Mega Main Menu

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Project Mega Main Menu
Created 10 November 2013 at 12:00 GMT
Author MegaMain
Author URI megamain.com
Support support.megamain.com

1) Installation

Dashboard ► Plugins ► Add New ► Upload

Follow the next steps to setup plugin:

  1. Extract file "mega_main_menu.zip" from the general archive to your computer;
  2. Log in dashboard of your WordPress;
  3. Next follow the way "Plugins -> Add New -> Upload";
  4. In the file selection field you should choose "mega_main_menu.zip" stored in your computer, and click the button "Install Now";
  5. Don't forget to activate plugin.

If you followed all instructions correctly, the link "Mega Main Menu" should be added in the section "Appearance".

2) Set Menu Structure for Defined Location

Dashboard ► Appearance ► Menus ► Edit Menus

If in your WP there is not created "Menu Structure" yet or you want to create a new Menu Structure for using it with "Mega Main Menu Plugin" – follow the next steps:

  1. Click the link "create a new menu";
  2. Type a new title for your menu (Example: "My Mega Menu");
  3. Click the button "Create Menu".

Dashboard ► Appearance ► Menus ► Manage Locations

If you already have the created "Menu Structure" - set the necessary Menu Structure for the definite location.

Example: Select "My Mega Menu" for "primary_menu" theme location.

3) Activate

Dashboard ► Mega Main Menu ► General

Mega Main Menu and its settings will be displayed in selected locations only after the activation of this location. Check the location(s) where you want to display Mega Main Menu.

Example: If you want to use "Mega Main Menu Plugin" in "primary_menu" location - check this location

4) Add and Set Up Menu Items

Dashboard ► Appearance ► Menus ► Edit Menus

Follow the next steps for set up menu item:

  1. In the section "Pages" (or Links, or Categories) tick the page for which you want to create an item of menu and click the button "Add to menu" (your selected item of menu will be added in the section "Menu Structure").
  2. Click the caret (arrow down) next to the title of added item of menu, all settings of this menu item will be unfolded.
  3. Customize this menu item according to your requirements.
         Example:
    • Select icon;
    • Select "Submenu type" on "Multicolumn Dropdown";
    • Set "Submenu Columns" on "3";
    • Check "Enable Full Width Dropdown"
  4. Save the changes in Menu Structure ("Save Menu" button).

Activation of the Mega Menu for the definite location of the theme

Dashboard ► Mega Main Menu ► General

Mega Main Menu and its settings will be displayed in selected locations only after the activation of this location. Check the location(s) where you want to display Mega Main Menu.

Logo Settings

Dashboard ► Mega Main Menu ► General

Here you can select the image-file for using it as a logo in the Menu and set its size. Select image to be used as logo in Main Mega Menu. It's recommended to use image with transparent background (.PNG) and sizes from 200 to 800 px. Then set height of the logo. You can set height of the logo in percentage to the height of the initial container (applicable values from 10 to 99 percent). Width of the logo is set up automatically to save proportions of the original logo image.

You can find instructions how to add selected logo to the definite menu in "Layout Options: location ".

Layout Options

Dashboard ► Mega Main Menu ► General ► Layout Options: location

Firstly, you should decide for which menu location layout should be set.

In "Layout Options: Location " you can:

  • Add to the primary menu container: logo and (or) search.
  • Set height for the initial menu container and items of the first level.
  • Choose how to locate menu elements of the first level.
  • Choose where to locate icon for first level items.
  • Select type of separator between the first level items of this menu.
  • Set the value of corners radius.
  • Activate Menu Minimization on Handheld Devices.
  • Choose Menu Direction (Horizontal, Vertical).
  • Enable sticky menu.
  • Set sticky scroll offset.

Dashboard ► Mega Main Menu ► Skins ► Skin Options: location

Firstly, you should decide for which menu location skin should be set.

In "Skin Options: location " you can change:

If you want to use gradient follow the next steps:

  1. Select the initial color of the gradient.
  2. Select the final color of the gradient.
  3. Set the starting and ending points of the transition color range from the first into the second color of the gradient.
  4. Choose the direction of the gradient (Vertical, Horizontal or Radial).
  5. Click the button "Click Here To View Result" to check how this gradient will be displayed.

