Blogging Help @ UVM tag:blog.uvm.edu,2007:/help//2 2007-01-25T21:59:52Z Movable Type 3.31 Make a "Home Page" for your blog tag:blog.uvm.edu,2007:/help//2.42 2007-01-25T21:13:20Z 2007-01-25T21:59:52Z When you post a new message to your blog, it usually displays at the top, pushing previous postings down. However, it is possible to set your blog to always display one post like a "Home Page" that appears every time... Hope http://hag.blog.uvm.edu When you post a new message to your blog, it usually displays at the top, pushing previous postings down. However, it is possible to set your blog to always display one post like a "Home Page" that appears every time the blog is visited. For example, you might like your blog to always have a welcome message or picture displayed as the opening screen. Or, for a course blog, you may wish to have the opening screen always display your name, office number or other frequently needed information.

Here's how to do it:

]]> You will need to do 3 things:
- create a category that will only have one item: the home page posting
- create the posting, including any pictures, that you would like to be the home page that "sticks" on your opening page
- edit your index.html template file to tell your blog that that posting, and only that posting, is the one to be used as the home page

1) Create the Category:

- login to your blog admin area (http://your-UVM-netid.blog.uvm.edu/mt/mt.cgi)
- click on the name of the blog or sub-blog for which you wish to create the home page
- in the menu at the left, choose "Categories"
- in the next window, find and click on "Create New Top Level Category"
- type in a category name (ex: Home, or Welcome). Remember if you typed it with upper or lower case letters--you will need to replicate that name exactly in a few moments
- click "Create Category"

2) Create the post (the "Home Page":

- in the menu at left, click on "New Entry" which opens your blog edit posting window
- before typing in your post, make sure you have a drop-down box named "Category"
If not, scroll down to the bottom of that window and look for a link named "Customize the display of this page." In the pop-up window, click "Custom" and choose the items you would like to have as part of your editing window. If you are not sure which ones you want, just click "All"
- you will be returned to your editing window and will now see many more options, including a "Category" drop-down box.
- in the Category box, choose the category you just made in Step 1 (ex: Home, or Welcome)
- In the Title box, ype in a Title
- in the Entry Body box, type in your home page text
- choose "Published" from the drop down box
- click Save

3) Tell the blog that your new home page posting is the only posting you want to appear each and every time someone visits your blog

- while still in your blog admin page, choose "Templates" from the menu at left
- in the list of files that appears, double click on "index.html"
- scroll through that window of code until you find this line:

<MTEntries>

- edit that line to include the category name. For example, if you had named your category "Home" the line should be edited to look like this:

<MTEntries category="Home">

If you had named your category "Welcome" it would look like this:

<MTEntries category="Welcome">

Make sure you put in the quote marks and use the exact case you used when you created the category (i.e. home is not the same as Home--make it exact!)

- click Save

4) Now, rebuild your blog

- click "Rebuild" on the menu at left. in the pop-up window, click "Rebuild the Site"

When it's done, View the Site. (You may have to hit your browsers Refresh button once you get to the site to see your new version.)


You should now have a posting that always appears as the opening post or "Home Page" on your blog.

]]> Screencast: How to install, manage, and create sidebar widgets tag:blog.uvm.edu,2007:/help//2.40 2007-01-12T02:01:58Z 2007-01-12T02:10:02Z In this video, we'll cover how to set up and install widgets that make changing the content on the side of your blog super easy. We'll also look at how to create a custom widget.... Justin http://uvm.edu/~jhenry/wordpress/ In this video, we'll cover how to set up and install widgets that make changing the content on the side of your blog super easy. We'll also look at how to create a custom widget.

]]> Screencast: How to set up and use StyleCatcher tag:blog.uvm.edu,2007:/help//2.39 2007-01-12T01:57:05Z 2007-01-12T02:01:50Z Here is a video tutorial on how to use StyleCatcher to apply a theme to your blog.... Justin http://uvm.edu/~jhenry/wordpress/ Here is a video tutorial on how to use StyleCatcher to apply a theme to your blog.

]]> Screencast Series: Creating a "Sub" Blog tag:blog.uvm.edu,2006:/help//2.36 2006-08-30T20:48:07Z 2006-09-01T16:06:03Z In the final installment of the Screencast Series, we'll see how to create more blogs within our blog account.... Justin http://uvm.edu/~jhenry/wordpress/ In the final installment of the Screencast Series, we'll see how to create more blogs within our blog account.

]]> Screencast Series: Change your password tag:blog.uvm.edu,2006:/help//2.35 2006-08-29T20:44:22Z 2006-09-01T16:06:03Z Today we'll see how to change our blog's administration password.... Justin http://uvm.edu/~jhenry/wordpress/ Today we'll see how to change our blog's administration password.

