Creating menu items to records

I cannot add it to Cobalt 8 already. Because it will not be mergable with Cobalt 9 later. So even if I add it, only to Cobalt 9 which is not going to be out soon.

So, as for now, only manual article ID enter when you create link to Cobalt full article view.

grindstone Adding a new menu item, the user is required to enter the cobalt record ID - this is a really clunky way of doing it and pretty disappointing

Totally agree! Unfortunately, I did not make any use of this single article MenuItem... and simply forgot to post my own "complaint". Thanks for pointing this out again. A real bummer... and a missing J! standard UI feature, IMHO.

I just remember my idea and request for an "Editor XTD button" plugin. Since it is also a frontend feature, it might need more attention and options in regards of access control!

Sergey I cannot add it to Cobalt 8 already. Because it will not be mergable with Cobalt 9 later

How should the input method and style "collide" with existing Cobalt8 and up-coming 9? You might keep the same parameter field and storage. It should only get an improved input style. I guess, this would not harm any Cobalt installation.

BTW, in Cobalt fields (ReadAlso, Relations Parent/Child) are some similar features i.e. modal window with article selection. You might re-use some code, or am I wrong here? ;)

grindstone Or is there another way to create menu items that I'm missing?

Remember, creating "real" J! MenuItems per article could require additional assignment of modules. New MenuItems = new ItemID#s ;)

Workarounds and tips

A.) If you create single Record MenuItems... NoNumber's Advanced ModuleManager might help with more automation in module assignment. So, no manual extra work, because of smarter rules. I think there are also options for items/URL's without any real menuItem.

B.) Because of client's limited knowledge and better usability, I tend to use NO single articles MenuItems. Especially, when they are added or changed a lot. If you need some sort of up-to-date auto-menu, you might use:

• Categories module
  (check parameters, some layout styles allow to show single record items!)
• Records module
  (use simple list and turn everything off except for title and link. I would suggest to create a simple custom list template with UL/LI markup. Something that fits into your exsiting template CSS and other menu styles!
• NextEndWeb's Accordion Menu
  tons of options and behaviors, supports Cobalt incl. category drill-down to record items), demos, Little headsup: The special Cobalt docs are not updated, yet. There are much more parameters available! Conparable to K2 version/docs.

Drawback with auto-menus

Items order depend on the available Cobalt sorting options i.e. alphabetical, misc dates, random... Currently, there is no "backend order" or manual re-ordering. So, you won´t have a manual sorting order like with single menu-items. Or with J! articles, K2 etc.

pepperstreet How should the input method and style "collide" with existing Cobalt8 and up-coming 9?

Location for custom form elements changed. And a lot of files changed in backend. I cannot say more otherwise there will be no surprise.

Sergey I cannot add it to Cobalt 8 already. Because it will not be mergable with Cobalt 9 later. So even if I add it, only to Cobalt 9 which is not going to be out soon.

So, as for now, only manual article ID enter when you create link to Cobalt full article view.

When is cobalt 9 coming out? ;)

Pepper street some great ideas there about auto menus we might be able to make use of some of those, thanks.

grindstone When is cobalt 9 coming out? ;)

I do not know :)