How to Add Custom Links to the Admin Bar

The best way to do this is through creating a plugin that adds links for you. In case you ever switch themes, you'll want to retain this functionality so the best way to add links is through a plugin. If you have no experience, time, or desire to learn how to make a plugin, then you can download it here (the original post). However if you like to learn, please continue.

Creating the Plugin
A WordPress plugin can be extremely simple. All you need is a PHP file that holds the functionality you want to add to your blog. In order for WordPress to distinguish your PHP file as a WordPress plugin you need to add a header to it. The template for the header looks like this:

<?php
/*
Plugin Name: Custom Admin Links
Plugin URI: http://setupthepress.com/
Description: Add/Remove links in the WordPress admin bar.
Version: Version Number (example: 1.0)
Author: Your name Here
Author URI: http://setupthepress.com/
*/

PHP:

So, create a .php file in your favorite code editor and use that template to create the header for your plugin. After that, then just post this snippet of code below into your file:

function links_admin_bar_render() {
    global $wp_admin_bar;
    $wp_admin_bar->add_menu( array(
        'parent' => 'false', // use 'false' for a root menu, or pass the ID of the parent menu
        'id' => 'all_posts', // link ID, defaults to a sanitized title value
        'title' => __('Posts'), // link title
        'href' => admin_url( 'index.php'), // name of file
        'meta' => false // array of any of the following options: array( 'html' => '', 'class' => '', 'onclick' => '', target => '', title => '' );
    ));
}
add_action( 'wp_before_admin_bar_render', 'links_admin_bar_render' );
?>

PHP:

The whole point of this tutorial is so you can add links to the admin bar to make your life easier. So to add a link, you'll have to edit a few things in the code above.

The string to the right of 'parent', is where you decide where to put a specific link. So if you want to add a link to view all of your posts, you can choose if you want it to show up in a dropdown menu or have it be a link all on its own. The code above creates a link specifically for seeing all of your posts all on its own.

'id' is where you give this custom link an identifier. You don't have to really have to worry about this, just make sure its something unique so it doesn't contradict with anything.

'title' is where you decide what the link says. So if you want to make a link to show all your posts, you would label it as "All Posts". So where it says 'Posts', replace that with what you want the link to say.

'href' is where you define what the link points to. So in order to link to something inside the admin area, you must find the URL of the menus in the admin menu. So to link to the all posts link, go in the admin area and click on "All Posts". Then copy the the URL after /wp-admin/, which is edit.php. Just replace index.php to edit.php. If you wanted to link directly to your list of plugins, replace index.php with plugins.php.

If you want to link to something not in the admin menu, just replace admin_url( 'index.php'), with a normal URL like http://forums.digitalpoint.com/.

After you edit whatever it is you want, then just save this file, put in a folder and upload it to /wp-content/plugins. Immediately you should notice a new link the admin bar pointing to whatever it is you added in the plugin.

Original Post:
http://www.setupthepress.com/how-to-add-links-to-the-admin-bar/