ReadyTheme navigation and availability groups

[Kent Multer]

I have a client who is running a store using a ReadyTheme navigation menu. They want to create a category that's restricted by an availability group, so that only certain customers can shop in that category. My question is: for customers who are NOT assigned to the avail. group, will the restricted category disappear from the nav menu, like it does with the old category tree? Or will I need to write custom code to make the link visible only to customers that can use it?

Thanks --

[ids]

My experience is that the CTGY assigned to an Avail Group isn't rendered to anyone unless they are logged in and assigned to that group.

I think the only thing you need to check is if that specific CTGY has been manually assigned to ReadyTheme created Navbar. I'm not sure, but that configuration might end up in a dead link for those not assigned to it and not logged in. Then, stating an obvious, should that CTGY be visible when not physically available to those not assigned and logged in?

Scott

[Kent Multer]

That's exactly what I want to know. When the nav menu is displayed to a customer who isn't in the avail. group, will they see a link which, if they click it, will give them an error message?

[ids]

I am guessing, but since the CTGY is forced to display in the Navbar, and then when clicked and there is an error message, I would think it would say something to the effect that the resource isn't available. I think I remember this scenario actually. I'd plan on doing some custom coding in the RT Navbar.

Hopefully someone with recent experience chimes in.

Scott

[Bruce - PhosphorMedia]

As far as I've seen, the RT menus run from a data source created manually by the that menus "Settings". So, you'd have to add your own 'blocking' code to the RT menu rendering code.

[Kent Multer]

Yes, that was my quick impression. that I'll need to add a bunch of if/else code and db.mv calls to the nav set template in order for it to not display categories (or products) that the customer isn't allowed to access, I was hoping someone could give me a definite answer on this?

And if manual coding is required, shouldn't this be considered a bug in ReadyTheme nav sets? I think it's safe to say that no store owner is going to want these links to be displayed to customers who will just get an error message when they click them. I guess many stores don't use availability groups at all, so it's understandable that it fell thru the cracks for so long.

Thanks --

[Bruce - PhosphorMedia]

It's not a bug as its a 'by design' feature. RT menus, buy design, are meant to allow/require manually assigning items to menus and ordering them as you seem fit. You might consider it easier to just build the WHOLE menu dynamically using standard cat-tree functions.

[Matt Zimmermann]

It's not a bug as its a 'by design' feature. RT menus, buy design, are meant to allow/require manually assigning items to menus and ordering them as you seem fit. You might consider it easier to just build the WHOLE menu dynamically using standard cat-tree functions.

Bruce is 100% correct on this. Since the ReadyTheme Navigation Sets are not dynamically populated, you would have to place your own conditionals in the rendering code to restrict the display of any categories by an availability group.

[Bruce - PhosphorMedia]

FYI: Might be nice for RTs (or at least Shadows) to have a RT Nav Set that was dynamic. Manuals are great when you have a dozen or so cats and maybe couple hundred products (which covers most sites) but after that...they are sort of useless :)

[William Davis]

FYI: Might be nice for RTs (or at least Shadows) to have a RT Nav Set that was dynamic. Manuals are great when you have a dozen or so cats and maybe couple hundred products (which covers most sites) but after that...they are sort of useless :)

We have over 300, it was no picnic.