The Real Blogger Status

Adding A Favicon - 2018

2018-10-07T04:49:00.000-07:00

One easy way to make a blog more visible is to add a favicon.

A favicon makes a blog easy to find, in a typical browser window, with lots of open tabs. Adding a favicon is now just a matter of using one more dashboard wizard.

Not so long ago, you would require a pair of files, hosted by a special (non Blogger) service - then you would edit the template, to add the URLs of the hosted files.

Now, Blogger supplies the "Configure Favicon" wizard - and hosts the file for us.

There's the favicon, for this blog.

You'll use the standard file selection wizard, that's provided on your computer - and should be able to choose an icon on your computer ("Upload") or elsewhere ("From this blog" / "From a URL").

Start from the "Favicon" wizard, on the dashboard Layout page - and click "Edit".

Use "Configure Favicon". Click on the "Choose File" button, and choose a file.

Click "Save". Then clear cache and restart the browser - and look at your blog.

There's my blog.

The icon is tiny - so look carefully.

Remember that "Configure Favicon", like many Blogger dashboard wizards, is subject to cookie and script filters.

You will still require a suitable file, as your favicon.

Please use a square image that's less than 100KB.

You have to design a distinctive image, to start - that can be seen easily at a tiny 16 x 16 pixels size. But once you have a suitable icon, in a file, you just add the file to your blog.

Not everything in Blogger is this easy. Don't you wish it was?

A favicon is an easy way to make a #Blogger blog distinctive, and easy to spot in a browser with multiple open tabs.

#Blogger now makes it easy for us to add a favicon to our blogs - with one more wizard, on the dashboard "Layout" page.

"HTTPS Redirect" And Private Blogs

2018-07-20T15:22:00.003-07:00

URL redirection is a Blogger magic trick, similar to a common sleight of hand trick in stage magic performances.

The Blogger HTTPS Redirection, a recently added feature in Blogger security, may be a similar Blogger magic trick - and a possible problem. Some browsers treat websites with multiple redirects as possibly malicious.

Private blogs, accessed through the Blogger / Google interstitial login, may also complicate HTTPS Redirection.

Interstitial webpages may pop up like magic, where you (or your prospective viewer) would least expect them.

In front of a "private" blog, where you have to identify yourself to continue.
In front of a blog that contains (or is reputed to contain) objectionable material (naughty pictures or such).
In front of a blog that is (or appears to be) published off site.
In front of a blog that has been blocked, for TOS violation, or maybe for hosting hacking content.

One of the problems with HTTPS Redirection may involve private blogs.

To access a private blog, you must be identified.

To access a private blog, one must be logged into Blogger, using an account that is a member or owner of the blog.

If you are not logged in to Blogger, you may be asked to identify yourself, to access the blog.

If you are logged in to Blogger, but using a non member / owner account to access the blog, you may simply be refused access.

Both of those displays come after the link to the blog - and before the blog is viewed. They are called "interstitial" webpages.

If you try to access a private blog, and are not a member / owner, you should see the well known Blogger / Google interstitial login webpage. In order to check that you are a member / owner, the infamous Google Login Cookie must be accessed.

The Google Login Cookie, created under the Google login sequence and accessed from a Blogger display, is a "third party" cookie. If the browser blocks "third party" cookies, as many do, the browser may refuse access to the private blog - even if the prospective reader is logged in to Blogger, as a member or owner.

If third party cookies are not blocked, too many redirects may present a problem.

If third party cookies are not blocked, some browsers may still have a problem - too many redirects. Some browsers may object to multiple redirects to other websites - as possible malicious content. A redirect to an interstitial display, following the "HTTP to HTTPS" redirect, may be one too many redirects.

The mysterious Blogger "private blog" interstitial display, which lets people login to a private blog when necessary, may contribute to the "too many redirects" problem, for browsers which are sensitive to multiple redirects. Even if a private blog member / owner is logged in properly, the interstitial display is still involved, in checking for proper login - and this is where the infamous "third party" cookie is involved.

You may need to adjust your security settings, for best results.

If you are trying to access a private blog - and you see "This blog is open to invited readers only", or you are forced to login, again (!!), you will need to check and correct your cookie filters. You might want to similarly check and correct your script filters.

Please remember that the filter that is affecting your private blog access - whether cookie or script - may not be part of your browser native settings. Check thoroughly.

One of the challenges involved with the recently added #Blogger "HTTPS Redirect" may involve private blogs, and the Blogger private blog interstitial login. "Third party cookie" filters, and the Blogger private blog interstitial login, will complicate this problem.

https://productforums.google.com/d/topic/blogger/WiR84_IRF8w/discussion

Revert A Page / Post To Draft Status

2016-10-06T12:17:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, we need to remove a page or post from a blog - but prefer to not delete it.

There are various reasons for not wanting to delete a page / post immediately or permanently - maybe when removing a post for problem diagnosis, or to change the URL to match the publish date. Reverting to draft status is easily reversed, and has no permanent side effects.

When you want to quickly - but not permanently - remove a page or post, you can revert to draft status.

Reverting to draft status is convenient, safe, and simple.

You can revert a page or post using Page / Post Editor, or the Pages / Posts dashboard page.

Revert, using the Pages / Posts dashboard pages.
Revert, using the Page Editor / Post Editor.

Revert, using the Pages / Posts dashboard pages.

The Pages / Posts dashboard page is a menu. Simply select one or more pages or posts, then click "Revert to draft". Click on "Yes" to verify. and you're done.

Hit "Revert to draft", after selecting a page or post.

Revert, using the Page Editor / Post Editor.

Any time that you are editing a previously published page or post, click "Revert to draft". And you're done.

Hit "Revert to draft", when in page / post editor.

And when you're done, you're done.

Once a post is newly draft, it's offline. Page / post content in cache on your readers's computers will be readable until it expires. New readers, on the other hand, will see a "404" immediately.

