Blogger Tips & Tricks

I've been using the Blogger platform for almost a year now, and I've learned a few tricks along the way that have made my life easier...that have "worked for me". I thought I'd share:

1. SPACING - Every now and then, when I hit "Preview" to see what my post will look like, all the hard returns are missing. It looks like one giant run-on paragraph. Not nice to look at, and really not nice to read. Even more frustrating, when I go back and add more hard returns, the formatting is still messed up. Ugh. I've found that two things help. (1) To avoid this problem, add any pictures to your post *before* typing text. For some reason, adding pictures after text seems to mess my formatting up. (2)If you have the spacing problem and need to fix it, I've found that pressing the SHIFT key while pressing the ENTER key will make your spacing fixes stick. A wonderful reader opened my eyes to this trick. Don't know who she is, but if you're reading this, thank you!

2. POST PLANNING - Every now and then I know I'll be away and won't be able to blog. Since I just know that the very planet we live on would stop (maybe just slow) spinning if I didn't blog, I had to figure out a way to fix this horrible problem. I have two fixes (1) Get over myself, and just let a day or two pass without posting (gasp!) and (2) Use the "Post Options". See the tan box that you write your post in? In the bottom right corner, there's that blue text that says "Post Options". All you do is adjust your "Post date and time" to a *future* date and time. And here's the trick...when you're done with your post and have set the date and time you'd like to publish on, click the orange "Publish Post" button, NOT the "Save Now" button. After you click the Publish Post button, it will bring you back to your list of posts, and will say that you've "scheduled" a post for such and such a date. Pretty nifty!

3. Copying. Have you noticed how you can't highlight and copy your text to another program or "compose" window? Every now and then I want to do this...maybe Blogger won't let me save, and I don't want to lose everything I've written...or maybe I'm doing a cross-post and don't want to re-write everything all over again at the 2nd blog. Whatever the reason, it was always a pain when I couldn't just copy and paste my pictures and text. BUT YOU CAN COPY AND PASTE THE HTML CODE! It sounds fancy, but it's not at all. See that "Edit Html" tab up there next to the "Compose" tab? Click on it. Highlight everything, even stuff that looks like garbled words, right click, click copy, and then paste it wherever you want to put it. If you're pasting it to another post, you need to save it to the "Edit Html" page of the new post. When you click back over to "Compose"...there it is! Pictures and all!

Click on back to Rocks In My Dryer for more great tips. Thanks for stopping by!

Lori ~ The Simple Life at Home  – (9/16/2008 10:12:00 PM)  

I have that spacing problem all the time. Thanks for the tip!! You've saved me endless time going through the HTML trying to find where to put it!

Melissa Stover  – (9/16/2008 10:25:00 PM)  

i also notice that you have your own domain name. do you still use blogger with your domain? i'm considering doing that but i hate to move from blogger since i'm so used to it.

Peanut  – (9/16/2008 10:37:00 PM)  

Thank you! You have saved me hours of time and frustration!! That spacing thing... ooohhh, it was getting to me!

Amber@OneMamma  – (9/16/2008 11:23:00 PM)  

Oh, thank you! The copy/paste thing has bugged me to no end! I'm also excited to try the shift/return trick as I often decide to add one or two last minute photos.

Buzzings of a Queen Bee!  – (9/17/2008 01:59:00 AM)  

Thank you...the copy thing has been getting to me, so I really appreciate the tip!!
Carrie

2nd Cup of Coffee  – (9/17/2008 03:03:00 AM)  

Just this morning I was gnashing my teeth over spacing issues, mainly that if I have normal looking spaces in my composition, when I preview, they're all jacked up. When I publish, they're all different again, so it's really frustratin. So a big thanks for the tips.

amy@flexibledreams  – (9/17/2008 04:29:00 AM)  

HAHA! I just wrote a very similar post for my WFMW tip, but with some different tips! Great post.

Unknown  – (9/17/2008 04:47:00 AM)  

The problem with spacing has driven me round the bend loads of times. Thank you. I'll definitely need this in the future.

Anonymous –   – (9/17/2008 05:07:00 AM)  

Thanks!! I have the same issues with wordpress, and hopefully my spacing issue will be fixed now.

Sherry @ Lamp Unto My Feet  – (9/17/2008 05:28:00 AM)  

Sweet! Thank you for the great info! I have issues when I have posted pictures, so this will definitely be a HUGE help! Thank you so much! I also love the idea of post planning. I'm going to try that.

Have a great WW!
Sherry

Anonymous –   – (9/17/2008 05:53:00 AM)  

Just why is HTML such a pain? Wordpress sometimes just changes stuff around with no apparent rhyme or reason. Drives me nuts.

Halloween Candles

Anonymous –   – (9/17/2008 06:58:00 AM)  

Wow, you have addressed several blogging frustrations of mine. Thank you so much! The spacing issue drives me crazy.

Linda  – (9/17/2008 12:01:00 PM)  

I actually have trouble with blogger adding space in my posts. I have found that it helps to get to know some HTML and edit or even compose the post in the HTML window. You can use
to add line breaks. I love the look of your blog!

Becky Avella  – (9/17/2008 12:33:00 PM)  

I've been so thankful for this tip after you shared it with me. I'm feeling a need for a blog makeover. I still love your new look.

Leslie  – (9/17/2008 01:43:00 PM)  

Great tips - thanks! Also...I love the name of your blog! :)

Jerralea  – (9/17/2008 01:53:00 PM)  

Thanks for the tips! I was having problems with the spacing on my blog so you have really helped me out!

Anonymous –   – (9/17/2008 02:25:00 PM)  

I never have taken the time to figure out how to "pre-post". Thank you for a really helpful post! I have never participated in Works for Me Weds but this looks like a great thing.

Svr  – (9/17/2008 09:27:00 PM)  

Thanks, I've been trying to figure out the spacing this too! YAY!

Momof3  – (9/17/2008 09:52:00 PM)  

Thanks. I was wondering how to pre-post.

Jendeis  – (9/18/2008 07:46:00 AM)  

Thanks for the tips! It seems that spacing problem is universal.

marigold  – (9/18/2008 09:41:00 AM)  

Thanks for the tips! I am also wondering how you use Blogger with your own domain name? I own my own domain but blog under blogger... How can I link the two?

Melissa G  – (9/22/2008 03:32:00 AM)  

Wow, these are all things i've had problems with too! Thanks for the help!
I found your blog from the WFMW on Shannon's blog.
Have a wonderful week!

Jenny  – (9/23/2008 11:53:00 AM)  

Wow, thanks so much!! I have that spacing problem sometimes, too. Nice to know how to fix it! And thanks for the tip on copy/pasting the html...I haven't had to do that yet, but it's good to know!

Karen  – (9/29/2010 10:19:00 AM)  

Since I'm so new at blogging (on Blogger, too), the spacing thing has been a problem for me, too. Thanks for sharing all of these tips! blessings on your day, k

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