Modern admin dashboard

**retched** · 6 Feb 2026, 07:55 PM

Small question, I had a module that was being loaded in via notifiers... I don't see it up here. Where did it go?

**retched** · 6 Feb 2026, 08:26 PM

Just a note: the admin/includes/functions/general.php undoes a change that moves that delete function to the orders class I submitted into 2.2.0

**balihr** · 6 Feb 2026, 10:28 PM

Originally Posted by retched

Small question, I had a module that was being loaded in via notifiers... I don't see it up here. Where did it go?

I'll assume you're talking about NOTIFY_ADMIN_DASHBOARD_WIDGETS, correct? Since I haven't seen ANY plugins ever that use that observer, I'm guessing it's something custom-built. You'll need to modify that observer because we're no longer adding to the $widgets[], but instead you need to define which zone it goes to.
Old code:

Code:

$zco_notifier->notify('NOTIFY_ADMIN_DASHBOARD_WIDGETS', null, $widgets);

New code:

Code:

$zco_notifier->notify('NOTIFY_ADMIN_DASHBOARD_ZONES', null, $zones);

You have the following zones: main, sidebar and bottom.

Also, I would suggest downloading the plugin from Github as it contains A LOT of improvements.

**balihr** · 6 Feb 2026, 10:35 PM

Originally Posted by retched

Just a note: the admin/includes/functions/general.php undoes a change that moves that delete function to the orders class I submitted into 2.2.0

The plugin that's submitted here is for version 2.1.0, definitely NOT for 2.2.0.
There ARE some differences between the 2 version, and I was hoping for the changes to go into core, thus the 2.2.0 version is only as a PR on Github. The file you mentioned is modified for order status color coding, and if I'm not mistaken, it does contain your changes: https://github.com/zencart/zencart/p...7f839cc96cf85e

The PR is currently on hold since Scott mentioned we'll discuss it later on. So, when I get some feedback and a go-ahead with changes expected, I'll update the PR to match the current state of the plugin for 2.1.0.

**retched** · 6 Feb 2026, 11:24 PM

Originally Posted by balihr

I'll assume you're talking about NOTIFY_ADMIN_DASHBOARD_WIDGETS, correct? Since I haven't seen ANY plugins ever that use that observer, I'm guessing it's something custom-built. You'll need to modify that observer because we're no longer adding to the $widgets[], but instead you need to define which zone it goes to.
Old code:

Code:

$zco_notifier->notify('NOTIFY_ADMIN_DASHBOARD_WIDGETS', null, $widgets);

New code:

Code:

$zco_notifier->notify('NOTIFY_ADMIN_DASHBOARD_ZONES', null, $zones);

You have the following zones: main, sidebar and bottom.

Also, I would suggest downloading the plugin from Github as it contains A LOT of improvements.

There's one plugin that uses that notifier, the one I co-wrote (AbuseIPDB). It adds a widget to the dashboard for triggering boosted API limits for the AbuseIPDB API. But that can be changed (and modified) to handle both.

**balihr** · 7 Feb 2026, 12:10 AM

Ah, I had no idea, I don't use that plugin...

Since the dashboard now has a completely different structure, the old observer won't work, obviously.

I have to leave now, but I did download the plugin and I can see the admin observer and yes, there are changes needed there. Let me get back to you tomorrow with an updated observer.

**lat9** · 7 Feb 2026, 02:31 PM

Originally Posted by balihr

Ah, I had no idea, I don't use that plugin...

Since the dashboard now has a completely different structure, the old observer won't work, obviously.

I have to leave now, but I did download the plugin and I can see the admin observer and yes, there are changes needed there. Let me get back to you tomorrow with an updated observer.

I'll note that there's no harm, IMO, in leaving the original widget notification and adding the zone notification.

**retched** · 7 Feb 2026, 05:47 PM

Originally Posted by lat9

I'll note that there's no harm, IMO, in leaving the original widget notification and adding the zone notification.

Oh no that was my general idea. To make two separate notifiers. One for the original layout and one for the new one.

**balihr** · 7 Feb 2026, 08:35 PM

Mind if I ask what's the point of leaving both notifiers? Either way, the observer needs to be modified to return now completely different code, so what's the gain in leaving the old notifier next to the new one in index_dashboard.php? I would understand leaving both in the observer files of a plugin so it can attach to either version of the dashboard, but leaving both notifiers could IMO just cause confusion and possibly issues down the road. Or am I missing something here because my coffee hasn't kicked in yet?

