The Admin Menu module uses javascript and css to create a dynamic administrative menu bar at the top of every page on your site. You can decide which users can utilize the menu bar via the module's permissions. In addition to providing virtually all of the administrative links, it also has handy links for running cron, clearing caches, disabling developer modules, drupal.org, and accessing the "my account" page.
Stats
- Learning curve: none
- Resources:
What is more fun? Drilling down into your site's administrative area page-by-page or sticking needles in your eyes? Wait - don't answer yet; I'll give you a third option - how about memorizing Drupal's admin area URLs in an effort to avoid the dreaded page refresh? (all those guilty of the third option raise your hands - me included)
Well, there's something better. Much much better. "Better" the way my Apple iPhone is better than my old Motorola RAZR. It's called "Administration Menu" and it rocks. It gets installed on every Drupal site I build, no exceptions.
It's a fast download, and once enabled it requires no configuration at all if all you want is for your main administrative user (User ID = 1) to have access to it. Want more users to have access to it? Easy - use Drupal's permissions page and give permission to additional user roles.
The only small issue I've ever had with this module is with its caching mechanism. When adding and deleting new modules, sometimes you have to clear its cache to allow it to rebuild the menu. You can do this from the Administration Menu itself (under the Drupalicon|Flush all caches) or by clicking the "Wipe and Rebuild" button on the settings page. Big deal. Now that you know its weakness, it is powerless against you.
Don't wait. Download and enable this module. Go.