If you want to use flat color - set the same color value for the first and second parameters.

If you want to set the background image for menu initial container - use the following option.



You can choose and tune the background image for the primary container.

Notice: the background image replaces the background gradient and only flat color stays for the background.

The process of setting up the gradient or color for this element is the same as for "Background Gradient (Color) of the Primary Container".

The process of setting up the gradient or color for this element is the same as for "Background Gradient (Color) of the Primary Container".

The process of setting up the gradient or color for this element is the same as for "Background Gradient (Color) of the Primary Container".

The process of setting up the gradient or color for this element is the same as for "Background Gradient (Color) of the Primary Container".

Dashboard ► Mega Main Menu ► Skins

Set Of Installed Fonts

Select the fonts that must be included on the site. Remember that a lot of fonts affect on the speed of load page. Always remove unnecessary fonts.

Additional Styles (Different Colors for Each Menu Items)

Here you can add and edit highlighting styles. After that you can select these styles for menu item in "Menus -> Your Menu Item -> Style of This Item" option.

Custom Icons

You can add custom raster icons. After saving these settings, icons will become available in a modal window of icons selection. Recommended size 64x64 pixels.

Dashboard ► Mega Main Menu ► Specific Options

Custom CSS

This field is needed in the case when your template has a particular menu location and it needs adjustment. You can place here any necessary custom CSS properties.

Responsive for Handheld Devices

If this option is enabled, then the menu will be transformed, if the user uses the handheld device.

Prioritize plugin styles

This option is recommended to use only if styles of the installed theme interfere with the proper display of Mega Main Menu. If this option is checked - all CSS properties for this plugin will have "!important" priority.

"Indefinite Location" Mode

If this option is checked - all menus will be replaced by the mega menu. This will be useful for templates in which are not defined locations of the menu.

Dashboard ► Appearance ► Menus

Toggle the item of menu which you want to set.

Definite Item Settings

1. Standard WordPress settings of the menu item.

We will leave out the explanation associated with standard WordPress settings of the menu item as they are very simple and understandable. We will consider opportunities of the Mega Main Menu instead.

2. Icon for this item.

To select the icon of the menu item follow the next steps:

  1. Click the button "Show Icons".
  2. In the modal window that appears, click the icon that you prefer.
  3. Click the button "OK" in the upper right corner of the modal window (if you click outside the modal window - icon selection will be canceled and the modal window will be closed).

Notice: the plugin includes a set of more than 1600 vector icons, so loading a modal window can take some of your time and patience.

3. Hide Text of This Item.

Use this option if you want to display the menu item without a text. For example, link to the home page can be displayed without a text, and only the "Home" icon can be left.

Use this option if you want to set up the menu item without an active hyperlink. For example: it can be the title for the column in multicolumn dropdown menu.

Notice: these settings can be adjusted only for the first level items of the menu, and the style of displaying all children dropdown elements will depend on these settings. All examples here - http://menu.megamain.com/wp-content/plugins/demo_dashboard_2.html.

1. Submenu Type.

  • Standard Dropdown. Use this type to display usual dropdown menu as one column.
  • Multicolumn Dropdown. Use this type to display dropdown menu with several columns. Number of columns depends on the option "Number of Columns".
  • Grid Dropdown. Use this type to display dropdown menu in the form of a grid. Number of elements placed in one line depends on the option "Number of Columns".
  • Posts Grid Dropdown. Use this type to display dropdown menu in the form of a grid using recently added posts. Number of elements placed in one line depends on the option "Number of Columns". Thumbnail picture and icon for each post are selected on the page of editing this post (Look for "Featured image" and "Post Icon" Metaboxes).
  • Widgets Dropdown. Use this type to display dropdown menu with Widgets. Select number of columns with the help of the option "Number of Columns". Using this type you can add and edit widgets in the usual place (on page Dashboard -> Appearance -> Widgets).



Just choose the side to which dropdown elements will unfold. For example: if you set "Drop To Right Side" for this option then dropdown will start at the left side of the initial element and go beyond it to the right.