]]> Screencast Series: Making a new entry tag:blog.uvm.edu,2006:/help//2.34 2006-08-28T20:39:57Z 2006-09-01T16:06:03Z This movie covers how to add an entry to your blog.... Justin http://uvm.edu/~jhenry/wordpress/ This movie covers how to add an entry to your blog.

]]> Screencast Series: Editing blog posts tag:blog.uvm.edu,2006:/help//2.33 2006-08-27T20:28:19Z 2006-09-01T16:06:03Z In our third installment of the Screencast Series, our intrepid narrator walks us through the process of editing an existing entry.... Justin http://uvm.edu/~jhenry/wordpress/ In our third installment of the Screencast Series, our intrepid narrator walks us through the process of editing an existing entry.

]]> Screencast Series: Managing categories in your blog tag:blog.uvm.edu,2006:/help//2.32 2006-08-26T20:11:52Z 2006-09-01T16:06:03Z Today we'll be looking at how to manage categories in your blog.... Justin http://uvm.edu/~jhenry/wordpress/ Today we'll be looking at how to manage categories in your blog.

]]> Screencast Series: Backing up your blog tag:blog.uvm.edu,2006:/help//2.31 2006-08-25T20:03:48Z 2006-09-01T16:06:03Z In the next few posts, we'll be providing some movies describing various common tasks that you might encounter while blogging at UVM (and elsewhere for that matter). All of the movies in this series were produced and recorded by Chris... Justin http://uvm.edu/~jhenry/wordpress/ In the next few posts, we'll be providing some movies describing various common tasks that you might encounter while blogging at UVM (and elsewhere for that matter). All of the movies in this series were produced and recorded by Chris Ruscio, a former student employee at the Center for Teaching & Learning.

In the first installment of our Screencast Series, we'll go over how to make a backup of your blog (14MB).

]]> Set up a podcast feed for your blog tag:blog.uvm.edu,2006:/help//2.27 2006-02-16T19:11:36Z 2006-09-01T16:06:03Z One of the benefits to having a blog is that you can use it to publish media content whis is automatically downloaded to your audience's computers and portable devices. This process is often referred to as a podcast. To create... Justin http://uvm.edu/~jhenry/wordpress/ One of the benefits to having a blog is that you can use it to publish media content whis is automatically downloaded to your audience's computers and portable devices. This process is often referred to as a podcast. To create a podcast, a special "web feed" needs to be generated from your blog that people can subscribe to. There are a few ways to go about this. Here is an easy way - all you need to know is the url for your blog.

]]>
  • Go to your blog home page, and copy the URL out of the address bar (i.e. http://your.blog.uvm.edu/).
  • Go to feedburner.com, and paste in the link below where it says "Type Your Blog or Feed Address Here to Get Started"
  • Check the box next to "I am a podcaster!", and click the "Next>>" button.
  • On the next screen, you don't need to change anything, so click on the "Next>>" button.
  • Edit the feed information as you'd like it to appear when you send it to people, and fill out the account information to create a new account. When you've filled out all of the fields, click the "Activate Feed>>" button.

    • That's it! The link you are provided with is the one you can send to people, and subscribe to in your favorite feed reader, or audio program.

    Now when you upload a media item and link to it in a blog post, it's automatically included in this podcast feed. You can even log back into your feedburner account and see how many people are subscribed to your feed, and more.

    ]]>     Apply themes to your blog tag:blog.uvm.edu,2006:/help//2.26 2006-02-15T20:52:44Z 2006-09-01T16:06:03Z The release of MT 3.2 brought with it a new plugin that let's you easily choose and apply various themes to your blog. Here's how to set it up and use it.... Justin http://uvm.edu/~jhenry/wordpress/ The release of MT 3.2 brought with it a new plugin that let's you easily choose and apply various themes to your blog. Here's how to set it up and use it.

    ]]> Configuring StyleCatcher

    Before we begin, we need to configure StyleCatcher to use the appropriate paths when it downloads and displays themes. To do this:

    1. Log into your blog admin space. After logging in, click on the "Plugins" link from the menu on the right.
    2. to the right of where the "StyleCatcher" plugin is described, click the "Show Settings" link.
    3. Set the Theme Root URL to /mt/mt-static/themes/
    4. Click "Save Changes".

    The plugin should now be ready. Next we need to go set up your blog.

    "Freshening" up your template files

    If you got your blog before January of this year or have modified your template files, then you may need to reset your templates. This isn't necessarily a requirement, but I've found during my tests that things go smoothly with clean templates. Your mileage may vary.

    Doing this makes backup copies of your templates and replaces the current files with the default files that come with MT 3.2. So if there are customizations that you would like to preserve, you'll have to go back in after and re-edit your templates.

