different paths for menue scripts and images

[tigersahrk]

I’m happy with the milonic menue but there is a problem.

All my html-files are in the same directory and the milonic scripts are in the “scripts” folder. Therefore the script path is “/scripts/ milonic_src.js" and the menue including the images works.

But because of write permissions I have to put the some html-files (e.g. guestbook.html) in special folder and then the path to the scripts and images is not correct anymore. Result - if I go to the guestbook it doesn’t work anymore.

I do understand why this problem occurs. Of course I could copy all the images and the scripts in the other folder. But that makes it more complicated if I have to make some changes in the menue …

[Ruth]

Hi tigersarhk,
Well, I have to say I've always had problems with relative paths. I know most people don't but since I do I now use full url paths to my menu. It doesn't matter then on which page I am, it always looks at the full url to get the menu.

Ruth

[John]

Server-relative pathing should work fine here, but you haven't given us anything to start with - no URL, no directory layout, etc.

[tigersahrk]

Okay guys here the URL - First the directory which works
http://www.divesociety.com/phil_dorado/phil_log.asp

and the relative path which doesn’t work
http://www.divesociety.com/asp/logbook/logbookList.asp

Thanks

[Ruth]

You need to change the path in the menu_data_phil.js file. It says the images are in images/arrows/ that works fine on the first page since it is in the phil_dorado directory and the menu can find the arrow but when you are at the second page the logbook directory doesn't have images/arrows folders. I get the menu, just not the images. As I said the first time, relative paths have always been my downfall, so keeping that in mind, do you have to put phil_dorado/images/whatever folder/whateverimage.gif as the path or use something like ../ ?

Ruth

[John]

The two essentially separate sites (phil_dorado) make it a bit tougher to use server-relative addressing. However, if /phil_dorado/ is going to remain forever then you can try this...

Code: Select all

subimage="/phil_dorado/images/arrows/arrow_999999.gif";

etc.

[tigersahrk]

Yes you're right it works.

As it looks relative paths are my downfall too, so I’m keeping that in mind.
Thanks a lot
werner

[John]

Keep in mind there is a big difference between 'relative' and 'server-relative' paths. What you just used is server-relative. A relative path is full of ../../ junk, and is not a clean way to program.

[TelMgr]

Keep in mind there is a big difference between 'relative' and 'server-relative' paths. What you just used is server-relative. A relative path is full of ../../ junk, and is not a clean way to program.

I am one of the many people who have difficulty specifying the correct path for files within sub-directories. I've read the posts and have tried various techniques. Could you look at my site and advise?

This link is to the working menu with all files in the same directory:
http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/biol/newsite/. The FACULTY and STAFF menu is the one I've populated. As you'll see, the visitor can click on a faculty member name go to an individual profile and then return to the main faculty page.

This link is to the same site with the faculty pages stored in a sub-directory entitled "faculty". http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/biol/tryagain/

I've left the path as "scripts/***.js" in this example. Even when I do get the menus working by specifying "../scripts/***.js" on the faculty pages, the path gets missed up when the visitor tries to return to the main faculty page. The reference is to faculty/faculty.html instead of simply faculty.html.

Thank you.

[John]

It's not working from the other directory because your JS calls are wrong, as you surmised.

You now have...

Code: Select all

<script language=JavaScript src="scripts/milonic_src.js" type=text/javascript></script>
<script language=JavaScript>
if(ns4)_d.write("<scr"+"ipt language=Javascript src=scripts/mmenuns4.js><\/scr"+"ipt>");		
  else _d.write("<scr"+"ipt language=Javascript src=scripts/mmenudom.js><\/scr"+"ipt>"); 
</script>
<script language=JavaScript src="scripts/menu_data.js" type=text/javascript></script>

...which is OK (I guess) for the first directory level, but nothing else. This code says, "start looking from where I am now for /scripts/". If you happen to be in /newsite/ that will work, but if you are in /tryagain/, /scripts/ is not next in line (which is where the code says to look).

Server-relative addressing will fix this...

