Child menu items not showing - Joomla! Forum - community, help and support

i've done few searches on board, , although question has been asked in past, either don't have solution, or solution has not worked me.

standard local joomla 2.5.6 installation far know. have not added except categories , articles far. i'm working lynda.com tutorial learn joomla, , far, we've gotten adding articles menus. installation in form of bitnami module again, running locally on pc.

problem: have vertical menu on left-hand side articles added "main menu" existed:

structure example:
home
topic 1
- sub-topic 1
- sub-topic 2
- - sub-topic 3
- - sub-topic 4
- - sub-topic 5
- - sub-topic 6
topic 2

by default, should, home , topic1 & 2 links show. when click on topic 2 example, sub-topic 1 & 2 should show beneath it, , same sub-topic 2, showing 3 - 6. not.

i've ensured modules associated menu (main menu (public in position 7), site map (public in sitemapload), this site (public in position-7) , menu example (public in ) have show sub-menu items checked yes. 1 suggestion put forth in 1 of search results.

i'm kind of lost how proceed this. said, main menu part of original installation. i've done go through , trash previous articles , menu items, , add own.

hopefully, i've answered questions already, if not, please ask. i'm learning joomla, , know i've done wrong, or option still need set. suggestions helpful.

eric grey

menu links?