You can recover the post with the URL - or rename to a new URL.

If you revert to draft - then later, re publish without changing the title, you will get the same post, with the same URL, back. If you change the title with the post in draft status, you get the same post content, under a new URL, when you re publish.

If you do the latter by mistake - then discover the mistake later, you can recover the mistake by merging the new and previous URLs. Just add a custom redirect from the new to old URL (or vice versa).

Review / Recover The Draft Inventory, With One Mouse Click

Any time that you need, review the inventory of Draft posts. Just click on "Draft" under "Posts". You can Edit then Publish - or just Publish, immediately.

Check out the current Draft posts complement, from Pages or Posts - Draft. Then recover one or more.

Just select one or more posts, then "Publish".

Or edit a page or post, then Publish.

Either way, you can recover any pages or posts, reverted, easily enough - as long as you revert them, instead of deleting them.

Just understand the possibilities.

Reverting a #Blogger blog post to draft status is a quick, yet reversible, way to take a post offline. The URL will be recovered, automatically - as long as you do not change the title.

Blogger Magic - Move Content Between Blogs

2016-10-01T12:52:00.001-07:00

Some blog owners, who publish multiple blogs with different subjects, may decide that some subjects would be better discussed in a different blog.

With various posts published in one blog, the owner may decide that those posts should be published in a different blog, to continue discussion. The question now is how to move posts, from one blog to another?

The dashboard "Export / Import" feature, which is now labeled "Import & back up", lets us copy pages and posts from one blog to another. Just copying all pages and posts, though, will create problems with duplicated content.

If you are going to move specific posts from one blog to another - and continue to publish both blogs - you have to add extra steps to the process.

Use "Import & back up", on the Settings - Other dashboard page.

Export all content from the first blog.
Import all exported content, to the second blog, as "Imported".
Publish imported content, selectively, in the second blog.
Delete content re published, from the first blog.
Setup custom 404 or custom redirects, from the first blog.
Remove imported yet un published content, from the second blog.

Export all content from the first blog.

Using the "Import & back up" wizard, on the dashboard Settings - Other page for the first blog, click "Back up Content". This will export all pages and posts, in the blog, to the file which you select.

To make it easier, label the posts that you want to "move" to the other blog, before you start "Back up Content".

I labeled my posts "Move".

Now, "Back up Content", from the first blog.

Use the file manager provided by your operating system, to create or select a file / folder, and actually save the file.

Import all exported content, to the second blog, as "Imported".

Using the "Import & back up" wizard, on the dashboard Settings - Other page for the second blog, click "Import Content" - then find and select the file just created. This will import all pages and posts, as exported from the first blog - and place the imported pages and posts in the special "Imported" status, on the Pages and the Posts dashboard pages.

Continue with "Import Content", to the second blog.

Select the file that you just created, above.

And having Imported everything, there are the posts - including those labeled "Move".

Publish imported content, selectively, in the second blog.

Using the "Pages" and "Posts" dashboard pages, select the newly activated "Imported" menu, as you wish. This will list all imported pages and posts, in turn.

Find the pages and posts that you want moved, select them, and click "Publish". If you labeled the posts to be "moved", simply display, and Publish, all posts with the designated label.

And, I Published the posts labeled to be "moved".

Note that, once Published, the "Imported" status is cleared.

Delete or revert content re published, from the first blog.

To prevent problems with search engines detecting duplicate content, you can delete or revert to draft status, each post in the first blog, the you just re published in the second blog. If you revert to draft status, you will have backed up content and a recoverable page / post URL.

Again, if you labeled the posts, you can delete or revert posts using the label.

Setup custom 404 or custom redirects, from the first blog.

You cannot use a custom redirect to automatically redirect from the first blog to the second. You can, however, setup a custom 404 page, in the first blog - or make custom redirects to a custom 404 page, in the first blog - advising the reader that the post just requested is now part of the second blog.

The reader will still have to intentionally click to jump into the second blog - but until Blogger blogs are not used as spam hosts, this will be necessary to avoid making your blog look like a spam host.

And as noted, please don't use this technique to re use a single blog. Duplication prevention will generate suffixed URLs, for pages and posts exported then imported to the same blog.

Remove imported yet un published content, from the second blog.

As a type of basic hygiene, once all of the posts are moved ("published"), remove all imported content that isn't published. If you ever repeat the exercise, you won't enjoy the duplicated content, that you will have to identify, from having Exported then Imported, twice.

The "Import & back up" #Blogger dashboard wizard can be used to copy pages and posts, from one blog to another. Actually moving content requires more than just exporting from one blog, and importing to a second blog.

http://blogging.nitecruzr.net/2016/06/blogger-magic-export-from-blogger-blog.html

https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!category-topic/blogger/hJ-WrGwnIFo

Blogger Magic - Adding Label Search URLs

2016-09-12T12:37:00.001-07:00

One of the simplest ways to make a blog useful is to add label searches.

Adding label searches, in page / post text, is not easy - unless you know how to build the URLs. Here's a label search from this blog.

http://blogging.nitecruzr.net/search/label/Blogger%20Magic

All that I want, when using that label search, is to add another reference to my "Blogger Magic" post series.

"Blogger Magic" emphasises how easy it is, to use Blogger. How easy is it, to remember that syntax - to add a label link? Maybe, a "Blogger Magic" reference, in this post?

When you read a blog post, that has label references, look at the bottom of the post.

Please note the advice, at the bottom of the post.

Look in the post footer, for the "Labels" section.

Here's the bottom of another post, from this blog.

Here's the bottom of this post.

Note that not all blogs will provide a "Labels" posts section. That is an owner choice.

Look at a label link, in the "Labels" section of the post - when provided.

There's the bottom of two of my "Label Search" posts - "Blogger Magic - A Blog Within A Blog", followed by this post "Blogger Magic - Adding Label Search URLs". Now, look at the Labels links.

