I'm a bit confused about exactly what the differences are between "standard menu", superfish, & panel.
While reading the documentation it stats thatbut I seem to recall you saying to NOT use that.
So I'm a bit confused.
I'm wanting to use the panel menu as a admin menu / module area.

Hi Troy,

The Framework has the following menu types:

Superfish.
This is a vertical drop down menu that uses javascript to add some sliding effects that you can control in the template admin.

Just need to publish a normal Joomla module to the menu position and it will render on the page. You need to have child items assigned to parent obviously for it to function.

This might seem out of date but the bulk of it still applies:
docs.joomlabamboo.com/zen-grid-framework-v1/setting-up-the-superfish-menu

Panel Menu
This is basically an accordion menu that is a vertical and is triggered when the -panelmenu suffix is applied to any core Joomla menu module.

You need to use the separator menu as the parent item and then nest the child items beneath it in order for it to work properly.

Link:
docs.joomlabamboo.com/zen-grid-framework-v1/setting-up-the-panel-menu

Ive made a note that we need to change the note regarding JB LIbrary.

Basically you need jQuery to be loading on the site for them to work.

Hope that helps.

Anthony

And where, pray tell, is the menu you referenced at docs.joomlabamboo.com/zen-grid-framework-v1/setting-up-the-panel-menu located? I can't find an admin panel that looks like that, and chalk up the panel menu as something else that isn't working.

Maybe my JQuery settings are wrong?

There isn't one. I'm pretty sure thats 1.5 params if I'm remembering right. Its not 1.7+ at any rate.

Yes its parameters for the 1.5 core Joomla menu module.

The settings are almost the same (perhaps even simpler) in the 2.5 version.

1. Ensure all parent items are a separator type
2. Add -panelmenu to the menu module for the module class suffix.
3. Ensure the setting to always show sub menu items is enabled.
4. Make sure jQuery is loading on the page.

If you have done that and it's not working then we will need a link.

Happy to hear about the other things that aren't working unless you already have a forum post or ticket in for them already.
Thanks Anthony