Create a Vertical, Horizontal and Diagonal Sliding Content Website with jQuery

Written by Kevin Liew on 14 Jul 2009
709,859 Views • Tutorials

Introduction

Content Sliding website is one of the famous and creative design techniques for portfolio website. One thing, please make sure you put the menu on every single page to avoid confusion/dizziness.

  • You should put the navigation menu in every single page
  • Or, fix the position of the menu
  • Let your visitors know exactly what section they're reading, like highlight the selected menu item and have a clear title

In this tutorial, we will learn to scroll your web content vertically, horizontally and plus diagonally! Don't worry, we won't rely on javascript too much, we will use css/html for the layout and javascript only do the scrolling. And hey, it will still work even if your browser doesn't support javascript.

And, thanks to Ariel Flesler, his scrollTo plugin is simply amazing!

Advertisement

1. HTML

Depend on which direction you want to scroll your website, each of them have slightly different layout. For the horizontal and vertical, they use the same layout, whereas for diagonal, you have to add extra div to create the "diagonal". It sounds like a dirty trick, but hey, it works! :)

I put <a name="name"></a>, just in case some of the browsers out there don't support javascript.

Structure for jQuery share it toolbox

Scroll Horizontally & Vertically

<div id="wrapper">
	<div id="mask">

		<div id="item1" class="item">
			<a name="item1"></a>
			<div class="content">item1 
				<a href="#item1" class="panel">1</a> | 
				<a href="#item2" class="panel">2</a> | 
				<a href="#item3" class="panel">3</a> | 
				<a href="#item4" class="panel">4</a> | 
				<a href="#item5" class="panel">5</a>
			</div>
		</div>
		
		<div id="item2" class="item">
			<a name="item2"></a>
			<div class="content">item2 <a href="#item1" class="panel">back</a></div>
		</div>
		
		<div id="item3" class="item">
			<a name="item3"></a>
			<div class="content">item3 <a href="#item1" class="panel">back</a></div>
		</div>

		<div id="item4" class="item">
			<a name="item4"></a>
			<div class="content">item4 <a href="#item1" class="panel">back</a></div>
		</div>
		
		<div id="item5" class="item">
			<a name="item5"></a>
			<div class="content">item5 <a href="#item1" class="panel">back</a></div>
		</div>

	</div>
</div>

<div id="wrapper">
	<div id="mask">

		<!-- first row -->

		<div id="item1" class="item">
			<a name="item1"></a>
			<div class="content">item1 
				<a href="#item1" class="panel">1</a> | 
				<a href="#item2" class="panel">2</a> | 
				<a href="#item3" class="panel">3</a>
			</div>
		</div>
		
		<div class="item"></div>
		<div class="item"></div>
		<div class="clear"></div>

		<!-- second row -->		
		
		<div class="item"></div>

		<div id="item2" class="item">
			<a name="item2"></a>
			<div class="content">item2 <a href="#item1" class="panel">back</a></div>
		</div>

		<div class="item"></div>
		<div class="clear"></div>
		
		<!-- third row -->

		<div class="item"></div>
		<div class="item"></div>

		<div id="item3" class="item">
			<a name="item3"></a>
			<div class="content">item3 <a href="#item1" class="panel">back</a></div>
		</div>
		
		<div class="clear"></div>

	</div>
</div>
<div id="wrapper">
	<div id="mask">

		<div id="item1" class="item">
			<a name="item1"></a>
			<div class="content">item1 
				<a href="#item1" class="panel">1</a> | 
				<a href="#item2" class="panel">2</a> | 
				<a href="#item3" class="panel">3</a> | 
				<a href="#item4" class="panel">4</a> | 
				<a href="#item5" class="panel">5</a>
			</div>
		</div>
		
		<div id="item2" class="item">
			<a name="item2"></a>
			<div class="content">item2 <a href="#item1" class="panel">back</a></div>
		</div>
		
		<div id="item3" class="item">
			<a name="item3"></a>
			<div class="content">item3 <a href="#item1" class="panel">back</a></div>
		</div>

		<div id="item4" class="item">
			<a name="item4"></a>
			<div class="content">item4 <a href="#item1" class="panel">back</a></div>
		</div>
		
		<div id="item5" class="item">
			<a name="item5"></a>
			<div class="content">item5 <a href="#item1" class="panel">back</a></div>
		</div>