In most blogs, the Labels links would be labeled "Labels". I call mine "Topics". As owner of this blog, that is my personal choice.

Also, in most blogs, the "Labels" section will be found, in the post footer. Some blog owners have chosen to position their "Labels" in the post header. This, too, is their choice - and carries with it, some risk.

See "Label Search"?

Look in the browser status area, when hovering over the link caption.

Look at the "Topics" section. See "Label Search"? Hover the mouse cursor, over the "Label Search" link.

See the label search URL, in the browser status area?

Look in the browser status area, when hovering over the link caption.

Hover the mouse over "Label Search", and look in the browser status area.

blogging.nitecruzr.net/search/label/Label Search

For a blog using an HTTPS redirect, you might see a slightly different URL.

If this blog uses the "HTTPS: Redirect" option, you might see it slightly differently.

https://blogging.nitecruzr.net/search/label/Label%20Search

Click on either of the above 2 links. OK, I cheated with the second link - since this blog, right now, does not support HTTPS - and I obviously don't want you looking at an HTTPS Error display.

Whether HTTP - or HTTPS - is in use, there is the label search link.

Whichever you see - and decide to use - with your blog, there is a label search URL. Now, get a label search URL from your blog - and use the URL, in another page or post in your blog.

This post opens many links in new tabs / windows, intentionally.

BTW - and if you have clicked on any of the links above - and since you have apparently read to this point - I have to warn you that many of the links, above, are intentionally coded to open in a new tab / window. That is necessary, based on the nature of the links in this post.

Many of the links in this post are clickable, simply to illustrate to you the content in label searches - as opposed to links which lead you to additional information in the blog. So as not to lead you away from this post, you should not lose context after clicking on a link - as long as you simply close the new (illustrative) tab / window.

My sincere apologies, if my seemingly gratuitous opening of new tabs / windows inconveniences or offends you.

Some #Blogger blog owners want to use label search URLs, in page or post text. Getting a label search URL is easy enough, when you look in the post label search section - which is generally in the post footer.

Blogger Magic - Third Party Templates

2016-07-02T13:21:00.000-07:00

There are millions of Blogger blog owners - and each owner has their own idea, how their blog should look.

Not every blog owner is willing to settle for using a Blogger supplied template. Some blog owners design their own templates - and others choose templates provided by non Blogger developers.

Some blog owners - even those with no technical background - choose third party supplied templates, and demand instructions in Blogger Help Forum: Learn More About Blogger. Not every blog owner can be supported, according to their personal level of need.

It's OK for you to install a new third party template, for your blog - though you should plan to do some extra work.

Third party templates should include some installation instructions.

A template publisher should provide instructions for uploading and installing their template. Installation procedures may vary, however.

Scripted install.
"Theme" Restore.
"Theme" "Edit HTML".

Scripted install.

If the template publisher is honourable, using an install script, provided by the template publisher, can be the most reliable install procedure. A well written script can extract the template of your choice from the publishers library, copy it to your blog, and tweak the install to your satisfaction.

You do nothing other than select the template, and maybe some key options - and provide access to the dashboard. The script does all of the work.

This is similar to the selections on the Blogger dashboard "Theme" page - you simply select the template that interests you, and the script does the rest.

Giving control of your Blogger account, to an unknown third party, is not always the best idea, however.

Theme Restore.

If the template publisher provides a template as an XML file, and describes the template as "for Blogger", you can install the template from the dashboard. You will first download the template of your choice, to a local computer.

With a template downloaded locally, you use the Blogger "Backup / Restore" wizard, in the dashboard Theme page.

Start with the dashboard Theme page.

Hit the "Backup / Restore" button.

Hit the "Choose File" button.

Now, you have the file manager, provided with your computer. Select the file, containing the template just downloaded.

The "Backup / Restore" wizard is part of the Blogger dashboard. The template will be selected, using the file manager wizard on the computer being used.

Theme "Edit HTML".

This is the most universal procedure - if the template is provided as HTML. Just use the Blogger "Edit HTML" wizard, in the dashboard Template page.

The simplest install uses "Edit HTML", from the dashboard Template page.

Copy the HTML or Text file content, into the window.

In some cases, you may have to do some work, to use an HTML template.

It's your blog - and the template choice is yours too.

You can use any acceptable third party blog template. Many blog features will perform best, though, if you use the Blogger supplied post template.

Even if you use Template / Theme Editor to install your third party template, you may not be able to edit - or redesign it, the same way. Both Theme Designer and Editor work best with standard Blogger templates. Not all templates, even stated as "Blogger Compatible", contain the necessary code to make Theme Designer or Theme Editor work.

To ensure up to date Blogger code, always refresh the post template, after installing a third party blog template.

And as always, I'll suggest that you backup the template, before and after installing a custom template.

If you install a third party template, you may have to support your blog on your own.

Please understand that Blogger won't be able to support your third party template - that is the responsibility of the template publisher. Problems with your blog, after installing third party accessories, may be yours to resolve.

Not all features, such as full support for Template / Theme Designer and Editor, or maybe effective sharing of blog content to FaceBook and Twitter, can be reliably supplied in third party templates and themes. Blogger did a lot of work to support FaceBook sharing - and your favourite custom theme developer may not always appreciate this detail.

Try and choose a reliable template, from a publisher with a past - and future.

The shinier and more feature rich your template needs are, the more carefully you should choose your template publisher. Even if the template that you choose works today, will it work next month?

When Blogger adds a new feature, next week, you can bet that they won't test their changes against the third party template that you're using. And even if your chosen template publisher is careful to test any Blogger changes, their testing won't start until Blogger makes their changes public.

And any problems that they discover will be yours to deal with, until a solution is developed and tested - and you install the corrected template.

If you choose a template made by a startup publisher, and you're their first / only customer, they may get a new day job, next month. The next time Blogger makes a change that requires an update to your template, they may not answer your plea for help.

