How do you create a menuItem alternate in orchard for different Zones

Question

I created an alternate for the main menu called MenuItemLink-main-menu-MainNavigation-MenuItem.cshtml because I want to render the menu differently in a Zone called main navigation. vs other places I am using the same menu on the page like the footer. I copied the MenuItem shape and renamed it (MenuItemLink-main-menu-MainNavigation-MenuItem.cshtml) everytime I run it I get an overflow because of the following line.

var renderedMenuItemLink = Display(Model);

can someone please explain to me why this is happening and the best way to create a zone based shapes for the navigation.

Answer 1

You copied markup from one shape (MenuItem) and paste it to another shape (MenuItemLink).

1. MenuItem calls Display for MenuItemLink
2. Then you calls Display for MenuItemLink inside MenuItemLink - this is an infinite loop.

For add alternate inside theme for MenuItemLink:

First. Create alternate for menu widget (Parts.MenuWidget.cshtml)

@using Orchard.ContentManagement;
@using Orchard.Widgets.Models;
@{
    var widgetPart = ((IContent)Model.ContentItem).As<WidgetPart>();
    Model.Menu.Zone = widgetPart.Zone;
}

Second. Create alternate for menu item (MenuItem.cshtml) and add one line (after line Model.Metadata.Type = "MenuItemLink";)

Model.Metadata.Type = "MenuItemLink";
(Model as Orchard.DisplayManagement.Shapes.Shape).Metadata.OnDisplaying(action => 
    action.ShapeMetadata.Alternates.Add("MenuItemLink__Zone__" + (string)Model.Menu.Zone)
);

For add alternate inside theme for MenuItem:

First. Create alternate for menu widget (Parts.MenuWidget.cshtml)

@using Orchard.ContentManagement;
@using Orchard.Widgets.Models;
@using Orchard.DisplayManagement.Shapes;
@{
    var widgetPart = ((IContent)Model.ContentItem).As<WidgetPart>();
    var items = Model.Menu.Items as List<dynamic>;
    AddMenuItemAlternate(items, widgetPart.Zone);
}
@functions{
    public void AddMenuItemAlternate(List<dynamic> items, string zoneName)
    {
        foreach (var item in items)
        {
            item.Metadata.Alternates.Add("MenuItem__Zone__" + zoneName);
            var subitems = (List<dynamic>)Enumerable.Cast<dynamic>(item.Items);
            AddMenuItemAlternate(subitems, zoneName);
        }
    }
}

Update 2015.08:

I create module that adds widget name and zone name alternates for menu, menuItem and menu item link shapes. You can download one from orchard gallery https://gallery.orchardproject.net/List/Modules/Orchard.Module.MainBit.Navigation