Terrys Playpen

Back soon ...

2010-07-29T02:37:00.004+01:00

TIP - Backup or Synchronise-2

2010-05-16T01:28:00.016+01:00

I haven't forgotten! It has taken a lot of time to 'test' out two or three pieces of software. I also made the mistake of running THREE backups at the same time (on different days of the week, of course!), and the result was that my 1TB external drive filled up so fast that it got to a point where it could take no more and gave up trying. Bummer! All is back to normal after I deleted the backups

TIP - Backup or Synchronise

2009-11-25T00:09:00.009Z

Continuing the theme of hunting for a reasonably competent backup tool, and building on the two links I provided in the previous post to some of Gizmo Richards' superb freeware, I have stumbled across a couple more that might be of interest to you. But those will only be revealed to you in the next post. First, let me put to bed some misconceptions about backups. My whinge in a couple of

Win, WIN7 …

2009-11-20T17:54:00.014Z

Windows 7 installed. Windows 7 working without a hitch. Windows 7 is a winner as far as I am concerned! If you are still hesitant about taking the plunge, agonising about moving from XP or Vista to Windows 7, let me encourage you to do it now. You will NOT regret it. This is a brief update on my trials and tribulations concerning the disk failures I suffered, something that is of really no

Double Disaster …

2009-10-05T16:47:00.005+01:00

Areal 'cracker', this one. First, my hard drives failed without warning. For the geeky, they were set up as a RAID (Redundant Array of Independent [or Inexpensive] Disks) array which, in non-geeky terms meant that everything written to one disk was mirrored to the other. A RAID setup (there are many levels) is a bit of overkill for a home computer and is normally found on a commercial server.

David Has Left The Stage …

2009-10-01T22:40:00.002+01:00

David McMahonhas left the stage. David has abandoned blogland (authorblog) to concentrate on his writing. The last I heard from him he had submitted his second novel to the publishers and was quite a way through the second novel! No, you didn’t read that wrong. Nor did I mistype it. His second novel was to be 'The Jadhu Master', but it looks like his publishers managed to convince him that

TIP - FotoSketcher

2009-08-28T18:57:00.017+01:00

Another delightful little programme, FREE, that will enhance your blogging experience. But it needn't stop there, because this little beauty will allow you to exercise your artistic skills to the full and produce prints that you could use for cards 'n' stuff to send to your family and friends! FotoSketcher is completely free and does not contain any adware, spyware or virus. It runs on any

TIP - MoJoZoom

2009-08-08T23:31:00.029+01:00

Here we go. I've collected all the bits of code, and the explanations, so it shouldn't cause you any headaches incorporating this stuff on your site. Please remember that there are other 'zoomer' scripts available, but I've chosen 'MojoZoom' over the others for a variety of reasons: Easier to install Easy to configure Fits limited Blogger window space JavaScript and CSS files hosted by me

TIP - Zoomers

2009-08-07T01:31:00.039+01:00

I have another Blog called Paradise Discovered which is not constrained by the content I have elected to post on this site. But it doesn't mean that I do not use all the 'tips-n-tricks' I throw up here. Indeed, anything I mention here can almost certainly be found in use on the other Blog. Makes sense, huh? I recently found myself hunting through the Formula One Official Website looking for

TIP - Additional Profile

2009-07-30T00:07:00.014+01:00

I am not partial to 'exposing' ME to the WWW but, on occasion, others might find this an easier way to introduce themselves to their visitors. It manages to put a 'human' face on things (you could add a really sexy picture - one that you wouldn't include on your normal blogger profile!), and allows you to disclose stuff that isn't included in the standard 'Profile'. For example, I've added a

TIP - Demise of Soapbox

2009-07-23T00:35:00.007+01:00

Just when I thought I'd discovered a real GEM in 'Windows Live Writer', Microsoft has decided to cripple its functionality by closing down their video repository called Soapbox. Apparently Microsoft said in June that it was re-evaluating Soapbox (it's in direct competition with Google's YouTube), although Microsoft vice president Erik Jorgensen said in a published report that Soapbox might

