This article refers to a legacy WMS process
This article refers to a process used on sites that have not been migrated to the New WMS yet.
If your site is already migrated, consult the Index of documentation for the McGill Web Management System.
OVERVIEW
Target audience: Site Administrators, Site Managers
A mega menu in the Web Management System (WMS) is a special type of menu; it displays menu items in a drop-down format as columns of categorized links, e.g., a collection of degree programs, or a collection of branch libraries.
Essentially, a mega menu groups and exposes related sections in the navigation all at once so that visitors are able to see a list of categories that have equal value without having to drill down into the site or search for where they need to go.
In this article:
Sample of a mega menu
Below is a mega menu in the Desautels Faculty of Management.
When should you use a mega menu?
The mega menu format is not appropriate for all sites. Before requesting a mega menu for your site, you should ensure that the mega menu format will work with your site structure.
To determine if a mega menu is right for your site, perform an audit of your web pages. Map out your site structure in a spreadsheet or chart organized by primary, secondary, tertiary and additional pages. A mega menu might be appropriate for your site if:
- You have a bigger site with numerous menu items, and
- Your menu items can be grouped into secondary categories of equivalent value, and
- You don’t have a large number of fourth-level menu items that contain critical information
- You have a minimum of two secondary menu items
All requests for a mega menu must be accompanied by a use case that:
- States the purpose and/or problem being solved
- Includes a draft of the proposed mega menu structure
Best practices
The following should be adhered to for best practices when implementing a mega menu:
- Avoid including anything other than a list of links to the groupings on a mega menu's landing page since the landing page won't be seen on mobile devices and on desktop computers if JavaScript is turned off; the landing page serves as an accessibility safeguard in case a visitor is unable to use the mega menu (e.g., if using a screen reader for the visually impaired) and it allows visitors to access the content through the links on the landing page instead.
- Use a mega menu as a way to represent second-level menu items grouped in categories of equal value.
Contact the IT Service Desk for assistance determining if a mega menu is appropriate for your website.
