We are using google’s blogger at http://blogger.com.
Blogging Basics, a previous class at this conference, will help you get a blog started and go through some of the basics. This class is meant to give you a few more ideas and help you learn a bit about uploading photos and documents, arranging them and then some beyond basic information. Uploading will be demonstrated in class.
HTML:
Sometimes you just need to do a bit more to tweak your blog and knowing a few bacis HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) will help a great deal. Knowing even just a little bit can help you trouble shoot your pages.
This programing language is text based and consists of opening and closing tags, each are enclosed between the symbols (< >and </>). Don’t forget the stop (/) symbol before the closing tag. For instance if I want something to show in italics I would type "<i> this phrase is in italics</i>, It will be displayed as this phrase is in italics. You may use upper or lower case tags but it is usually recommended to use lower case to be compatible with future developments.
Some of the first html coding you may want to use may be:
Bold - <b>...<b/> Superscript <sup>...</sup>
Italics - <i>...</i> Subscript <sub>...</sub>
Underline - <u>...</u>
Make a paragraph <p>...</p>
Line break (br>...</br>
Text position <p align="position">...</p> (left, right, center or justify)
Font Style <font face="font name">...</font>
Font Size <font size="font size">...</font> (1-7, 4 being average)
Font Color <font color="green">...</font> (google HTML color chart)
Heading <h1>...</h1>
Sub-Heading <h2>...</h2> may continue adding headings with 3, 4, 5 etc
Hyperlinks <a href="web address">Link text</a> (a=anchor tag)
Template Designer
- Located under "Layout", not a drop down choice, but in the main body of page at the top
This is my favorite stop. I found this difficult to locate since the upgraded blogger but it remains very similar to the one used before (once it is located). Remember to "Apply to Blog", an orange box at the top of page, or your changes will not take effect. You can then view or return to the blog by going "back to blogger".
Templates - This is the same as found in the other Templates section. Each of the choices on the row will display other choices below. The format underneath will be the same, with varying colors. You may also add your own picture in the picture window.
Background - You may choose different color schemes for your blog here. I almost always go with a photo background and choose the color scheme that matches. It may also be edited to match your photo exactly.
Your image background may also be tiled, meaning it will show multiple images in a row, either horizontally or vertically. I usually prefer not to tile, and then I choose a center top alignment. However, depending on the size of your background, you may need to just choose a portion of the photo to be displayed, thus requiring a different alignment. I have never used the "scroll with page" option. I like my background to stay in place, but that option is available.
Adjust widths - When I make forms or add special photos, I often need to adjust the width of the blog or the sidebar. Keep in mind that not all screens will see the same thing because of the difference in monitors and search engines. I like to adjust my blogs to a bit larger width to display images of documents. I use this tool often. The larger the pixels the less background will be shown.
Layout - You have the option of changing the overall layout of the blog from here. If you look at http://deltafhc.blogspot.com you will see that we have used a very flexible layout, allowing gadgets to be the full width of the sidebar as well as smaller ones with two abreast. You can change from left sidebar, to right, or utilize both sides.
Advanced - As you change the colors or add backgrounds that you must read through, you may find it necessary to change the colors of text, as well as the size. Here you can edit the style of font, adding bold or italics, size and color. As you select a location to change, a red dotted box will appear on your blog to show you what you are changing. You can also see what your changes will look like before saving or "applying" them.
Prove, Digitize and Share
I have felt for a long time that duplication of work needs to stop. I’m not referring to ordinance work, I’m referring to research and compiling work. I have spent many years perfecting, or at least making me happy about the result. Http://hunt2proveit.blogspot.com is my result. It is by no means complete but deals strictly with my direct line. Notice that the documents are now being added at the end of the site by manipulating the date published. All entries for an ancestor are concise with links to the proof for the events stated. If you want to make your own prove it blog, the "import" of my Prove It Blog can be downloaded and imported. (Set up your new blog, go to Design...Settings....Other.....Import.
It will import and you can select which posts to publish as you add the information to the already available posts.)
Using your blog to Source FamilySearch.org's FAMILY TREES - Once the documents are uploaded and linked into your post, you can source all information including birth, marriage, death, burial, parents, spouse, children, and other not even listed in Trees with one source document. Be sure and explain that it contains links and the image will only be available upon clicking on the links in the post.
Blogging has many possibilities and is easy to use. It is free and accessible to others. ENJOY!
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