1. How do I get a weblog (blog) started?

2. Do I have to know HTML to use it?

3. How do I add a new entry?

4. How do I create categories and subcategories?

5. How do I add links to other sites in my entries?

6. All the text in my entries is plain - how can I use bold or italic text?

7. Can I use images in my posts?

8. Who can comment on my weblog entries?

9. How do I refer other blogs to mine using Trackbacks?

10. How do I edit or delete an existing entry on my weblog?

11. How do I change the template style of my weblog?

12. What's an RSS feed and how do I take advantage of it?

1. How do I get a weblog started?

Faculty members who wish to enable their students to use a weblog should contact David Patschke to have them created. (top)

2. Do I have to know HTML to use it?

No, you can simply enter your text as you would normally in a word processing program. However, if you wish, you can use most of the text formatting HTML tags (among others) to vary how your text appears. Here's a list of HTML tags the Weblog server supports. (top)

3. How do I add a new entry?

Go to your blog (http://astro.ubalt.edu/weblog/yourblogname), and click on the Login link. Enter your name and password, and on the following page you will see a New Entry link. Click on it to open the New Entry pop-up window. In that window you'll have the chance to select which category the entry belongs under, to give your entry a title (important to do), and to type your text in the large box in the bottom of the window. Click on "Save" when completed. (top)

4. How do I create categories and subcategories?

Categories are very helpful for your readers for navigating your blog. All your entries are assigned to a category. Once you're logged in (see above), click on the New Category link. In the pop-up window that appears, next to "Parent:" choose if the catagory is nested inside another category or appears on the top level of your weblog. Then type in the name of the category and click on "Save." (top)

5. How do I add links to other sites in my entries?

To enter a link to another site or page that readers will be able to click on, all you need to do is format it as such: http://astro.ubalt.edu and it will automatically be encoded to be a link. Alternately, you could use HTML tags to format the text and the link separately (<a href=>, etc...) if you want. (top)

6. All the text in my entries is plain - how can I use bold or italic text?

You'll have to do some simple HTML encoding if you want to bold or italicize your text. That means putting a "tag" on either side of your word in your entry. As an example, if you put this in your entry: <b>Text</b>, what will be displayed will be Text. Here's a list of HTML tags the Weblog server supports. Using a few tags in your entry does not mean you'll have to fully code your entry in HTML --just the parts you want to change. (top)

7. Can I use images in my posts?

Currently you cannot include or upload images in your entry, however you can post images that already exist on another server somewhere else. In other words, If the image you want to post in your entry is on another server, simply copy the address of the image, then add it to your entry using the format:

<img src="http://images.example.com/images/myimage.jpg">

and the image will appear in your entry. (top)

8. Who can leave comments on my weblog entries?

Anyone can leave a comment on your posts. Comments could also contain urls to other sites/pages, and can also use HTML tags. Comments are not editable nor can you delete them. The validity of the information posted in a comment (name, email, URL, etc.) is up to the poster, which should be considered if issues about comments arise. Comments are deleted only if the entry itself is deleted. (top)

9. How do I point other blogs to mine using Trackbacks?

Trackbacks are a way to create your own entry in your own blog based on someone else's blog entry. Consider it either a comment on someone else's bog entry or your own entry based on someone else's blog (call it Blog 1). If you see a "Trackbacks" button or link on the entry in Blog 1, click on it to find the "Trackback URL". Copy this link and use it in the Trackback field when you create your own entry in your blog. Now, when others read the Blog 1 entry and click on "Trackbacks", they'll also get a link to your blog entry on your site. If you want to refer back to Blog 1 in your post, just refer to #5 in the above instructions for adding links to other sites. (top)

10. How do I edit or delete an existing entry on my weblog?

Login to your weblog. Underneath each entry you will see a link to either Edit or Delete the entry. Note that you cannot undo Editing or Deleting entries. (top)

11. How do I change the template style/theme of my weblog?

Login to your weblog, then click on "Settings". Next to "Theme:" select another template name from the pop-up list. Currently you can only select from the templates supplied from this list. To see how they look, click on "Save" after your selection. Changing the theme has no effect on the contents of your past or future blog posts. (top)

12. What's an RSS feed and how do I take advantage of it?

RSS stands for "Really Simple Syndication" and it is a technology that allows readers to stay up to date and get summaries of sites that support it. Your weblog automatically generates an RSS "feed" that others can subscribe to. If users who read your blog are using a browser that supports RSS (such as Safari), or they use an RSS application, they can subscribe to your weblog's RSS feed. While reading your blog in their browser, they simply click on the RSS button and bookmark the resulting page. Upon their return, they can see all the posted entries summarized however they choose. (top)