Q: When I preview or compile DHTML Menu Builder crashes or I get a runtime error 9, what is this?

A: If DHTML Menu Builder crashes at exactly 100% of having compiled or trying to preview a project you need to contact support immediately.

The cause of this problem is a simple protection against piracy and a solution will be given to registered users only, so make sure you include the order number in the form.

Click here to contact support now.

Q: After using DHTML Menu Builder for a while, the icons in the menus and the toolbar start to disappear, then the application crashes, is this a bug?

A: No, this is not a bug.
The cause of this problem is that your system is running low on resources. Windows 95, 98 and Me allocate 1MB of RAM memory to resources regardless of the amount of memory installed on your system; DHTML Menu Builder alone requires about 350KB of system resources, which is a lot.

If you're suffering from this problem try closing as many open applications as you can before running DHTML Menu Builder. Also, avoid running tray-based applications such as the SBLive's utilities, RealAudio Center, PopUp Killer, Instant Messaging software, etc...

Q: When I preview or compile DHTML Menu Builder closes itself. Is this a bug?

A: Run DHTML Menu Builder in debug mode and preview again.
While in debug mode DMB will generate an error message before closing itself. If the reported error is "error 9" read this; otherwise, contact us with the full description of the error.

To start DMB in debug mode click on
START->Programs->DHTML Menu Builder->Support->Start DHTML Menu Builder in debug mode

Q: The installation is freezing with the message "Registering Fonts". What's causing this?

A: Microsoft has confirmed this to be a bug and already released a patch -- please update your version of Office with the latest patches, service pack and hotfixes available at the Windows Update web site.

Try closing Microsoft Outlook.
Click CTRL+ALT+DEL and make sure there are no hanged instances of Outlook running in the background.

Then try running the setup again.

You may also try to restart Windows and start the setup before running any other application, specially Outlook.

Q: Some of the dialogs in DHTML Menu Builder appear without any text. What's causing this?

A: This is a confirmed conflict with some versions of McAfee's Buffer Overflow Protection.

Disabling this feature from the McAfee Console will solve the problem.
Some users have also reported that upgrading the latest version of McAfee's VirusScan Enterprise seems to solve the problem.

Q: When installing DHTML Menu Builder I receive the following error: Failed to register COM (ActiveX)...

Failed to register COM (ActiveX) control c:\windows\system32\smartsubclass.dll
Failure in LoadLibrary() (998)

A: This is caused due to a false positive generated by the Data Execution Prevention (DEP) in Windows.

Disabling or lowering the DEP's level will let you solve this problem.

If you are using Windows XP:

• Click START->Control Panel
• Double click the “System” icon
• Click the “Advanced” tab
• Select the “Data Execution Prevention” tab
• If you have an option to disable it, disable it and see if you can now install DHTML Menu Builder.
  If you do not have an option to disable it then try setting it to the minimum level.

If you are using Windows Vista:

• Click Start
• Click on “Classic View”
• Click on “System” icon
• Advanced System Settings
• Under the Performance heading, click “Settings” button
• Click “Data Execution Prevention” tab
• Click button for “Turn on DEP for all programs except those I select:”
• Click “Add . . . “
• Navigate to c:\Program Files\DHTML Menu Builder
• Scroll down and select “DMB” icon (dmb.exe)
• Click Open
• Click OK
• Restart System and re-install DHTML Menu Builder

Q: After clicking the Register button, DHTML Menu Builder restarts but remains in DEMO mode

A: This is caused due to either you antivirus program or a false positive generated by the Data Execution Prevention (DEP) in Windows.

If possible, try to temporarily disable your antivirus -- make sure it is completely shutdown and re-try the registration process.

For information on how to disable DEP for DHTML Menu Builder, follow these instructions:

If you are using Windows XP:

• Click START->Control Panel
• Double click the “System” icon
• Click the “Advanced” tab
• Select the “Data Execution Prevention” tab
• If you have an option to disable it, disable it and see if you can now install DHTML Menu Builder.
  If you do not have an option to disable it then try setting it to the minimum level.