	</div>
</div>

<div id="wrapper">
	<div id="mask">

		<!-- first row -->

		<div id="item1" class="item">
			<a name="item1"></a>
			<div class="content">item1 
				<a href="#item1" class="panel">1</a> | 
				<a href="#item2" class="panel">2</a> | 
				<a href="#item3" class="panel">3</a>
			</div>
		</div>
		
		<div class="item"></div>
		<div class="item"></div>
		<div class="clear"></div>

		<!-- second row -->		
		
		<div class="item"></div>

		<div id="item2" class="item">
			<a name="item2"></a>
			<div class="content">item2 <a href="#item1" class="panel">back</a></div>
		</div>

		<div class="item"></div>
		<div class="clear"></div>
		
		<!-- third row -->

		<div class="item"></div>
		<div class="item"></div>

		<div id="item3" class="item">
			<a name="item3"></a>
			<div class="content">item3 <a href="#item1" class="panel">back</a></div>
		</div>
		
		<div class="clear"></div>

	</div>
</div>

Scroll Diagonally

<div id="wrapper">
	<div id="mask">

		<div id="item1" class="item">
			<a name="item1"></a>
			<div class="content">item1 
				<a href="#item1" class="panel">1</a> | 
				<a href="#item2" class="panel">2</a> | 
				<a href="#item3" class="panel">3</a> | 
				<a href="#item4" class="panel">4</a> | 
				<a href="#item5" class="panel">5</a>
			</div>
		</div>
		
		<div id="item2" class="item">
			<a name="item2"></a>
			<div class="content">item2 <a href="#item1" class="panel">back</a></div>
		</div>
		
		<div id="item3" class="item">
			<a name="item3"></a>
			<div class="content">item3 <a href="#item1" class="panel">back</a></div>
		</div>

		<div id="item4" class="item">
			<a name="item4"></a>
			<div class="content">item4 <a href="#item1" class="panel">back</a></div>
		</div>
		
		<div id="item5" class="item">
			<a name="item5"></a>
			<div class="content">item5 <a href="#item1" class="panel">back</a></div>
		</div>

	</div>
</div>

<div id="wrapper">
	<div id="mask">

		<!-- first row -->

		<div id="item1" class="item">
			<a name="item1"></a>
			<div class="content">item1 
				<a href="#item1" class="panel">1</a> | 
				<a href="#item2" class="panel">2</a> | 
				<a href="#item3" class="panel">3</a>
			</div>
		</div>
		
		<div class="item"></div>
		<div class="item"></div>
		<div class="clear"></div>

		<!-- second row -->		
		
		<div class="item"></div>

		<div id="item2" class="item">
			<a name="item2"></a>
			<div class="content">item2 <a href="#item1" class="panel">back</a></div>
		</div>

		<div class="item"></div>
		<div class="clear"></div>
		
		<!-- third row -->

		<div class="item"></div>
		<div class="item"></div>

		<div id="item3" class="item">
			<a name="item3"></a>
			<div class="content">item3 <a href="#item1" class="panel">back</a></div>
		</div>
		
		<div class="clear"></div>

	</div>
</div>
<div id="wrapper">
	<div id="mask">

		<div id="item1" class="item">
			<a name="item1"></a>
			<div class="content">item1 
				<a href="#item1" class="panel">1</a> | 
				<a href="#item2" class="panel">2</a> | 
				<a href="#item3" class="panel">3</a> | 
				<a href="#item4" class="panel">4</a> | 
				<a href="#item5" class="panel">5</a>
			</div>
		</div>
		
		<div id="item2" class="item">
			<a name="item2"></a>
			<div class="content">item2 <a href="#item1" class="panel">back</a></div>
		</div>
		
		<div id="item3" class="item">
			<a name="item3"></a>
			<div class="content">item3 <a href="#item1" class="panel">back</a></div>
		</div>

		<div id="item4" class="item">
			<a name="item4"></a>
			<div class="content">item4 <a href="#item1" class="panel">back</a></div>
		</div>
		
		<div id="item5" class="item">
			<a name="item5"></a>
			<div class="content">item5 <a href="#item1" class="panel">back</a></div>
		</div>

	</div>
</div>

<div id="wrapper">
	<div id="mask">

		<!-- first row -->

		<div id="item1" class="item">
			<a name="item1"></a>
			<div class="content">item1 
				<a href="#item1" class="panel">1</a> | 
				<a href="#item2" class="panel">2</a> | 
				<a href="#item3" class="panel">3</a>
			</div>
		</div>
		