Here's an updated admin observer for AbuseIPDB plugin:

Code:

<?php
/**
 * Module: AbuseIPDB
 *
 * @requires    Zen Cart 2.1.0 or later, PHP 7.4+ (recommended: PHP 8.x)
 * @author      Marcopolo
 * @copyright   2023-2025
 * @license     GNU General Public License (GPL) - https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.html
 * @version     4.0.5
 * @updated     07-Feb-2026 (Modern Admin Dashboard)
 * @github      https://github.com/CcMarc/AbuseIPDB
 */


class zcObserverAbuseIPDBWidget extends base
{
    function __construct()
    {
        $this->attach($this, array(
            'NOTIFY_ADMIN_DASHBOARD_ZONES',   // Modern Admin Dashboard
            'NOTIFY_ADMIN_DASHBOARD_WIDGETS'  // Legacy Dashboard
        ));
    }

    private function getPluginConfig()
    {
        if (!defined('ABUSEIPDB_WIDGET_ENABLED') || ABUSEIPDB_WIDGET_ENABLED !== 'true') {
            return false;
        }

        global $db;

        $version_sql = $db->execute("SELECT version FROM " . TABLE_PLUGIN_CONTROL . " WHERE unique_key = 'AbuseIPDB'");
        if ($version_sql->EOF) return false;
        $version = $version_sql->fields["version"];

        $session_rate_limit_enabled = false;
        $session_setting = $db->Execute("SELECT configuration_value FROM " . TABLE_CONFIGURATION . " WHERE configuration_key = 'ABUSEIPDB_SESSION_RATE_LIMIT_ENABLED'");
        if (!$session_setting->EOF && $session_setting->fields['configuration_value'] === 'true') {
            $session_rate_limit_enabled = true;
        }

        return [$version, $session_rate_limit_enabled];
    }

    /**
     * handler for Modern Admin Dashboard
     */
    public function updateNotifyAdminDashboardZones(&$class, $eventID, $empty, &$zones)
    {
        $config = $this->getPluginConfig();
        if (!$config) return;

        list($version, $session_rate_limit_enabled) = $config;

        $widget_filename = 'AbuseIPDBDashboardWidget.php';
        $widget_path = DIR_FS_CATALOG . "zc_plugins/AbuseIPDB/$version/admin/includes/modules/dashboard_widgets/$widget_filename";

        $found = false;

        // scan ALL zones. If widget found, update it to the full path
        foreach ($zones as $zone_name => &$widgets_list) {
            if (!is_array($widgets_list)) continue;

            foreach ($widgets_list as $key => &$val) {
                if (basename($val) === $widget_filename) {
                    $found = true;
                    // overwrite the simple filename with the full plugin path
                    $val = $widget_path;
                }
            }
        }

        // inject if NOT found anywhere
        if (!$found) {
            if ($session_rate_limit_enabled) {
                // sidebar
                if (!isset($zones['sidebar'])) $zones['sidebar'] = [];
                array_unshift($zones['sidebar'], $widget_path);
            } else {
                // main
                if (!isset($zones['main'])) $zones['main'] = [];
                $zones['main'][] = $widget_path;
            }
        }
    }

    /**
     * handler for Legacy Dashboard
     */
    public function updateNotifyAdminDashboardWidgets(&$class, $eventID, $empty, &$widgets)
    {
        $config = $this->getPluginConfig();
        if (!$config) return;

        list($version, $session_rate_limit_enabled) = $config;

        $widget_path = DIR_FS_CATALOG . "zc_plugins/AbuseIPDB/$version/admin/includes/modules/dashboard_widgets/AbuseIPDBDashboardWidget.php";

        if ($session_rate_limit_enabled) {
            // Place widget in column 3 (right), at the top
            $filteredWidgets = array_filter($widgets, function($item) {
                return $item['column'] === 3;
            });
            $sortValues = array_column($filteredWidgets, 'sort');
            $minSort = empty($sortValues) ? 10 : min($sortValues) - 10;
            $minSort = max(10, $minSort);

            $widgets[] = [
                'column' => 3,
                'sort' => $minSort,
                'visible' => true,
                'path' => $widget_path
            ];
        } else {
            // Place widget in column 1 (left), at the bottom
            $filteredWidgets = array_filter($widgets, function($item) {
                return $item['column'] === 1;
            });
            $sortValues = array_column($filteredWidgets, 'sort');
            $maxSort = empty($sortValues) ? 10 : max($sortValues) + 10;