This option influences the number of elements in one line for "Grid Dropdowns", the number of columns in the "Multicolumn Dropdown" and "Widgets Dropdown".

If you check this option the dropdown menu will be stretched to the full width of the primary container.

Use this area to select and set parameters of the background image for the dropdown item.

Follow the next steps to update (reinstall) plugin, all these steps are important for the correct working of the plugin:

  1. Deactivate and remove the old version (all settings will be saved);
  2. Install the new version;
  3. Go to "Mega Main Menu settings" page and save settings again (Important Step. Required to generate a cache file with your settings.);
  4. Clear cache of the browser (Ctrl + Shift + R few times on the home page);
  5. All done.

My menu structure loses some items (or options) when I save the settings.

Cause of this problem is small value of the "max_input_vars" option in the configuration of your server (host). You should increase value of the "max_input_vars". You need to set larger value. You can check current value of "max_input_vars" on your site on Mega Main Menu configuration page. Go to "Mega Main Menu -> Specific Options -> max_input_vars". This is real value of "max_input_vars" option in the configuration of your server. You can try to increase it in one of ways that are described in Documentation.

  • Most hosts have the opportunity to change this value in the "Host Admin Area".
    Example:
    If currently you have max_input_vars = 1000
    You need to set max_input_vars = 9000

  • You can try to change this value using ".htaccess" file in root directory of the your site. Add following lines of the code at the end of ".htaccess" file:
    php_value max_input_vars 9000
    php_value suhosin.post.max_vars 9000
    php_value suhosin.request.max_vars 9000

  • You can try to change this value using "php.ini". Try to find "max_input_vars" and change value for this variable. If line of the code in your "php.ini" look like this:
    ; max_input_vars = 1000
    Then change it to following:
    max_input_vars = 9000

  • If that does not help you, ask your host support "How can I increase the value of the max_input_vars for my site?".

  • Also you can deactivate the options that you do not use to customize the menu structure. It helps reduce the number of options and reduce the load on the server. Example:
    - If you do not use option "Icon Of The Item" - disable it globally in the "Settings of the structure -> Icon Of The Item -> Disable".
    - If you do not use option "Description Of The Item" - disable it globally in the "Settings of the structure -> Description Of The Item -> Disable".

    The most unused options, you can try to disable them:
    - Description Of The Item.
    - Style Of The Item.
    - Visibility Control.
    - Dropdown Background Image.

My menu is displayed incorrectly in IE9 (or older)

  • IE9 and older not supported Alpha colors.
    In order to fix it, use HEX "#2a6496" instead RGBA "rgba(42,100,150,1)".

  • IE9 and older not fully supported Gradients.
    In order to fix it, use flat colors (#2a6496 > #2a6496) instead gradients (#428bca > #2a6496).

  • Our plugin supports IE8, but only in safe mode, it means that all navigation functions is available but without 100% design matching. MicroSoft officialy stopped support of IE8 in April 2014 - http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/enterprise/end-of-support.aspx. If the MicroSoft stopped supporting their product, all other programmers can also stop supporting it.

"Sticky" feature does not work on mobile devices.

"Sticky" feature does not work on mobile devices, because if you open the menu, you can not click on the last item, it will always be outside the screen.

If you understand that use sticky menu on mobile devices is bad practice, but you still want it - use this code in "Custom CSS" field.

Display Logo Only When Menu is "Sticky"

Different Color for Every Button


Here described process how to get different color (green) for one of menu items. If you want to get different colors for every menu item - please repeat these steps for each different color.




1. Mega Main Menu -> Skins -> Additional Styles -> Add one more (and configre it). Here you can add and edit highlighting styles. After that you can select these styles for menu item.


2. Appearance-> Menus -> Your Menu Item -> Style of This Item.


Multilingual Mega Menu (WPML guide)

Mega Main Menu for WordPress is a plugin that allows you to create beautiful and functional menu for your WordPress site. Mega Main Menu completely compatible with all WPML plugins.

In order to make mega menu which will display menu items that translated for each language you will need two installed and activated plugins: Mega Main Menu and WPML.

  1. Mega Main Menu Quick Start Guide is available in current document.
  2. Guide for installing & activating WPML is available on the WPML Getting Started Guide page.

