Design by JellyBeen

Just a quick note for those that may have come across articles about the new WordPress version that is just around the corner.  Version 2.7 is expected to be released as a final product soon.  It is currently still in a beta stage, which means it is usable but there can  be (and usually are) some bugs that will be found.

We have been involved in beta testing several different pieces of software in the past; this is a very common part of the programming process.  Also, but not very often with our experiences, there can be wholesale changes to some aspects of the software before it finishes the beta cycle.  We do not expect anything of that magnitude with the current beta versions of WordPress 2.7.

That being said, this is a WordPress Multi-User (WPMU) installation, currently version 2.6.3, and is not strictly tied to the stand-alone WordPress version although the public versions are currently the same.

We would suspect the WPMU developers are working on the upgrades to match the stand-alone version, but do not expect it in the very near future.  We strive to maintain these blogs with current versions of the software and will most likely be moving to WordPress Multi-User 2.7 when it appears as a final release.  In the meantime, we will continue with this version (2.6.3) as we find it stable and working quite well to the needs of the RatChatter blogs.

As changes to the interface are introduced with new versions, we will insure that our tutorials and how-tos are also kept up-to-date to match these versions.  This will be done, depending on the changes, by editing existing pages directly, or by posting addendum to existing pages.

As always, please feel free to comment, or contact us with any questions or concerns related to this WPMU installation at RatChatter blogs.

OK, a bit more than a quick note … and if you would like some additional information, please feel free to read the pages via this link: http://weblogtoolscollection.com/archives/2008/11/09/this-time-its-personal/

Thanks for your time in reading this update.

Tags: WP 2.7, WPMU

We’ve just finished publishing two more pages in our Getting Started series of tutorials.

We added the Writing Pages tutorial, and the much expected Editing Posts and Pages tutorials.

Please feel free to leave a comment on the respective pages, especially if they were not able to help. We strive to create these tutorials in a fashion that is easy to understand and follow, using plain language wherever possible.

Tags: Basics, Tutorials

Although this is a WordPress Multi-User (WPMU) installation and will not immediately be affected by the upcoming new version of WordPress, we will be actively watching for the expected updates to WPMU to bring it in line with a standard WordPress installation likeness.

The new dashboard looks to be a little easier to work with and we will be amending and re-writing our tutorials as need be.

In the meantime, please feel free to ask us anything you want to know in regards to the workings of these blogs so we may more quickly address any questions you may have in a user prioritized fashion.

Tags: Change, Controls, Dashboard, Tutorials

Let’s start writing a page.  You may notice how similar it is to writing a post very quickly. First, log into your dashboard. (You can follow the steps from Getting Started.) Now that you are logged in you are looking at your blog dashboard. At the top of the page you should see something like this: 

You might notice the links from the Getting Started post on the left side of the image.  On the right side of the image are two buttons, one will start a new page, the other will start a new post.  You can follow the steps from “Getting Started” and after you click on Write you can click Page, or you can just click the “Write a New Page” link right now.

 

The “Write Page” page should be on your screen.  It looks remarkably like the Write Post page, it is identical with the exception of only a few options. When you write a post it is usually in the moment.  The post is about what you are doing, or thinking, or have an opinion on at that very moment.  A page on the other hand is something similar but not the same.

Once you have finished writing your page you might have noticed on the right side of the screen the very same publishing controls as on the Write Page screen. Just check back on the Getting Started post for reminders.

Congratulations, you have written your first page!

Tags: Basics, Tutorials

Now that you have received your email with the details to access your weblog. You are ready to start publishing.

The first thing you will have to do is get logged into your weblog, or blog, as they are commonly referred to.  When you first go to your blog URI you will generally see the default MU template.  On the bottom right side, you may need to scroll down a bit on the page, you will see some links to site related pages. Click on the “Log in” link. 

 

This will open up the login screen.

Fill in your Username and your Password. (You would have received these details in an email after your blog has been created for you.) Click on the “Log In” button and this will open your “Dashboard” page.

The dashboard is your blog’s control panel.  On the left side of the page you will see these links. Clicking on the “Write” link will open up the page for creating new posts by default.  You can click on “Page” to create a new page, or “Link” to create a new link.  We will cover these in other tutorials.  This tutorial will help you write your first blog post and have you on your way to Internet writing history.

 

  

Enter a title for this post in the box directly below “Title”, then enter the content of your post in the box directly below “Post”.

What you write it entirely up to you within whatever guidelines set out by the blog site owners.  You can start with something as simple as: My First Post; and, write a few lines telling the world a bit about yourself or what you want your blog to be about. 