            $widgets[] = [
                'column' => 1,
                'sort' => $maxSort,
                'visible' => true,
                'path' => $widget_path
            ];
        }
    }
}

There's also a required change in index_dashboard.php (simply replace the current render_zone() function:

Code:

function render_zone($zone_name, $widgets_array)
{
    global $db, $currencies, $show_status_pills, $target_status_ids, $sniffer, $zco_notifier, $messageStack; // Globals needed inside widgets

    echo '<ul id="zone-' . $zone_name . '" class="sortable-list list-unstyled row" style="min-height: 200px; padding-bottom: 50px;">';

    foreach ($widgets_array as $widget_file) {
        $path = '';

        // check if this is an Encapsulated Plugin (absolute path provided)
        if (file_exists($widget_file)) {
            $path = $widget_file;
        }
        // treat as Core Widget (relative filename provided)
        else {
            $path = DIR_WS_MODULES . 'dashboard_widgets/' . $widget_file;
        }

        if (file_exists($path)) {

            $widget_name = basename($path);

            $col_class = 'col-md-12';

            if ($zone_name == 'bottom') {
                if ($widget_name == 'TrafficDashboardWidget.php') {
                    $col_class = 'col-xs-12 col-md-6'; // traffic gets half width
                } else {
                    $col_class = 'col-xs-12 col-md-3'; // others get quarter width
                }
            }

            // data-markers for JS
            $data_attr = 'data-id="' . $widget_name . '"';
            $li_class = $col_class . ' widget-li';

            // Traffic widget - prevent it moving to sidebar
            if ($widget_name == 'TrafficDashboardWidget.php') {
                $li_class .= ' locked-bottom';
            }

            echo '<li class="' . $li_class . '" ' . $data_attr . '>';
            include $path;
            echo '</li>';
        }
    }
    echo '</ul>';
}

Please let me know how you feel about this before I update the plugin on github. THX

**lat9** · 8 Feb 2026, 02:05 PM

Originally Posted by balihr

Mind if I ask what's the point of leaving both notifiers? Either way, the observer needs to be modified to return now completely different code, so what's the gain in leaving the old notifier next to the new one in index_dashboard.php? I would understand leaving both in the observer files of a plugin so it can attach to either version of the dashboard, but leaving both notifiers could IMO just cause confusion and possibly issues down the road. Or am I missing something here because my coffee hasn't kicked in yet?

Here's an updated admin observer for AbuseIPDB plugin:

Code:

<?php
/**
 * Module: AbuseIPDB
 *
 * @requires    Zen Cart 2.1.0 or later, PHP 7.4+ (recommended: PHP 8.x)
 * @author      Marcopolo
 * @copyright   2023-2025
 * @license     GNU General Public License (GPL) - https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.html
 * @version     4.0.5
 * @updated     07-Feb-2026 (Modern Admin Dashboard)
 * @github      https://github.com/CcMarc/AbuseIPDB
 */


class zcObserverAbuseIPDBWidget extends base
{
    function __construct()
    {
        $this->attach($this, array(
            'NOTIFY_ADMIN_DASHBOARD_ZONES',   // Modern Admin Dashboard
            'NOTIFY_ADMIN_DASHBOARD_WIDGETS'  // Legacy Dashboard
        ));
    }

    private function getPluginConfig()
    {
        if (!defined('ABUSEIPDB_WIDGET_ENABLED') || ABUSEIPDB_WIDGET_ENABLED !== 'true') {
            return false;
        }

        global $db;

        $version_sql = $db->execute("SELECT version FROM " . TABLE_PLUGIN_CONTROL . " WHERE unique_key = 'AbuseIPDB'");
        if ($version_sql->EOF) return false;
        $version = $version_sql->fields["version"];

        $session_rate_limit_enabled = false;
        $session_setting = $db->Execute("SELECT configuration_value FROM " . TABLE_CONFIGURATION . " WHERE configuration_key = 'ABUSEIPDB_SESSION_RATE_LIMIT_ENABLED'");
        if (!$session_setting->EOF && $session_setting->fields['configuration_value'] === 'true') {
            $session_rate_limit_enabled = true;
        }

        return [$version, $session_rate_limit_enabled];
    }

    /**
     * handler for Modern Admin Dashboard
     */
    public function updateNotifyAdminDashboardZones(&$class, $eventID, $empty, &$zones)
    {
        $config = $this->getPluginConfig();
        if (!$config) return;

        list($version, $session_rate_limit_enabled) = $config;

