Explicitly set component cache variable

System

Hey all,

We are trying to create a navigation component which references the sitemap and highlights the currently-active path. Since that active path could change for each page, we need the component to cache on a per-page level. This is the problem.

We've tried using prefixes, externals, and component controllers, but we can't divine exactly what aspect of the component is checked to decide if a valid cached version exists.

I guess, then, I have two questions: first, does anyone know the exact method by which you can cache a component on a per-page level (we're assuming it has to do with the component's parameter map)? and secondly, do we even need to cache these? There will be three instances of the Navigation component on any given page - site-level, section-level, and page-level. Should we be worried about caching these?

Thanks for all the help, I'm a bit disappointed that in an enterprise CMS solution there is no direct reference to the caching methodology, but what can you do?

Cheers.