Question Menu links to specfic forum categories

I'm sorry, fluiddruid. It's 05:30 in the morning and I've been up since 04:00 and so, perhaps, I'm not thinking too straight but I don't understand what you're trying to do.

If you go to 174.120.171.71/index.php?option=com_cont...blog&id=2&Itemid=138 you go to the "Rail" 'blog page. That much I understand.

If you click the Rail » Discussion link from the menu on the top of that page, you go to your Kunena "rail" category (from the looks of it) at 174.120.171.71/index.php?option=com_kune...func=showcat&catid=5 .

So ... what's the issue? What "other layout" are we talking about? That's the part that loses me. :S

If you could help me understand better what it is that you want, we might be able to work through a solution together. I'm not sure what "hack" is needed.

*smiles* Good morning!!!

OK, I'll do my best to go through it step by step:

So, the forum main page is reached thus:

- Go to 174.120.171.71/
- Click on the "Join the Discussion" tab on the middle of the page, which will take you to 174.120.171.71/index.php?option=com_kunena&Itemid=15

All good so far.

OK, now let's try to get to a sub-category of the forum:

- Firstly, I'd like to show you the setup for each section, in this example, the "Rail" section 174.120.171.71/index.php?option=com_cont...=blog&id=3&Itemid=17

You will see that on this page, the Products tab is highlighted. If we click on "Rail Blog", then we move to that tab and it gets the highlight...etc.

Now, what I need to achieve is when I click on the "Discussion" tab, I get the forum showing on the "Rail Discussion" category of the forum, but remain within the "Discussion" tab, which should get the highlight. Currently, I am using a fixed URL on the menu item, which opens the "Rail Discussion" category of the forum, but takes me back to the frontpage layout and doesn't stay in the "Discussion" tab, as required.

I am assuming the Itemid=15 part of the URL has a big part to play here, but I am at a loss as to how to get around this, as even if I put a completely different Itemid in the URL, once I have the forum category open, all links (Register, Lost Password, topic titles etc.) still contain Itemid=15, so no matter where I click I end up back on the frontpage layout and not still in the "Discussion" tab.

Hope that's clear?!?! :dry:

Thanks,
Matt

Thank you for your explanation. I think I understand much better, and I've made a few comments in blue below:

OK, I'll do my best to go through it step by step:

So, the forum main page is reached thus:

- Go to 174.120.171.71/

- YES, no problem
- Click on the "Join the Discussion" tab on the middle of the page, which will take you to 174.120.171.71/index.php?option=com_kunena&Itemid=15 - well, apart from the fact that it's called "Join the Conversation", no problem there, either!

All good so far.

OK, now let's try to get to a sub-category of the forum: - Hang on a sec'! How are you getting to a sub-category of the forum? I would imagine you'd click one of the forum categories, wouldn't you? :S

- Firstly, I'd like to show you the setup for each section, in this example, the "Rail" section 174.120.171.71/index.php?option=com_cont...=blog&id=3&Itemid=17 - So what did you use to get here?

You will see that on this page, the Products tab is highlighted. - Yes, I see it but I don't know how we got here :S If we click on "Rail Blog", then we move to that tab and it gets the highlight...etc. - Yes, I that works :S

Now, what I need to achieve is when I click on the "Discussion" tab, I get the forum showing on the "Rail Discussion" category of the forum Which it does! , but remain within the "Discussion" tab, which should get the highlight. Currently, I am using a fixed URL on the menu item, which opens the "Rail Discussion" category of the forum, but takes me back to the frontpage layout In other words, it's just as if you'd clicked the "Join the Conversation" link on the home page ... now I understand the problem! :woohoo: - and doesn't stay in the "Discussion" tab, as required.

I am assuming the Itemid=15 part of the URL has a big part to play here - Unless you have a really strong preference for using URLs that look completely unintelligible to the average guy in the street, it would be preferable if you were to convert them to SEF, q.v. Search engine optimization (SEO) , but this might only be window-dressing on the issue , but I am at a loss as to how to get around this, as even if I put a completely different Itemid in the URL, once I have the forum category open, all links (Register, Lost Password, topic titles etc.) still contain Itemid=15, so no matter where I click I end up back on the frontpage layout and not still in the "Discussion" tab.Even though we haven't solved your problem (and this sounds more of a Joomla issue, anyway) I'm very pleased that I understand what you're actually looking for. Certainly it will help you, your users, and those of us interested in finding a solution, if you converted your URLs into more "human-friendly" ones.

I'll have a think more about what's going on behind the scenes and let's also invite other interested users into offering their suggestions, too.

Thanks for understanding!

As far as SEO/SEF is concerned, that's a given. I just find it easier to develop a site when I can see exactly what's going on as far as IDs etc. are concerned (as in this case, for example!).

Hope something can be worked out.

Cheers,
Matt

I've turned on the Joomla-internal SEF, if that helps?

Thanks, it made it easier for me. The problem, in a nutshell, is this:

You want to know how to link the "Discussion" tab (however you get to it) to something other than the "Join the Conversation" tab. Does that sum it up?

I don't know how (at least, not before breakfast) to do that. This looks like a real challenge. I'll ask around for you.