Everybody’s got one, do you?

It’s one of the cool things about blogs.  You can read them in your very own “feed reader”.  And for those who do this, it is quite likely the ONLY way they will read your blog.  So, we need to make sure that your blog is EASY PEASY for others to subscribe to.  (Subscribe = how they grab your blog and feed it to their reader.)

1.  Find an image of those RSS buttons. Here’s over 35 styles, each with 8 or more different colors and designs.  I’ll use one from my photobucket account.  You may use this one too if you like.

Once you have selected your image, you need to copy the location like this:

<img src=”http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll40/o2cathy/blog%20artwork/feed.png” alt=”button” />

If you have one uploaded to your blog, go to your “manage” panel, and find the image in your media library.  Copy the url (location) from that image.

2.  Find the Address of YOUR feed. Wordpress publishes several feeds for you.  They have their own names, and you can see where they are coded in the header of your blog (if you look under View Page Source).

If you are using the feedburner widget, and have a feedburner url, use that instead.  It will be:

www.feeds.feedburner.com/mommymotivation.

In your page source it will be something like this:

www.mommymotivation.me/feed/rss/.

Or, if you are NOT using permalinks, like this:

www.mommymotivation.me/?feed=rss.

There are several options that you can use, and 3 or 4 different feeds to access.  Find more options on the wordpress manual, here.

3.  Put these two things together in a text widget. In your design admin tab, under “widgets” select the sidebar that you’d like it to appear in.  Then select the “text” widget on the left.  Open it up, enter a title and your feed details like this:

<div id=”rss” style=”text-align:center;”>

<img style=”border:none;” src=”http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll40/o2cathy/blog%20artwork/feed.png” alt=”button” />  <a href=”www.mommymotivation.me/feed/rss” title=”feed”>Subscribe to my Feed.</a>

(Replace the red text with the URL’s that you found in step 1 & 2.)

Sit back and revel in the fact that you did something nice for all your loyal fans today.

Cheers!

Filed under Must Have Plugins, a light brush of code, using themes, wordpress basics | Comment (0)

Are you publishing a political post?

And perhaps you want the comments closed?  I wouldn’t blame you.

If you scroll down in your write>post screen there is a section called “Advanced Options”.  This is for you! Let’s go through them:

• Excerpt: This will override other excerpts of this post on the archives or category pages.  Click on the arrow and insert the excerpt that you like the best into this window.
• Trackbacks:  From what I understand, there are some sites that don’t automatically catch the links in your post and notify the linkee(the one you linked to).  Oh, you didn’t know that was happening?  Yup, be careful what you say in link form!  The linkee will (usually) be notified.  If they have an older system, then you can enter the url of the linkee in this window.
• Custom Fields: These fields are (in a good theme)entered into your meta data, on each post.  So if you wanted to insert the weather into the post, you would create a key: “weather”, and enter the data in the value field.  I use this to select which image to display in my portfolio.
• Comments & Pings: This is where you can turn OFF your comments, and it will override the blog’s original settings in the admin>settings>discussion panels. Turning OFF pings will (on this post only) NOT notify your linkee(the person you linked to).  So if you are talkin’ smack about someone, and you’re a bit of a scaredy cat (not that I am or anything) you would turn these off so they wouldn’t know about it.  Except if they found out.
• Password Protect This Post: Yup.  It will.  It will also show up in the loop as “This post is password protected.  Enter password here:  ” or something like this in a good theme.
• Post Author: IF you have more than one author a drop-down list will be here and you can select - oddly enough - the post author.

Some plugins will add more advanced options and let you edit them right from your write screen.

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Old Fashioned Book! Blogging with Moxie

I have a brand new idea for you:  a good old fashioned book!  Remember the crumple of the pages, the smell of the printing press, and the sheer pleasure of dog-ear-ing?

And, to further your pleasure - try this blogging reference with cocktail recipes at the end of each chapter:  Blogging with Moxie, Being a Geek is oh-so chic!

