Sunday, April 20, 2008

Adding Pictures and Links

When it comes to inserting pictures, E-Mail and outside web-links I’ve come up with a much easier procedure. First off I use Photobucket (click here) to store all of my photo’s. It seems to be the easiest site and their [Bulk Uploader] is getting better and easier all the time.


Just click on the icon of each photo from your desktop then [Upload].


In preparing a blog I use saved templates and do all the picture insertions at first on a word document on my computer. When completed I just cut and paste the finished picture codes into the blog window using [Edit HTML]. This is a much quicker and vastly safer technique as working in the blog window can have disastrous consequences when it locks up between saves. You’ll only need to go through this one time and you’ll change the way you do it.

Here’s what my first paragraph above looks like in HTML code before I cut and pasted it into the blog window. At first it’s very scary looking but when you have a blank template to work with it’s easy.


This is my blank template in HTML code for the largest pictures accepted, 400px. You can cut and paste it for your own use.


This is my blank template in HTML code for smaller pictures, 320px. Cut and paste this for your own use.


The XXXX is where you insert your [Direct Link] from Photobucket by holding your cursor over it and clicking as shown below. It copies this important address automatically. The width is the only difference in each of these examples and you can experiment with any pixel size you like up to 400px as values larger than 400px will automatically crop your photo. The actual sizes of your original photo only maters if it’s not perfectly square. Rectangular photos post differently.





Cut and Paste the template I use for the address of a Web-Link you wish to add;


The address is in red and the text you want seen is in green. Here’s what the HTML code of the above Photobucket link looks like (make sure you add no additional spaces);





Cut and Paste the template I use to add an E-Mail Link;
The address again is in red and the text you want seen is in green.




Screen-Shots are now easy to do. I have a Mac and use Snapz Pro X. For pc’s there are a lot of choices for Screen Capture software.



(C) 2008 Jonny53

Why Don't You Learn How To Blog,?

Blogging is fun and easy and has many other benefits such as the ownership, control and the ability to add advertising to your own website. It can cost thousands of dollars to have a (real) website but with your own blog it's free. Once you become a blogger you’ll never stop. Follow my directions; it’s fun, rewarding and actually quite easy.


I’ve tried to write down the simplest directions on the Internet. The [Help] sections on most sites are quite intense and I hope this article gives you all the help and encouragement you’ll need. Leave a comment at the end if I've helped you, and if any of the pictures are too small just double click to enlarge them.


To start go to; www.blogger.com. This is the site I use.

Click on; [Create Your Blog Now].


Fill out; Create a Google Account and don’t forget to save your Password and Display Name in a safe place.
Then click on; [Continue]


Name your blog and don’t forget to save your blog address in a safe place.
Then click on; [Continue].


Choose a template
and click on; [Continue].


Your blog has been created!
Now click on; [Start Blogging].


This is your blog page.


Put in the title first and click on [Publish Post] at the bottom.


The safest way to work is on a separate "Word" document on your computer. Securing a copyright may also be a good idea.


Type up your text and save it in your computer. Next select [Compose] mode at the top right of the blog window and cut & paste your text into the blog window. Click on [Publish Post].


Now you can look at your work by clicking [View Blog in a New Window], [Edit Post] or [Create a New Post].


If you’ve forgotten your blog address click on [View Blog in a New Window] and cut and paste the address to a safe place.


These are all the basic steps, follow them and your blog is now published.



Here are some other things you should know.
At the top of the blog window under [Posting] you have 1) [Create], 2) [Edit Posts], and 3) [Moderate Comments]. [Create] is for new posts, [Edit Posts] shows individual posts in your blog and [Moderate Comments] should be filled out so your blog can be seen on the Internet.



[Create] is the most important one

(b) Lets you choose bold print.

(i) Lets you choose italic print.

Insert link. (I never use this – click here for a much easier way to add a link or pictures)

Insert Blockquote

Check Spelling

Add a picture (I never use this – click here for a much easier way to add a picture)

Add a video





The [Settings] section gives you more control over the [Publishing] and the [Comments] on your blog and should be checked out.




The [Layout] section gives you control over the appearance of your blog. [Page Elements] enables you to rearrange the basic look of your blog by adding advertising links, videos, pictures, polls, slideshows, etc.


[Fonts and Colors] is the most important alteration to the appearance of your blog and should be set up to your liking.


[Dashboard] in the upper right hand corner lets you see a list of all of your posts at once.




[Preview] lets you see what your blog looks like (especially the pictures) before publishing.


[Edit HTML] and [Compose] are very important.


[Compose] lets you edit and see your text along with pictures and font colors at the same time.



[Edit HTML] lets you see your text only with the pictures written out in HTML code. It's so important to cut, paste, and save this code on your own computer incase the blog-site goes down or if your blog is somehow hacked into (or if you make a catastrophic mistake while editing in the blog window). All you do is cut and paste your saved HTML code back in and you’re quickly up and running again.




(C) 2008 Jonny53