Introduction This posts describes the very handy upgrade to Windows Live Writer – the plugin Text Template.  This easy to use feature allows you to set up a complete post template, as I do, or you can add  snip-its, sections of text and HTML coding that can be quickly added to your posts. Windows Live Writer Windows Live Writer is a very useful tool for bloggers. It allows you to write blogs off-line in a cut-down Word environment. You can send your work directly to your blog, save the work to draft or you can save your work on your computer’s disk. The interface is superior to that of the WordPress Add Post and Edit Post features. It allows formatting, linking, a great image handling facility, add video, emoticons, a quality spell-checker and much, much more.  I am now a convert and most of my posts, including this one, are now written using the package. Using the Plugin Really easy. Click Insert on the top menu. Click  the       Text Template icon in the  Plug-ins  section You’ll the see the Text Template displayed. In my case I have only made one template  blogbasics-main. Just a double click and the extensive template is then placed into my open  Live Writer document. This template adds some hidden html to insert a table to layout out an image and a code that triggers a WordPress to process and insert a table of contents. The template also contains some of my standard blog Continue Reading

Overview All bloggers should use the free utility Windows Live Writer.  It’s an excellent tool for writing blogs offline.  It’s built in word counter and spelling checker make it a very useful.  I actually prefer to use it then writing directly to my WordPress sites direct. Let’s Go:  Using Live Writer So I’m sitting in the lounge.  I’ve just had a nice meal.  The telly’s on and my wife’s offered of make a cup of tea. There’s some programme on where some American serial killer is killing.  But we all know that the CSI  NCIS, the Law and Order team are going to solve the case somewhere between the last set of ads and the end of the programme. So out comes the notebook. Switch it on and click on Live Writer. I can then quickly belt out an easy post on a subject that doesn’t require a lot of research. I’ve got wifi, but I don’t need to use it.  I just write, save to disk.  I can then upload later when I’m connected. The interface The interface is like a simplified Microsoft Word.  There’s a whole host of controls on the top of the screen and a nice area below where you can enter your text.  You can also add images and video. However, be warned the package quickly gets complicated when you try and do anything clever with images. From a simpler to use set of controls than WordPress you can add hyperlinks, change the styling, add bold, italics and underline, change text colour, alter text alignment and switch on or off lists. Links with Continue Reading