Section 2: The Wordpress Dashboard

Once you've installed your 'Theme', the first thing we recommend is a quick tour of your 'Themes' Dashboard page. The 'Dashboard' differs from the standard Wordpress Dashboard as we've modified it to work with your new 'Theme'. All the menu's and panels you need to work with your new 'Theme' are accessible from this page.

The Dashboard is basically an admin page, that includes menu's along the left side, and 'panels' in the center and right side. The menu's link to specific 'panels'. The panels allow you to edit the content, or manage the properties of the various pages, components, and elements of your 'Theme'. Let's start with some general 'settings' located on the 'Top Bar' of the Dashboard.

• Log into your WP-Admin page

Visit Site (button)

• click on the Visit Site button to open your websites 'home' page in a web browser (*hint, right click on the button and select open in New Tab or Window)
• you'll be clicking on this link quite often to 'test' or preview changes you've made to your components or web pages.

New Post (menu button)

• the New Post button is basically a shortcut button, that allows you to quickly access some of the common editing panels
• we would recommend you use this button once you're familiar with the Dashboard menu's and how everything links together
• to learn more about the specific 'options' listed under the New Post button, click on the links below to visit www.wordpress.org directly
• this is a click or hover button, click to add a New Post, or hover to view the following menu options
• Drafts
• New Page
• Upload (New Media)
• Comments
  

Turbo

• the Turbo button creates a cache or your website on your computer for faster editing

Screen Options

• allows you to select which panels are displayed on your Dashboard's main page

Help (Wordpress)

• links to the Wordpress.org Codex or 'Help page'

Dashboard (button)

• quick link to your Dashboard, also resets your panels back to default

Right Now Panel

• this panel provides some links to commonly used panels such as Posts, or Pages for editing, but it also provides a nifty ( Change Theme ) button which quickly allows you to change from one WP-Theme to another
• Displays the number of Blog 'Posts', 'Categories' and 'Tags' along with any 'Pending' or 'Comments' that require attention, as well as a direct link to your 'Pages'

QuickPress Panel

• Allows you to quickly add a new 'Blog' posting

Recent Comments Panel

• Displays a list or recent 'Comments'

Recent Drafts Panel

• Displays any recent 'Drafts' of posts that have yet to be published

Theme Instructions Panel

• Instructions to your theme

Pages Menu

• add new pages or edit existing pages (click each link to learn more)
  • Edit (existing pages)
  • Add New (page)

Blog Menu

• edit your blog 'posts', add a new 'posts', edit tags, categories and comments!
• Edit
• Add New
• Post Tags
• Categories
• Comments

Media Menu

• open the Media Library to manage your 'Media' such as 'images' 'pdf files' 'video' 'audio'
  • Library
  • Add New

Users Menu

• allows the WP-Admin (you) to add new Users and assign a user 'role' (learn more...)
  • Authors & Users
  • Add New
  • Your Profile

Navigation Menu

• manage the menu's and navigation
  • Side Menu
  • Drop Down Menu
  • Bottom Links

Flash Menu

• manage the Flash Components
  • Portfolio
  • Image Rotator
• Music

Sidebars Menu

• manage your themes sidebars and widgets
  • Edit
  • Add New
  • Widgets

Settings Menu

• manage the general site settings such as the company name, copyright or enabling your blog page
• General
• Custom Logo
• Themed Image
• Product Catalog
• FAQs

Advanced Menu

• the advanced button reverts the 'theme' Dashboard panel back to the original 'Wordpress' Dashboard, and provides access to the default Wordpress settings, panels and menu's
• to change back to the 'theme' Dashboard, just click on the 'Site Manager' button

Wordpress link

• a direct link to the 'Wordpress.org' website

Documentation link

• a direct link to the 'Wordpress Codes' which provides all there is to know about working with Wordpress

Feedback link

• a direct link to the 'Wordpress' Forums