Blog Instructions

AZZenny · August 23rd, 2008, 07:17 AM

So I was going to make a little tripblog for my upcoming Israel jaunt with my daughter, and was looking at various places to do that and thought - well, it's not sports, but this is 'home,' after all. However I can't even tell how to start a blog here. Are photos uploadable to a blog on ASFN? Should blogs only be sports-related?

abomb · August 23rd, 2008, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZZenny

So I was going to make a little tripblog for my upcoming Israel jaunt with my daughter, and was looking at various places to do that and thought - well, it's not sports, but this is 'home,' after all. However I can't even tell how to start a blog here. Are photos uploadable to a blog on ASFN? Should blogs only be sports-related?

You can add pics. I'd say have at it. 95% of things around here arent sports-related.

AZZenny · August 23rd, 2008, 08:22 AM

OK -- how do you set one up?

jw7 · August 23rd, 2008, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZZenny

OK -- how do you set one up?

Apologies, Zenny. It looks like the new contributor profile inherited the default persmissons that denied creating blogs. I fixed it, so you should be able to create a blog now.

Just click on "User Blogs" in the top menu, or "blogs" in the submenu. Then click on "post to my blog" on the left navbar and you are good to go.

Subject can be anything (I have one about my dog), pictures are OK and it works just like making a regular post here.

Good luck!

AZZenny · August 23rd, 2008, 10:46 AM

Thanks! I'll check it out shortly.

Chandler Mike · August 25th, 2008, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZZenny

Thanks! I'll check it out shortly.

Let me know when you set it up, I'll check it out!

I wish everyone would use their blogs a bit more...it might turn into a really fun thing to do.

AZZenny · August 25th, 2008, 04:53 PM

Which raises another question -- I'd be using this so various friends and family have one place to see what's up -- I assume they can access and see it w/o joining ASFN?

What about comments, can they do that w/o registering?

I doubt I'll get anything operational until right before I leave (in 134 hours).

Chandler Mike · August 26th, 2008, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZZenny

Which raises another question -- I'd be using this so various friends and family have one place to see what's up -- I assume they can access and see it w/o joining ASFN?

What about comments, can they do that w/o registering?

I doubt I'll get anything operational until right before I leave (in 134 hours).

I'm sure they'd have to register to leave comments...but they could see it just fine.

Sorry I didn't get back to you man, my life is insane right now...just keep bugging me.

AZZenny · August 26th, 2008, 09:54 PM

Oh... I'll see your insanity and raise you a gibbering idiot.

AZZenny · August 28th, 2008, 08:06 AM

What is an API Wordpress, and what should I enter where it asks that?

I'm not clear - can I put photos IN my blog? Or would it just be a link to a gallery?

No wonder there aren't many blogs -- this takes some figuring out.

Chandler Mike · August 28th, 2008, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZZenny

What is an API Wordpress, and what should I enter where it asks that?

I'm not clear - can I put photos IN my blog? Or would it just be a link to a gallery?

No wonder there aren't many blogs -- this takes some figuring out.

I dunno what that API thing is, I haven't seen it.

When you post a blog, it's like posting a POST here on ASFN, so attach a photo in the same way. Shouldn't be too difficult I don't think...

Chandler Mike · August 28th, 2008, 08:13 AM

Okay, the API thing is only if you are signed up with Wordpress.com. You use that to help battle spam...not sure exactly how it works, but I think you need the API code for Askimet to work at fighting spam.

AZZenny · August 29th, 2008, 06:27 AM

OK, I'm serious -- there are NO 'blog for dummies' instructions -- and it's not really intuitive, so dammit, somebody needs to take my hand and walk me through this. I opened a blog and posted a test entry --

1) I could not figure how to upload a test photo from my computer. So I went to the Gallery and couldn't get it to load a jpg off my computer, either -- maybe it's too large? I want to be able to load some good quality shots, though, and they aren't small. You say it's like attaching a photo, but I realized --I've never done that. I've inserted online photo links, but never uploaded directly, if that's what you mean by attaching. Do I need to have the photo already uploaded somewhere on the internet to add it to a blog or post?

2) once I have a draft entry, there's no way to edit it? I saved it as a 'draft' while trying to figure something out with the pictures, then when I went back to the draft, as far as I could see, it would only let me delete it, not edit it. That sucks. Being able to edit an entry is very important.

3) Assuming I get this far, there's no way to really personally format the blog, so it has a background color, or so you don't have to set the font and so on every time?

Make this easier to understand, or I'll have to look elsewhere. I don't have time to screw around with this learn-as-you-go stuff right now.

Chandler Mike · August 29th, 2008, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZZenny

OK, I'm serious -- there are NO 'blog for dummies' instructions -- and it's not really intuitive, so dammit, somebody needs to take my hand and walk me through this. I opened a blog and posted a test entry --

1) I could not figure how to upload a test photo from my computer. So I went to the Gallery and couldn't get it to load a jpg off my computer, either -- maybe it's too large? I want to be able to load some good quality shots, though, and they aren't small. You say it's like attaching a photo, but I realized --I've never done that. I've inserted online photo links, but never uploaded directly, if that's what you mean by attaching. Do I need to have the photo already uploaded somewhere on the internet to add it to a blog or post?

2) once I have a draft entry, there's no way to edit it? I saved it as a 'draft' while trying to figure something out with the pictures, then when I went back to the draft, as far as I could see, it would only let me delete it, not edit it. That sucks. Being able to edit an entry is very important.

3) Assuming I get this far, there's no way to really personally format the blog, so it has a background color, or so you don't have to set the font and so on every time?

Make this easier to understand, or I'll have to look elsewhere. I don't have time to screw around with this learn-as-you-go stuff right now.

If you want a blog for your family, then maybe this place isn't a good fit. I don't think you can customize it THAT much...it's supposed to be a blog for the community.

As far as your #1, I don't get why you are having a hard time, because posting a blog is JUST like posting a thread here:

Hit the paper clip, attach an image.

I don't think you can place it where you want, you just attach them at the end of your post.

As far as #2, I'm not sure, let me go test it.

Chandler Mike · August 29th, 2008, 06:40 AM

#2:

Go to my drafts and click the little pecil icon to start editing it again.