Active links based on current catagory

[DannyVarley]

Hi There!

I have a header with some of my categories in a nav bar. The problem is that I would like the links to appear active based on the catagory that it is currently in. Take a look here:

http://kitchenwarehouseltd.com/

When in the kitchen doors category I would like the kitchen doors nav link have the active class. Is this possible?

[schoolboy]

Go get a copy of one of 12leaves "lite" templates. They have a header bar similar to yours that highlights the active link. Their template has a file called "top_nav.php" and the code that assist the process is as follows:

<div id="top_nav">
<div id="tab_nav">
<!--<div class="top-nav-left"></div>-->
<div class="top-nav-right"></div>
    <ul class="list-style-none">
        <li class="home-link"><a href="<?php echo '' . HTTP_SERVER . DIR_WS_CATALOG;?>"><!--img src="images/spacer.gif" width="1" height="14" alt=""--></a></li>

<?php
if ($current_page_base == 'products_new') {    $active    = 'tab_active'; 
    } else { $active = '';
}?>
        <li class="<?php echo $active;?>"><a href="index.php?main_page=products_new"><?php echo TOP_MENU_NEW_PRODUCTS;?></a></li>

<?php
if ($current_page_base == 'specials') { $active = 'tab_active'; 
    } else { $active = '';
}?>
        <li class="<?php echo $active;?>"><a href="index.php?main_page=specials"><?php echo TOP_MENU_SPECIALS;?></a></li>

<?php
if ($current_page_base == 'account' || $current_page_base == 'login' || $current_page_base == 'account_edit' || $current_page_base == 'address_book' || $current_page_base == 'account_password' || $current_page_base == 'account_newsletters' || $current_page_base == 'account_notifications') { $active = 'tab_active'; 
    } else { $active = '';
}?>
        <li class="<?php echo $active;?>"><a href="<?php echo zen_href_link(FILENAME_ACCOUNT, '', 'SSL'); ?>"><?php echo TOP_MENU_MY_ACCOUNT;?></a></li>

<?php
if ($current_page_base == 'shopping_cart') { $active = 'tab_active'; 
    } else { $active = '';
}?>
        <li class="<?php echo $active;?>"><a href="<?php echo zen_href_link(FILENAME_SHOPPING_CART, '', 'NONSSL'); ?>"><?php echo TOP_MENU_VIEW_CART;?></a></li>
    </ul>
</div>

Of course, this must be manipulated in conjunction with appropriate CSS.

[DannyVarley]

This looks like a great start! The only problem I see is that I want the link to be active based on the current category not the current base page.

I can imagine what I need would be the same as this but instead of

if ($current_page_base == 'products_new')

It would be something like

if ($current_ category_id == '2')

But im not sure what the correct code for this would be?

Thanks for he help!

[DannyVarley]

Oh I just tested and found my guess was correct! current_category_id is the correct code anyway.

Thanks for the help!

Danny

[DannyVarley]

Sorry for the duplicate posts!

I have run into a problem, current_category_id works great but then when I go deeper into the categories it seems to break as it doesn't include all subcategories.

The only way I could think would be to actually type all the sub category id like:

($current_category_id == '2' || '3' || '4' || '5' || '6' || '7' || '35' || '120' || '155') 

The problem with this is that the category ids will change and update and it will be extremely hard to keep up with this. Can you guys think of any other way this could be done?