With no support, you'll be left with one solution - you may want to consider moving your blog to a new, Blogger supplied theme.

There are millions of #Blogger blog owners - and each owner is different. Blog design - and templates used - will vary similarly.

Some blog owners cannot be satisfied by the Blogger supplied template library - and require third party produced templates. Third party themes may not support all Blogger developed features, unfortunately.

Blogger Magic - Links And Colors

2016-06-28T18:01:00.002-07:00

We see an occasional question in Blogger Help Forum: Get Help with an Issue about blog links - and the captions that change colour, mysteriously.

Some blog owners seem to regard the colour changes as one more Blogger pecadillo - ignoring the fact that colour changing link captions have been part of Internet design, since the early days.

In most blogs, you can change link colours - and prevent the colour changes - using the Blogger dashboard Template Designer.

You can change any color using the color code, or a color chart, part of any colour wizard.

To access the Template Designer, start from the dashboard Template page.

The Template Designer is behind the "Customize" button, on the dashboard Template page.

From the dashboard Template page, click on the "Customize" button.

Start with the Template Designer main page.

Click on Advanced - and look for "Links".

On my blog, I can adjust "Link Color", "Visited Color", and "Hover Color".

Template Designer menu and wizard combinations may vary.

The Template Designer menu / display can be adjusted according to the decision of the template designer.

Your template, when customized, using Template Designer, may have a "Links" section, with "Link Color", "Visited Color", and "Hover Color". It may have additional colours - or colours and fonts may be combined. All of this is as setup in the template "Variable definitions" section.

You can change any colour using the colour code - or a color chart.

If you want your links - including titles - to remain one colour constantly, change the 3 colours (or whatever your blog has) to one common value.

My blog uses "Link Color" = "2d25ce", "Visited Color" = "ce25c5", and "Hover Color" = "583fff". Your blog may use a different colour combination.

For a useful color number / visual chart, you can use W3Schools: HTML Color Picker.

Not all #Blogger blog owners understand link captions - and how the caption colours change, to indicate pages that have been visited from a given browser. Some think the colour changes are a Blogger novelty.

In reality, link caption colours have been a feature, since browsers were first used in the Internet.

Blogger Magic - Disable The HTTPS Redirect

2016-06-22T14:09:00.000-07:00

SSL has been an option, for BlogSpot published blogs, since late last year - and we still see occasional questions, in Blogger Help Forum: Get Help with an Issue, about its use.

When I saved my post, I saw the error message
This page contains HTTP resources which may cause mixed content affecting security and user experience if blog is viewed over HTTPS.
I clicked "Fix" - and the error message went away. Should I have to go back and "fix" all my old blog posts, this way?

This blog owner will be better off, with "HTTPS Redirect" disabled.

Until HTTPS availability, for all Internet content and services, becomes a consistent reality, there will be problems with Blogger blogs - and confusion, as in the example.

Custom domain publishing is the most vulnerable Blogger feature, with blogs using "HTTPS Redirect". It's not the only possible complication, though.

Some blog owners will be better off, not enabling "HTTPS Redirect" - or if enabled, they will need to disable it.

HTTPS Redirect can be easily disabled.

"HTTPS Redirect" is not difficult, to disable. Go to the dashboard Settings - Basic page.

Click on "Yes".

Select "No".

And, the option is disabled.

And the owner won't see the confusing "Fix" / "Dismiss" options.

Now, you can publish the blog, to a custom domain. With "HTTPS Availability" not optional, blogs, with essential features that don't provide SSL, will still have unsatisfied readers who will demand HTTPS.

Some blogs would be better off with "HTTPS Availability" as an option.

You cannot eliminate all confusion, until SSL is uniformly available.

I will note, however, that disabling the redirection will not eliminate reader concern, from "Mixed Content" alerts - nor will it prevent owner confusion, from Post Editor warnings. As long as SSL is (may be) involved - automatic redirect or not - and until every Internet feature and service uses SSL consistently - there is going to be some confusion.

Some #Blogger blog owners will need to disable the "HTTPS Redirect" option, to publish their blogs as they need. Right now, "HTTPS Redirect" is an option - and "HTTPS Availability" needs to be an option also.

Blogger Magic - Export From A Blogger Blog

2016-06-20T11:09:00.002-07:00

One of the most useful skills, when maintaining and publishing a blog, is backing up the content.

As you publish a blog, it's a very good idea to periodically backup the content - comments, pages, and posts. Sometimes, backed up content may save you hours of anguish.

Backed up content is not a waste of time or resources.

Backing up content - comments, pages (static pages), and posts (dynamic pages) is a very quick task - that consumes a minimal amount of resources.

Many people will benefit from a daily routine of backup. Backed up content can be used, in a variety of ways - if it is available.

Periodic backup of content is simple - and may save you much inconvenience.

Start from Settings - Other.

Click on "Back up Content".

Click on "Save to your computer".

Some operating systems may leave the browser, to save your content.

Click on "Leave".

Now, you use the file manager provided by your operating system, to select a file / folder, and actually save the file.

"Back up Content" is useful, in several tasks.

You'll find that daily backups uses a minimal amount of time, and computer resources. And even if you don't ever use the backed up content, you will be better off having it.

Exporting content, to a different publishing system.
Moving content, to another blog.
Recovering from a corrupted template.
Saving updated content.

All of these tasks use the "Back up Content" wizard. Do this regularly - and you won't regret it. Just remember where you save the content. Setup one or more standard folders, on your local computer.

Using the "Back up Content" #Blogger dashboard wizard is a good task to do frequently - and regularly. It will save you a lot of time and trouble, if ever needed.

Blogger Magic - Resequence Pages Buttons / Links

2016-06-08T13:37:00.002-07:00

Some blog owners add pages - dynamic and static - to their blog, then discover that the Pages gadget lists them in the wrong sequence.

We see an occasional question, in Blogger Help Forum: Learn More About Blogger.

My pages are poorly organised. How do I change the sequence?

