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Please be advised that the contents of this blog are opinions only (my opinion, the opinions of my family and the opinions of anyone else directly or indirectly involed in this blog). This is not an accredited training blog, nor is it an accredited anything blog. If you (and you) do anything that this blog says, or don't do anything that this site says not to do, and you get injured, sick or killed, you cannot blame me or my family or blame anyone else directly or indirectly involved in this blog. By reading anything on this blog (including this message) you are saying that you are a person who makes thier own choices in life and does not hold the writer of this blog, the writers family or any one else that may be directly or indirectly involved in the production or writing of this blog, responsible for your stupid and irresponsible behaviors, injuries, sicknesses or deaths. With that said, please enjoy my fun blog.

Monday, March 28, 2011

How to use MS Live Writer to Author and publish your blog…

I still cringe a little when I hear people using Bloggers editors. Blogger makes it simple to get a blog, but not easy to author and publish. MS Live Writer is the simplest and EASIEST way to publish great blogs in less time, all offline! You just click ‘Publish’ when you are done writing and formatting.

Here is how to get Live Writer.

Click here, then click the download button on your screen (sorry Mac users, this is not for you… you have to keep struggling with the Blogger Editor)

You will see this warning. Click on RUN
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After the quick download, you will see this warning. Click RUN
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Any permission requests that come up, just click continue.

DO NOT INSTALL ALL THE LIVE ESSENTIALS. Click on the second option. Choose the programs you want to install.
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I already have this program installed, so it does not give me a check box, but YOU will want to check ONLY the WRITER check box. (I also use their movie maker, it is as simple and fun as they come)
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Click install and allow all security warnings that come up.

You now have MS Live Writer on your computer. If you have multiple computers that you author your blog from, make sure you install this program on all of them so you can use Writer where ever you are.

Now, Setup. Open the program.

On the home screen you see a Publish button, just to the right is an Add account button. Click it. I have a bunch of blogs in there already, you will have only the add blog account. Click on Add blog account.

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Pick your blog service then click next.
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Fill in your exact blog address, your blog username and password. This is the username and password you use to access blogger. Click on ‘remember my Password, the click next.

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You might get this if you have more than 1 blog on your account. Choose the blog you are wanting to set up, then click next.
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Click yes to post a temporary blog, so that Writer can detect your theme. It makes it very easy to author and format if you are writing right on your template. See below.
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You’ll go through a bunch of this… just wait till it’s done.
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Then you’ll have this window. Just click finish and you will Bingo, you’ll have your blog template in front of you, along with some tools above to use.
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Here is what you’ll see (well, at least Penny will see)

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Ok. So type like normal. Insert pics where I noted. Once your picture is in the post you can resize by grabbing the corners, or if you double click on the picture, the editing tool bar above will change to the pic editing tool bar. You can crop, resize, recolor, sharpen…. etc… play with it, there is nothing you can hurt.

Links.

Highlight what you want to link.
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Go out of Writer and go to the page you want to link to and copy the address.

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Then come back to writer, and right click on the highlighted text, then click hyperlink.

you will now see this screen and since you copied the address that you want to link to, writer has automatically populated the address! Also, if you want this test to ALWAYS be linked to this website, then click the Automatically link to this text button. Every time you type that text in the future, it will provide the link! (You can turn off the link by right clicking and telling it to stop)
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Well, that should get you started. I hear so many complaints about blogger, but now you have an awesome way to post, offline, with a stable platform, that is very quick (especially since you can bring in multiple photos at once with very little effort! )

Have FUN!  (now I'll go delete Penny’s stuff off my computer)

16 comments:

  1. Thanks for this. I downloaded it the last time you posted about it (when you put all your cool pictures on) and am very happy with it. Thanks for sharing.

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  2. That is really cool, too bad I have a Mac :/ The picture sizing on blogging really annoys me . . . oh well :)

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  3. I couldn't agree more - simply the best blogging software.

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  4. i love using live writer....makes life so much easier. i needed to edit something yesterday that was already published and tried to do it in blogger and go so frustrated i quit. you would think blogger would have a better editor...duh!!!!

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  5. WT? Wow never knew!! I use both the mac and pc.. my iphone I upload my pics on the mac.

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  6. Lovely! Thanks, I love this and started using it already.

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  7. I def need to download this. I tried to last time and I couldn't get it to work (argh!). I'm going to try it again now that you posted the Live Writer for dummies version! ;)

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  8. thanks! I tried downloading this program before on my home computer but it didn't seem to work. My home computer is so old btu I will try again bcause if i wanted to try this software out before now I REALLY want to because of your awesome explanation.

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  9. Hey Neil!

    I've been casually running in my barefoot Vibrams for a year now, usually about 3-4 miles every couple weeks but want to run a half marathon in them in a couple months or less. Someone told me that you're the person to talk to for advice. My blog is www.firstinphilly.blogspot.com or could you email me at cmartinez@hiddenbrookfarmky.com? Any pointers and do's and dont's would be appreciated! Thanks!! Coy

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  10. you have written about this before... i would know, since it was how i found this wonderful blogging tool!
    I LOVE MS LIVE WRITER! :)

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  11. I just started using it, and it is the best... hands-down.
    ~ Kimberlee at The Spunky Diva 
    {Check out how I made my name 'clickable'.}

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  12. Ok, this is so helpful but for the first time ever, I'm sad I've got a Mac!
    Great advice though

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  13. Wow, I had no idea that existed. I'm an old school girl, I do all my HTML by hand. Heh.

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  14. Very cool that you posted about this. I think with a little HTML knowledge and bloggers updated editor you can do almost everything that you could want. it takes a bit more time sometimes, but it is worth it :)

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  15. I will have to download this and use it. Thank you!

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  16. *hangs head in shame* pretty sure this was directed at me (yes I think I'm the center of the world)

    noted

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