TIP - 'SnagIt' & Image Mapping

2009-06-13T00:08:00.020+01:00

This post is only a little taste, a teaser, of what you can achieve using SnagIt. It isn't simply a 'screen capture' utility, it can be used to produce small objet d'art. Can you spot the Google Ad? If you combine a 'good' graphics programme (GIMP is 'Open Source' and FREE) with 'WLW', it is only your imagination that limits what you can produce for the edification of your visitors.

TIP - Snipping Tool

2009-06-12T01:22:00.009+01:00

The Snipping Tool is a screen-capture tool that allows taking screenshots (called 'snips') of an open window, rectangular areas, a free-form area or the entire screen. Snips can then be annotated using a mouse or a tablet, saved as an image file (PNG, GIF, or JPEG file) or an HTML page, or e-mailed. If you are using Windows Vista Home Premium or higher - OR - Windows XP Tablet PC Edition with

TIP - WLW Exposed

2009-05-16T20:19:00.006+01:00

I have spent some time exploring the many attributes of 'Windows Live Writer' and it continues to surprise me with its versatility. Your needs will probably NOT be as demanding as mine (I'm a 'geek' who likes to push the envelope), but even for the simplest of tasks, like putting up a new post, this little gem is going to make your life so EASY that when you start to use it you'll wonder how

No Stopping Me Now …

2009-05-14T00:01:00.009+01:00

There really is no stopping me now! This 'Windows Live Writer' programme is so easy to use that I can't think that I shall go back to editing things in either the WYSIWYG (Compose) window, or in the HTML window, or in a text editor - ever again! This programme even has an HTML window (I'm actually typing in it at the moment) that allows you to insert snippets of code that aren't carried as

TIP - Windows Live Writer

2009-05-13T19:35:00.010+01:00

This is a test post to see whether Windows Live Writer actually works, or whether I should go back to the drawing board … That pic insert is a WOW! Reflection ‘n’ all. If this ‘post’ is actually uploaded as I’ve composed it, I shall probably revert to using this software for all my posts. The software is FREE, but it is a Microsoft offering. You need to be a participant in ‘Windows Live

TIP - Follow me Follow

2009-03-25T22:11:00.015Z

I was trawling the 'blogosphere' wondering what I could stumble across that would interest the visitors to this site when I came across this little beauty! There is a simple instuction in HTML that advises search engines NOT to follow certain links from your site, for example the Admin page, or other pages that are critical to the security of your site, and it is simply the 'nofollow'

TIP - Sidebar Image Borders

2009-02-26T17:12:00.025Z

Cath this time (am I glad that there are questions, or what?), asking how I managed to put borders around her sidebar graphics as the default, rather than inserting the code individually for each picture. It isn't actually difficult. The reason you don't see many sites with borders around sidebar graphics is more a case of users accepting the default settings and being satisfied with the

TIP - Label Cloud

2009-02-26T13:49:00.007Z

Lee posted a comment in the last post asking if I had/could/would post a tip on how to achieve the 'Label Cloud' I use here, and one which I built for her. Well, I haven't, I could, but I won't! No, that is not a rude response. I am not going to post a tip on how to get that particular 'Label Cloud' and appear to take credit for it. Simply because I 'stole' it, and simply because phydeaux3

Taking A Break ...

2008-11-20T18:15:00.005Z

I've been taking a bit of a break. Many things have been happening in real-life that have colluded to keep me away from the old keyboard. But I shall be back with a few more 'Tips-n-Tricks' soon. If you are dropping in to check on whether there has been anything new, please accept my apologies. Take care, and drop in again soon!

I've been 'Shrinked' ...

