In a professional membership organisation, administrators often need to verify how the website appears to different members or user roles, such as regular members, corporate members, event organisers, or committee members. The User Switching feature in Agend AMS allows administrators to easily switch between user profiles without needing to log out and back in.
This capability is essential for testing permissions, reviewing member-specific content, and troubleshooting user experience issues from the perspective of various member types.
Steps to Switch User Profiles: #
- Log in to your
- WordPress Admin Dashboard. Use your administrator credentials to access the backend of your Agend AMS website.
- Navigate to Users.
- On the left-hand menu, select Users > All Users. This page lists all registered users of the membership organisation site.
- Find the User Profile You Want to Switch To
- Scroll through the user list or use the search bar to find a specific member or user.
- For example, you might search for a “Student Member,” “Corporate Member,” or “Event Coordinator” to check their access and view.
- Switch to the User’s Profile
- Hover over the user’s name.
- Click the Switch To link that appears.
- You will now be logged in as that user and can browse the website from their viewpoint — including member-only pages, personalised dashboards, and event registrations.
Return to Your Admin Profile
- Once you’re done reviewing the user’s profile, click on the ‘Return to [Your Name] link at the bottom corner of the screen. This will bring you back to your own administrator account.
Why Use User Switching in a Membership Organisation? #
- Verify Member Access: Ensure members only see content and benefits relevant to their membership level.
- Test Event Registrations: Check how different users register for events or access member-only webinars.
- Troubleshoot Support Issues: Experience the site exactly as a member does to diagnose access or display problems.
- Validate Role Permissions: Confirm committee members, volunteers, or corporate users have appropriate backend and frontend access.
Important Notes #
- Administrator Only: Only users with administrator privileges can switch profiles.
- No Passwords Needed: This feature does not require knowing other users’ passwords, preserving security.
- Temporary Session: Switching profiles does not change passwords or account settings; it only temporarily switches your session.
- Always Return: Remember to switch back to your own admin account to maintain full access and control.
Example Scenario #
Suppose a member reports they cannot see the “Member Resources” page on the site. As an admin, you can:
- Switch to their profile using User Switching.
- Navigate the site exactly as they do.
- Check if the resource page is visible and accessible to them.
- Identify if the issue is related to membership status or a technical problem.
This feature is a powerful tool to maintain a smooth and personalised experience for your members while making your site management easier and more efficient.
