section list into a nested unnordered list

[LaFFiNMaN]

Hi,

before i ask the question, here is my clients current site:

http://www.postpack.co.uk/

we are doing a full design revamp for them and one of the things i want to do is convert the section list into a nested unnordered list of the following format:

      <div id="sectionmenu">
        <ul>
          <li><a href="#" class="alternate">General Packaging Materials</a> 
            <ul> 
              <li><a href="#">Adhesive Tapes & Glue</a>
              	<ul>
              	  <li><a href="#">Packaging / Parcel Tapes</a></li>
              	  <li><a href="#">Printed Tapes / Labels</a></li>
              	  <li><a href="#">Specialist Tapes</a></li>
              	</ul>
              </li> 
              <li><a href="#">Bags & Envelopes</a></li> 
              <li><a href="#">Boxes & Cartons</a></li>
              <li><a href="#">Board & Mailers</a></li>
              <li><a href="#">Bubblewrap & Foam</a></li>
              <li><a href="#">Corrugated Paper</a></li>
            </ul> 
          </li> 
          <li><a href="#" class="alternate">Moving Kits & Materials</a> 
            <ul> 
              <li><a href="#">Moving Kits</a></li> 
              <li><a href="#">Removal Boxes</a></li> 
              <li><a href="#">Removal Packaging Materials</a>
              <li><a href="#">Plywood & Timber Cases</a></li>
            </ul> 
          </li>
          <li><a href="#" class="alternate">Post Office & Retail</a> 
            <ul> 
              <li><a href="#">Protective Wrapping</a></li> 
              <li><a href="#">Boxes</a></li> 
              <li><a href="#">Mailing Bags</a></li> 
              <li><a href="#">Envelopes</a></li> 
              <li><a href="#">Stationary</a></li> 
            </ul> 
          </li> 
        </ul>
      </div>

this is obviously not the complete code just a static "snippet" that is not dynamically linked to anything (it was used for the graphical design of the menu)

i am an experienced designer in HTML/CSS terms but am very new to actinic so this is causing me a fair bit of trouble. So what i am trying to do (if you look at the original site, the first link on the new menu will be the header of the first section on the old site, ie. General Packaging Materials) - this will "nest" out (in the new menu) to all the items that are underneath that header on the old site

when you click on an item (current site) that is under a section header, the rest of the category options appear in the inner layout, but are now too deep in the structure to appear in the left menu, on my new one, this list will be nested ONCE AGAIN so everything is accessible from the side menu...

i hope i have managed to convey my problem and that someone can give me a a leg up

ALSO-IMPORTANT: i need the top level items (general packaging materials, pricing in proportion etc) to have an "alternate class" in their <a> tag as shown in the code above.

[RuralWeb]

One of norms scripts at drillpine.biz should do this.

[LaFFiNMaN]

i had a look over there and the stuff norm offers encorporates the small bit i need but what you really get for your money is the clever css etc. which i have developed myself and would like to use, i just need the actinic side of things to get stuff into the <ul> format as above...

[RuralWeb]

which i have developed myself and would like to use

Guess you will have to get clever with Actinic as well!

[LaFFiNMaN]

Guess you will have to get clever with Actinic as well!

thats kinda why i'm asking questions on a community forum.

[dave_finlayson]

Very clever! I tried this but could not figure out how to close the <ul>'s and <li>'s in the right places. To my mind, I don't think you can do it but would be more than happy to be proved wrong!

[dave_finlayson]

Actually looking at it Norman's Collapso seems to do this. Must be some clever PHP me thinks!

[RuralWeb]

Actually looking at Norman's Collapso seems to do this

Thats why I suggested it - sounds the same to me.

[LaFFiNMaN]

i think i might purchase norms script regardless because i may be wrong in the fact the clever bit has already been done... i think the really clever bit may well be getting the thing actually into actinic...

i am going to be purchasing the order by product ref plugin off him tho, that was on my list of things to work out and would be perfect for what i want... that guy is a legend!