2008-05-02T17:39:00.050+01:00

Shrinky tagged me. Bummer! Since I've never been able to resist an ambidextrous, double-jointed, VERY flexible blonde (her words, not mine), it looks like I'll have to play along. The Rules: 1. Link to the person that tagged you (that's me!). 2. Post the rules on your blog. 3. Write six random things about you in your blog post. 4. Tag six people in your post. 5. Let each person know they

TIP - Tools Of The Trade

2008-03-22T20:00:00.016Z

I have touched on the subject of the tools you should try to use in a previous post, but I wanted to introduce another 'clever' little script and decided that it was worth resurrecting the advice so that I could '... kill two birds ...', in a manner of speaking! A screenshot of EditPad Pro in use.The thumbnail on the right is a screenshot of my favourite

I've been tagged ...

2008-02-21T01:10:00.020Z

From: LeeTo: Terry FletcherSubject: I've tagged youHey TerryI noticed we now seem to have our backlink link back. LOL!I tagged you for an archive meme. Don't know that you are into that much but I had fun with it.Lee I don't usually succumb to invitations to involve myself in MeMe posts. Not because I am dismissive of them, but because I've never considered my blogging on Blogger to be

TIP - Screw that Spanner

2007-12-20T18:24:00.002Z

I may be in a majority of ONE, but I've always disliked the "Screwdriver & Spanner" icons that appear below every widget in the sidebar. I KNOW my visitors cannot see these distractions, and that they only appear on the page of the blog owner, but I don't like the S&S, so there! It irritates me because I know that I can access the widgets through my control panel, BUT your take might be

TIP - Mouseover Fun

2007-12-16T22:44:00.008Z

A comment left on David McMahon's Blog by the blogger david of David's "Images of Nature" Photography Gallery fame, asked how the 'Mouse-over' effect was done on the "Invitation" graphic used on David McMahon's page. It is a simple Javascript function that anybody can use, so here are some quick instructions on how to achieve it. And since david asked, I trolled across to his site and stole

Season's Greetings

2007-12-13T18:10:00.001Z

Now, Here's A Question ...

2007-11-29T17:43:00.000Z

I may as well get some mileage out of building the "Poll-in-a-Post" tutorial to gauge what my visitors think. And why not? If you have the time, please choose the answer that is closest to what you think. This particular Poll isn't multi-choice, so you will have to put up with what I anticipate your opinions will be. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TIP - Polls in a Post

2007-11-28T23:14:00.001Z

Time to get 'down and dirty' with an attempt to include a "Poll in a Post". If it works, at least David is going to be a happy turkey! Here goes ... --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Backup your old template! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. The object of this exercise is to let the

TIP - Polls (apart) ...

2007-11-28T16:59:00.001Z

From: David McMahonTo: Terry FletcherSubject: Polls in a Post ...El TelOff the top of your head, can you remember the icon that produces a poll in New Blogger? Having done so many all those months ago, I'm scratching my head because I want to embed one in a post!!Cheers.David --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Another hot potato! Why? Because,

TIP - Multiple Backlinks

2007-11-23T17:06:00.002Z

Testing a template to destruction Forget the third column ... The Banner ... Testing Times ... If you haven't already done so, you should read the blog post TIP - BACKLINKS below to get a feel for what you need to edit. Let us assume that you wish to make a post with several 'links', similar to David McMahon's "Post Of The Week" feature. The links above are 'example' links, used for this

TIP - Circles Crop - (a post that links to one on another blog)

2007-11-22T17:27:00.001Z

Circles Crop: This Is Simply A Symbolic Image This is a link to David's "Wordless Wednesday" picture post. He asked for comments, in the form of guesses, as to what the picture signifies. Most of his visitors are regulars who are familiar with, and love, his 'phraseology' and the majority have guessed at Cymbals (that's the correct spelling, folks!), based on the clue in his sub-heading.