		<div class="item"></div>
		<div class="item"></div>
		<div class="clear"></div>

		<!-- second row -->		
		
		<div class="item"></div>

		<div id="item2" class="item">
			<a name="item2"></a>
			<div class="content">item2 <a href="#item1" class="panel">back</a></div>
		</div>

		<div class="item"></div>
		<div class="clear"></div>
		
		<!-- third row -->

		<div class="item"></div>
		<div class="item"></div>

		<div id="item3" class="item">
			<a name="item3"></a>
			<div class="content">item3 <a href="#item1" class="panel">back</a></div>
		</div>
		
		<div class="clear"></div>

	</div>
</div>

2. CSS

The CSS is basically almost the same with the tabbed based content slider tutorial. I have illustrated how it works in that tutorial, so you might wanna check that out as well.

Scroll Horizontally & Diagonally

 

  • #mask : height=100%, width = 100% * total of items
  • .item : height=100%, width = 100% / total of items
body {
	height:100%;
	width:100%;
	margin:0;padding:0;
}

#wrapper {
	width:100%;
	height:100%;
	position:absolute;
	top:0;left:0;
	background-color:#ccc;
	overflow:hidden;
}

	#mask {
		width:500%;
		height:100%;

		background-color:#eee;
	}

	.item {
		width:20%;
		height:100%;
		float:left;
		background-color:#ddd;
	}
	
	
	.content {
		width:400px;
		height:300px;
		top:20%;
		margin:0 auto;
		background-color:#aaa;
		position:relative;
	}
	
	.selected {
		background:#fff;
		font-weight:700;
	}

	.clear {
		clear:both;
	}

Scroll Vertically

The width and height are opposite from scrolling horizontally. Calculations are:

  • #mask : width=100%, height = 100% * total of items
  • .item : width=100%, height = 100% / total of items
	#mask {
		width:100%;
		height:500%;
		background-color:#eee;
	}

	.item {
		width:100%;
		height:20%;
		float:left;
		background-color:#ddd;
	}

3. Javascript

So, you must be thinking how complicated the javascript would be. You'll be surprise! its only a line of code to make the scrolling effect. Thanks to jquery.scrollTo Plugin. What we have to do is solve the layout using css/html, and the plugin will do the rest.

$(document).ready(function() {

	//get all link with class panel
	$('a.panel').click(function () {

                //reset and highlight the clicked link
		$('a.panel').removeClass('selected');
		$(this).addClass('selected');
		
		//grab the current item, to be used in resize function
		current = $(this);
		
                //scroll it to the destination
		$('#wrapper').scrollTo($(this).attr('href'), 800);		
		
                //cancel the link default behavior
		return false;
	});


	//resize all the items according to the new browser size
	$(window).resize(function () {
		
		//call the resizePanel function
		resizePanel();
	});
	
});

This resize function have 2 versions. One for vertical and another for both horizontal and diagonal. The only difference is the mask_height and mask_width.

Vertical 
function resizePanel() {

	//get the browser width and height
	width = $(window).width();
	height = $(window).height();

	//get the mask height: height * total of items
	mask_height = height * $('.item').length;
		
	//set the dimension		
	$('#wrapper, .item').css({width: width, height: height});
	$('#mask').css({width: width, height: mask_height});

	//if the item is displayed incorrectly, set it to the corrent pos
	$('#wrapper').scrollTo($('a.selected').attr('href'), 0);
		
}
Horizontal & Diagonal 
function resizePanel() {

	//get the browser width and height
	width = $(window).width();
	height = $(window).height();

	//get the mask width: width * total of items
	mask_width = width * $('.item').length;
		
	//set the dimension	
	$('#wrapper, .item').css({width: width, height: height});
	$('#mask').css({width: mask_width, height: height});
	
	//if the item is displayed incorrectly, set it to the corrent pos
	$('#wrapper').scrollTo($('a.selected').attr('href'), 0);
		
}

Conclusion

That's it, simple and easy! I hope you all will enjoy it.

Last but not least, I need your support :) If you like this article, please help me to promote it by adding this post into your bookmark. You can subscribe to my RSS for more jQuery tutorial posts! Or go to my website footer to follow me on twitter, and buy me a drink! Thanks!

