WordPress.org

1. Wil
   Member
   Posted 6 months ago #

   I'm a bit disappointed int the decision to remove the header area and create a persistent toolbar at the top of the dashboard.

   An important part of the way we deliver CMS solutions to clients involve branding the dashboard with client information.

   Removing the header also removes the ability for us to pop the clients logo and branding in there which I felt was one of the more unique features of using the CMS for client websites.

   Also - I'm struggling to find an easy way to add/remove items to this persistent toolbar.

   I certainly don't agree with duplucating the interface options; new post, new page etc.

   All that is at a touch of the LHS admin menu anyway with it's new fly-out options.

   Any comments about how this will end up working in the final version?

   Thanks,
   Wil.

2. Ipstenu
   Half-Elf Support Rogue & Mod
   Posted 6 months ago #

   The toolbar isn't going away. Please remember that this is the end result of MONTHS of work, and the RC is not the time to be saying it's not "right." If you're seriously interested in getting in on the design, you have to start earlier and join in the pre-beta testings, keep up with SVN and IRC, and trac, and so on, and please do! :)

   It's ill-advised to remove the toolbar because many features that used to be in the header are now there, and you'll lose functionality.

   You can edit the toolbar, however, with filters (which has been the same methodology since 3.0). For example, here's how you remove the WP logo:

   function my_admin_bar_remove() {
           global $wp_admin_bar;
   
           /* Remove their stuff */
           $wp_admin_bar->remove_menu('wp-logo');
   }
   
   add_action('wp_before_admin_bar_render', 'my_admin_bar_remove', 0);

   You also should be able to still brand, though I'd probably do it by re-jiggering the toolbar. http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/rainbowify/ is an *ahem* example of how you can colorize it. Not that I'd subject my clients to it ;)

   I certainly don't agree with duplucating the interface options; new post, new page etc.

   Those options were in the OLD header area, FWIW, and were just moved up.

3. Wil
   Member
   Posted 6 months ago #

   Hi @ipstenu

   Thanks for the update.

   I agree that I should have put my pennies worth in earlier, however, this is a release candidate and not a final version so feedback still asked for isn't it?

   I'm not *demanding* changes or belittling the months of hard work that has went into this great CMS which I use hourly, just expressing my opinion (at this late stage, sorry).

   My comment about not being able to update the toolbar easily I think still stands. I do get asked often by customers how they can add to it or move options around themselves.

   Perhaps that's something to consider for 3.4? Something like the current theme menus system.

   You also should be able to still brand, though I'd probably do it by re-jiggering the toolbar. http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/rainbowify/ is an *ahem* example of how you can colorize it. Not that I'd subject my clients to it ;)

   Hmmmm... :-P

4. Ipstenu
   Half-Elf Support Rogue & Mod
   Posted 6 months ago #

   however, this is a release candidate and not a final version so feedback still asked for isn't it?

   No, but I see why you'd think so :) I used to! BUG reports are asked for. At the point of a RC, the goal is 'Make sure everything works without errors.' Even Beta is passed the 'design feedback' stage. Design is baked and done, the only changes would be if, say, the toolbar causes IE 9 to crash. (I know you're not demanding or being belittling, and I'm not trying to accuse you there of, I'm just pointing out what may not be obvious. It wasn't to me when I started beta testing. I'm also trying to head 'em off at the pass, since normally that sort of suggestion at this late date brings up a hundred 'I hate this too!' replies which doesn't help anyone.)

   I do get asked often by customers how they can add to it or move options around themselves.

   You can't move things around, but as the myriad plugins who add to the toolbar can attest, it's not that hard to do that. It does require coding.

   I did this in the 3.1 days to heavily customize the (then named) admin bar - http://tech.ipstenu.org/2011/customize-wp-admin-bar/ - There are some links at the bottom of that post that may also help you.

   Basically you get to tell your clients "Editing the toolbar is a high-skill job, because it's tied in to so many back-end processes in WordPress." And then charge them for it. Or if you're salaried like me, tell your boss 'It'll take about a week.' and bang it out. I knew nothing when I started on it, and it took me a couple days.

5. Andrew Nacin
   WordPress Dev
   Posted 5 months ago #

   FYI, wp_before_admin_bar_render isn't the right hook. Use add_admin_bar_menus instead.

   Edit: Eh, it's all the same. Core seems to not care much.

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