If you are using Windows Vista:

• Click Start
• Click on “Classic View”
• Click on “System” icon
• Advanced System Settings
• Under the Performance heading, click “Settings” button
• Click “Data Execution Prevention” tab
• Click button for “Turn on DEP for all programs except those I select:”
• Click “Add . . . “
• Navigate to c:\Program Files\DHTML Menu Builder
• Scroll down and select “DMB” icon (dmb.exe)
• Click Open
• Click OK
• Restart System and re-register DHTML Menu Builder

Q: Why are the menus appearing behind Flash movies?

A: Flash movies, just as with all kinds of plugins, are rendered in a special way by the browsers (a method known as "windowed"), making them the topmost objects in a page. At this moment there's no way to display any kind of HTML element (tables, images, paragraphs, etc..) above plugins.

Fortunately, Macromedia has a solution for Internet Explorer for Windows and all Mozilla-based browsers:

To allow DHTML objects appear over a Flash movie just add this parameter:

    WMode=Transparent

to the Flash <object> tag.
It should look like this:

    <param name="WMode" value="Transparent">

In order to support Mozilla-based browsers and other browsers, such as Safari, you should also include the wmode parameter in the <embed> tag, like this:

<embed wmode="transparent" .......></embed>

Although the menus will be displayed above the Flash movie under Safari, the menu items will flicker as you move the mouse over items that fall right above the Flash movie.
Unfortunately, there's nothing that can be done about it but to wait for both Macromedia and Apple to enhance their products and make this WMODE parameter work properly under Safari.

---

• For more information visit Macromedia's web site.
• For a complete and detailed explanation of why DHTML objects cannot appear above some elements on a page click here.
• For a workaround for Netscape 4, click here.

  For Navigator 4, as usual, things get more complicated:

  NOTE: The following instructions apply to Navigator 4 only. Later versions of Navigator do NOT support this workaround and as of this moment there's no solution for Navigator 6 or 7.

  Open your HTML page and enclose the Flash movie <object> tag with <ilayer> tags, like this:

  <ilayer name="FlashMovie"><object>...</object></ilayer>

  Now you must create an AddIn. An AddIn is an alternate version of the code used by DHTML Menu Builder for the menus. We need to do this so we can add additional code to hide the layer when the menus are displayed.

  • Open DHTML Menu Builder
  • Click on Tools->AddIn Editor
  • Click on File->Properties
  • Type a name for your AddIn (for example: HideFlashObj)
  • Click OK
  • Now, select the FormsTweak function from the list of functions
  • At the end of the code already present on this function add this code:

  if(NS) if(mFrame.document.layers["FlashMovie"])
  mFrame.document.layers["FlashMovie"].visibility = state;

  • Close the AddIn Editor and select to save your changes when asked
  • Now click on File->Project Properties->Advanced
  • Select the AddIn you just created from the list
  • Recompile your project (Tools->Compile)

  When a project is compiled with an AddIn, the code in the AddIn is used instead of the default code so the generated menus will have the above lines of code that will hide the Flash object when the menus are displayed.

• For information on how to configure Silverlight objects, click here.

Q: I'm not getting any rollover effects under Opera. Isn't DMB supposed to support Opera?

A: Version 4.5 only supports Opera 7.
Support for Opera 5 and 6 has been removed from the program.
If you would like to support these versions of Opera, contact us to request a download link to a previous version of DHTML Menu Builder.

Q: How can I make the menus to show above (in front of) the form elements on my page?

A: This is a browser specific issue.

Internet Explorer requires that you enable the "Hide Form Elements" option under the  File->Project Properties->Global Settings dialog.
Internet Explorer 4 and 5 will hide any dropdown boxes whenever a menu is displayed. The dropdown boxes will be made visible again when no menus are open.
Internet Explorer 6 will simply display the menus above the dropdown boxes without hiding them.

Mozilla-based browsers do not require any special settings and the menus will always appear above dropdown boxes.

