Shortcodes

[wpdm_frontend] – Author Dashboard

5 min read Updated Apr 21, 2026

Create a complete front-end dashboard where users can upload, manage, and publish download packages without accessing the WordPress admin. Perfect for multi-author sites, marketplaces, and membership platforms.

Author Dashboard Setup

Frontend Access

Before enabling the frontend dashboard, you must define which user roles can create packages.

Steps:

  1. Navigate to Downloads → Settings → Frontend → Author Dashboard
  2. Select the user roles allowed to create packages from the frontend
  3. Click Save Changes

Create the Frontend Author Dashboard Page

To enable the frontend interface, create a new page and add the required shortcode.

Steps:

  1. Go to Pages → Add New
  2. Enter a page title (e.g., Frontend Dashboard)
  3. Add the following shortcode to the content area:
[wpdm_frontend]
  1. Click Publish or Save

Optional: Hide Specific Fields

You can hide certain options from the frontend dashboard using the hide parameter.

Example:

[wpdm_frontend hide="settings,images,cats,tags"]

This hides:

  • Settings
  • Images
  • Categories
  • Tags

Access the Frontend Dashboard

Once the page is published, users with the permitted roles can access the frontend dashboard.

Dashboard Overview

  • The left sidebar contains multiple tabs for navigation
  • The All Items tab displays all available packages
  • Users can:
    • View all packages
    • Filter to see only their own packages
    • Use the search option to find specific packages quickly

Create a New Package

Users can create and manage packages directly from the frontend Author dashboard.

Steps:

  1. Click on Add New Package
  2. Enter a Title and Description
  3. Upload the file
  4. Select Categories and Tags
  5. Set the Version
  6. Choose the Access Level (who can download the file)
  7. Select a Link Template and Page Template
  8. Apply protection if needed

Save or Publish

After entering all details:

  • Click Create Package to publish immediately
  • Or save the package as a Draft for later editing

Once you submit the package, a popup will appear with three options:

  • Continue – Returns you to the current dashboard view, where you can keep managing your existing packages
  • Add New – Takes you directly to the package creation form to quickly create another package
  • View – Opens the package details page so you can see how it appears to users

Frontend Settings Overview

You can further customize frontend behavior from: Downloads → Settings → Frontend Access

Key Settings

  1. Package Status on Creation
    • Choose whether packages are published instantly or saved as Pending Review
  2. Allowed File Types
    • Define which file formats users can upload
  3. Maximum Upload Size
    • Set a file size limit for uploads
  4. Notification Settings
    • Disable if you do not want notifications for frontend submissions
  5. Frontend Admin Role
    • Assign a role to manage frontend submissions
  6. Author Dashboard Page
    • Select the page where you added the [wpdm_frontend] shortcode

Video Tutorial

Usage Examples

Basic Dashboard

[wpdm_frontend]

Simplified Interface

Hide advanced options for a cleaner interface:

[wpdm_frontend hide="settings,images,cats,tags"]

Hide Only Categories

[wpdm_frontend hide="cats"]

Hide Parameter Options

Value Effect
settings Hides the package settings metabox (access control, download limits, etc.)
images Hides the preview images upload section
cats Hides category selection dropdown
tags Hides tags input field

Dashboard Features

The frontend author dashboard provides:

  • Dashboard – Including stats like total products, downloads, views, and sales.
  • Package List – View and manage all uploaded packages
  • Sales : An overview of sales
  • Add New Package – Upload files and configure package details
  • Edit Packages – Modify existing package settings
  • Edit Profile – View and modify profile information

Practical Use Cases: Where Frontend Uploads Shine

Online Course Platform (Multi-Instructor Website)

Imagine you’re running an online learning platform where multiple instructors upload course materials.

How it works:

  • Each instructor has a registered account (e.g., Author or Contributor role)
  • They access the frontend dashboard instead of the WordPress admin
  • Instructors upload:
    • Course PDFs
    • Video lessons
    • Assignment files
  • They can organize content using categories and tags (e.g., Course Name, Module)
  • Access levels can restrict downloads to enrolled students only

Why this is useful:

  • Instructors don’t need backend access (reduces complexity and risk)
  • Site owners maintain control over publishing (using Pending Review)
  • Clean and user-friendly experience for non-technical users

Digital Marketplace (User-Generated Downloads)

Suppose you’re building a marketplace where users can sell or share digital products like themes, plugins, music, or design assets.

How it works:

  • Vendors sign up and get access to the frontend dashboard
  • They create and upload their own downloadable products
  • Each package includes:
    • Product description
    • Preview images
    • Downloadable files
  • Vendors can:
    • Update versions of their products
    • Manage their own listings
  • Admin can review submissions before publishing

Why this is useful:

  • Scales easily with multiple contributors
  • No need to give vendors admin access
  • Streamlined submission process improves user participation

Tips

  • Create a dedicated page for the author dashboard
  • Use hide to simplify the interface for non-technical users
  • Combine with role-based access control for moderated submissions
  • Authors can only see and edit their own packages

Related

 

View Live Demo

Demo credentials: demo / demo