WordPress Back-End Space Saver
By deejaynyc
WordPress Back-End (Admin Panel) Space Saver
Before the 2.7 update to WordPress, Back-end (or Admin Panel) menus ran across the top of the screen. With the advent of 2.7, these menus were moved to run down along the left side of the screen. Personally, I found this rather irksome in that it took up valuable side-to-side screen space, in a permanent way. I mean, it wasn't like that meu area could be invoked at will and then tucked away out of sight until the next time. No, whether I needed menu access once every half hour or every 3 hours, that space remained dedicated to the list of menus.
I cannot tell you how happy, just generally pleased and elated I was to find a WordPress PlugIn written, working, and of course 2.7-ready whose purpose was to solve this specific issue. That is, put the Word Press Menu BACK across the top of the window, thus reclaiming the usurped space. The plugin I refer to is from PlanetOzh, and it's terrific. If you want to reclaim 2.7's use of your vertical admin-panel space, I recommend this plug-in. You can even change its color scheme. I'm partial to purple myself. Check out the video below. You might want to give Ozh's Admin Drop Down Menu PlugIn for WordPress a whirl.
Visual Comparison WordPress 2.6 vs. 2.7
Here is a visual comparison of the two versions. As stated, while I definitely wanted to use 2.7, I wanted that vertical space back.
PlugIn Review
I recommended Ozh' Admin Drop Down Menu WordPress PlugIn. For your further consideration of this plugin, please see the video below.
Review of this Space Saving WordPress PlugIn
Comments
Yes, Duncan, this plugin was a MOST welcomed discovery. The same developer has another plugin for comments. Have you heard anything about it or used it?
I do not have a blog as yet but I can see how using the space poorly can be a pain. You seem to understand the new tool very well and have provided a great description on its benefits. Perhaps Wordpress will rethink their changes and updates if enough people write comments about it.
Actually mounting a blog and properly maintaining it is quite a commitment. To do it RIGHT, it should contain fresh and insightful posts and be updated on a DAILY basis. People should, in fact, (because of the schedule the TRUE blogger keeps) be able to RELY on its consistently updated content. This is much easier said than done. It requires a structured way of gathering, digesting, and imparting important niche news. I'm still climbing that mountain. I think it's worth the effort.
Peace and Love to you, rebeccahappy!
DeeJay
Duncan_Boan 3 years ago
Hi DeeJay
This is a great tip for a great plugin. WordPress 2.7 was a nice progressive update, but it seemed to be a step backward in terms of the admin panel. Like you mentioned, the new admin menu took up valuable real estate to the left of the page, and besides that, I found myself scrolling up and down, trying to locate all the admin functions that I had grown used to being at the top of the admin page. But with this plugin it's back to horizontal 'normal', except better because the drop down boxes mean fewer page reloads to get to your destination. I totally support your recommendation for this plugin.