Breadcrumbs
Digest
Breadcrumbs are a type of Dynamic Navigation typically used for every page except the home page. By showing a navigation trail from the home page to the current page, breadcrumbs ensure that users know where they are and how they got there.
Concept
Importance of Breadcrumbs
By showing a navigation trail from the home page to the current page, breadcrumbs are valuable in keeping visitors oriented on your site. Breadcrumbs are created via the use of Index Blocks.Technical
Creating Breadcrumbs via Index Blocks
When creating an index block for breadcrumbs, select the following options:
- Folder to Index - Select the main folder for your site.
- Depth of Index - Choose a large number (100 or higher) so that the breadcrumbs will keep working regardless of how large your site grows.
- Max Rendered Assets - Again, choose a large number (100 or higher) so that the breadcrumbs will keep working regardless of how large your site grows.
- Indexed Asset Types - Select Pages.
- Rendering Behavior - Select Start at the current page with folder hierarchy, and also include siblings.
- Page XML - Select Do not render page XML inline.
- Block XML - Select Do not render block XML inline.
- Indexed Asset Content - For breadcrumbs only user-supplied metadata is needed.
- Other Indexed Information - Do not check any options.
- Sort Method - Select folder order.
These options will provide users with a usable index block that can then be plugged into a page region at the template, configuration set, or page level. Breadcrumbs typically don't change throughout a site, so it's easiest to go ahead and add it at the template level so that it will appear on all pages.
An XSL or Velocity Format must also be added to style and filter the results rendered by the index block. An example is included with Cascade Server and can be found in the Global section in the common folder at «/_common/formats/navigation/breadcrumbs-ul».