TIP - Backlinks

2007-11-21T19:37:00.001Z

Warning! This could seriously damage your health! Following these instructions could send you loopy trying to jump from one 'screencap' to the next. I'll try and make things easier by opening each of them in a new window, but your 'method' of working may vary, so I shall leave it up to you how you approach the task. CTRL+N will open a new window (or tab) and that might be a better solution for

Backlinks ...

2007-11-18T18:30:00.000Z

From: LeeTo: Terry Fletcher; David McMahonSubject: Backlinks ...Hi TerryI came over here at David's suggestion. He wrote a post asking for responses on our own blogs and also asking for backlinks. I responded but when I read the description of how to do a backlink on New Blogger it made absolutely no sense. I do have them enabled. We were wondering if you could explain how they happen and

TIP - Alternative Displays

2007-10-17T19:16:00.006+01:00

This is an alternative display, using "Thickbox", for a series of small thumbnails that, when clicked, will take the viewer to a 'Gallery' display without actually leaving the page. If the "Thickbox" script works as it should, you will be served up a larger image, superimposed on this page, and you will see 'navigation' links from one picture to another. What more can you ask for? The following

TIP - Post Formatting

2007-08-25T22:41:00.000+01:00

You compose your 'post'. That's the hard part. You post your 'post'. That's the easy part. You sit back and wait for somebody to visit, read and comment. That's the satisfactory part. In between you get on with your life. As we all do. But isn't it amazing that when the Blogging-bug has struck that we all appear to schedule our everyday tasks around our (sacrosanct) blogging time? So, why not

Ahem ... !

2007-07-30T15:55:00.000+01:00

I blithely motored on describing how to implement the new banner headers that you are all impatient to try out, and managed to gloss over a hint or two about the images you are preparing to replace your current banner header. This isn't a show-stopper, more in the way of a 'tip'. If you have a template that uses rounded corners then you should attempt to imitate the same display so that the new

Change Your Header - NEW Blogger

2007-07-29T23:52:00.000+01:00

NEW Blogger instructions, probably for the majority of users, and probably the one that will interest most of the visitors to this site looking for simple instructions on how to change a 'Header' or 'Banner'. Have you got your image ready? Is the image width set to the width of your current template? Please remember I am dealing specifically with 'Rounders-3' and 'Rounders-4', and in those the

Change Your Header - OLD Blogger

2007-07-29T23:38:00.000+01:00

OLD Blogger instructions. Here we go. Please bear in mind that this will come in two parts - OLD and NEW-Blogger. Why? Because I hacked away at both, and it would be a waste if I didn't at least mention OLD-Blogger for some 'peeps' who are still using it. So, before we get down and dirty with the template changes, have you got your image ready? You probably have or you wouldn't be interested in

What a Vista . . . !

2007-07-29T01:48:00.000+01:00

A gentle comment left by papoosue reminded me that I've been putting off publishing the 'Banner/Header' tutes, using the switch to the new computer and the new OS as an excuse. Well, a week has rolled by since I switched off the trusty 'old' computer and I haven't been tempted to turn it back on again. Looks like I managed to snatch all the files I needed, so it appears that the time for excuses

Update . . .

2007-07-13T23:14:00.000+01:00

New computer. New OS (Windows Vista). Same old problem. And NO, it isn't connected to paraskavedekatriaphobia, or what is commonly known as the "The Fear of Friday the 13th"! Can't build a local network because M$, in their wisdom, have changed just about everything as far as Administering your account is concerned. They claim that it 'hardens up' your computer against vile on-line attacks. Sure

Update . . .

2007-06-29T15:48:00.000+01:00

This is a quick note for anybody that is waiting for the tute(s) to be posted. I am experiencing some MAJOR computer problems. Mostly I get around to fixing them, but I think it is time for a new computer, which also means a move to Vista, something I have been putting off for a while. Please bear with me . . .

Own It . . . !!

2007-06-25T23:12:00.000+01:00

There are millions of bloggers, using various blogger engines, which means there are millions of templates in use. And your template of choice is going to end up being similar to many thousands of others. So what's so terrible about that? Absolutely nothing! The templates have been crafted with love and care and enthusiasm, and have been made available to all blog users - FREE of charge. But

'Recent Posts' - Where did they go?