In order to implement a workaround for Navigator 4 follow these instructions:

1) Add this code to the FormsTweak() function (by directly editing the compiled JS file or by creating an AddIn) so it looks like this:

if(NS&&DoFormsTweak) {
var f = mFrame.document.layers.theForm;
if(f) f.visibility = state;
}

2) Now enclose your <form>...</form> in-between <ilayer> tags, just like this:

<ilayer name="theForm">
<form>..............</form>
</ilayer>

• For more information click here.
• For a complete and detailed explanation of why DHTML objects cannot appear above some elements on a page click here.

Q: When the menus are displayed my dropdown combos disappear, why?

For an explanation of why this happens read this.

To avoid this from happening, click on File->Project Properties->Global Settings and uncheck the "Hide Form Elements" checkbox.

Q: FireFox (or any other Mozilla-based browser) goes blank when loading web site using the menus?

This is caused by a malformed HTML document where there're either missing closing tags, the HTML structure is incorrectly formatted, the BODY section is missing or the menus' loader code has been placed outside the <BODY> section of the HTML structure, etc...

Mozilla-based browsers are very sensitive to malformed HTML documents and the presence of one of the above mentioned problems will cause the document to stop loading and can even freeze the browser.

Determining what's wrong can be difficult so we recommend the use of some tool that can analyze the HTML structure and provide suggestions on how to fix it and/or improve it.

Our tech support department uses CSE HTML Validator from AI Internet Solutions. This powerful tool can analyze any HTML document and generate a report which will help you determine if your HTML structure is corrupted.

Make sure you grab a copy of this powerful tool to test your HTML documents. Over 30% of the problems that users encounter with the menus can be resolved by simply following the "suggestions" provided by this tool.

Q: Why is it that the menus fall out of place when printing a page?

First of all let me explain why this happens:

When the browser window is resized there's a special function in the menus' code that is triggered and re-adjusts the position of the menus accordingly.
But, when the browser is about to print a page it resizes the HTML contents so they fit on the designated page size; this size depends on the printer configuration and the pages in the tray.
Unfortunately, when the browser performs this resize operation it does NOT notify the browser's document object so the menus' code is never executed leaving the menus at their last position.

So, at this moment there're two solutions:

1. Hide the menus as they are about to be printed
   To hide the menus when the page is about to be printed you will have to add this code to your .css file:

   @media print { #dmbTBBack1 {display:none;} }

   The code above will hide the toolbar #1 when the browser re-renders the page for printing.

2. Use the new "Free Flow" positioning method
   When using "Free Flow" to position the menus, the menus will literally flow along with the page's contents so that when the browser changes the layout of the page, the menus will always appear at the correct position.
   Please refer to the following resources to find out more about the "Free Flow" positioning method:
   • Click Help->Tutorials->Positioning the menus
   • Or visit this page: http://software.xfx.net/utilities/dmbuilder/content/tipstricks/freeflow.htm

 

Q: Why are the menus appearing behind Silverlight objects?

A: Silverlight objects, just as with all kinds of plugins, are rendered in a special way by the browsers (a method known as "windowed"), making them the topmost objects in a page. At this moment there's no way to display any kind of HTML element (tables, images, paragraphs, etc..) above plugins.

Fortunately, Microsoft has a solution to allow the Silverlight object to be rendered without using the windowed mode allowing HTML elements to displayed above it:

To allow DHTML objects appear over a Silverlight object under Windows you will need to instantiate the object passing the isWindowless attribute and setting it to true.

Please refer to Microsoft's web site for more detailed information:
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb412380.aspx

---

• For a complete and detailed explanation of why DHTML objects cannot appear above some elements on a page click here.
• For information on how to configure Flash objects, click here.

Q: Why are the menus appearing above image popups created with the Lightbox script?

