This topic contains detailed information about user levels for advanced SiteBlog users.
The User Level system is designed to give the blog owner the ability to control and assign what users can and cannot do in the blog. A blog owner must manage and allow access to such functions as writing and editing Posts, creating Pages, defining Links, creating Categories, moderating Comments, managing Plugins, and managing Themes,. The tool that gives the blog owner that control is the User Level; and, this article provides the details on those User Levels.
Levels and Users
The User Levels range from 0 to 10. A User Level 0 (zero) is the lowest possible Level and User Level 10 is the highest Level--meaning User Level 10 has absolute authority (highest permission level). Generally, a given User Level allows the user to edit or modify postings for users that are at a "lower" User Level than themselves.
The user assigned User Level 10 is the administrative user and is referred to as the admin user in this article.
Managing Users
A word of caution -- Raising User Levels gives that user increased access and capability. So, one should proceed with caution when promoting users and be aware of their increased privileges.
Managing Users as the "admin user"
The admin user (User Level 10) will see every user in a blog listed in the Authors and Registered Users sections of Administration > Users >Authors and Users Panel. The admin user can add, edit, delete, promote, and demote any user.
In the Authors section, each user has a value in the Level column ranging from 1 to 10. Except for users with User Levels 9 or 10, each user will have a minus sign (-) in front of their User Level and a plus sign (+) after their User Level. A user is demoted one User Level when the minus sign (-) is clicked; and, they are promoted one User Level when the plus sign (+) is clicked.
A user with User Level 9 will not display a plus sign (+) because one cannot promote a user beyond User Level 9. The User Level 10 user shows neither a minus nor a plus sign; that user cannot be promoted or demoted!
When a user with a User Level 1 is demoted, that user is moved from the Authors section down to the Registered Users section. Note: If you wish to delete a user listed in the Authors section, you must demote them to User Level 0 so they get moved down to the Registered Users section where they can be deleted.
Below the Authors section is the Registered Users section. All the users listed in the Registered Users section are User Level 0.. Each user listed in this section has a Promote choice under the Level column. When Registered Users are Promoted, their User Levels are increased to User Level 1; and, they are moved up to the Authors section. Also, only User Level 0 users can be deleted. So, if a Level 5 user needs to be deleted, that user needs to be demoted down to User Level 0 before they can be deleted.
User Level Capabilities
In the following sections, the Administration Panels and SubPanels accessible to a user of a given User Level are shown. New capabilities available starting at a specific User Level are highlighted in italics and are detailed at the end of each User Level section.
Again, the general principle is that a given User Level allows the user to edit or modify postings for users that are at a "lower" User Level than themselves.
Users that are created are automatically assigned User Level of 0.
User Level 0
• SiteBlog Admin Panel
• Users
o Your Profile
New capabilities allowed at this Level:
The lowest User Level is simply allowed to login, view the SiteBlog Admin Panel, and edit their own profile. That's it!
User Level 1
• SiteBlog Admin Panel
• Write
o Write Post - create Draft Posts only
• Manage
o Posts - Can edit and delete only their own Drafts and view other posts.
o Categories - View only
o Comments - View only including commenter's IP addresses
o Awaiting Moderation - Can only see the number of comments awaiting moderation. Cannot moderate.
• Users
o Your Profile
New capabilities allowed at this Level:
Users can submit Draft Posts for approval, as well as edit and delete their Drafts. Once a post is published by higher Level user, that post is not available for editing by the original User Level 1 author. In addition, this level is allowed to view other posts, Categories, and comments (including the commenter's IP address).
User Level 2
• SiteBlog Admin Panel
• Write
o Write Post
• Manage
o Posts
o Categories - View only
o Comments - View only including commenter's IP addresses
o Awaiting Moderation - Can only see the number of comments awaiting moderation.
• Users
o Your Profile
New capabilities allowed at this level:
At this Level, users can write Posts (Publish/Draft/Private) as well as edit, delete, and publish drafts from User Level 1 writers.
User Level 3
• SiteBlog Admin Panel
• Write
o Write Post
• Manage
o Posts
o Categories - View only
o Comments - View only including commenter's IP addresses
o Awaiting Moderation - Can only see the number of comments awaiting moderation.
• Users
o Your Profile
New capabilities allowed at this level:
The list of capabilities for User Level 3 is similar to User Level 2 except that User Level 3 is allowed to edit and delete posts written by both lower level users.
User Level 4
• SiteBlog Admin Panel
• Write
o Write Post
• Manage
o Posts
o Categories - Can add, edit, and delete.
o Comments
o Awaiting Moderation - Can moderate
• Users
o Your Profile
New capabilities allowed at this level:
A User Level 4 user is allowed to add, edit, and delete Categories, as well as moderate comments.
User Level 5
• Write
o Write Post
• Manage
o Posts - Can edit timestamps
o Categories
o Comments
o Awaiting Moderation
• Links
o Manage Links - Can only edit and delete the user's own links
o Add Links
o Link Categories - Can add, edit, and delete any Link Category
• Users
o Your Profile
New capabilities allowed at this level:
Beginning with this Level, the timestamp on posts eligible for editing is visible and changeable. A number of other abilities are allowed for the User Level 5 user, including being able to add, edit, and delete Links they've created. Also, this User Level can add, change, and delete any Link Category.
User Level 6
• SiteBlog Admin Panel
• Write
o Write Post
• Manage
o Posts
o Categories
o Comments
o Awaiting Moderation
• Links
o Manage Links - Can edit or delete the user's own Links and those of lower level (User Level 5) users
o Add Links
o Link Categories
• Users
o Your Profile
• Options
o General
o Writing
o Reading
o Discussion
New capabilities allowed at this level:
User Level 6 is allowed to edit or delete the Links created by User Level 5 authors,. At this Level, all Options Panels can be viewed and changed,
User Level 7
• SiteBlog Admin Panel
• Write
o Write Post
• Manage
o Posts
o Categories.
o Comments
o Awaiting Moderation
• Links
o Manage Links - Can edit or delete the user's own Links and those of lower level users
o Add Links
o Link Categories
• Users
o Your Profile
• Options
o General
o Writing
o Reading
o Discussion
New capabilities allowed at this level:
The list of capabilities for User Level 7 match those of User Level 6 but of course this level allows editing and deleting of Posts, and Links of users at or below User Level 6.
User Level 8
• Write
o Write Post
o Write Page
• Manage
o Posts
o Pages - Can edit and delete those Pages written by the user and those of lower levels
o Categories.
o Comments
o Awaiting Moderation
• Links
o Manage Links - Can edit or delete the user's own Links and those of lower level users
o Add Links
o Link Categories
o Import Links
• Templates and Customize Template are available starting at Level 8
• Users
o Your Profile
• Options
o General
o Writing
o Reading
o Discussion
New capabilities allowed at this level:
User Level 8 is allowed to activate Templates, use the Customize Templates screen to edit Templates,
User Levels 9 and 10
The list of capabilities for User Levels 9 and 10 match those of User Level 8.
Levels 9 and 10 can edit and delete Posts or Links of lower level authors.
The Level 10 administrator can edit, delete, promote, and demote a users at a lower User Level.
The admin user is the only account with User Level 10, and is the only account that can create additional users.