This is not a difficult problem, to correct.

It's not difficult to change the sequence of the Pages buttons or links, using "Configure Page List".

Use "List Order" in "Configure Page List" to change button / link sequence.

The "List Order" wizard, in "Configure Page List", is used to resequence all pages entries (buttons / links) - for dynamic and static pages, alike.

Just "grab" a pages entry to be moved, using the "handle" - and re position it as desired.

Start in the dashboard Layout page.

Find the Pages gadget. Here, it's in the "Cross-Column" container.

Edit the Pages gadget.

That gives you "Configure Page List".

Find "List Order".

To re locate a button / link, find the "9 dot" handle.

Grab the page button to be moved. Mouse over the "9 dots", click and hold the left mouse button.

Drag the button, to its new location - and release. And Save.

And now, we see the page buttons, in the new sequence.

Just "click and grab", and move any button, into its new sequence. And don't forget to Save.

It's easy to change the order of the #Blogger Pages buttons / links, using the "List Order" GUI in "Configure Page List". Just click and drag any button / link, using the "9 dot" handle, into the desired location sequence.

Blogger Magic - Followers / Reading List Visibility

2016-06-02T14:14:00.000-07:00

When we use Blogger Following, we create a link to our profile, from each blog that we Follow.

That's the primary purpose of Following - to see, and to be seen. We also create links from our Followers profile, to each Followed blog. That's the purpose of having a profile - to describe ourselves, by the blogs that interest us.

Everybody does not want other people knowing about every blog that we Follow, though. To let us Follow blogs without being seen, we can Follow anonymously - or hide a blog, from our profile on other blogs.

When we Follow a blog, we can choose to Follow anonymously, or publicly.

We can change the option, to Follow anonymously or publicly, when needed. If we Follow publicly, we can hide this blog, in our profile, on other blogs.

We can also hide blogs in Reading List, to keep the list manageable.

Change between Anonymous and Public Following.

There are two ways of changing between anonymous and public Following.

Use the Followers gadget.
Use the Reading List wizard.

Use the Followers gadget.

If you are Following a blog publicly, you'll have your icon in the Followers facepile (the icon cloud in the gadget). You can edit your profile, and Follow anonymously - or continue to Follow publicly, but with this blog hidden from other blogs.

Click on "Options", when you are logged in to Following, as yourself.

Then, click on "Site settings".

Or, if you are Following publicly, you can click on your icon, then "Settings".

Now, you have the Settings wizard, for this site.

Click on "publicly" - since you can see this, when Following publicly.

If you're Following publicly, you can choose to Follow anonymously - or continue to Follow publicly, but not include this blog on your profile.

If you are Following a blog anonymously, you won't have your icon in the facepile. If you want to now Follow publicly, and you are properly logged in, you'll still have "Options" - then "Site settings".

Use the Reading List wizard.

There are two Reading List management wizards - one for Blogger profiles, the other for Google+ profiles.

Changing Reading List, with a Blogger profile.

If you have a Blogger profile, you use the Blogger "Manage Blogs I'm Following" wizard - that you access from the Blogger dashboard.

If you have a Google+ profile, you'll use Google friend connect "Sites I've joined".

Start from the Blogger dashboard home page.

Click on the "gear" icon, to the right of "Reading List".

Some blogs are Followed publicly.

You can make any publicly Followed blog, Followed anonymously.

Just click on "Change to anonymous".

Some blogs are Followed anonymously.

You can make any anonymously Followed blog, Followed publicly.

Just click on "Change to public".

Changing Reading List, with a Google+ profile.

If you have a Google+ profile, you use Google Friend Connect: Sites I've joined. You can't click to this wizard, from the dashboard.

If you have a Blogger profile, you'll use Blogger "Manage Blogs I'm Following".

Start from "Sites I've joined".

Find the blog that's relevant - and click on "Settings".

Some blogs are Followed publicly.

This blog is being Followed publicly.

If you choose to Follow publicly, using a Google+ profile, you can choose to display this blog, as part of your profile - when your icon is displayed on other blogs. Alternately, you can Follow this blog publicly - but make it non visible, from other blogs.

To Follow anonymously, click on "Follow anonymously", and "Save".

Some blogs are Followed anonymously.

This blog is being Followed anonymously.

To Follow publicly, click on "Follow publicly", and "Save".

If you Follow publicly, you can choose to hide the blog from your profile. You'll be visible, on this blog - but your profile, on other blogs, won't point to this blog.

Hide and un hide a blog, in Reading List.

Besides anonymity in Following, we can hide a blog, to make Reading List manageable.

So, be aware of the options for choosing private ("anonymous") vs public Following.

target="_blank"

When we Follow a blog, using #Blogger Followers, we have several options to control our visibility on different blogs. We can make ourselves fully or partially visible - or non visible.

Blogger Magic - Maintain Reading List Brevity

2016-05-28T13:03:00.000-07:00

When you Follow a blog, the blog feed is added, as a subscription, to your dashboard Reading List.

This lets you read the blog content, conveniently, using the newsfeed. Separately from the Reading List, you can choose whether to have your personal Followers icon displayed, in the icon cloud on the blog display.

Besides maintaining anonymity in Following, you can hide any number of blogs, in the Reading List index, to make the index manageable.

You can display your Reading List, with the various blogs indexed in 3 states.

Hidden, and not shown.
Hidden, and temporarily shown.
Visible.

Just learn to hover the mouse cursor in the right spot, to the left of the index entries, to change the state of the individual blogs.

Hidden or not, the blog content will continue to display, in the main Reading List display. Hidden blogs simply appear or disappear - as needed - in the Reading List index.

Here's an example of Reading List index entries.

Start from the Reading List section of the dashboard home page.

Here, we see two blogs that are being Followed, both visible.

To hide a blog, hover the mouse cursor to the left of a given blog name, and click on the down arrow.