A: This is because the z-index value for the popup images created with the Lightbox script is lower than that used by the menus.
To resolve this issue you just have to modify the z-index of the Lightbox elements:

• Open the lightwindow.css file with any text/css editor
• For newer versions of Lightbox follow these steps:
  • Under #lightbox, locate this line of code:
          z-index: 100;
  • Change it for this:
          z-index: 2000;
  • Under #overlay, locate this line of code:
          z-index: 90;
  • Change it for this:
          z-index: 1990;
• Folder older versions follow these steps:
  • Locate this line of code:
          z-index: 500;
  • Change it for this:
          z-index: 2000;
  • Locate this line of code:
          z-index: 999;
  • Change it for this:
          z-index: 2499;

Q: How can I make a command send an email when clicked?

A: Follow these easy steps:

• Select the Command

• Click on the Click Action

• Select Open URL / Execute Script from the Action Type list

• Type this in the URL / Script text box:
  mailto:username@domain.com

Q: How do I create multilevel submenus?

A: While in Map mode, select any command and then click Menu->Add SubGroup

Then, simply add commands to this new subgroup.

Q: Can I include form elements in the menus?

A: Yes you can. Click here for more information.

Q: The menu.js file generated by DHTML Menu Builder is huge! How can I make it smaller?

A: To change the compression mode used by DHTML Menu Builder to optimize the .js files it generates click File->Project Properties->Advanced and select the Max setting under Code Optimization.

NOTE: When changing the compiler's optimization mode you will have to update the loader code on your page(s). Click here for more information.

Q: How do I specify the target frame where I want my links to be displayed (open)?

A: Click on the Target Frame button () next to the URL/Script textbox and select the desired frame.

Q: How can I restore the default context menu from the browser?

A: Select the group that is being displayed as a context menu when you right click on you page. Click on Menu->Special Effects->Group Effects and uncheck the Context Menu option.

Finally, recompile your project (Tools->Compile) to apply the changes to the menus.

Q: Is there a limit on the number of items a project can have?

A: Yes.

DHTML Menu Builder will not allow you to cerate more than 32,767 groups and 32,767 commands.

More than enough we think ;)

Q: Can I create menus from information on a database?

A: Yes. Click here to read the latest documentation regarding DHTML Menu Builder <developers' edition>

Q: Can I create or change menus programmatically?

A: Yes. Click here to read the latest documentation regarding DHTML Menu Builder <developers' edition>

Q: Is there a version of DHTML Menu Builder for Mac or Linux?

A: No, but you could use VMWare 3.2 (or above) under Linux to emulate Windows or VirtualPC 6 under MacOS X.

Also, if you're adventurous, you could try tweaking Wine under Linux to run DHTML Menu Builder.

IMPORTANT: No support will be given when DHTML Menu Builder is used under an emulator.

Q: Are you aware of any problems using SourceSafe to save the javascript files generated by DHTML Menu Builder?

A: Yes. SourceSafe will treat the JavaScript files generated by DHTML Menu Builder as TEXT/ASCII files, but actually the files compiled by DMB are binary and if treated as TEXT/ASCII will become highly corrupted.

Here's how to force SourceSafe to treat JavaScript files as binary:

• On the SourceSafe Tools menu, click Options, and then click File Types
• In the list of binary files, add the following text:
  ;*.js

(Thanks to Kevin R. for providing this solution)

Q: How can I force all the toolbar items to have the same width (or height)?

A: Click Tools->Toolbars Editor->Appearance and enable the "Justify HotSpots" option.
When this option is enabled will force all the toolbar items to have the same width, for horizontally aligned toolbars and the same height for vertically aligned toolbars.

Q: How do I call a javascript function from a menu item?

A: You can execute a piece of simple javascript code when a menu item is clicked by inserting the javascript code into the "URL / Script" textbox and preceding it by the javascript: protocol.

For example, to display a dialog box enter the following code:
javascript:alert("Hello World");

Q: How do I install the menus on my web site that I created using FrontPage/Dreamweaver?

