Why do Add-ons put data entry in the Dashboard?

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Why is data entry and maintenance for many relatively simple Add-on packages on the backend, dashboard? I want a data entry person with minimal administrator abilities to update these Add-ons. Editing Blocks on the front end is easy and a main point of C5. So, I don't understand the advantage, reason, the Add-on developers go away from that ease-of-use idea and make data entry clerks go into the dashboard areana. Please clarify the stategy here for me. Am I making things harder than they need to be? Thank you.

It also seems to make my job harder because I have to do a lot more security setup work to protect the site, that is the dashboard. Having them go to the dashboard opens up a whole lot of training and security issues for me. Am I missing something here? Is it common practice to have data entry people go to the dashboard to maintain data?

 
ryan replied on at Permalink Reply
ryan
Which add-ons are you referring to?
I'll typically place things in the dashboard if they:
- are a configuration option that's site-wide
- have no display layer that would make sense in a block interface
- have some repetitive entry process that you'd typically do all at once - like adding products in ecommerce.
luns4d replied on at Permalink Reply
Seems like I have seen it in a fair number of Addons. Most recently In those related to "reviews" and "Testimonials."

The logic you describe sounds good. Interesting the expected skill-level of the data entry person or security exposure is not in the consideration process.

I have concern letting people into the dashboard. I don't get the since that others feel the same way.
Mnkras replied on at Permalink Reply
Mnkras
Just set the permissions for the dashboard pages you want them to be able to see.

Its not overly complicated,
ryan replied on at Permalink Best Answer Reply
ryan
If you open up the sitemap, click "show system pages" then navigate through the dashboard pages, click whichever page you'd like to grant access to and then click permissions.
luns4d replied on at Permalink Reply
I was working on the premise that I wanted the C5 bar to appear at the top of the web pages with the Dashboard icon. Navigate from there.

Now I think I get it.

Set permissions on the Dashboard page(s) I want. Link to the desired dashboard pages from a "regular" page I create. Set permissions on the regular page to show what I want to those with permissions at the block or whatever level. Tried it, works great.

I could do it with the dashboard display as I originally thought but it sounds like a lot more work, changing permissions all over the place.

Great. Thanks for hanging in there with me.