On the right side of the page you will see some controls for this post you are writing.

 

To publish this post for all the Internet to be able to read, simply click on the “Publish” button and your done.  If you get called away in the middle of writing a post and wish to save your writing just click on the “Save” button and the program will create a draft copy of what you have written.  You will be able to return to it later to edit and/or post at your convenience.  You can publish your post to the Internet and keep it for your eyes only by checking the box beside “Keep this post private”.  Just uncheck it and Save if you want the post to be public.

You are now ready to write your first post.

Enjoy!

Tags: Basics, Tutorials

Sometimes your username is just fine for the name of your blog, but sometimes you want it to be a bit different, or even just more verbose.  For example, this blog name is actually “dbjb”, but I have edited it to show “Design by JellyBeen” as the Blog Title.  This can be done to your own blog very easily.

To start, log into your blog’s dashboard.  On the left hand side of the dashboard near the top is a set of links. Click on the “Settings” link.  This will show the “General Settings” page.

Just simply edit the “Blog Title” field to something more to your liking.  While you are here you can also edit the “Tagline” field to something that tells a bit more about you or your blog.  The Tagline generally appears close to or directly underneath your Blog Title.

Tags: Basics

Right after your blog is created you will receive an email with your log in Username and Password.

Your log in name is the always your blog name.  The part of the URI after www.ratchatter.com/blogs/.

Your initial password is randomly generated by the processes involved in creating your blog.  It is generally a very good password, but will also typically be one that is not the easiest to remember.  Although it is not a necessity, you can change your password to something you prefer quite easily.

Once you have logged into your blog’s dashboard; in the top left corner of your screen you should see some links (for example: Settings, Plugins, Users).

Click on the Users link.  This will take you to a page of the users on your blog.  Generally speaking this will just be yourself.

Now, click on either your “Username” on the left side of the screen, or click on the “Your Profile” link (also on the left side of the screen, just under the standard Dashboard menu choices).

You will now see the “Your Profile and Personal Options” page.  Scroll down to the bottom of the page and you will see two boxes for you to enter your “New Password”, if you wish to change your current password.

There is a “Password Strength” measure to provide you with an idea of how good or bad you new password is considered.  This meter will not affect your choice, it is only provided as a suggestive tool.

Your new password must be at least four (4) characters long, and will be effective as soon as you click on the Update Profile button at the bottom of the page.

Tags: Basics

This seems simple enough.  Click on the “Log In” link, or the “Site Admin” link.  Those are two of the most common means of gaining access to your blogs “Dashboard” or control panel.

Sometimes there may not be an obvious link to click on to log into your blog’s dashboard. In those cases there is always the direct URL methods.

• Surf to your blog’s URI. Then at the end of the URL in your browser’s address bar add: “wp-login.php” without the quotes and press your <ENTER> key. Enter your username and password.
• Surf to http://ratchatter.com/blogs/wp-login.php. Enter your username (the name of your blog), and your password. This will take you to your blog’s dashboard, too.

It is also important to remember, your username is always going to be in lower-case; and, your password is case sensitive. For example, if your blog is named “MyGreatestBlog” then your username would be “mygreatestblog”, and ”PassWord” is not the same as “password” when you log in.

Tags: Basics

If you are just starting out blogging, or maybe its old hat to you, but your having a bit of writer’s block, why not try a new theme.

Every new RatChatter Blog starts with the default theme. It’s a little on the bland side, so we have been adapting more interesting themes to be used.  (Rather conveniently we had several GPL licensed themes already adapted for multi-user installations so we were able to quickly port them to this web site.)

After you log into your blog you should be looking at your “Dashboard” screen, your blog control panel.  Along the top, under the name of your blog is a menu bar.  To change you theme click on the “Design” option. On the following page(s) there will be screenshot images of the current Available Themes.

To select a theme, or actually preview it, just click on the screenshot.  A script will run that opens the previewer application. The preview window will show your blog as it would appear in the theme you are previewing.  If you like what you see and want to use this theme then click on “Activate” in the top right of the preview window.  If you wish to keep looking at the other available themes then just click on the “X” in the top left corner of the preview window.

Once your new theme is activated, just click on the “Visit Site” link beside your blog’s name and enjoy all the changes. To go back to your previous theme just repeat these steps and choose the theme you prefer.

Tags: Themes

This is just  bit of a “boiler-plate” post to get the blog rolling.  Once you are logged in you can do exactly what it says, just click on the “edit” link to begin.

Welcome to RatChatter Blogs. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!