2007-05-31T14:43:00.000+01:00

From: David McMahonTo: Terry FletcherSubject: Request from Jenera HealeyJenera says, "I'm trying some new things with my template and I'd like to add a Recent Posts section in and I know you have one. How did you get that in your template? I'm having a heck of a time trying to get it in there!"What's the answer El-Tel? I seem to remember we worked on this one when I first switched to the new

YouTube . . . My Generation!

2007-05-27T01:23:00.000+01:00

Cecilia again (boy, am I glad somebody is asking questions)! Q: How do I add a YouTube feed to my page. I've tried, but somehow it doesn't seem to want to display! A: Follow these steps. 1. Find the video clip on the YOUTUBE site - NOT the clip you've seen being streamed on somebody else's page. 2. This is what you need to copy: ---------------------------------------------------------

Leap of Faith, too . . . Implementing Thickbox

2007-05-24T19:20:00.001+01:00

I am about to use one of David McMahon's original high-res photographs that he sent me some time ago, but which he hasn't actually posted on his blog one that he published on authorblog titled Jose, Can You See . . .. This should demonstrate how a 'medium-sized' picture on a Blogger page (as displayed on David's blog and reproduced in a similar size here) can be viewed at its best by using the '

Leap of Faith . . . Editing your template for Thickbox

2007-05-19T23:22:00.000+01:00

This is your 'leap of faith'. This is where you have to make a decision as to whether stepping out into the unknown is worth the end result. I have shown you what you can achieve; you have to decide whether it is worth the effort. I will hazard a guess that most of you decide that it probably is! So, let us make a start. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cracked it . . .

2007-05-19T02:08:00.000+01:00

This is just here to tell you that I've managed to crack the prickly problem of making 'Thickbox' work with Blogger-uploaded pictures. More will be added to this post . . . standby! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Update: - (later in the day) We will have to tackle this in two parts. The first is the 'edit' you need to apply to your template.

Monitor it . . .

2007-05-17T18:50:00.000+01:00

Have you ever wondered whether your visitors see your pages exactly the same way you do? I don't mean the content, I mean the display. Are the subtle colours you've chosen for your site displaying exactly the same way on your visitors' screens? Is that carefully spaced caption or title displaying in exactly the same way in the other guy's display? They must, mustn't they?Never given it a thought!

The Tools . . .

2007-05-17T18:36:00.000+01:00

I am sure that each of you has your own personal favourite for the categories I mention below. These are mine, and most of them are FREEWARE!Text EditorsA good text editor is absolutely essential when you're working with the web. Word-processing packages just don't cut it. Honest! I have two in this category. Both are FREE. I use the first one constantly (disclaimer: I use the Pro version),

KISS

2007-05-17T18:34:00.001+01:00

KISS or Keep It Simple Stupid has always been a favourite adage of mine, student or instructor, man and boy! I spend hours trawling the web for information and it is only when I am researching something specific that I have the patience to read ALL that an article or post contains. Even then I tend to skip huge chunks when it becomes apparent to me that the author is being self-indulgent about

2007-05-12T20:18:00.001+01:00

Cecilia asked about placing copyright information below a picture, possibly in a different font and colour so that it did not merge with the text of the post. My response was that she should highlight the copyright text and then select to 'center' it after choosing the 'font', its 'color' and its 'size'.She managed this pretty easily when she elected to have the photograph showing in the middle

TIP - Picture displays 101(b)

2007-05-12T00:57:00.002+01:00

This is an experiment to attempt to 'integrate' the lightbox variant, called "Thickbox", into a standard Blogger post. If it works, then I've cracked this prickly little problem. Keep your fingers crossed, because if this thing comes off, none of our blogs are going to be viewed the same way ever again! And if this works I will try the 'Gallery' display for pictures, still using 'Thickbox', but

TIP - Copyright

2007-05-10T16:38:00.001+01:00

This post is in response to a question by phaseoutgirl (Cecilia) who hosts a blog called 'Dance with the Sun' (what a terrific name; doesn't it just invite you to visit?). She wished to know how to post a copyright note at the bottom of her pictures, similar to how David manages to copyright his own pictures. So let's deal with that first: Thyson being introduced to a baby lovebird!Photograph ©

W3C . . . who, what, when? . . . NOT!