This will appeal mostly to women(even those who don’t like pink), and those who want to start a personal or home-based-business blog.  They very gently introduce new technological terms and teach you how to use them.  It reads like a reference manual, with lots of illustrations, and points of interest, blended perfectly with hilarious antidotes.  Personally, I think the cocktails should be at the front of each chapter.  You couldn’t get more gentle than that, could you?

Click on the title to order from amazon.  (I borrowed a copy from the library, but you are going to want to buy one as a reference!)

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Your Questions Answered: Changing the Font Size

A few days ago I posed the question on Twitter, “What do you want to know about Wordpress?” And surprisingly, people read my tweets because I got four good questions.

So I’ll start with the first.

The Bloggess wants to know how she can change her font size on her blog.

It’s a good question.  The themes we get come with certain font sizes and they may be too small for us to read, so we fear that our readers won’t be able to.

It might also be that we can’t stand Times New Roman 12, so we want to change it to Century Gothic 14.

What ever it is that you want to do, regarding your font size, color, and type, you can do so within your Stylesheet (typically the style.css file under Design->Theme Editor.

(Note:  For Wordpress.com users, you can also change the font size, color and type, but you will need to pay the $15 CSS upgrade charge.)

Each theme is different when trying to change the stylesheet.  Each designer calls various aspects of their stylesheet by different names and if you’re not able to spot sight it, then you have to get a little more creative.  (Or download Firebug for Firefox)

Using Firebug, I was able to see that the post content uses Gerorgia 12 pt font.  So, let’s say that she wants to make that 14 points.

She’ll find this section of her stylesheet (line 273, so you know that it’s a ways down the page):

.post-content, .page-content {

-x-system-font:none;

border-top:1px solid #BBC4A3;

font-family:Georgia,Verdana,Arial,serif;

font-size:12px;

font-size-adjust:none;

font-stretch:normal;

font-style:normal;

font-variant:normal;

font-weight:normal;

line-height:normal;

margin:3px 0;

padding:10px 0;

}

Filed under a light brush of code, wordpress basics, your questions answered | Comments (2)

You are gonna look soooo smart

All you’ll need now is a pocket protector. 

There is a little known very cool thingie in Wordpress that comes with every installation - meaning, its already there - the Bookmarklet. Once activated, this looks like another of your bookmarks in your Bookmarks or Favorites folder.  But hiding underneath it is the coolest thing!

First, to activate it:

• in your administration panels, in the write post screen, in the sidebar, is a “Shortcuts” paragraph.  In there is a link called “Press This”.  Follow the instructions:  just right click and save as a bookmark.  Now, it looks like a bookmark in your list right?
• In older versions of wordpress, I think the link is called “Bookmark it!” and it is located at the bottom of the write post screen.
• This function was removed from version 2.5 and reinstated as “Press This!” in 2.6.

To use it:

This is the cool part:  while you are reading your favorite blogs (ahem!) and you see something that you want to publish to your readers (I can think of something), just go to the Bookmarks or “Favorites” menu and click on your Press This link.  It will automatically open a new screen.  AND it will be the write-post screen of your blog!  AND it will have the link to what you were just reading already in the post ready for you to write up!  If you don’t want to write a new post at that moment, that’s ok.  Simply press the save button and it will save it as a draft.

How cool is that?

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Creating links in your post

1. You are typing a lovely post, title & text. (See my blog for some excellent examples, absolutely shameless I know.) 

2. Select the text that you want to turn into a link.

3. Click on the “link” icon as shown.

4. Link URL: This is the only thing that I ever complete. This is the full text hyperlink thingie: starting with “http://”.

Target: You can use this if you would like the link to open in a new window, new tab, or in the current browser.

Title: This is the text that will appear when the link is hovered over. Ie: “link to Cathy’s site”.

Class: I believe this is referring to a css class. Perhaps if you are attaching a link to an image this would come into play. Like I said, only the top blank- Link URL - is necessary.

