[Sigia-l] Re: Rollover Navigation Submenus: Usable or not?

[Marc Robichaud]

Summary: DHTML menus can work but I prefer other interface solutions that
conflict with them.

DHTML menus work best with:
1) Large information sites
2) Strongly Heirarchical sites
3) Top Navigation

DHTML menus don't always save clicks and can limit design possiblities.
DHTML Menus work best with 4 to 6 top items with 2 to 10 subitems. What if
you don't want 2 to 10 sub items.  What if you want a grid of 100 sub items?
Or a search form? Or a map? What if you need descriptions for some of those
subitems?  What if there are no subitems, just content?

Although the Rollover Navigation can explain the main sections, you can
actually have more links showing that have no explanation! And by placing
more links, tools and forms on the section pages, the net clicks-to-content
is actually very close.

There are so many possibilities for the main section pages of a site.  DHTML
Menus can take those possibilities away and can actually dictate some of the
interface solutions.

Marc Robichaud
Information Architect
Critical Mass

marcr[at]criticalmass.com