This has been bugging me for weeks.
I tend to use a single decent sized monitor for most of my web design work. On it, every WordPress install gives me two columns of very large dashboard blocks that makes appallingly poor use of the available space. So much so that with a number blocks expanded to their full size, much of the information is off the bottom of the screen meaning I have to scroll down for it. Sort of negates the idea of a ‘dashboard’ if you have to go looking for the info.
I do have one site that for some reason has three columns and it made much better use of the available space. I wanted to recreate this on my other installs but couldn’t find out how. I searched every control in the menu structure, looked at the code that drove the dashboard but nothing came up. How on earth did this one site have three columns and not two?
Prior to WordPress 3.8 there was an option to choose the number of columns present in the dashboard but 3.8 saw this disappear. Admittedly, there are plug ins that allow you to take control over the dashboard but I’ve discovered something easier, simpler and so obvious I’ve been kicking myself since I found it.
Most browsers allow you to zoom in / out. On my personal favourite browser – Chrome (and I’m pretty sure it is the same in others too), it is CTRL + / CTRL –
Well, if you zoom out to 90%, such a small change in font size you will barely notice it, it gives just enough room to fit three columns across the dashboard. Voila, everything in view, all at the same time and no need to scroll.
Give it a try. If you have a reasonable amount of space on screen when working on a WordPress site, why not make the best use of it.
Nick has web design experience spanning two centuries (well his first page was in 1998)! He is passionate about helping smaller businesses and new ventures make their mark on the web. As well as a web designer he has spent time as a management consultant and business coach and brings these skills to help customers excel. When not designing websites he is likely to be in the mountains be it skiing, climbing or just taking photos of awe inspiring scenery.