File: cascading_vertical_menu_readme.txt

cascading_vertical_menu.class
Scott Mattocks
mttcks@hotmail.com

This class will create a vertical cascading menu in HTML.  The
class also generates the needed javascript code for image rollovers
and hiding of the sub-menus.  The main menu is positioned statically
while the sub-menus are all positioned absolutely.

A cascading menu consists of the main menu and several choices.  
Each choice may have sub-choices which will appear to the right
of the parent-choice.  A menu may have as many choices as desired. 
The width of each choice (and sub-choice) will be the width of the 
menu  Each choice (and sub-choice) can have as many children as 
desired.  The main menu and each choice object can be given its own
css class to control the style and appearence.  

How to use cascading_vertical_menu.class:
1  Create a cascading_vertical_menu object...
   You need: the top and left coordinates (main menu is static)
             the height you want the menu to be
             the total width menu
             the name of the css class for the main menu
   $menu = new cascading_verticle_menu($top, $left, $height, $width, $css);

2  Create some top level choices
   These are the choices that will always be visible
   You need: the inactive (up) image
             the active (down) image
             the URL to link to
             the alternate text for the image
             the css class for the choice
   $choice_N = new choice($up, $down, $url, $alt, $css);

3  Create some sub-level choices
   These choices will only appear when the mouse is over 
   their respective parent
   You need: same as #2
   $sub_N = new choice($up, $down, $url, $alt, $css);

4  Add the choices to the menu and to parent choices
   You must add choices from the parent down!
   You can create as many levels as you like.
   Good:
   $menu->add($choice_1);
   $choice_1->add($sub_1);
   Bad:
   $choice_1->add($sub_1);
   $menu->add($choice_1);   // Sub-choice will not show up!!

5  Write the menu to the page
   This will output script tags with the javascript for the 
   rollovers and hiding of the menus as well as the menus
   themselves
   echo $menu->write();

Please send any questions, comments, or suggestions to
mttcks@hotmail.com with cascading_vertical_menu in the subject.
Any hints for optimizing and cleaning up this class are gladly
welcomed.  I am also willing to help with any projects.
(especially if paid :)