Menus & Navigation

TractStack provides flexible menu creation and navigation management through the Content section of StoryKeep. Menus help organize your site structure and guide visitors through your content.

Understanding TractStack Menus

Menu System Overview

Menus in TractStack are custom content types that can be created and managed independently of page structure. They consist of menu links with configurable properties and can be assigned to different locations in your site.

Menu Components

Menu Links: Individual navigation items with:

• Name: Display text for the link
• Description: Additional context or explanation
• Featured: Highlighting for important menu items
• ActionLisp: Navigation behavior definition

Menu Structure:

• ID: Unique identifier for the menu
• Title: Menu name for management purposes
• Theme: Visual styling for the menu
• Options Payload: Array of menu links

Creating Menus

Basic Menu Creation

1. Access menu creation: Navigate to Content → Manage Content → “Create New” → “Menu”

2. Menu configuration:

   • Title: Descriptive name for menu management
   • Theme: Visual styling theme for the menu
   • Menu Links: Add individual navigation items

3. Link configuration: For each menu item:

   • Name: Text that appears in navigation
   • Description: Hover text or additional context
   • Featured: Mark important items for special styling
   • ActionLisp: Define where the link navigates

ActionLisp Navigation

ActionLisp format defines navigation behavior:

Story fragment navigation:

(goto (storyfragment "slug"))

Context page navigation:

(goto (context "slug"))

External URL:

(goto (url "https://example.com"))

Menu Placement and Integration

Header Navigation

Menus can be integrated into the site header for primary navigation:

• Main navigation: Primary site menu
• Utility navigation: Secondary links (login, contact, etc.)
• Mobile navigation: Responsive menu for mobile devices

Footer Navigation

Footer menus provide:

• Site map: Complete navigation overview
• Legal links: Privacy, terms, contact information
• Social links: Social media and external connections

Contextual Menus

In-content navigation:

• Section menus: Navigation within content areas
• Related links: Contextual navigation suggestions
• Call-to-action menus: Action-oriented navigation

Menu Themes and Styling

Theme Configuration

Menu themes control visual presentation:

• Color schemes: Match site branding
• Typography: Font and text styling
• Layout: Horizontal, vertical, or custom arrangements
• Interactive states: Hover, active, and focus styling

Responsive Behavior

Menus automatically adapt for different screen sizes:

• Desktop: Full menu display
• Tablet: Condensed navigation
• Mobile: Hamburger menu or drawer navigation

Advanced Menu Features

Featured Items

Mark menu items as featured for:

• Visual emphasis: Special styling or highlighting
• Priority placement: Prominent positioning in navigation
• Call-to-action treatment: Button-style presentation

Dynamic Menu Content

Menus can integrate with:

• Content management: Automatically include new pages
• User context: Show different items based on authentication
• Belief system: Adaptive navigation based on visitor preferences

Menu Analytics

Navigation Tracking

TractStack automatically tracks menu usage:

• Click events: Which menu items are used most
• Navigation patterns: How visitors move through your site
• Drop-off points: Where visitors leave navigation flows

Performance Insights

Menu effectiveness metrics:

• Usage frequency: Most and least used menu items
• Conversion impact: How navigation affects site goals
• User journey analysis: Navigation’s role in visitor paths

Multi-Level Navigation

Hierarchical Menus

While TractStack menus are primarily flat structures, you can create hierarchical navigation through:

• Menu grouping: Organize related items together
• Nested ActionLisp: Complex navigation behaviors
• Contextual menus: Different menus for different sections

Breadcrumb Navigation

Implement breadcrumb trails using:

• Page hierarchy: Logical content organization
• Menu integration: Breadcrumbs based on menu structure
• User journey: Show navigation path taken

Menu Management

Content Organization

Menu planning:

• Information architecture: Logical site organization
• User needs: Navigation that matches visitor goals
• Content strategy: Menus that support content discovery

Menu maintenance:

• Regular review: Update menus when content changes
• Link validation: Ensure all menu links work correctly
• Performance monitoring: Track menu effectiveness

Team Workflow

Role-based menu management:

• Editors: Can create and modify menus
• Admins: Full menu management capabilities
• Content strategy: Collaborative menu planning

Integration with Content

Story Fragment Integration

Menus work seamlessly with story fragments:

• Page navigation: Link to any story fragment
• Context integration: Include context pages in menus
• Dynamic updates: Menus reflect current content structure

Belief-Driven Navigation

Adaptive menus:

• Personalized navigation: Show relevant items based on visitor beliefs
• Progressive disclosure: Reveal navigation options as visitors engage
• Custom journeys: Navigation paths based on declared preferences

Technical Implementation

Menu Storage

Menus are stored as content nodes with:

• Database integration: Persistent menu configuration
• Cache optimization: Fast menu loading
• Update synchronization: Immediate menu changes

Template Integration

Menus integrate with Astro templates:

• Component rendering: Menu components in page layouts
• Theme application: Consistent styling across site
• Responsive rendering: Device-appropriate menu display

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Effective menu design creates intuitive navigation that helps visitors find content and achieve their goals. Regular analysis of menu performance helps optimize the user experience.