in the module. Display Category Names “Don’t Display”
Great timesaver! Thanks! Be sure to check out my extensions.joomla.com review!
Rowby
Hi, this module seems great, exactly what I would need, bur I cannot make it works.
I load the module and set it, every things look fine, but after that when I tried to open my site I get this error message :
Parse error: syntax error, unexpected T_OBJECT_OPERATOR in /homepages/7/d264607140/htdocs/joom/modules/mod_autgen_menu/helper.php on line 49
Could you help me on that please.
Thanks.
2 Francois - there is probably a problem with the joomla library for generating dates. Try opening that helper.php , add two slashes // before line 49 ($now = JFactory::getDate()->toFormat(’%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S’);)
and instead uncomment line 45 ($now = date(’Y-m-d H:i:s’, time());). If this wont work, just uncomment lines 46 and 47 and leave 45 and 49 commented. Hope it helps
Thank you very much ziki, the first method worked fine, I had to do the same thing too on line 169.
Grat help, great job. Thanks.
This is just what I was looking for. One thing, is there a way to use CSS to highlight the current page you are on?
2 Jeff: No, no at the moment. In the next version I am going to change the way links are generated to be more suitable for SEO addresses, so maybe than I will see what can I do with that, but now it cant. Sorry.
Thanks. Sounds great. How can I be notified when there is an update? Also is there any way to exclude categories?
JEFF: again, I have to dissapoint you. No way to exclude certain categories from section at this version. Update notify should be possible from Joomla Extensions - http://extensions.joomla.org/extensions/core-enhancements/menu-systems/menu-editors/7191/details - I think “add to favourite” could be that, or you can add this page to RSS.
So I’m wondering now if there is any way to keep this module displaying on the the category blog display once individual categories have been selected.
Any news on how to implement this?
2 Suleiman: Sorry, I don’t understand :-/
Hi there,
Love the module, reviewed it on JED.
I seem to have trouble showing two module instances on one page (to have a menu of articles in two categories). I can’t think of a reason why it wouldn’t work for me.
Can you help?
How about listing articles from the current category (of the article you are on). I need that.
> How about listing articles from the current category > (of the article you are on). I need that.
See ArtCats 2.0.0
http://orware.net/joomla-projects/artcats/60-artcats-200-release.html
Yes, I’m having the same problems as Jeremy above. I cannot use the module more than once on the same page, even if I create duplicate modules (Autogen Menu 1, Copy of Autogen Menu 1).
Great extension, but… I’m working on a site that needs REAL multilang content, for this I selected multilang m17n, and this component works relating menuitems with languages… my problem is that links generated by auto_gen are not releated to a menu item, so when you click on it, modules disappear. Help!!! what can I do to solve this problem?
To have two module instances on one page you must change one line.
In the file “mod_autogen_menu.php”, in the last line, replace the line :
require_once (dirname(__FILE__).DS.’template.php’);
by this one :
require(dirname(__FILE__).DS.’template.php’);
Excellent module. I was looking for something like this and finally found it. Great job.
One question: can I have multiple AGM modules active at once? When I try to add a second menu, they both disappear. I’m ot sure if I’ve missed something.
This is working quite wonderful. Thanks for your generosity! I have one request. Is it possible to adjust the number of leading articles and columns for the blod layout that is used on output?
D. Krajcek: I am not sure but I don’t think so. The current AGM menu only displays links to article details, or possibly to a basic category or section listing. I want to keep the module simple and easy-to-set-up, so I am currently not thinking about adding this function.
I just downloaded your AGM mod and it works fine. Thanks a lot for sharing it with us!
Just one request, though: could it be possible to give the categories different id/suffixes? I am working on a site where different categories have their own colors, it would be great to have these different colors in the menu as well.
(The site I’m workin on is on a local server only at this moment. On my own site I do not use your mod - yet)
Kind regards, Frits
Hi, sorry for not responding too often, I uploaded the corrected version, so it should be now possible to have more AutGen menus per one page.
I have until now used a overwrited lastest news mudule, but it ordering the articles after the lastest.
I have recently come across and installed with section and categories, and it only displays links when I choose to Display Article Name - Don’t Display, would there be a reason for this, or am I missing something.
i think under your download link ist not the latest version 2.2
in the xml file stands the version flag 2.0 … can you check this?
Mike: Thanks for your note, I forgot writing the new version to XML. Should be OK now..
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