Jump to Certain Item on Page Load

This is one of the most popular request. A lot of people want this content slider to display certain item on page load. It's simple, you need to use this:

$(document).ready(function () {

   $('#wrapper').scrollTo('ITEM-ID-HERE', 0); 

   ......
   ......
   ...... 
}

With that line of code, the slider will jump to the item on page load.

Update

31 Aug 2009 : Due to popular demand, and something I should have created. I have added window resize function.
Demo 1Demo 2Demo 3Download
By Kevin Liew

Kevin Liew is a web designer and developer and keen on contributing to the web development industry. He loves frontend development and absolutely amazed by jQuery. Feel free to say hi to me, or follow @quenesswebblog on twitter.

Related Articles
Create Background Scrolling Effect with jQuery
Create WordPress Custom Post Easily
Join the discussion

Comments will be moderated and rel="nofollow" will be added to all links. You can wrap your coding with [code][/code] to make use of built-in syntax highlighter.

792 comments
Ela 15 years ago
Thank you for this tutorial. in a few days i will post you the url of our interpretation of this stuff ;)
Reply
KamCiu 15 years ago
I add item6, but it scroll only to item5.

<div id="item6" class="item">
<a name="item6"></a>
<div class="content">item6 <a href="#item1" class="panel">back</a></div>
</div>
Reply
Kevin Liew Admin 15 years ago
Have you modified the CSS? go to the CSS section, you need to adjust the width of two divs.
Reply
Diego 15 years ago
What dvis a have to ajust, i can't put more itens, they going diagonal scroll...help, please!
Reply
Kevin Liew Admin 15 years ago
#mask and .item class. the width need to be recalculated everytime you added new item.
Reply
rahul 15 years ago
Thank you. Its great
Reply
Danielle 15 years ago
Super awesome script you've got here. I used it in my latest web project, check it! www.yborbunker.com . Thanks again, this is sick!
Reply
Kevin Liew Admin 15 years ago
It looks great! I like the typography you use throughout the site :)
Reply
Matthew 15 years ago
hello, I tried your tutorial and it was great, but i have a problem i am using the vertical sliding content boxes, but i have 8 boxes. I can get boxes 1-3 to slide up and down, but when i go to boxes 4-8 they just appear instead of sliding. But say i am on box 8 and click to box 1 it will slide all the way up but not down. Do you have any suggestions? I would appreciate it.
Reply
Sean 15 years ago
browser back button support?
Reply
sean 15 years ago
back button support?
Reply
bill beck 15 years ago
hi kevin... I need to add a few extra pages in Vertical Style
currently i have 5 vertical's and need to add 5 more
please show me the code. thanks -bill
Reply
Kevin Liew Admin 15 years ago
Hi Bill, I can't show you the code but the whole thing is explained in the tutorial. You just have to duplicate a few code in the html.
Reply
bill beck 15 years ago
kevin, thanks for getting back, i have been going over this code for hours and i can't figure out what you are talking about. will you please email me your demo of 5 verticle's but add two more verticle's so i can understand.
thank you -bill
Reply
John 15 years ago
Hi,
I can't seem to get easing animations to work. I'm using the latest versions of jquery, jquery.easing and jquery.scrollto and i also declare those files in the head of my page.

I also changed $('#wrapper').scrollTo($(this).attr('href'), 800);
to:
$('#wrapper').scrollTo($(this).attr('href'), 800, {easing:'easeInOutElastic'});

but my links don't work at all after this. Do I need to add any more code? I tried making these changes to the barebones tutorial files and the same thing happens.
Reply
John 15 years ago
So i'm a fool, apart from checking to see if my computer was plugged in, i forgot to make sure i was declaring the jquery core library before everything else. Works like a dream now.
Reply
Ollie 15 years ago
Great tutorial, thanks for the hard work.

I have an interesting question, if the content i place in the div is large and uses the browser verticle scroll bar, will this be possible to use? I have tested and even when i create a fixed size for the height of the content div, the scroll does not appear.

I want to use this as a design conept display but all the pages require verticle scroll.

Any tips would be great
Reply
Rod 15 years ago
apparently, putting overflow-y:auto; overflow-x:hidden; in .item works
Reply
Florin Dorca 15 years ago
Hi Kevin,

first of all, thanks for this tutorial. It works great. But i have a problem and I think it's my fault that I cannot solves it. My background don't resize depending on screen size. Where do i have to look? Thanks alot.
Reply
Ayush Agrawal 15 years ago
u can change from the content class in css as per the tutorial provided by kevin..
Reply