To show all hidden blogs, click on the right arrow to the left of "Hidden blogs".

Now, all blogs are displayed - and the hidden blogs are indicated.

To un hide a hidden blog, hover the mouse cursor to the left of the blog name, and click on the up arrow.

And we again have two blogs, both visible.

The actual content of the Reading List display does not change - just the Reading List index, on the left.

To help you use the #Blogger dashboard Reading List effectively, you have the ability to display or hide specific blogs in the index. This does not change Reading list content - just the index - and makes it easier to locate important blogs, repeatedly, in the index.

Blogger Magic - Make A Private Or Team Blog

2016-05-26T12:35:00.000-07:00

Some blog owners like to restrict access to their blog - and others want to have multiple people able to publish, or maybe to administer their blog.

A few even want multiple administrators, and restricted access. Both private and team blogs involve use of the Permissions wizard, and the membership invitation / acceptance process.

Making either a private or a team blog starts from the Permissions wizard. Just keep the multiple functions, and the different links, in mind.

The Permissions wizard, on the dashboard Settings - Basic page, is how we setup both private and team blogs.

You invite members - prospective authors and readers - using "Add authors" and "Add readers", respectively.

Start from the dashboard Settings - Basic page, in both cases.

Start from the Settings - Basic page.

Find the Permissions wizard.

The "Add authors" link is used for adding both administrators and authors.

Click on "Add authors", to add prospective administrators and authors.

Click on "Add authors", and add prospective blog authors.

Add a list of names / email addresses, with entries separated by commas.

Paste or type email addresses of prospective administrators and authors, into the "Add authors" window. Or use "Choose from Contacts".

The existing "Blog Authors" list is updated, and invitations are sent, when you hit "Save changes".

To make an administrator, wait until the invited author has accepted membership. Then, change "Author" to "Admin", in "Blog Authors". Don't change an author to administrator, unless you understand the risks!

The "Add readers" link is used for adding readers.

Click on "Add readers", to add prospective readers.

Click on "Add readers", and add prospective blog readers.

Add a list of names / email addresses, with entries separated by commas.

Paste or type email addresses of prospective readers, into the "Add readers" window. Or use "Choose from Contacts".

The existing "Blog Readers" list is updated, and invitations are sent, when you hit "Save changes".

Select either "Only blog authors" or "Only these readers", for private blogs.

You can make a blog private to Authors - or have both Authors and Readers. Select "Only blog authors" or "Only these readers", respectively.

Each prospective member must accept membership.

For an invited author or reader to become an active member, they must open the email and accept membership.

Prospective authors and readers are listed as "open invitations" - under either the "Blog Authors" or "Blog Readers" window - until they accept the membership invitation.

Accepting membership involves opening the emailed membership invitation, and clicking on the invitation link. The new member can use an existing Blogger account - or setup a new Blogger account, on the fly.

A GMail account is not required - just a Blogger / Google account - existing or new.

Remember membership limits.

Whether you are making a private or a team blog, remember that every blog is limited to an absolute total of 100 members.

You.
Any additional administrators.
Authors.
Designated Readers.

Designated readers (in a private blog) are part of the 100 member limit. Un designated readers (in a public blog) are not part of the limit. A public blog can have any number of readers.

Membership revocation may not be immediate.

You can revoke or update membership of an administrator, author, and / or reader - but membership changes don't always take effect, immediately.

Making a #Blogger blog with administrators, authors, and / or readers starts with the Permissions wizard - and continues with each prospective member accepting membership, using email sent by the Permissions wizard.

https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!category-topic/blogger/Vd_L5xAtKFY

Blogger Magic - Comment Moderation Settings

2016-05-24T14:16:00.000-07:00

If you publish a blog, and want your readers to comment, you need to decide whether to moderate comments.

Comment moderation, applied properly, help you to keep abusive and spam comments off your blog. If you want to publish a blog, and have real people commenting, you need to keep spam comments off the blog. People won't comment, if they have to compete with spam.

If you want to publish a blog, and allow Blogger Hosted comments, you really should moderate. If you don't moderate, prepare to remove spam comments after they are published. Remember that Google+ Hosted comments are moderated by the community.

You setup moderation, for Blogger Hosted comments, from the dashboard Settings - "Posts, comments and sharing" page.

Under "Comments", you have "Comment Moderation", with 3 settings.

Always.
Sometimes.
Never.

Moderation settings are in the Settings - Posts, comments and sharing page.

Moderate Always.

Every comment, published by somebody who is not an administrator or author, will be moderated.

With "Always" or "Sometimes" selected, moderated comments will be sent to each email address listed in "Email moderation requests to".

Select "Always", "Sometimes", or "Never".

You - or whoever is addressed under "Email moderation requests to" - will have the ability to moderate from the email message received. You, or any blog administrator, can moderate from the dashboard Comments - "Awaiting moderation" page.

Moderate Sometimes.

You can selectively moderate comments for older posts, with newer posts not subject to moderation.

If you select "Sometimes", you provide a moderation threshold.

Here, we are set to moderate all posts older than 14 days.

Every post subject to moderation will receive the treatment, selected for "Always". Every newer post, not subject to moderation, will permit any comment to be published immediately.

Moderate Never.

Any comment, submitted to be published, will publish immediately.

Dashboard moderation offers three options.

With every comment listed in the dashboard Comments - "Awaiting moderation" page, you have 3 options.

Publish.
Delete.
Spam.

Once one of these options is chosen, for any comment being moderated, you'll have similar - but not symmetrical - options.

EMail moderation offers similar options.

With each comment moderated by email, you'll have 3 similar options.

Publish.
Delete.
Mark as spam.

Select "Publish", "Delete", or "Mark as spam".

Besides moderation, you can select CAPTCHA verification.

Besides moderation, you can reduce spam, using CAPTCHA verification. If selected, all non administrators and authors will be subject to CAPTCHA verification.

