For TypePad Pro users who are using advanced templates sets and want more control over the display of their TypeLists, we've just documented an assortment of new TypePad tags.
As always, we recommend that users who are not comfortable editing HTML and using template tags, utilize the template builder and try to avoid converting their templates.
Continue reading "TypeList Tags" »
Updated 20 August 2016: For the latest information on how to set the default or home blog, see the Knowledge Base.
We've just released a new (and much requested) feature that allows TypePad plus and pro subscribers to select which of their weblogs appear at their home level directory (the root). Prior to this release, your first created blog would appear at the root (so, for example http://example.typepad.com).
Here's how to select which weblog appears at the root
Next to each of your weblog's addresses (the weblogs that you own) on the main weblogs screen is a little "home" icon. If the icon is green, it means that it is mapped to be your main, default weblog at the root. If the icon is grey, it is not selected and can be found at its full address.
To make the weblog your default weblog at the root, simply click on the grey icon next to the one that you wish to change. You will see a pop-up that prompts you to confirm that you do indeed want to make the change. When the page refreshes, you will then see the green home icon next to that weblog.
That's it! You can now find that weblog at your home address.
Just a heads-up for those interested in the domain mapping feature. We're still testing it out with a number of TypePad members who offered to beta-test and we're just working out some small glitches. We're hoping to get this publicly integrated into TypePad by the end of this week. We're always looking for more people to test, so if you're interested, please open a help ticket and we'll send you the information you need.
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Thanks!
While looking through our referrers, I found a great post about TypePad and community.
Carried Away writes about The "Recently Updated Weblogs" Effect:
"William, who publishes "the life - or NOT!", checked his referrers list and found a hit coming off of my site, and in turn checked out my site and then TrackBacked a post to me here. I know that's the whole point of the TrackBack feature, that readers are allowed more insight into a particular topic, but there is also an element of "connecting" going on. At least right now when blogging is still realtively new to a lot of us."
Placing the "Recently Updated List" on your own weblog is certainly a great way to help foster this community. While it may not be an option for those who like to selectively link to weblogs, it's a way to get discovered through reciprocal links. Of course, you have to be comfortable with the idea that you may end up having a link to a weblog that expresses an opinion that you may not agree with. It's this sort of gamble that is what makes weblogging appealing -- different opinions to read, consider and even sometimes ignore.
We'll be soon adding some new and very exciting community features to be found on the blogs.com domain. Look for these features in late September!
Updated 20 August 2016: For the latest information on adding categories to posts, see the Knowledge Base.
Categories are useful for grouping weblog posts that have similar topics. In TypePad a post can be assigned to a single category or multiple categories. Using a basic template set, you can configure your template to display the categories for your posts and list the categories in your weblog sidebar.
Setting up category names
Set up categories on the Configure -> Categories page for your weblog. There you'll find the listing of the default category names and a place to create new categories.
TypePad comes with default categories to use for your posts, you can enable or disable these using the Enable checkbox and saving the changes. Categories that are disabled will not list in the category dropdown selector when creating or editing an entry.
To add a custom category, type the new name in one of the blank fields in the "Custom Categories" section and press the save button.
Assigning a post to categories
When composing or editing a post, pull down the category list dropdown menu on the post screen to choose categories.
Assign the post to a single category by selecting the category and saving the post.
Assign the post to more than one category by choosing Assign Multiple Categories from the dropdown. This will open the category list where you can select multiple categories.
Click "set" after choosing the categories and save the changes to the post.
You can see the categories that a post is assigned to on the "List All Posts" management screen and view posts by category using the filter options.
Displaying categories on your site
Show the category or categories that a post is assigned to by selecting a post footer that displays the category name. This is on the Design -> Content page for your weblog, in the Weblog Post Footer dropdown.
Choose a footer that has Category showing in it and save the change. This will display the category name after each post, and with category archiving enabled the category name will turn into a link to that category page. You can turn on category archiving on the Configure -> Archiving page for your weblog if it isn't already.
For the sidebar of your page, you can check the "Categories" box in the Your Sidebar Content section of Design -> Content save the change. This will list your categories that have posts and each will link to the archive page for the category if category archiving is enabled for the weblog.
A list of your categories is also displayed on the master archive page for your weblog if you have category archiving enabled.
Updated 18 August 2016: For the latest information on the Post Footer options, see the Knowledge Base.
You may have noticed that after most weblogs there is usually a single line of text and links that identifies data about the post. In TypePad, we call that the post footer. The post footer contains information including author name, post date, category, permalink (the permanent link to your post that readers can link to), and links to the post comments and TrackBacks.
Using a basic template set you can configure the post footer to show different information and formatting.
Continue reading "Customizing your Weblog Post Footer" »