Copy / Paste from Word - without Fear?

Copy / Paste from Word - without Fear?

I have been astounded, several times in my life, mainly by the simplicity of things which I thought intricate and complex.

Today, David Kutcher, wrote:

"I've been using computers for forever. Control-C, Control-V. Copy/Paste.

But I never knew about Shift+CTRL+V until yesterday? Wow.

What's the difference you ask? Lets say you're making a blog post and you're copying content from a Word document to Blogger. If you copy/paste with Control-C and paste with Control-V, it'll bring over a ton of awfully formatted content and extra Microsoft tags, making your markup a disaster.

But, if you paste with Shift+CTRL+V, it'll paste without that extra junk markup.

Mind. Blown."

I think that's the greatest news (for some newbie bloggers), since sliced bread!

Thank you, David ! My mind's blown - too!

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Information. Where Do You Get It?

Information. Where Do You Get It?

Having been a Helper on the Blogger Help Forum, for a number of years, a TC if you want to call me that, I am constantly searching for reasons, as to WHY things go wrong, and where I can find out what's being done, so I can give the best advice.

I am constantly disappointed by Blogger and their lossy (if you're not happy, bad luck. We can afford to lose you) attitude. This company is so big, and spread so wide, that the individual blogger, with a problem, is of little or no concern. How do I know that? Just try finding out what's happening - currently.

The areas I investigate, and expect to be disappointed, are Known Issues, and Blogger Status. How else am I to find out if a problem has been reported, is being worked on, or even exists?

For example, a few bloggers have reported problems with YouTube. I looked in both the usual places ...

Sadly, these provided no help, or insight, at all. In fact, Known Issues hadn't been updated for nearly 3 YEARS!! Why do they even have it? Padding?

Get with it, Blogger!

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Blocking, or Stopping, a Google+ Follower

Blocking, or Stopping, a Google+ Follower

Sometimes, someone likes your blog, and will Follow it from his/her Google+ Circles, or using his/her Google+ Profile. That's a compliment! However, some bloggers may not wish to have this 'strange' person Following their blog. To them, it is like having a stalker, I'd imagine. It's someone scary and not wanted - definitely to be rid of. Why? I don't know, but it happens.

So, how do you Block some un-wanted Follower? Simple. For this example, I've chosen (the dastardly) David.

Step 1 - Choose the un-wanted Follower from the gadget images ...

Step 2 - his/her Profile will be displayed. Click the little gear-wheel icon, and a drop-down menu appears. Click on Report/block (name)

Step 3 - Now, the tricky part. You get to choose what you want to do - crucify the person, just mutilate him/her, or beat him/her up a little. JUST JOKING, folks! Seriously, though, you can do some damage here to a Follower who may be innocent of all wrong intentions. Just Block him/her. Don't go Reporting his profile - unless he/she deserves it.

That's it!

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File Formatting, and MS Picture Manager

File Formatting, and MS Picture Manager

Last month, I was uploading heaps of photos to the website, for my Family Tree, when I came across a problem. The photos were not appearing - in fact, they weren't even uploading! "Oh, sh*&/%$, what could be wrong?" After repeatedly cursing, gnashing teeth, and scratching my head, or all, at the same time, ('cos I'm male, and have proved I can do many things at once), the 'penny dropped'. File format! Check it, and at the same time, find out which file formats this damned site accepts (another multi-tasking experience).

Having sourced the photos from many places, including the web, and there are many different file formats... BMP, PNG, TIFF, JPEG, GIF, RAW, PPM etc, it was a good bet that some were maybe corrupted, or of the wrong format. Ironically, the photos I was having trouble uploading were PNG format. Apparently, the site I was adding them to, didn't accept that format! Bingo... but, what was I to do about it? - *&^%$ !

From experience, I remembered that MS Picture Manager has an Export feature for file format changes, and file replacement. This was a must, to solve my problem.

1. Open MS Picture Manager and upload the questionable image.
Click on File, then Export.

2. Check the image is all set for export

3. Select the File Format you require

4. Replace the File and Save

This could be the answer to some people's problems uploading images in Blogger, too, although Blogger allows several format types.

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Photo Uploading - Troubleshooting.

Photo Uploading - Troubleshooting.

Many people, (bloggers), report trouble when trying to upload photos to their blogs. The reasons for this could be many, but generally fall into areas in which you can help yourselves - if you know what to look for, or test for. Blogger Help is a good starting point for troubleshooting -

• You can upload images in JPG, GIF, PNG, TIF, or BMP format. Export them if they are of a different, and change the format, replacing the file. It's easily done through MS Picture Manager.
• Turn off your popup blocker. Sometimes popup blockers will prevent the image upload window from appearing. You can also add Blogger.com as an approved site in your popup blocker settings, so you don't have to disable it entirely.
• Disable any plugins you have installed on your browser. Plugins can occasionally cause incompatibilities with some web applications, like Blogger's post editor, so it's good to test this and see if it has any effect.
• Try using a different browser. The latest version of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Windows Internet Explorer will usually give the best results. If you're already using one of those, give the others a try.
• Clear your browser's cache and cookies. Always recommended, in case the problem has already been resolved but you're still getting old data from your browser.
• Make sure you click the Add selected button. The upload process isn't actually complete until you click Add selected on the final screen. Just closing the window will prevent the image from appearing in your post.
• Check your limits. Blogger allows you up to 1 GB of total storage, shared with Picasa Web.
• If you are posting pictures through Blogger Mobile there is a limit of 250K per picture.

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Google+ Comments - and Permissions

Google+ Comments - and Permissions

The new Google+ Comments has various differences to the old Blogger comments. One in particular, is the inability of this feature to run in conjunction with a Private Blog.
As a result of this inability, a change in the way your Settings page is presented, and functions, is apparent. If Google+ Comments is selected, the Reader choice for Permissions, is not visible, and the ability to alter the readership, is diminished. You have to delete Google+ Comments before you can change your blog to Private, therefore reverting to the Blogger system, for Comments.

Notice that you have NO choice to select what type of readership you want to allow, with Google+ Comments in place. However, should you wish to limit the blog to a select readership, it is a simple matter to delete Google+ Comments.

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Google+ Comments. Installing them, and Un-installing them

Google+ Comments. Installing them, and Un-installing them.

Google has introduced a new OPTIONAL Commenting system which links your Google Profile and your Blog, with your Circles - should you wish to 'Share' them. It is called Google+ Comments. By now, most bloggers would be aware of it, and may be wondering whether to try it on their blogs.

Firstly, it is extremely easy to install, from your Dashboard, and just as easy to delete. It's as simple as checking, and un--checking the box.

The system looks shiny, and new. I don't mind it, and have no particular leaning towards either commenting system - at present, but there are a few features which cause me to ask, WHY? You can read about it - HERE

The Google+ Comments system is:

• Limiting - not everyone can comment. Google+ Comments are unsupported on non-public blogs and blogs marked as containing adult content.
• Google+ Comments do not, at this stage, have a count. There is no way to find out how many comments you have on a post, without searching the post.
• If a comment is not shared with the blog author, the blog author will not be able to see the comment - in either location.
• A private comment can be made on your post, which you cannot see.
• People (Readers) who do not have a Google+ account profile, can't comment. They will be given the opportunity to create one.
• ... and lots more.

A discussion Group has been set up, by Nitecruzr, for your say - HERE. I'll be interested to see your thoughts.

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