> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://playground.e107sk.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://playground.e107sk.com/plugin-dev-quick-notes/how-to/splitting-the-admin-area-across-several-files.md).

# Splitting the admin area across several files

One plugin can have more than one admin entry file — core does it (`download` ships both `admin_config.php` and `admin_download.php`). This is worth doing when the plugin has a settings page and one or more entity managers: it keeps each file to one concern, and it gives `admin_menu.php` something to actually do.

```
myplugin/
  admin/
    admin_config.php     <- preferences only
    admin_entities.php   <- e_admin_ui for the plugin's table
    admin_menu.php       <- shared menu, included by both
```

Each file needs its own dispatcher, its own permission gate, and its own `auth.php` / `runPage()` / `footer.php` sequence.

#### Linking between the files

`$adminMenu` supports a `'url'` (or `'uri'`) key, which `processMenuItem()` maps to the link's href:

```php
protected $adminMenu = array(
    'main/list'  => array('caption' => LAN_..._ENTITIES,
                          'url' => '{e_PLUGIN}myplugin/admin/admin_entities.php'),
    'main/prefs' => array('caption' => LAN_PREFS,
                          'url' => '{e_PLUGIN}myplugin/admin/admin_config.php'),
);
```

Add an `<adminLinks>` entry in `plugin.xml` for each entry file so both are reachable from the plugin manager.

#### Two things that bite

**LAN loading order.** Load the language file at the **very top of `admin_menu.php`**, before any dispatcher class is defined. Class property defaults (`protected $adminMenu = array('...' => array('caption' => LAN_FOO))`) are evaluated at parse time — if the LAN file is not loaded yet, you get undefined constants, which on PHP 8 is a fatal error, not a notice.

**`e_CURRENT_PLUGIN` survives the `admin/` subdirectory.** It is derived from the first path segment after the plugins directory, so `myplugin/admin/admin_config.php` still resolves to `myplugin`. Moving the admin area into a subdirectory does **not** break `getperms('P')` or the `e_help.php` sidebar block. If the help block disappears, look at the addon cache instead (below).

***