Workspace Options

The WordPress admin area is flexible to allow you to organize your workspace to better suit your individual needs. While the default layout has been thoroughly tested to maximum efficiency, you may find that moving things around a little works better for you.

Your workspace is defined by WordPress “Metaboxes”. Metaboxes are all of the little (or big) white boxes that define certain functions, like selecting Categories, adding Tags or Publishing your content. Many metaboxes are located in your sidebar, while some are stacked in the main work area.

Collapse the WordPress Dashboard Menu

You can temporarily collapse the Dashboard Menu by clicking the Collapse Menu link located at the bottom of the menu. The menu will collapse into a single column of only icons so that you a have wider view of your workspace. (Fly-out menu options still function normally.) Expand the menu by clicking the expand icon at the bottom of your menu

Collapse or Expand Metaboxes

By default, most metaboxes are expanded, showing all of the options and fields they use. These can also be collapsed, by clicking the little up arrow located to the left of the metabox name. Clicking the up arrow collapses the box and hides the options, which simplifies your work area. Click the down arrow to expand the box.

Relocating Metaboxes

Most metaboxes can be relocated to a different area within your workspace, either in a different stacking order within the sidebar or the main editing areas, or from the sidebar into the main editing areas or from the main editing area into the sidebar. You can tell if a metabox can be reloacted by hovering over the metabox title bar. If your curser turns in to a multi-directional arrow, then you can click, drag and drop the metabox to a different location on your screen.

Screen Options

The Screen Options tab is located at the top of your Dashboard. Screen Options vary depending on what task you are performing, but often allow you to hide metaboxes and screen elements altogether. Learn more about Screen Options.

Screen Options sometimes give you to option to use a 1 or 2 column layout, and enable distraction free editing.

Page Builder Docking

When you use the Page Builder tools, the Page Builder is usually docked to the right side of your screen. You can un-dock and re-dock the Page Builder to the left side of your screen as well. Click and hold the handle at the top of the Page Builder, then drag it to the left of your screen. A colored indicator will display on the side of your screen letting you know to release the Page Builder to dock it on the opposite side of your screen.

Floating the Page Builder Tools

You can also choose to allow Page Builder tools to “float” above your workspce, rather than being docked. To float Page Builder tools, click and drag the Page Builder away from the side of your screen, then release the Page Builder in the middle of your workspace. The Page Builder will move back and stay on the side of your screen, but won’t be docked (note the drop shadow and spacing around it). But when you drag a row or module into your page, its editing tools will now float in your work area, also as a modal window. You can move the floating modal window around or resize it as needed by dragging its sides or corners.

Full Screen Page Builder Tools

If your Page Builder Tools are floated, you can also expand any tool by clicking the Full Sceeen icon at the top of the Module Title bar. This may be useful if your module has many options or you need a larger work area in the tool. Click the collapse icon to shrink the module back to the modal window.

Collapse the Page Builder

If your Page Builder is docked to either side of your screen, you can temporarily collapse it by clicking the collapse icon located at the bottom of your screen, indicating the direction of the collapse. The Page Builder will disappear so that you a have full screen view of your page. Expand the Page Builder again by clicking the expand icon at the bottom of your screen.