If not selected, anybody commenting anonymously - and not signed in with a Google account - will still be subject to CAPTCHA verification. The "Show word verification" setting applies to comments posted with the publisher properly authenticated.

Right now, the CAPTCHA used is a word puzzle - and has received mixed reviews.

The bottom line.

As a blog owner, you should choose a comment moderation policy - if you allow Blogger Hosted comments.

If you allow #Blogger Hosted comments on your blog, you need to choose a moderation policy. Moderation is essential, to reduce spam, and encourage comments by actual blog readers.

Blogger Magic - Using "Add a Gadget"

2016-05-23T12:24:00.001-07:00

One of the most useful features of Blogger is the ability to add many different accessories, to a blog.

There are accessories, for every blog - and for every owner preference. The "Add a Gadget" wizard, in the Blogger dashboard, is the best procedure for adding accessories, to customise a blog reliably.

Using "Add a Gadget" is a simple process. It will be most useful, in the long term, if used cautiously, however.

Adding a gadget is not difficult.

Start from the Blogger dashboard Layout page.

Click on any link to "Add a Gadget", to that template section.

This link, for instance, will add a gadget to the right sidebar.

Choose any of dozens of interesting and useful accessories.

Be knowledgeable, when adding accessories.

Similar to the process of adding an HTML gadget, there are a few mistakes that you can avoid, when adding a gadget in general.

Some sections of the Layout page may not allow gadgets to be added.
When you find an interesting gadget, be selective!
Some Blogger provided gadgets are found under "More Gadgets".
Don't use "Add your own" - unless you know what you're doing!
Add a new gadget, when adding important features.
A gadget, as added, will be displayed on every page of the blog.

Some sections of the Layout page may not allow gadgets to be added.

Each template section can be subject to gadget limits, and to locking. This will prevent addition, removal, and / or re positioning of gadgets.

If you're unable to add, remove, or reposition a gadget, you may have to edit the template - and change the section settings.

When you find an interesting gadget, be selective!

"Add Gadget" lists gadgets produced by third party developers, as well as by Blogger Engineering. Some non Blogger produced gadgets won't benefit your blog, in the long term.

Look for "By Blogger", for the best choices.

Not all third party gadgets are intentionally malicious - but the most reliable gadgets will be explicitly labeled "By Blogger".

Some Blogger provided gadgets are found under "More Gadgets".

The "Basics" tab in "Add a Gadget" contains mostly gadgets "By Blogger" - and most gadgets "By Blogger" are found in "Basics". Some gadgets "By Blogger" are in "More Gadgets" - and you may have to search that list, carefully, to find what you need.

Don't use "Add your own" - unless you know what you're doing!

There are 3 tabs, in "Add a Gadget".

Basics.
More Gadgets.
Add your own.

The latter, "Add your own", can lead to frustration.

If you are not familiar with coding XML gadgets (and probably do not need this advice), don't bother with "Add your own". Stick with "Basics" and "More Gadgets".

Add a new gadget, when adding important features.

You can install HTML code using the Template Editor - or you can add an HTML snippet into an existing HTML gadget - if you wish. I highly recommend that you add a new HTML gadget, for each important accessory, though.

A gadget, as added, will be displayed on every page of the blog.

By default, a gadget, once added, will be visible on every template page. You can, with some care and effort, make specific gadgets display selectively.

Enjoy adding accessories, properly.

So enjoy accessorising your blog - just accessorise carefully.

You can add any number of useful accessories, to a #Blogger blog, using the "Add a Gadget" wizard in the dashboard Layout page. The best choices are explicitly labeled "By Blogger".

Blogger Magic - Backup The Template

2016-05-12T11:39:00.000-07:00

It's always wise to backup the blog contents - and the template.

If you are publishing a blog, you may occasionally make a mistake. Being able to recover from a mistake, using backed up content, is always a good idea.

Blogger provides a dashboard wizard to backup the blog template - and a complementary wizard, to backup blog content - comments, pages, and posts.

Backing up a Blogger blog template is reasonably simple.

The template backup wizard is on the dashboard Theme page.

Start from the dashboard Theme page.

And click on "Backup / Restore".

Then click on "Download full template".

This will give you a standard file save wizard, that is used by your computer.

The file save wizard will depend upon the operating system.

On my computer, the file save window is "Save file as". Your computer operating system might have a similar wizard - or it may be different.

Other than choosing file and folder (your choice, on your computer) for backing up the template content, you just sit back and let the backup work. Don't wait too long though - a few seconds is all that it should take.

Understand how and why to backup.

Just don't backup blindly - or for the wrong reasons. To be useful, a backup needs to consider how to restore - and why you might restore.

Any backup is more useful, if you plan how and why you might need to restore.

As you develop a #Blogger blog, making regular backups of the template is always a good idea. Everybody makes mistakes - and recovering from a template coding mistake is a lot easier, if you're able to restore a previous template copy.

https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!category-topic/blogger/-7808eOAZ7c

Blogger Magic - Supporting A BlogSpot URL Change

2016-05-07T11:29:00.002-07:00

Blog owners are always changing the URLs of their blogs - then asking why Blogger does not provide automatic redirection, to the new URL.

We see the occasional query, in Blogger Help Forum: Learn More About Blogger.

How do I redirect my readers, to my new URL?

And this is a need that will likely go unfulfilled.

If Blogger provided automated redirection, spammers would abuse it, as part of a spam publishing strategy.

Blogger wants to keep the Blogger infrastructure as free from spam, as possible.

Changing the URL is simple enough.

Just use the Publishing wizard, in the Settings - Basic page, and Edit the "Blog Address". Subject to availability, your blog will have a new URL - as you watch.

The change is not difficult. Just Edit "Blog Address".

But with a new URL, unplanned, you'll lose traffic.

Blogger does not support automated blog to blog redirection.

Trying to keep the Blogger ecosystem clean from spam, Blogger actively discourages automated redirection. Neither JavaScript or meta refresh redirection is recommended.