Code: Select all

<script language="Javascript" src="/acad/biol/newsite/scripts/milonic_src.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
<!--
<script language="Javascript">
if(ns4)_d.write("<scr"+"ipt language=Javascript src=/acad/biol/newsite/scripts/mmenuns4.js><\/scr"+"ipt>");		
else _d.write("<scr"+"ipt language=Javascript src=/acad/biol/newsite/scripts/mmenudom.js><\/scr"+"ipt>"); 
</script>
-->
<script language="Javascript" src="/acad/biol/newsite/scripts/menu_data.js" type="text/javascript"></script>

This way, regardless of where you are in the structure, the search for /scripts/ will always start at the root level of your site. Remember to adjust this accordingly if this path is not the final location of this site.

Note I have added a little "fluff" to the JS calls. This brings them more in line with W3C standards, and stops validation errors if you check your code that way.

You also need to upgrade your menu for further support. You are running 5.21, current is 5.33.

Syntax in your _data file needs some work as well...

Code: Select all

aI("text=Bio Home;url=index.html;;status=Back to Main Page;separatorsize=1")

...should be...

Code: Select all

aI("text=Bio Home;url=index.html;status=Back to Main Page;separatorsize=1;");

Note the removal of the double ;; after the url, and the close of the statement - ;"); .

All your aI statements need these fixes.

[gardenguy]

Having been bad at this myself for some time and falling into the ../../ trap for way too long, I just recently implemented this menu system on a new site and was again struggling when finally, after all this time, the light went on !!! Start with the /(slash), Start with the /, repeat ad nauseum.
As John says

the search for /scripts/ will always start at the root level of your site

One reason it can fool you is that sometimes you can get away without the slash, but only when you are calling from files at that high root level.
Anyway, once you get it, you wonder what you were thinking (NOT!) all this time.
Thanks
David

[TelMgr]

Thanks for your thorough reply. I've made the changes you suggested and the menu does not appear at all.

As I said in my original post, I' have tried various paths based upon earlier posts, and I just can't seemed to get it.

Would you mind taking another look?
http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/biol/newsite/

[John]

Your paths are fine. What I'm seeing is a JS error. Your menu is calling style1, but you do not have that defined anywhere! You have only defined menuStyle.

Also, in your HTML, just before the mainmenu code, you have...

Code: Select all

<script>

I'd make that...

Code: Select all

<script language="Javascript" type="text/javascript">

[TelMgr]

John,

I've gone back to ground zero and am still unable to properly specify a path. The only thing posted to the site now are the files that come with the menu. The *.js files are unchanged.

-Changed name of menu.htm to index.html Worked fine as long as *.js files remained in /newsite.
-Moved *.js files to folder called scripts and changed path to "scripts/*.js" and the menu worked.
-Cut and paste your server relative path from above and the menu does not appear. As an FYI, absolute reference (with full http://) does not work either.

I've been through this over and over. Any suggestions? http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/biol/newsite/

[Maz]

I can't find it, whatever it is, I wonder if you need to download the latest and upload the three files again. src, nuns4 and dom, completely replacing the old ones. There is nothing to change.

maz

[TelMgr]

I can't find it, whatever it is, I wonder if you need to download the latest and upload the three files again. src, nuns4 and dom, completely replacing the old ones. There is nothing to change.

maz

Maz,

Those files are v5.33, which I believe is most recent. All four files are in a sub-directory called "scripts". http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/biol/newsite/scripts/

[Maz]

Yes that's what I saw, but can't understand what's wrong.

So I suggested the most recent, I think its 37 or 38 now. The idea is that if something is not right it might correct it. Such as wrong file format, or errors uploading, or maybe hidden characters, I just thought that if you dropped in fresh files it might undo whatever went wrong because I can't see what is causing the problem.

I did check the paths they should be working.

maz

[TelMgr]

Yes that's what I saw, but can't understand what's wrong.

So I suggested the most recent, I think its 37 or 38 now. The idea is that if something is not right it might correct it. Such as wrong file format, or errors uploading, or maybe hidden characters, I just thought that if you dropped in fresh files it might undo whatever went wrong because I can't see what is causing the problem.

I did check the paths they should be working.

maz

I've just re-tried with version 5.39 and it still does not work. Thanks so much to you & John for your rapid, patient, and considered replies. At this point, I think I need to decide whether or not to live with all html files in the root or look for an alternative menu solution. Thanks again.