5. Once you click on the “insert” button, your new linked text should be a different color, and most likely underlined.

6. To break the text, click the broken link. To change the link, click the “link icon” again and complete the details with the new link.

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ISP, FTP, HTML, OMG, LOL

When I began, my hubby set me up with a blog. On some site. Now if you’re like me, you have no idea what in the world is going on behind the scenes, you just really love google, and some blogs you’ve been reading. And maybe you do your banking online and search for phone numbers.

Perfect!

Wordpress is for you, honey!

It is all a little overwhelming at first, but here is what information I could gather from picking my hubby’s brain (like sticking a fork in an electrical outlet).

Here’s a diagram of the “internet”.

1. You.

2. Your “host” company.

3. The WEB.

Let’s start with #3 just to mess wi’ya.

I used to ask my hubby - where is the internet? WHAT is the internet? Have you ever asked a technically-inclined person this question? They don’t react well.

This is why: it isn’t really a thing or a place. It is organic. Growing. changing shape. etc. Just like a fib… Have you seen Larry and the Fib from Outer Space? I have. Too many times. Um… fib, fib, oh yeah - internet.

So with all these computers, and new ones added all the time, there are huge issues with how to get them all to communicate the same language. So far it speaks HTML or XML, PHP and a couple others. We don’t even use the same electrical current! And don’t get me started on the States - rebels that they are, have an entirely new way of doing stuff than anyone else. Not like us, we Canadians are a nice passive bunch. A little behind, off to one side, and very nice. I’ve heard.

Review:

• Internet - fib, I mean growing mass of connected computers
• HTML, PHP, XML - languages that all/most computers on the above mass, understand.
• Canadians - RULE.

———————————————————

So where were we? Ah, yes. #2: the Host.

So to keep the Canadians and the Europians and the Americans all playing nice, we have this huge mass of computers, the internet, all over the world. No one person has access to all of it. There is not too much control in any one person’s hands. That’s why tracking online criminal activity is so difficult for the authorities.

And to further keep individual users safe, we are separated from the internet. Plus, our cute little pink laptops couldn’t filter through all that information and get it down into bite sized pieces. We need bigger and better to do that. That’s our favorite HOST.

These host set-ups are one of the things that separate my 8 year old on Barbie.com from Harry in sickville. The host filters content so that we can google it. And it provides a wall of safety between our home’s pc and the big bad web.

So if I want a website (Canadians Rock), then I call my host company, and rent space on their server to get me connected to the internet. Usually an annual or monthly fee. The next step is getting my cool name on the site.

A note about domain names: If you have a website, then you store all that content (in html or similar language) on your host’s server. And then IT communicates with the rest of the internet to let them know what content is on there. At DSW, Heather offers domain name registration too. This is a separate service, provided by registrars. Somebody has to check to see if the name is used, and rents out the name to you for an annual fee. Now that you have a “name” you have something to call that space on your host’s server. Which would otherwise be called something like 168.651.11. Catchy, eh?

Review:

• Host/ host server/ host company: the computer between you and the internet. It filters content, and provides safety.
• Domain Name: a pretty name for your space on the host server.

————————————————————-

And if you’re still reading, you deserve a prize. But not from me. Heather? And maybe the low-down on individual users. YOU.

So how do YOU, get your site to the internet. So far, we’ve:

1. thunk up a name, and registered it (approx $10)
2. found our favorite host company (ahem!) $20.

Now, you need some stuff from your host company in order to get all your pretty names, and content onto her server. You need:

FTP address

This is the address on the internet where you go to administer your host package. If my domain is http://canadiansrock.com, (I wonder if that’s a beer site?) then it is usually ftp://canadiansrock.com. Or sometimes numbers after the site: http://canadiansrock.com:2082.

Password & Login Name

You know?

FTP Client

This one isn’t essential, but, well, yeah, it IS. Instead of using your ftp address & control panel, you really ought to use this program. It opens up a window, and lets you drag and drop programs from your computer to your ftp address without ever having to log on and use a server-based program. It makes me feel safer to be on my own computer and not my host’s server, while I mess around with wordpress. Not that I mess around. it’s just my recommendation to you people.

