Using the id of a separator page to define menu end - typo3

Question

I have the following page structure:
toppage
-page1
-page2
-page3
-page4
- (menu separator)
-page5
-page6
-page7
-page8
Page1 to page4 are being used to define a horizontal main menu.
Page5 to page7 are being used to define a vertical side menu.
The following typoscript is being used for the main menu:
lib.mainMenu = HMENU
lib.mainMenu.special = directory
lib.mainMenu.special.value = {$main_menu_start_id}
lib.mainMenu.entryLevel = 0
lib.mainMenu.1 = TMENU
lib.mainMenu.1 {
// Fix to limit items in main menu
maxItems = 4
}
Is it possible in typoscript to replace the maxItems approach by something like the following?
Get the pageid of the menu separator.
Using a statement to say that mainMenu should end at this pageid.

Answer 1

Risky approach, I doubt if it will be possible to do that with pure TypoScript
Instead I'd suggest to build horizontal menu (pages 1-4) with special=list example:
lib.mainMenu = HMENU
lib.mainMenu.special = list
lib.mainMenu.special.value = 1,2,3,4
lib.mainMenu.1 = TMENU
//etc
and then vertical menu as a menu of all other items except of the previous 4
lib.sideMenu = HMENU
lib.sideMenu.excludeUidList = 1,2,3,4
lib.sideMenu.1 = TMENU
// etc
other way
you can also put the page which is hidden in menu at the begining let's call it horizontal menu items and then use special=directory in HMENU to build menu with all sub-items. It's also easier add/delete/change items without changing the TS:
structure:
- horizontal menu items (uid: 123, hidden in menu)
|-- page 1
|-- page 2
|-- page 3
--- page 4
- page 5
- page 6
- page 7
TS:
lib.mainMenu = HMENU
lib.mainMenu.special = directory
lib.mainMenu.special.value = 123
lib.mainMenu.1 = TMENU
//etc
lib.sideMenu = HMENU
lib.sideMenu.1 = TMENU
// etc

Answer 2

It is possible. But you cannot use optionSplit then.
(untested)
lib.mainMenu.1.NO.allStdWrap {
prepend = LOAD_REGISTER
prepend {
data = REGISTER:hideMenuItem
ifEmpty = 0
override = 1
override.if.equals.field = doktype
override.if.value = 199
}
if.isFalse.data = REGISTER:hideMenuItem
}
I did not tested, but the main princple should become clear: create an internal REGISTER which is checked for each menuitem. If there is an menu-item of doktype menu-separator (199) then set the register. If the register is set, do not render the menu.