WordPress.org

1. mobius55
   Member
   Posted 2 years ago #

   I done a pile of websites to date, and had been using B2Evolution with roles assigned so that registered subscribers could view pages that unregistered could not. Moved over to WordPress and I love it, but I just don't understand the dashboard concept. For admins & editors, sure! But why for a subscriber? It just seems to present a barrier to entry and confuses users, who expect to see the blog when they login, not a config page. I understand that they can configure that page - but see it every time? Why?

   Example: I just logged into this support forum with my username & password - no dashboard in sight! Sometimes we don't explain things that we take as obvious, yes?

   But those WordPress uber-geeks aren't stupid - there must be a reason for the dashboard, I just don't see it yet, tho I've searched the docs.

   Can I, for example, customize the SUBSCRIBER'S dashboard? Put my blog content INTO it? Is this the concept I haven't grokked yet? If anyone could point me to an example of the dashboard working as designed, it would be a great help to me.

   Thanks in advance if you can offer any enlightenment - it will be a zen-like moment, I'm sure, when I finally GET it :-)

   Cheers,

   Craig R.

2. figaro
   Member
   Posted 2 years ago #

   Can't shed any insight on the logic, but if you install this plugin:

   http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/sidebar-login/

   And have people login through the sidebar widget, then they won't be redirected to the admin area. There is also a "login redirect url" setting you can configure for this plugin...if you wanted, you could probably see how they are doing that and apply the same/similar code to the default login to redirect users to the homepage....may already be a plugin to do this, but I haven't checked.

3. mobius55
   Member
   Posted 2 years ago #

   Hi, Figaro!

   That would bypass the dashboard? Any idea how one would get them TO the dashboard, in case they wanted to change their password (which is all it seems to offer, as far as I can tell)?

   So it's not just me who doesn't understand it, huh? That's a comfort :-)
   Will check that plugin now - Thanx!

   CR

4. figaro
   Member
   Posted 2 years ago #

   That would bypass the dashboard?

   No, it doesn't bypass it...it just doesn't take them to it when they login...they stay on the homepage of your site and then the login changes to a link to the dashboard, their profile, and any other area in the admin you want to include. Give it a try...you'll understand better if you actually try it.

5. cherdt
   Member
   Posted 2 years ago #

   I completely agree, the dashboard is confusing for users who are not WordPress regulars.

   The sidebar-login plugin that figaro pointed out looks like it will do the trick for subscribers, but I wish the admin section was even simpler for other users with reduced privileges (i.e. contributors and authors).

   (The whole dashboard metaphor doesn't really work for me. Is blogging like driving a car?)

6. mobius55
   Member
   Posted 2 years ago #

   Hey, so I'm NOT crazy!!!!

   I googled 'hide dashboard', 'disable dashboard', etc. and found lots of folks complaining and no clear answers. It's really weird. Why add such a functionality and not make it role-configurable?

   Maybe someday. Hopefully the uber-geeks read the forums. In the meantime I'll try that plugin and see what I can do.

   Thanks for your thoughts!

   CR

7. figaro
   Member
   Posted 2 years ago #

   (The whole dashboard metaphor doesn't really work for me. Is blogging like driving a car?)

   The Dashboard is just one tab (area) in wp-admin (WordPress Administration).

8. mobius55
   Member
   Posted 2 years ago #

   Figaro, that plugin is perfect - just what I was looking for! Users can still get to their profile if need be, excellent.

   Thanx again for your assistance - never would have found it on my own - I bow in humble gratitude :-)

   CR

9. figaro
   Member
   Posted 2 years ago #

   You're welcome...it's a nice plugin.

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