    To refresh your templates:

    1. Log into your blog's admin space and proceed to the blog you are refreshing.
    2. Click on the "Templates" button from the menu on the left.
    3. Select all the Templates by checking the box next to "Template Name" at the top of the list of template files.
    4. From the dropdown box labeled "More actions..." (located above and to the right of the list of template files), select "Refresh Templates", and hit "Go".

    Using the plugin

    Now it's time for the fun part.

    1. If you're not already there, log into your blog's administrative interface, and proceed to the templates area of the blog you would like to style.
    2. Scroll down to below the list of templates, and click on the "Select a Design using StyleCatcher" link.
    3. Click on the "Find Style" button to browse the style library.
    4. Pick a design by clicking on one of the squares.
    5. Click the "Choose This Design" button.
    6. Return to the templates area and rebuild your blog.

    Now when you go look at your blog (remember to reload your browser if it looks odd or hasn't seemed to change), you should see the style you picked out.

    ]]>     Manage Categories In Your Blog tag:blog.uvm.edu,2005:/help//2.25 2005-05-15T18:05:59Z 2006-09-01T16:06:04Z Posts in many blogs, including MovableType, are usually filed and organized into categories. Here's how to add, edit, and delete categories within your blog.... Justin http://uvm.edu/~jhenry/wordpress/ Posts in many blogs, including MovableType, are usually filed and organized into categories. Here's how to add, edit, and delete categories within your blog.
  • Log into your blog's administration area, and click on the name of the blog you wish to modify.
  • From the menu on the left, click on "Categories". You are now in the Categories area.
    • To add a new category,
    • click on "Create new top level category",
    • enter the title in the box,
    • and click the "Create Category" button.
    To edit existing categories,
    • click on the name of the category,
    • edit the title and any other desired information,
    • then scroll down to the bottom and click the "Save" button.
    Categories can be deleted by checking the checkbox next to each category you wish to delete, then clicking on the "Delete" button at the bottom of the list. ]]>     Edit a Previous Post tag:blog.uvm.edu,2005:/help//2.24 2005-05-15T18:05:06Z 2006-09-01T16:06:04Z So you've made a post to your blog, but maybe there's a typo on the first line. Or perhaps you would like the post to be in a different category. Here's how to edit a post.... Justin http://uvm.edu/~jhenry/wordpress/ So you've made a post to your blog, but maybe there's a typo on the first line. Or perhaps you would like the post to be in a different category. Here's how to edit a post.
  • Log into your admin area, and click on the name of the blog where the post resides.
  • Click on the "Entries" option from the menu on the left. You are presented with a list of postings, by title.
  • Click on the name of the entry you wish to edit.
  • You will be presented with the same screen as you see when posting. Edit your entry, and click the "Save" button at the bottom of the form.
  • Rebuild & view your site.
    • ]]>     Post to Your Blog tag:blog.uvm.edu,2005:/help//2.23 2005-05-15T18:05:00Z 2006-09-01T16:06:04Z So you've got this nifty new blog, but there's nothing there. Here's how to add an entry into your MovableType blog.... Justin http://uvm.edu/~jhenry/wordpress/ So you've got this nifty new blog, but there's nothing there. Here's how to add an entry into your MovableType blog.
  • Log into your blog's administration area, and click on the name of the blog you wish to post to.
  • From the menu on the left, click on "New Entry".
  • Enter a title for the post.
  • Select a category to post to. If you don't have any categories yet,
    1. choose "Add new category" from the dropdown list. A window will pop up. In this new pop up window, enter a name for the category in the "Category Title" box. If you don't have any idea what kind of category to create, you can create a "General" category for your posts to default to.
    2. Click the "Add" button. You will be brought back into the post screen.
  • Enter the text for your post into the "Entry Body" box.
  • Make sure the "Post Status" is set to "Publish".
  • Click on the "Save" button.
  • Rebuild your site by clicking on the "Rebuild Site" option on the menu on the left.
    • To view your posted entry on your site, click on the "View Site" option on the bottom of the menu on the left. You can also edit previous entries. To edit posted entries, click on the "Entries" option from the menu on the left, within the admin area for the blog, and click on the name of the entry you wish to edit. You will be presented with the same screen as you are when posting - edit your entry, and click save. Rebuild & view your site.]]>     Create a backup file for your MovableType Blog tag:blog.uvm.edu,2005:/help//2.22 2005-05-15T17:05:13Z 2006-09-01T16:06:04Z Let's face it - we've all lost data before. Here's how to download all the content from your MT Blog for safe keeping.... Justin http://uvm.edu/~jhenry/wordpress/ Let's face it - we've all lost data before. Here's how to download all the content from your MT Blog for safe keeping.
  • Log into your blog administration area.
  • Click on the title of the blog you want to back up.
  • From the menu on the left, click on "Import/Export".
  • On this page, click on the link that says "Export Entries".
  • Click on the link that says "Export Entries From Weblog for ...".
  • Save the file to your computer.
    • ]]>