How to add a menu page when activating a custom plugin in Wordpress?

Question

I am making a custom plugin for wordpress and i need to create a page in the admin menu. I already have a file called menu_list.php with the following code:

function jps_mail_list_page_entry() {
add_menu_page(
    __('JPS Mailing List'),
    'JPS Mailing List',
    'manage_options',
    'jpsNews_mailinglist',
    'jpsNews_mailing_list',
    'dashicons-email'
);
}
add_action('admin_menu', 'jps_mail_list_page_entry');

function jpsNews_mailing_list() {
    echo 'hello';
}

Now, in the plugin page i have this:

function jpsNews_activate_plugin() {
    include_once(plugin_dir_path(__FILE__).'pages/mailing-list.php');
}
register_activation_hook(__FILE__,'jpsNews_activate_plugin');

Its not working. How can i do it?

Answer 1

Turns out the function to add the pages must be outside the other functions. Just put theme at the end of the script outside the activation hook and it work.

// DISPLAY PAGES AND SUBPAGES
function jps_mail_list_page_entry() {
    add_menu_page(
        __('JPS Mailing List'),
        'JPS Mailing List',
        'manage_options',
        'jpsNews_mailinglist',
        'jpsNews_mailing_list',
       'dashicons-email'
    );
}
add_action('admin_menu', 'jps_mail_list_page_entry');

function jpsNews_mailing_list() {
    include_once(plugin_dir_path( __FILE__ ) . 'pages/mailing-list.php');
}