How do you create a basic WordPress admin pointer?

I have been looking around for quite awhile now and all I have found are tutorials from 3-4 years ago that explain how to do a pointer tour. All I want to do is add a pointer that pops up when someone activates my plugin so that I can notify them of a new menu option where they will go to view my plugin settings. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

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2 comments

  1. Pointers in WP need 3 components:

    1: wp-pointer css file

    2: wp-pointer JS file

    3: A JavaScript snippet

    To 1 and 2

    include them simply with:

    wp_enqueue_style( 'wp-pointer' );
    

    and

    wp_enqueue_script( 'wp-pointer' );
    

    The JS code:

        <script type="text/javascript">
        (function($){
            var options = {"content":"<h3>Personal Data and Privacy</h3><h4>Personal Data Export and Erasure</h4><p>New <strong>Tools</strong> have been added to help you with personal data export and erasure requests.</p><h4>Privacy Policy</h4><p>Create or select your site&#8217;s privacy policy page under <strong>Settings &gt; Privacy</strong> to keep your users informed and aware.</p>","position":{"edge":"left","align":"bottom"},"pointerClass":"wp-pointer arrow-bottom","pointerWidth":420}, setup;
    
            if ( ! options )
                return;
    
            options = $.extend( options, {
                close: function() {
                    $.post( ajaxurl, {
                        pointer: 'wp500_isrc_pointer',
                        action: 'dismiss-wp-pointer'
                    });
                }
            });
    
            setup = function() {
                $('#menu-settings').first().pointer( options ).pointer('open');
            };
    
            if ( options.position && options.position.defer_loading )
                $(window).bind( 'load.wp-pointers', setup );
            else
                $(document).ready( setup );
    
        })( jQuery );
        </script>
    

    Of Course you need to wrap all them in a php file to check the user capabilities and check the dismiss from the users meta.

    I have copied the WP pointer class in wp-admin/includes/class-wp-internal-pointers and made a custom one from it.

    Here the complete code which i can call it with an action hook like:

    add_action( 'admin_enqueue_scripts', array( 'isrc_Internal_Pointers', 'enqueue_scripts') );
    add_action( 'user_register',array( 'isrc_Internal_Pointers', 'dismiss_pointers_for_new_users' ) );
    

    The Full PHP file (include it in your code and call the 2 actions):

    <?php
    /**
     * Administration API: WP_Internal_Pointers class
     *
     * @package WordPress
     * @subpackage Administration
     * @since 4.4.0
     */
    
    /**
     * Core class used to implement an internal admin pointers API.
     *
     * @since 3.3.0
     */
    final class isrc_Internal_Pointers {
    
        /**
         * Initializes the new feature pointers.
         *
         * @since 3.3.0
         *
         * All pointers can be disabled using the following:
         *     remove_action( 'admin_enqueue_scripts', array( 'WP_Internal_Pointers', 'enqueue_scripts' ) );
         *
         * Individual pointers (e.g. wp390_widgets) can be disabled using the following:
         *     remove_action( 'admin_print_footer_scripts', array( 'WP_Internal_Pointers', 'pointer_wp390_widgets' ) );
         *
         * @static
         *
         * @param string $hook_suffix The current admin page.
         */
        public static function enqueue_scripts( $hook_suffix ) {
            /*
             * Register feature pointers
             *
             * Format:
             *     array(
             *         hook_suffix => pointer callback
             *     )
             *
             * Example:
             *     array(
             *         'themes.php' => 'wp390_widgets'
             *     )
             */
            $registered_pointers = array(
                'index.php' => 'wp500_isrc_pointer',
            );
    
            // Check if screen related pointer is registered
            if ( empty( $registered_pointers[ $hook_suffix ] ) )
                return;
    
            $pointers = (array) $registered_pointers[ $hook_suffix ];
            /*
             * Specify required capabilities for feature pointers
             *
             * Format:
             *     array(
             *         pointer callback => Array of required capabilities
             *     )
             *
             * Example:
             *     array(
             *         'wp390_widgets' => array( 'edit_theme_options' )
             *     )
             */
            $caps_required = array(
                'wp500_isrc_pointer' => array(
                    'install_plugins'
                ),
            );
    
            // Get dismissed pointers
            $dismissed = explode( ',', (string) get_user_meta( get_current_user_id(), 'dismissed_wp_pointers', true ) );
    
