How to create your own Menu Bar?

[Rik]

I'm sure this must have been discussed here before?

How do you create your own Menu Bar?
You know, like the ones you see in the many Website templates within Xara.

With those menu bars, you can add extra buttons, link them to pages etc...
That's what I'd like to be able to create.
There are navigation bars included in Xara, but, I can't seem to change the text size.

Can someone help with instructions, or, point me to where this has been discussed before?
I've tried to searched, but, without joy.

[steve.ledger]

You may need to search for 'Custom Navigation Bars' rather than menu bar, Rik.

Here's one
► http://www.talkgraphics.com/showthre...Down-Sub-Menus

[gwpriester]

If you modify the text on the first button, usually HOME, the changes will apply to the other buttons. This also applies to color, etc. You will need to do the same thing with the mouse over layer. You can isolate the mouse off layer by clicking the S (isolate) icon next to the MouseOff layer in the Page & Layer Gallery.

With a bit of work and using layers you can create some very nice custom menus such as this one http://www.gwpriester.com/menu-test/

[Christine Farrelly]

You can change the way the drop down menus look by clicking the drop down menu style button, in the navbar dialogue box. Change the colour, size, background.

[Rik]

Thanks very much for all the replies, everyone.
Much appreciated.

I was trying to change the text size, by going into 'Navigation Bar Properties > Pop-up menu style...'
No matter what I did there, no changes to any text were applied.

Looking at Gary's reply, I just used the text tool and changed the size of the text.
(Can't believe I didn't think of that!)
This then adjusts the menu buttons automatically.
And I remembered to do the same in the MouseOver layer.

When I couldn't make these changes, it was quite frustrating!
That's why I thought I might have to create a Navigation Bar from scratch.
That still might be a good thing to learn, though.

[gwpriester]

Making your own Nav Bar is a lot easier than you think and more original in the long run.

1. Create a button shape. Add text (probably best to set the justification for Centered).
2. Group the shape and the text.
3. Copy the button, select the MouseOver layer and paste button in place.
4. Make changes to mouse over button.
5. Select MouseOff layer. Select both button states and Arrange > Apply Soft Group.
6. NEW STEP with version 10. Make a duplicate button.
7. Select both buttons, open the Website Properties > Create Navigation Bar Tool.
8. Check the option to make the buttons Site Navigation.

[Rik]

Now that is just what I'm looking for, Gary.

I have saved your instructions, and will give it a try.

[gwpriester]

It is so much more fun to create your own.

By way of clarification. If you create a navigation bar with only one button, Xara created a single button with a drop down menu. This was done to make it easier to create a single button meni for smartphones.

[Citywolf]

What other steps are involved with creating the custom 'end caps' on the bar? Are they part of the original object or are they grouped separately and understood by the program to be end caps? Where in the process do I add the end caps?

Thanks,

Dan

[gwpriester]

Without looking Dan, I would say they are separate objects on the mouse off layer but designed to integrate with the nav bar.