A: DHTML Menu Builder has been designed in such a way that it can be used with any HTML authoring tool.
Basically, these are the steps to take when implementing a menu on a web site:

1. Start DHTML Menu Builder and load your menus project
2. Click File->Project Properties->Configurations
3. Fill in the required parameters
   (Remember that you can always press the F1 key to obtain context sensitive help on all the features displayed on any dialog)
   1. The “Local Path to the Root Web” must point to the folder on your disk where the front page is located.
      Usually, the front page is a document called “index.html”.
   2. The “Folder to store compiled files” must point to a folder inside your root web where you want DHTML Menu Builder to save the .js files it creates.
   3. Finally, the “Folder to store images” must point to a folder inside your root web where you want DHTML Menu Builder to save the images it creates.
4. When done, click OK
5. Click Tools->Compile
   This will generate the javascript files containing your menus and store them on the folder you specified on step #3
6. Click Tools->Install
   This will display the menus’ installation tool
7. Select the document or documents that you want the menus to be displayed on.
   Notice that the top/left pane displays the folders on your web site.
   The bottom/left pane displays the documents on the selected folder.
   Now, to select a document to receive the menus use one of these methods:
   1. Drag the document to the right pane
   2. Or, right click the document and select “Install Menus”
Note that you can also drag & drop a folder to the right pane. Consequently, all the documents inside that folder will be placed on the right pane. You can even install the menus on a shared border (if, for example, you’re using FrontPage or HomeSite) or template (if, for example, you’re using Dreamweaver) or on a single page that you’re later going to include into all the documents in your web site through sever-side includes. This will allow you to take advantage of the several document-sharing facilities provided by your HTML authoring tool.
8. When the right pane contains all the documents that you want, click the “Install” button

At this point your menus will be displayed on the documents you selected in step #7

NOTE: The installation process (steps 6 through 8) should be performed only once. Whenever you make changes to your menus, such as changing colors or adding new menu items, just recompile the project (Tools->Compile) and the changes will be automatically reflected on all the documents where you installed the menus.

IMPORTANT: This porcess is also explained in the tutorial included in DHTML Menu Builder's documentation: Click Help->Tutorials->Using Toolbars

Q: How can I make my menus search engine friendly?

A: Since the release of version 4.20.002, DHTML Menu Builder includes a feature called "Search Engine Optimization" indentified by the logo.
When enabled, DHTML Menu Builder will create an alternate, plain-HTML-based, navigation system which will include all your menu items' captions with their corresponding links.
This list will be easily seen by search engines but will remain hidden to browsers.

Follow these steps to enable the "Search Engine Optimization" feature:

• Click File->Project Properties->Global Settings->Extended Features
• Mark the "Enable Search Engine Optimization" option
• Click OK
• Click Tools->Install Menus
• Re-install the menus
  Here you have the option to only re-install the menus on the front page or all the pages in your web site.
  Only those pages where you re-install the menus will contain the search engine friendly navigation system.
  Also, remeber that after making changes to your project (such as adding or removing menu items or changing the links on one or more menu items) you should re-install the menus so that the search engine friendly links list remains updated.

IMPORTANT: Be aware that this option may or may not improve your position or PageRank™. Also, different search engines will treat this list quite differently so it may have a different impact on different search engines. But, at least, you can be rest assured that the impact, whatever it is, will not be negative.

Q: How do I install the menus on a master page (such as that used by Visual Studio or Expression Web Designer)?

A: DHTML Menu Builder will not "see" the master document as a valid document to receive the menus. This behavior is by design.
So, to implement the menus you must create an empty HTML document in the root folder of your web site and call it “menus.html”.
The document should not contain anything, not even the <html> or <body> tags.
Then, install the menus using the Tools->Install Menus dialog into the "menus.html" document.

Now, you must include this document into your master page.
To do this, simply add this code after the <body> tag in your master document:
            <!--#Include Virtual="~/menus.htm" -->

What will happen is that every time the master document is loaded, the web server will include the contents of the menus.htm document into it. The end result is that any page that inherits from the master document will also include the menus.

IMPORTANT: Please note that the "include" statement can only be parsed (executed) by a web server which means that if you try to open one of your HTML/ASPX documents directly with your browser, the statement will not be executed and you will not see the menus. Again, this statement requires that you open your documents from a web server in order for it to work.