            $got_pointers = false;
            foreach ( array_diff( $pointers, $dismissed ) as $pointer ) {
                if ( isset( $caps_required[ $pointer ] ) ) {
                    foreach ( $caps_required[ $pointer ] as $cap ) {
                        if ( ! current_user_can( $cap ) )
                            continue 2;
                    }
                }
    
                // Bind pointer print function
                add_action( 'admin_print_footer_scripts', array( 'isrc_Internal_Pointers', 'pointer_'.$pointer ) );
                $got_pointers = true;
            }
    
            if ( ! $got_pointers )
                return;
    
            // Add pointers script and style to queue
            wp_enqueue_style( 'wp-pointer' );
            wp_enqueue_script( 'wp-pointer' );
        }
    
        /**
         * Print the pointer JavaScript data.
         *
         * @since 3.3.0
         *
         * @static
         *
         * @param string $pointer_id The pointer ID.
         * @param string $selector The HTML elements, on which the pointer should be attached.
         * @param array  $args Arguments to be passed to the pointer JS (see wp-pointer.js).
         */
        private static function print_js( $pointer_id, $selector, $args ) {
            if ( empty( $pointer_id ) || empty( $selector ) || empty( $args ) || empty( $args['content'] ) )
                return;
    
            ?>
            <script type="text/javascript">
            (function($){
                var options = <?php echo wp_json_encode( $args ); ?>, setup;
    
                if ( ! options )
                    return;
    
                options = $.extend( options, {
                    close: function() {
                        $.post( ajaxurl, {
                            pointer: '<?php echo $pointer_id; ?>',
                            action: 'dismiss-wp-pointer'
                        });
                    }
                });
    
                setup = function() {
                    $('<?php echo $selector; ?>').first().pointer( options ).pointer('open');
                };
    
                if ( options.position && options.position.defer_loading )
                    $(window).bind( 'load.wp-pointers', setup );
                else
                    $(document).ready( setup );
    
            })( jQuery );
            </script>
            <?php
        }
    
    
        /**
         * Display a pointer for wp500_isrc_pointer
         *
         * @since 4.9.6
         */
        public static function pointer_wp500_isrc_pointer() {
            $content  = '<h3>' . __( 'Personal Data and Privacy' ) . '</h3>';
            $content .= '<h4>' . __( 'Personal Data Export and Erasure' ) . '</h4>';
            $content .= '<p>' . __( 'New <strong>Tools</strong> have been added to help you with personal data export and erasure requests.' ) . '</p>';
            $content .= '<h4>' . __( 'Privacy Policy' ) . '</h4>';
            $content .= '<p>' . __( 'Create or select your site&#8217;s privacy policy page under <strong>Settings &gt; Privacy</strong> to keep your users informed and aware.' ) . '</p>';
    
            if ( is_rtl() ) {
                $position = array(
                    'edge'  => 'right',
                    'align' => 'bottom',
                );
            } else {
                $position = array(
                    'edge'  => 'left',
                    'align' => 'bottom',
                );
            }
    
            $js_args = array(
                'content'  => $content,
                'position' => $position,
                'pointerClass' => 'wp-pointer arrow-bottom',
                'pointerWidth' => 420,
            );
            self::print_js( 'wp500_isrc_pointer', '#menu-settings', $js_args );
        }
    
        /**
         * Prevents new users from seeing existing 'new feature' pointers.
         *
         * @since 3.3.0
         *
         * @static
         *
         * @param int $user_id User ID.
         */
        public static function dismiss_pointers_for_new_users( $user_id ) {
            add_user_meta( $user_id, 'dismissed_wp_pointers', 'wp500_isrc_pointer' );
        }
    }
    
  2. What you are looking for is WordPress Activation / Deactivation Hooks. For example:

    register_activation_hook( __FILE__, 'pluginprefix_function_to_run' );
    

    And on pluginprefix_function_to_run, display a nice message to let users know that you’ve added a menu using admin_notices:

    function my_admin_notice() {
        ?>
        <div class="updated">
            <p><?php _e( 'Your message goes here!', 'my-text-domain' ); ?></p>
        </div>
        <?php
    }
    
    function pluginprefix_function_to_run() {
        add_action( 'admin_notices', 'my_admin_notice' );
    }
    

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