How can I unlock Craft's native functionality?

Question

I inherited a Craft website. When I log into the admin panel, I don't see the option in the settings to add sections or add fields or properties within these sections. I can only edit existing ones. In the general.php file, there is no 'allowAdminChanges' setting. I log in as an admin, plugins are disabled. What could be blocking the regular admin view? Here is general.php

<?php

return array(

    // Default Week Start Day (0 = Sunday, 1 = Monday...)
    'defaultWeekStartDay' => 1,

    // Enable CSRF Protection (recommended, will be enabled by default in Craft 3)
    'enableCsrfProtection' => false,

    // Whether "index.php" should be visible in URLs (true, false, "auto")
    'omitScriptNameInUrls' => true,

    // Control Panel trigger word
    'cpTrigger' => 'admin',

    // Dev Mode (see https://craftcms.com/support/dev-mode)
    'devMode' => false, // TODO: DISABLE IT

    // 'overridePhpSessionLocation' => true,

    // 'requireMatchingUserAgentForSession' => false,

    'enableTemplateCaching' => true,

    'cacheElementQueries' => true,

    'defaultImageQuality' => 90,

    'maxUploadFileSize' => 64000000,

    'imageDriver' => 'imagick',

    'allowAutoUpdates' => false

);

Answer 1

You can also try looking at the .env file for the CRAFT_ALLOW_ADMIN_CHANGES variable.

Answer 2

For reasons that I cannot explain, I was unable to gain access to the standard tools for adding fields or sections on my website. Therefore, I found my own workaround. I am sharing this makeshift guide (imperfect, but better than nothing) in case someone else faces a similar situation.

Instructions for Adding New Fields Directly in the Craft CMS Database

Instructions for Adding New Fields Directly in the Craft CMS Database

If you do not have access to the standard tools for managing fields and sections in Craft CMS through its administrative interface, this guide will help you add new fields directly through the database. You will need access to your database, which can be obtained, for example, through tools like Adminer or phpMyAdmin. Connection details are usually stored in the dbconn.php file.

Steps:

0. Accessing the Database: Use a database management tool, for example, Adminer or phpMyAdmin. The connection details can be found in the dbconn.php file.

1. Adding a Field in craft_fields: Add a new field by defining its name (name), handle (handle), and type (type). This is a basic step necessary for creating a new field in the system.

2. Adding a Column in craft_content: For text fields and some other types, adding the corresponding column in the craft_content table is required, where fieldName is the name of your new field.

3. Setting Up Relations in craft_fieldlayoutfields: This step ensures the link between your new field and layouts, allowing the field to be displayed in the administrative interface for the respective element types (entries, users, categories, etc.).

4. Modifications in the Site's Output Template: Make the necessary changes to the site's templates to display the new field in the front end.

5. Clearing the Cache: It's crucial to clear your website's cache after making changes directly in the database to ensure that the new additions are reflected on the website. This can often be done within the Craft CMS administrative interface or any caching services your site might be using.

Additional Steps:

6. Updating craft_relations for Linked Fields: If you are adding a field type like "Entries", "Categories", "Tags", "Assets", etc., that creates relationships between elements, the craft_relations table needs to be updated.

7. Updating craft_elements and Related Tables: For custom fields associated with specific elements, adding information to the craft_elements table and corresponding subtables (for example, craft_entries for entries) is required.

8. Adding a New Field Group in craft_fieldgroups: If your new field belongs to a new group of fields, add this group in craft_fieldgroups.

Note:

When working with the database, always create backup copies before making changes to avoid data loss or other critical errors. Direct database manipulation can be risky, so approach this process with caution.

This guide is intended for situations where access to standard management tools is unavailable for various reasons. If possible, try to restore standard access to work with fields and sections through the Craft CMS administrative interface.