Q: When I try to register, the validation server returns the error "Invalid License"?

A: This error indicates that the installed version of DHTML Menu Builder differs from the version that was purchased.
To resolve this problem simply download the version that you purchased:

• Download Standard Edition
• Download LITE version

Q: When I try to register, the validation server returns the error "Registration Not Found"?

A: This error indicates that the order number that you provided cannot be found.
Double check that you have entered the order number exactly as it appears on the purchase confirmation email -- to avoid any typos you may want to copy and paste the order number.

If you have just placed your order try to wait about 30 minutes and the try again. Usually, orders are processed in less than 10 minutes but, sometimes, it can take up to several hours depending on the time it takes our resellers to notify us about the sale.

Q: When I try to register, the validation server returns the error "Illegal Order "?

A: This error indicates that the order number that you provided is black listed and is known to come from a fraudulent source.
You must immediately report the source where you obtained the illegal order number to our technical support department.

Click here to contact the support depart department

Q: How many times can I activate/validate/register DHTML Menu Builder?

A: DHTML Menu Builder is not Windows XP or Office XP ;)

We don’t refer to the process of registering DHTML Menu Builder as an “activation” but as a “validation”.
When you validate you’re just doing that: validating that the information you want to use to register your copy of DHTML Menu Builder is valid and legit

Consequently, you can validate as many times as you need to.

Click here for more information about the validation process.

Q: We don't have an internet connection or our connection will not allow online validation/registration of DHTML Menu Builder. What can we do?

A: After placing your order for DHTML Menu Builder send an email to support requesting a pre-validated version of DHTML Menu Builder.
This special version does not require the online validation process.

Q: I have purchased DHTML Menu Builder version x.x, how much will it cost to upgrade to a newer version?

A: At this moment upgrades are free so regardless of the version you have purchased you can download the latest one, install it and register it using your registration details.
This policy may change in the future.

Q: We are a developer team that we'll be using DHTML Menu Builder. Do we need to purchase a copy for each and everyone of us?

A: The short answer is yes.
If you'll be working on separate workstations at the same time using DHTML Menu Builder you'll need to purchase one copy for every workstation using the program.

Check the registration form for volume pricing discounts.

Q: What's your refund policy?

A: Because the DEMO version of DHTML Menu Builder has virtually no limitations you should first use the DEMO to ensure that the program will meet your needs.

If after you purchase DHTML Menu Builder you decide to return it you will be allowed to request a full refund within 7 days after your order was received.

Q: Do you offer discounts for students, non-profit organizations, etc?

A: Yes.
To qualify please create a small letter where you describe the basic functions of the organization where you’re going to use DHTML Menu Builder for. Also, add a small agreement where you state that DHTML Menu Builder will be exclusively used by and for the organization. 

If possible, add a link to your current web site. 

Then, sign the letter/agreement and email it using our email-based support form

IMPORTANT NOTES:

• Always use official fax sheets from the organization requesting the discounted/free version.

• If you're a student please include a copy of your school ID a long with a personal ID.

• The more information you provide in your letter the better the chances to qualify.

• Not all organizations will qualify for a free license. In that case we will issue a discount coupon whose value will be based on your organization's purpose.

Q: I have purchased a similar product from OpenCube, Milonic, Xara, Likno, Apycom, Sothink, etc..., and I don't like it. Do you offer any discounts to upgrade to DHTML Menu Builder?

A: Yes.
You can upgrade from these products to DHTML Menu Builder for just US$39.00 (that's a 40% discount):

• OpenCube's Infinite Menus
• Coalesys' Mercuri-UI DHTML Studio
• Likno's AllWebMenus
• Sothink DHTMLMenu
• Apycom's Menus
• Milonic's Menus

To qualify email us a link to your printable receipt (proof of purchase) using this form.

Q: What other type of discounts do you offer?

A: From time to time we may run special discounts that last for a day or so. No one ever knows when this will happen... so its a matter of luck that get to the web site and found that we're currently running a discount day.

