 | [toc] |
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 headings, such as Introduction.
Setting up a Template or Snip-it
Click Insert on the top menu.
Click the Text Template icon in the Plug-ins section
You’ll the see the Text Template displayed.
Click Add Template
Add a title
Add Text and/or HTML
Unless you are going to add a large number of Snip-its I suggest ignoring the category, for classification and the icon.
Click the Accept button.
An example
I’ve added the snip-it Signature
Which provides the following signature
Happy Blogging
Paul Odtaa
Blogbasics.com
To Install the Plugin Text Template
Go direct the the Text Template link
Text Template - Download Link
Click the Download Now button
Follow the instructions and then activate the downloaded plugin, which will be installed on your computer. You will need to approve the prompts given by the system.
Browse the plugins
Select the Insert Menu
Click Add plug-in
Scroll through plugins until you come across Text Template
Click the Download Now button
Follow the instructions and then activate the downloaded plugin, which will be installed on your computer. You will need to approve the prompts given by the system.
To Edit Your Text Template
Going through the same process as using the template. That is
Click Insert on the top menu.
Click the Text Template icon in the Plug-ins section
The available templates will be displayed.
Select the appropriate template by clicking on it.
Click Edit Template
Change text, add or remove code.
Click the Accept button to confirm the changes.
To Delete a Template
Click Insert on the top menu.
Click the Text Template icon in the Plug-ins section
The available templates will be displayed.
Select the appropriate template by clicking on it.
Click Delete Template
Confirm you want to delete the template.
Our Links
Blog Basics: Windows Live Writer overview
Blog Basics: Windows Live Writer – Managing Pictures
Live Write Basics: A lot of useful tis on Live Writer
Over to You
Do you know any other good tips for Live Writer? Do you know any other productivity tips for bloggers? Are you likely to be using the plugin?
About Kenneth Byrd
there is an interesting new plugin called XsltPlugin find it here http://bit.ly/wQpeiF
Looks really good and probably better than the text template. I’ll try it out over the next couple of weeks.