In this section we will concentrate on configuration of Mega Main Menu.

You should keep in mind that Mega Main Menu have two primary arrays of options:

1) "Global Options"

Each translation of your site will use the same configuration from "Mega Main Menu plugin configuration page".

Probably you will want to get Language Switcher in menu.



You can get this feature in one of two ways:

  • Using option in Mega Main Menu plugin (simple and non-customizable).
    Just check one checkbox "Mega Main Menu -> General -> Layout Options -> Add To Mega Main Menu -> WPML switcher (on right side)" and you will get language switcher in menu.


  • Using options in WPML plugin (difficult and customizable) - See comprehensive description of this way in WPML documentation.

2) "Options of menu items"

Each translation of your site will require manual configuration of each menu item and menu structure as a whole.

  1. Menu translation process carefully described in "Translating Menus" section from WPML documentation.
  2. When you will get translated menu, all what you need in order to get translated MEGA menu - just select needed options for each menu item. Process of item configuration is described in current document, section "Settings of the definite item of the menu".


Add this code in the "Specific Options -> Custom CSS" field, to get static search box instead animated:

Remove Dropdown Arrows

Add this code in the "Specific Options -> Custom CSS" field.

Custom CSS to correct menu layout in "Avada".

  1. First of all you need activate following option "Specific Options -> Prioritize Plugin Styles".
  2. Add following code in the "Mega Main Menu -> Specific Options -> Custom CSS" area.

Custom CSS to correct menu layout in "X" Theme.

Add this code in the "Mega Main Menu -> Specific Options -> Custom CSS" area.

Custom CSS to correct menu layout in "Enfold".

Add this code in the "Mega Main Menu -> Specific Options -> Custom CSS" area.

Custom CSS to correct menu layout in "Jupiter".

Add this code in the "Mega Main Menu -> Specific Options -> Custom CSS" area.

Custom CSS to correct menu layout in "Divi".

Add this code in the "Mega Main Menu -> Specific Options -> Custom CSS" area.

Custom CSS to correct menu layout in "Salient".

  1. First of all you need activate following option "Specific Options -> Prioritize Plugin Styles".
  2. Add following code in the "Mega Main Menu -> Specific Options -> Custom CSS" area.

Custom CSS to correct menu layout in "TwentySixteen".

Add this code in the "Mega Main Menu -> Specific Options -> Custom CSS" area.

mmm_set_configuration - to set custom configuration of the plugin using your theme functions.

add_filter( 'mmm_set_configuration', 'my_function_to_set_mmm_configuration' );

function my_function_to_set_mmm_configuration ( $default_configuration ) {

	// Get configuration of the plugin that is stored in the DataBase.
	$saved_configuration = get_option( 'mega_main_menu_options', array() );

	if ( ( $saved_configuration === false ) || empty( $saved_configuration ) ) { // If you do not have a saved configuration in the database - do your code.

		$theme_custom_configuration = $default_configuration;

		$menu_location_name = 'primary-menu'; // name of menu location of your theme.

		// FEW EXAMPLES

		// Format of the checkbox option
		$theme_custom_configuration[ 'mega_menu_locations' ] = array( $menu_location_name );
		$theme_custom_configuration[ 'responsive_styles' ] = array( 'true' );
		$theme_custom_configuration[ $menu_location_name . '_sticky_offset' ] = array( 1 );
		$theme_custom_configuration[ $menu_location_name . '_first_level_item_height_sticky' ] = array( 80 );
		$theme_custom_configuration[ $menu_location_name . '_mobile_label' ] = array( 'MENU' );
		$theme_custom_configuration[ $menu_location_name . '_first_level_separator' ] = array( 'none' );

		// Format of the input_text, textarea, radio option
		$theme_custom_configuration[ 'custom_css' ] = '.theme_custom_class .mega_main_menu { margin: 10px; }';
		$theme_custom_configuration[ 'logo_src' ] = 'http://menu.megamain.com/wp-content/plugins/mega_main_menu/src/img/megamain-logo-120x120.png';

