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HierMenus: Version 5 Setup Instructions

Beginning with version 5.0, you may use HM in a cross frames environment; which is to say that you may define links in one frame that, when rolled over or clicked, pop-up menus in an adjacent frame (or any other frame within the same frameset tag as the navigation page). The code used is the same for both stand-alone and cross-frame implementations; the difference lies in the specification of certain configuration parameters, which will be covered later in these setup instructions.

You have a choice when setting up your HierMenus. You can make use of the top_is_permanent parameter originally introduced in HMv4 and allow your HierMenus to be permanently visible on the page; or you can install your menus in the more traditional manner by connecting them to in-page links using onMouseOver and onMouseOut. You can also combine the two techniques; having some menus that are tied to specific existing links, and other menus that are created entirely by the HierMenus script and appear permanently in a precise location on your page. Note, however, that for cross-frames implementations, you may only connect the menus to in page links within the navigation frame using the traditional manner described above. While you are still free to create permanently displayed menus in your frames implementations, these permanently displayed menus will appear in the main (content) frame of your frameset, not the navigation page.

Whichever method you choose, you can use these simple instructions to install HierMenus on your Web pages. Links to extra information pertaining to the specific parameters are provided where appropriate.

The ordering of these steps is only a suggestion. Feel free to skip ahead, or backtrack to previous steps as need be. We do, however, recommend that you at least skim these instructions in their entirety before you proceed with your installation.