Adding a single text input field to a custom Dashboard widget

Question

I have a client whom I want to give as much Dashboard control over the admin area as possible. I know how to create a custom dashboard widget that contains just text/html but I have no idea how to create one that contains just a single text input field.

Adding the form html would be straightforward I can see that but I don't know:

1. Where to submit the form data too
2. How to redirect back to the Dashboard after the form is submitted
3. How to retrieve the value in my non-admin theme templates

Answer 1

You need a set of functions to :

• process datas
• sanitize options
• allow datas to be updated
• output the form

I like to proceed this way. I set also a function to grab datas so I can call them the simpliest way :

add_action('wp_dashboard_setup', 'wpse_106458_add_widget');

function wpse_106458_add_widget() {

  $title = my_function_get_options();
  $title = $title['title'];

  wp_add_dashboard_widget('widget_id', $title, 'callback_output', 'widget_control' );
}

Hope it helps.

EDIT: I wrap it with this :

if ( is_admin() || ( !defined( 'DOING_AJAX' ) || !DOING_AJAX ) ) {/* code goes here */}

This allows to apply code only where it's necessary.