For the final instalment in this short series of articles about Textpattern CMS plugins, it’s time for another Stef Dawson plugin. Meet smd_user_manager . This plugin is relevant for multi-user Textpattern instances and allows finer control over the user experience. Rather than adding additional fields to the administration panel of Textpattern, it replaces the Admin → Users tab entirely. The Users tab usually looks like this:

…and with smd_user_manager installed it’s replaced by a User manager tab:

Each of the new buttons have their own pages, too. Groups allows you to manage users in groups:

…and these groups have privileges, which are set in Privs:

The privileges options allow an administrator (Publisher) to fine-tune which user groups can access which parts of the Textpattern administration area. A check in the checkbox indicates the group can perform a given task, such as view or edit content.

To add this functionality to your Textpattern installation, download the plugin from Stef’s website. It’ll look like this (snipped for brevity):

# Name: smd_user_manager v0.21
# Type: Admin/Public plugin
# Manage user accounts, groups and privileges
# Author: Stef Dawson
# URL: http://stefdawson.com/
# Recommended load order: 8
# .....................................................................
 # This is a plugin for Textpattern CMS - http://textpattern.com/
 # To install: textpattern > admin > plugins
 # Paste the following text into the 'Install plugin' box:
 # .....................................................................
YToxMjp7czo0OiJuYW1lIjtzOjE2OiJzbWRfdXNlcl9tYW5hZ2VyIjtzOjY6ImF1dGhvciI7
czoxMToiU3RlZiBEYXdzb24iO3M6MTA6ImF1dGhvcl91cmkiO3M6MjI6Imh0dHA6Ly9zdGVm
ZGF3c29uLmNvbS8iO3M6NzoidmVyc2lvbiI7czo0OiIwLjIxIjtzOjExOiJkZXNjcmlwdGlv
[...]
bWRfdW1fdGJsX3JlbW92ZWQgPT4gVGFibGVzIHN1cHByaW3DqWVzCnNtZF91bV91c2VyX2Nv
dW50ID0+IFV0aWxpc2F0ZXVycyBkZSBjZSBncm91cGUgOiZuYnNwOwpzbWRfdW1fdXNyX2xi
bCA9PiBVdGlsaXNhdGV1cnMiO30=

Throughout this short series I’ve included a snapshot of the plugin. It’s useful to check the plugin you’re installing as you go, especially if you have a bunch to do in succession.

Copy + paste the contents of the text file into the Admin → Plugins tab. Click or tap Upload to start the process, and then click or tap Confirm to set it up. When you are returned to the plugin list, click or tap No in the Active column to toggle activation, then visit Admin → User manager to see the good stuff.

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