Review:

• FTP: the address on the host server for uploading content
• Password & login: duh.
• FTP Client: the program that you should use for messing around

Once, you have FileZilla downloaded to your computer. Go here to learn how to set it up the first time. Once the set up is done, you’re rockin, like a Canadian.

————————————————————

Now you know the main stuff & concepts behind some of the weirdo names in techy-land. If you get all this under your ‘do, you are SO ready to upload wordpress and begin playing with it! See our tutorial here for upgrading/ installing wordpress.

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UpGRADING our favorite pc of geekiness: WordPress

Apparently, we are in love with WordPress.  But what can I say, she’s single… she needs a little romance. ::ducking the flying spit balls::  Okay - tease Heather - check.  Write tutorial - next.

Oh!  And thank you so much for the comments and questions.  I will get to each one.  And I’m going to email responses to the specific questions as soon as I can.  (These darn children get in the way of my blogginess!)

So, Upgrading WordPress, AGAIN

I’ve heard whiney’ness about the frequency of WordPress updates, not from you or anything.  Just others. But you really ought to do it, here’s why:

• each release actually changes/ improves something (whether or not you can tell from your side of the screen) Well, not that there’s two sides to your monito… well, there ARE 2 sides… but not like that - you know?
• some of the security updates are important
• your themes and plugins will be compatible with the current release (if you use the automatic upgrade option for these)
• I came on board with WordPress just before the HUGE change in 2.3.  They changed to a taxonomically-ionic-obia system or something.  Anyhow, it makes a difference and gives theme writers MUCH more flexibility with listing your categories, images, tags, and attachments.
• 2.5 brought on the awesome automatic upgrade for the plugins.  And some other features - like media organization from right in the write post.  haha.  Right in the Write.  I’m so clever.
• And 2.6 - has some absolutely divine features that FIXED that media-input-er screen option.  I know, I know, it wasn’t perfect with 2.5.  But it was still useable - which we love.  And now, it’s nearly perfect, which we kinda like too.
• And apparently, there is talk of automatically upgrading wordpress itself!  How cool would that be if all my work on THIS POST was just a waste of time?  I know, you’d love it.

Enuf Chit Chat, here’s the HOW TO:

1. Back up everything first.  I wrote a very wordy post here.  I know - how unusual!
2. Go to WordPress.Org to download the latest version (2.6 as of this post).
3. See that big gawdy looking black jaggedy not-pretty line on this screenshot?  Email my hubby and tell him that I NEED that wacom tablet or y’all  ‘ll go blind with the ugliness of it all.   Seriously.  Do it.
4. Okay, so now you have that new version of wordpress on your computer somewhere.  Go to ’somewhere’ and unzip the file.  (Usually just right click on it and select ‘extract’.)
5. Now you have some beautiful brand new wordpress files.
6. Open up the handy-dandy Filezilla.  Use their instructions to set it up for the first time.  Or just click “reconnect” in the file menu.
7. Move the files from your computer to your host’s server.  (all the files and folders - see image) - I have a sad, deprived face on.  See #3 above.
8. When it asks you to overwrite them?  Say, YES.  If you aren’t sure if it is safe to do so, then go back to the back-up your blog post.  And make sure you have saved those items just in case they go missing (but they won’t).
9. Now, go back online to your blog.  And click to “log in” it will automatically take you to a “You Need To Upgrade” screen.  Click <upgrade>. (the only button on the screen)
10. Voila!  That’s it.  IF you have troubles after you’ve erased a bunch of stuff, it is a little more difficult to figure out what went wrong, than if we do the upgrade from the beginning.  So if you suspect it won’t go smoothly, let us know, and we’ll get to your blog, upgrade it for you, and even provide support!  Right Heather?
    

Have a great weekend, ladies & gents.  And don’t forget #3. 

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