		// Format of the group of the inputs (menu_bg_gradient)
		$theme_custom_configuration[ $menu_location_name . '_menu_bg_gradient' ] = array( 'color1' => '#FFF', 'color2' => '#FFF', 'start' => '0', 'end' => '100', 'orientation' => 'top' ); 
		$theme_custom_configuration[ $menu_location_name . '_menu_first_level_link_font' ] = array( 'font_family' => 'Inherit', 'font_size' => '13', 'font_weight' => '400' );
		$theme_custom_configuration[ $menu_location_name . '_menu_first_level_link_color' ] = '#666666'; 
		$theme_custom_configuration[ $menu_location_name . '_menu_first_level_icon_font' ] = array( 'font_size' => '13');
		$theme_custom_configuration[ $menu_location_name . '_menu_first_level_link_bg' ] = array( 'color1' => '#FFF', 'color2' => '#FFF', 'start' => '0', 'end' => '100', 'orientation' => 'top' );
		$theme_custom_configuration[ $menu_location_name . '_menu_first_level_link_color_hover' ] = '#bfd80f';
		$theme_custom_configuration[ $menu_location_name . '_menu_first_level_link_bg_hover' ] = array( 'color1' => '#bfd80f', 'color2' => '#FFF', 'start' => '2', 'end' => '0', 'orientation' => 'top' );
		$theme_custom_configuration[ $menu_location_name . '_menu_search_bg' ] = array( '#bfd80f' );
		$theme_custom_configuration[ $menu_location_name . '_menu_search_color' ] = '#f8f8f8';
		$theme_custom_configuration[ $menu_location_name . '_menu_dropdown_wrapper_gradient' ] = array( 'color1' => '#ffffff', 'color2' => '#ffffff', 'start' => '0', 'end' => '100', 'orientation' => 'top' ); 
		$theme_custom_configuration[ $menu_location_name . '_menu_dropdown_link_font' ] = array( 'font_family' => 'Inherit', 'font_size' => '13', 'font_weight' => '300' );
		$theme_custom_configuration[ $menu_location_name . '_menu_dropdown_link_color' ] = '#666666';
		$theme_custom_configuration[ $menu_location_name . '_menu_dropdown_icon_font' ] = array( 'font_size' => '13');
		$theme_custom_configuration[ $menu_location_name . '_menu_dropdown_link_bg' ] = array( 'color1' => 'rgba(255,255,255,0)', 'color2' => 'rgba(255,255,255,0)', 'start' => '0', 'end' => '100', 'orientation' => 'top' ); 
		$theme_custom_configuration[ $menu_location_name . '_menu_dropdown_plain_text_color' ] = '#666666';

/*
		// You can print $default_configuration to see full list of options (only in dashboard)
		print_r( $default_configuration );		
*/

		add_option( 'mega_main_menu_options', $theme_custom_configuration );
	} else { // If you have configuration stored in the DataBase - do nothing.
		return false;
	}

}

Result in the "DataBase"

wp_options -> option_name = mega_main_menu_options

mmm_skin_extend - to add few custom CSS rules which user can not to change.

add_filter( 'mmm_skin_extend', 'my_function_to_extend_css' );

function my_function_to_extend_css ( ) {
	$my_css_rules = '.theme_custom_class .mega_main_menu { margin: 10px; }';
	return $my_css_rules;
}

Result (at the end of the file: /plugins/mega_main_menu/src/css/cache.skin.css)

	...	
	...
	...
	.theme_custom_class .mega_main_menu { margin: 10px; }

mmm_container_class - to add extra CSS classes in the "Mega Main Menu" initial container.

add_filter( 'mmm_container_class', 'my_function_to_add_classes_in_container' );

function my_function_to_add_classes_in_container ( $default_classes ) {
	/*

	// You can print $default_classes to see full list of CSS classes of the initial container
	print_r( $default_classes );

	*/

	// Example
	$my_css_classes = '';
	$my_some_variable = 1;
	if ( $my_some_variable == 1 ) {
		$my_css_classes .= 'my_extra_class';
	}
	return $my_css_classes;
}

Result

<div id="mega_main_menu" class="primary primary_style-flat ... my_extra_class">
	...
		...
	...
</div>

If you need support, if you have a question or suggestion - leave a message on our support page Support.MegaMain.com.