Tutorial #11: Creating Sub Menu Items (Drop Down Menu Items) in WordPress

Tutorial #11: Creating Sub Menu Items (Drop Down Menu Items) in WordPress

Creating sub menu items, often referred to as drop-down menu items, in WordPress is a straightforward process that enhances the navigation of your site by organizing content under main menu items. This tutorial will guide you through the process step by step.

Step 1: Accessing the WordPress Dashboard

First, log in to your WordPress dashboard. This is typically accessed by appending /wp-admin to your website’s URL (e.g., yourwebsite.com/wp-admin).

Step 2: Navigating to Menus

Once logged in, navigate to the “Appearance” > “Menus” section on the left sidebar of the dashboard. This is where you’ll manage your website’s menus.

Step 3: Selecting a Menu to Edit

If you have multiple menus, select the one you want to add sub menu items to from the drop-down list at the top and click “Select”. If you only have one menu, you’ll be taken directly to its editing screen.

Step 4: Adding Items to the Menu

On the left side of the menu editor, you’ll see boxes listing available items you can add to your menu, such as Pages, Posts, Custom Links, and Categories.

• To add an item, simply check the box next to it and click the “Add to Menu” button.
• The item will appear on the right side of the screen within the Menu Structure area.

Step 5: Creating Sub Items (Drop Down)

To create a sub item, you need to make it a child of a main menu item.

• Drag the newly added menu item slightly to the right under the main menu item where you want it to appear as a drop-down.
• This indent under the parent item signifies that it is now a sub item.

Step 6: Saving Your Menu

After arranging your menu items and sub items, click the “Save Menu” button to apply your changes.

Step 7: Assigning Menu Location

Make sure your menu is assigned to a location on your website. Most themes have predefined locations like Primary Menu, Footer Menu, etc. Assign your menu to the desired location if you haven’t done so already.

Advanced Tips: – Tutorial #11: Creating Sub Menu Items (Drop Down Menu Items) in WordPress

• Custom Links: Use custom links to add drop-down items that link to external sites or specific sections of your site not covered by Pages or Posts.
• Navigation Labels: You can change the navigation label of each item to control how it appears on your menu, without changing the actual page or post title.
• CSS Classes: Some themes allow you to add custom CSS classes to your menu items for further styling. This option can be found under “Screen Options” at the top of the Menus page.

Testing Your Drop-Down Menu

After saving your changes, visit your website to test the drop-down menu. Ensure that the sub items appear correctly when you hover over or click on the parent menu item, depending on your theme’s configuration.

Troubleshooting

• Menu Not Appearing: Make sure the menu is assigned to a location. Check theme locations in the “Manage Locations” tab in the Menus screen.
• Drop-Down Not Working: This could be due to a theme or plugin conflict. Try temporarily switching to a default WordPress theme and deactivating plugins to diagnose the issue.

Creating sub menu items in WordPress is an effective way to organize your site’s content, making it more accessible to your visitors. With practice, you’ll find it easy to customize your site’s navigation to suit your needs.

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