2007-05-09T23:17:00.000+01:00

W3C is the World Wide Web (W3) Consortium. It was formed by Tim Berners-Lee (Sir Timothy John Berners-Lee, KBE, FRS, FREng, FRSA - the acknowledged 'father of the web' and a Brit, no less) with the aim of setting standards & rules for all users of the WWW to abide by. Of course it doesn't happen, but the more 'anal-retentive' people like myself try very hard to meet their standards. Hand over

TIP - Picture displays 101(a)

2007-05-08T21:53:00.003+01:00

Let us step back to the original request about how to insert a picture within a post so that, when clicked, it will take the viewer to a larger version of the same picture, hence allowing more detailed examination. The only caveat I would add here is that you should try and keep your original pic to a reasonable size, say 800 pixels wide, so that people with slower dial-up connections don't have

Let's take another tilt at this windmill . . .

2007-05-08T18:59:00.000+01:00

I started the 'Sandbox' on the 29th April in response to questions on David McMahon's authorblog, about how to achieve simple picture displays. In my haste I completely overlooked the fact that I was hosting my blog on my own server, and that editing it to achieve the results I was after was a bit 'geeky' and that it concentrated on editing HTML code. Not something everybody is familiar or

My Profile

2007-05-07T00:01:00.011+01:00

This is information about me that does not appear on my Blogger profile. I've added it here to test out the functionality of an 'additional' profile that expands on what Blogger publishes. I was born in India in 1944 and studied in various English-medium (Anglo-Indian) schools, some as a day scholar, most as a boarder, until the age of 16. By the time I'd turned 17 my

Terrys Playpen

Back soon ...

TIP - Backup or Synchronise-2

TIP - Backup or Synchronise

Win, WIN7 …

Double Disaster …

David Has Left The Stage …

TIP - FotoSketcher

TIP - MoJoZoom

TIP - Zoomers

TIP - Additional Profile

TIP - Demise of Soapbox

TIP - 'SnagIt' & Image Mapping

TIP - Snipping Tool

TIP - WLW Exposed

No Stopping Me Now …

TIP - Windows Live Writer

TIP - Follow me Follow

TIP - Sidebar Image Borders

TIP - Label Cloud

Taking A Break ...

I've been 'Shrinked' ...

TIP - Tools Of The Trade

I've been tagged ...

TIP - Screw that Spanner

TIP - Mouseover Fun

Season's Greetings

Now, Here's A Question ...

TIP - Polls in a Post

TIP - Polls (apart) ...

TIP - Multiple Backlinks

TIP - Circles Crop - (a post that links to one on another blog)

TIP - Backlinks

Backlinks ...

TIP - Alternative Displays

TIP - Post Formatting

Ahem ... !

Change Your Header - NEW Blogger

Change Your Header - OLD Blogger

What a Vista . . . !

Update . . .

Update . . .

Own It . . . !!

'Recent Posts' - Where did they go?

YouTube . . . My Generation!

Leap of Faith, too . . . Implementing Thickbox

Leap of Faith . . . Editing your template for Thickbox

Cracked it . . .

Monitor it . . .

The Tools . . .

KISS

TIP - Copyright . . . (for Cecilia's picture © info)

TIP - Picture displays 101(b)

TIP - Copyright

W3C . . . who, what, when? . . . NOT!

TIP - Picture displays 101(a)

Let's take another tilt at this windmill . . .

My Profile