Getting comfortable with your new weblog!
Your new blog can be found is at http://yoursitename/yourblogname. Unless protected by a password (more on this later) it is publicly accessible to the world (if the URL is obscure it will take longer for anybody to find it).
Your blog consists of entries that are organised chronologically, with the newest posts at the top. You can modify the look and feel of your blog (more on that later as well) including the links, the description, the colours and the theme.
Change the content of your 'blog' by editing the text in the main window. Simply replace the text you dont want with text that you do want. Come back later in the day and add text if necessary.
My blog below is entitled 'cypSep2003' and has not yet been edited. Along the left side are links to customisable features of the blog; on the right is a list of links to my favourite sites (obviously not yet customised).
This is the public face of your weblog. Note the 'LogIn' link in the lower left.
Once you login, you can edit all the elements on your page. Your login ID is your email address. If you forget your password, you can have it sent to your email address.
Everything can be edited. Note the 'Edit This Page' button.
Once you click on the edit this page, you can edit the content through your browser. However, it is good practice (as anyone who has lost a composition on Hotmail will tell you) to work on your note in a text editor and then paste it into the browser window to submit it. This can save the pain of losing your post if something goes wrong (and since it is the web, things do go wrong).
In the window below, simply replace the 'boilerplate' text with your post and then Post the Changes.
Several WYSIWYG tools are included at the top of the text box (if you are using a PC). Use these to add colours, emphasis and links to make your post richer.
You can come back and modify your post (or add to it) using the 'Edit this Page' and 'Post Changes' buttons. You can continue to edit your post until you 'Flip the Home Page'.
The 'Flip Home Page' button (on the far right side of the screen) allows you to start a new post. By default, a new entry will be given today's date. Therefore, the 'Flip HomePage' button only occurs if the entry being edited is from another day.
In the image above, I am editing my blog on a day later than September 11th. I have the option of modifying my last post or starting a new entry by flipping the page.
When you have finished your entry, simply leave it. When you return to your blog on another day, start a new entry by 'flipping the home page'. This organises your entries chronologically, with the older entries appearing further down the page. You can determine how many days entries to show on the page - many weblogs use a default of seven days posts on the main page.
Raring to go? The official 'how to' is here. I will be adding more lessons soon.
Questions? Contact me cyprien.lomas AT ubc.ca
Copyright 2003 Cyprien Lomas
Theme Design by Bryan Bell