We also provide discounts for those who help us improve our products. If you find a bug in DHTML Menu Builder report it to the support department and if the bug report is worth a discount you will receive a discount coupon. The discount will vary depending on the type of bug and the quality of your report.

Q: How can I recover my registration information?

A: Click here...

Q: How many projects/menus can I create with a single unit license?

A: As many as you want...
When you purchase a unit license you become the owner of the projects you create which means that you can create as many projects for as many web sites as you want. You can even sell the menus you create!

Q: Do you accept purchase orders?

A: Yes, just follow these easy steps:

1. Click here to place your order for DHTML Menu Builder

2. Press the "Add to Cart" button

3. Under "Payment Method" select "Purchase Order"

4. Check out and complete your order

5. Wait for the order confirmation email

6. Place the order number received through your confirmation email on your purchase order

7. Fax the purchase order to RegNet +1 (719) 623-0399

Q: What does it mean "cFrame" is not an object?

A: The most common cause for this problem is that the browse did not load the .js files generated by DHTML Menu Builder.

Make sure your configurations are setup correctly and that your have uploaded your .js files in the correct folder: the one you specified in the default configuration.

For more information about configurations click here.

Q: What does it mean "rimPath" is undefined?

A: This means that your code is out-of-synch with the compiled javascript files.

If you have just upgraded to version 3.5 (or above) then update the loader code on all your pages using the Tools->Install Menus option.

Q: Why am I getting an Out of Stack error?

A: You may have installed the Loader Code and the Frames Loader Code in the same file.

Remove all loader codes from your files and re-install them.
Check the documentation for information on which files should use the Loader Code and which ones should use the Frames Loader Code.

Q: Why does Navigator 4 takes soooooo long to load a page with menus?

A: While developing DHTML Menu Builder we have discovered the most weird and obscure bugs in Navigator 4.
One of them is that for some reason Navigator appears to have a problem loading cached documents... or verifying if a document can be cached... or... who knows.

The thing is that when Navigator 4 tries to re-load a page containing menus created by DMB (everything works fine if the page is loaded for the first time) it enters into an infinite loop until: a) Navigator looses focus b) Something happens and it pops up the page

After numerous testing and hundreds of hours of research we found that the problems is with the way Navigator handles cached pages, although no changes to the caching options appeared to have any effect.

So... we came up with a simple, yet very effective, solution: avoid Navigator from catching the document containing the menus!

Unfortunately, it wasn't easy. Using the common meta tag to avoid catching didn't work. So... the only way to avoid Navigator from catching our page was to change it, dynamically every time it was loaded, that is, served by the web server.

Using the following code in the <head> tag of a page containing menus will result in a different page, every time its loaded by the browser:

PHP Version:
<meta name="FixNSBug" content="<? echo chr(rand(65,90)); ?>">

ASP Version:
<meta name="FixNSBug" content="<% Response.Write Chr(Int(26 * Rnd + 65)) %>">

As you can see, all the above code does it to print a different character each time the page is pre-processed by the server into a dummy (meaningless) meta tag.

If you would like to test this code, click here. The page that will appear uses our menus and implements the fix mentioned above. Just refresh the page as many times as you want under Navigator 4 and you will see how it loads it without any problems.

If you're using ASP pages, a very nice users reported that adding this code helps improve the above solution:

<% Response.CacheControl = "no-cache" %>
<% Response.AddHeader "Pragma", "no-cache" %>
<% Response.Expires = -1 %>

Q: I receive all kinds of errors when viewing any web site with menus created with DHTML Menu Builder.

A: Although this may have several causes we have identified that ZoneAlarm may be one of them. If you're using ZoneAlarm please follow the instructions that Mr. David Leask has provided us:

1. Double click on the ZoneAlarm icon on the taskbar.
2. On the left side of the screen from the menu tabs select the Privacy tab
3. There are 3 settings that can be adjusted
   1. cookie control
   2. ad blocking
   3. mobile code control
4. Ad blocking is the one you are concerned with
5. Turn this setting to the off position
6. Turning on ad blocking has been known to affect the function of DHTML menus.