How do I customise the wordpress dashboard?

[ashiq 0]

Hello, I am using pagelines pro the very latest version and need to customise the wordpress dashboard for all users. I tried to use plugins like Mojo Admin Toolbox to do that, but that still leaves the pagelines news updates and other pagelines related part that is seen in the admin. Is there a way I can do it? Is there any other plugin that will solve my problem. We have a section called members area and I want anyone coming to this section only to see that page and not the wordpress admin dashboard or even the top admin bar. Any help would be much appreciated, and many thanks.

[Henry Perkins 14]

I use this plugin to hide the admin bar from normal members: http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wp-custom-admin-bar/ It's also good practice to remove any links that will forward your users to their wordpress profile or edit profile pages, and /or redirect them instead to your members area.

[ashiq 0]

Thanks Henry. Let me give it a try and see how it goes.

[catrina 103]

Let us know how it goes :)

[ashiq 0]

Hi Henry/ Catrina, I tried the plug in and its great in hiding the admin bar.I think I will use it. But I have a couple more problems: Is there a plugin where the login/log out screens can be customised in one of my site pages itself rather than going into wp-login page? The other thing I am after is a plugin or your advise on how I can get rid of all the dashboard screens of the updates, etc. not the lefthand menus. Thanks a lot

[catrina 103]

There isn't a way of actually changing the wp-login page to a different page, but there is a way to customize that login page with this plugin: http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/custom-login/. There are probably other plugins like this, but this is the first I found. For the Dashboard customization, you may want to look into this plugin: http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/adminimize/

[ashiq 0]

Catrina, Many thanks for these plugins. They look great so far! I would like get another piece of advice from you as well. I have 20 plugins installed already, do you think this can slow down the site? The site is on a shared hosting with one.com. Thanks a lot.

[Henry Perkins 14]

You can use a tool called YSlow, which will breakdown the loading time of your page and you can see where your lag time is stemming from. http://www.yslow.org/

[catrina 103]

Having too many plugins can slow down your site. There is more insight on that here: http://computeraxe.com/too-many-plugins-slow-down-your-wordpress-blog/

[ashiq 0]

Thanks a lot. you're a star :)