        $widget_filename = 'AbuseIPDBDashboardWidget.php';
        $widget_path = DIR_FS_CATALOG . "zc_plugins/AbuseIPDB/$version/admin/includes/modules/dashboard_widgets/$widget_filename";

        $found = false;

        // scan ALL zones. If widget found, update it to the full path
        foreach ($zones as $zone_name => &$widgets_list) {
            if (!is_array($widgets_list)) continue;

            foreach ($widgets_list as $key => &$val) {
                if (basename($val) === $widget_filename) {
                    $found = true;
                    // overwrite the simple filename with the full plugin path
                    $val = $widget_path;
                }
            }
        }

        // inject if NOT found anywhere
        if (!$found) {
            if ($session_rate_limit_enabled) {
                // sidebar
                if (!isset($zones['sidebar'])) $zones['sidebar'] = [];
                array_unshift($zones['sidebar'], $widget_path);
            } else {
                // main
                if (!isset($zones['main'])) $zones['main'] = [];
                $zones['main'][] = $widget_path;
            }
        }
    }

    /**
     * handler for Legacy Dashboard
     */
    public function updateNotifyAdminDashboardWidgets(&$class, $eventID, $empty, &$widgets)
    {
        $config = $this->getPluginConfig();
        if (!$config) return;

        list($version, $session_rate_limit_enabled) = $config;

        $widget_path = DIR_FS_CATALOG . "zc_plugins/AbuseIPDB/$version/admin/includes/modules/dashboard_widgets/AbuseIPDBDashboardWidget.php";

        if ($session_rate_limit_enabled) {
            // Place widget in column 3 (right), at the top
            $filteredWidgets = array_filter($widgets, function($item) {
                return $item['column'] === 3;
            });
            $sortValues = array_column($filteredWidgets, 'sort');
            $minSort = empty($sortValues) ? 10 : min($sortValues) - 10;
            $minSort = max(10, $minSort);

            $widgets[] = [
                'column' => 3,
                'sort' => $minSort,
                'visible' => true,
                'path' => $widget_path
            ];
        } else {
            // Place widget in column 1 (left), at the bottom
            $filteredWidgets = array_filter($widgets, function($item) {
                return $item['column'] === 1;
            });
            $sortValues = array_column($filteredWidgets, 'sort');
            $maxSort = empty($sortValues) ? 10 : max($sortValues) + 10;

            $widgets[] = [
                'column' => 1,
                'sort' => $maxSort,
                'visible' => true,
                'path' => $widget_path
            ];
        }
    }
}

There's also a required change in index_dashboard.php (simply replace the current render_zone() function:

Code:

function render_zone($zone_name, $widgets_array)
{
    global $db, $currencies, $show_status_pills, $target_status_ids, $sniffer, $zco_notifier, $messageStack; // Globals needed inside widgets

    echo '<ul id="zone-' . $zone_name . '" class="sortable-list list-unstyled row" style="min-height: 200px; padding-bottom: 50px;">';

    foreach ($widgets_array as $widget_file) {
        $path = '';

        // check if this is an Encapsulated Plugin (absolute path provided)
        if (file_exists($widget_file)) {
            $path = $widget_file;
        }
        // treat as Core Widget (relative filename provided)
        else {
            $path = DIR_WS_MODULES . 'dashboard_widgets/' . $widget_file;
        }

        if (file_exists($path)) {

            $widget_name = basename($path);

            $col_class = 'col-md-12';

            if ($zone_name == 'bottom') {
                if ($widget_name == 'TrafficDashboardWidget.php') {
                    $col_class = 'col-xs-12 col-md-6'; // traffic gets half width
                } else {
                    $col_class = 'col-xs-12 col-md-3'; // others get quarter width
                }
            }

            // data-markers for JS
            $data_attr = 'data-id="' . $widget_name . '"';
            $li_class = $col_class . ' widget-li';

            // Traffic widget - prevent it moving to sidebar
            if ($widget_name == 'TrafficDashboardWidget.php') {
                $li_class .= ' locked-bottom';
            }

            echo '<li class="' . $li_class . '" ' . $data_attr . '>';
            include $path;
            echo '</li>';
        }
    }
    echo '</ul>';
}

Please let me know how you feel about this before I update the plugin on github. THX

It's called backwards compatibility, so that plugins that use the "old" notifier don't need to change.

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