You can use passive redirection, though - and give your readers the choice, to read the blog using the new URL.

Setup a blog cluster.
Setup a stub blog, at the old URL.

Setup a blog cluster.

Publish a blog at the old URL - and pair the old and new blogs, actively. There are a number of possible techniques to use, to combine two blogs as equals.

You will need informative, interesting, and unique content, for both blogs, to get the most from this approach.

Setup a stub blog, at the old URL.

Publish a blog at the old URL - and add a single post, advising your readers about the change - with a link, taking them to the new blog. You can use a custom 404 display, to collect all existing links to posts in the blog, which will take your readers to the single post.

A Featured Post is perfect, as the single post in the stub blog.

You can redirect the blog posts feed, even though you can't redirect the posts themselves. Just redirect the old blog feed, to the new blog posts feed URL.

Combine the two approaches, if you like.

There's no need to consider the two approaches as mutually exclusive. You can use techniques from each, if you like. Simply pick an approach that suits your readers.

Just don't look for automated redirection. That's not likely to happen.

Some #Blogger blog owners decide to change the URL of their blog - then ask how to setup automated redirection, from the old URL to the new. That is, however not likely to be an option provided, or even allowed, by Blogger.

Blogger Magic - Enabling Exceptions, In Chrome

2016-05-01T11:56:00.000-07:00

Some blog owners and readers prefer to ignore recommendations in Chrome - and block cookies and / or scripts.

Blocking cookies can cause problems with many Blogger features - and blocking scripts will cause problems with both Blogger and with Google, and with various other websites.

If you want to use Blogger and Google effectively, you need to allow cookies to be installed, and to allow scripts to be run, on your computer.

If you cannot allow cookies and scripts for all websites, you can allow cookies and / or scripts on specific websites.

With Chrome, if you are willing to selectively allow specific websites to install cookies / run scripts, you should enable exceptions for those websites.

Start with the "Content settings" wizard.

Select "Block third-party cookies and site data", and / or "Do not allow any site to run JavaScript".

Add cookie exceptions, for specific websites.

Click on "Manage exceptions" under Cookies, to get the "Cookie and site data exceptions" wizard.

To add "google.com" as a cookie exception, paste / type "[*.]google.com", and select "Allow".

Click anywhere in the wizard window, to see the addition - then click "Done".

Add JavaScript exceptions, for specific websites.

Click on "Manage exceptions" under JavaScript, to get the "JavaScript exceptions" wizard.

To add "google.com" as a JavaScript exception, paste / type "[*.]google.com", and select "Allow".

Click anywhere in the wizard window, to see the addition - then click "Done".

Remember that cookie and script filter settings, in Chrome, may not be the only settings which you need to consider - and that many filters are subject to change, without your knowledge or approval.

For more detail about cookie and JavaScript exceptions, see Chrome Help: Manage exceptions. These are settings that you must determine and install - neither Blogger nor Google can make these changes for you.

Security conscious #Blogger blog owners may wish to ignore #Chrome recommendations, and block general permission for websites to install cookies and / or run scripts on their computers.

Some websites will not run properly, without cookies and scripts. If one is to use websites like Blogger and Google successfully, they need to be trusted - and Chrome must allow those websites to install cookies / run scripts.

Blogger Magic - Check / Edit FeedBurner Feed Details

2016-04-26T14:51:00.001-07:00

Whenever you have a problem with FeedBurner - or need to change details, the "Edit Feed Details" wizard is an essential tool.

It's a very simple display - just 3 data elements - but it's a pretty useful 3 elements, if you use FeedBurner with your blog..

The FeedBurner "Edit Feed Details" wizard is an essential tool, when researching a FeedBurner problem.

Start from the FeedBurner "My feeds" display - and select a feed in the list.

"Edit Feed Details" is at the top of the feed dashboard.

Start from the feed dashboard.

Click on "Edit Feed Details".

And there is the "Edit Feed Details" display.

Here, you can view, and edit:

Feed Title.
Original Feed URL.
FeedBurner Feed URL.

Feed Title.

You can change the feed title here - or in the service settings.

Optimize - Title/Description Burner lets you change to title used in the feed itself. Publicize - Email Subscriptions - Email Branding lets you change the title used in the email based feed service.

You may want to check the blog title, also.

Original Feed URL.

If you change the URL of your blog, or want to use a different blog, you can use the FeedBurner Feed URL ("Original Feed") to make the change transparent, to everybody who Follows your blog using a FeedBurner service. The original feed URL may change - but the FeedBurner Feed URL does not have to change.

If you're using FeedBurner to redistribute your blog feed by email, use the Post Feed Redirect setting, in the Blogger dashboard, to redirect to this FeedBurner feed. Then, this FeedBurner "Original Feed" should be sourced from the original blog feed.

FeedBurner Feed URL.

Besides changing the title, you can change the feed URL ("Feed Address"), if you need.

Simple changes / powerful results.

These are simple changes - that can have powerful results.

An example, using this blog.

Here is how this blog, using a Post Feed Redirect, is setup to publish to a FeedBurner redirected feed.

Blogger blog URL:
http://blogging.nitecruzr.net/

Blogger blog feed URL:
http://blogging.nitecruzr.net/feeds/posts/default

FeedBurner "Original Feed":
http://blogging.nitecruzr.net/feeds/posts/default

Blogger "Post Feed Redirect URL":
http://feeds.feedburner.com/Nitecruzr-Blogging

FeedBurner "Feed Address":
http://feeds.feedburner.com/Nitecruzr-Blogging

The Post Feed Redirect.

FeedBurner Feed Details.

Any #Blogger blog owner who uses #FeedBurner to distribute / modify content of a newsfeed, or an email subscription, needs to know and use the "Edit Feed Details" dashboard wizard. The ability to change the feed title, the blog feed URL, and / or the FeedBurner feed URL, at will, makes this a useful wizard.

https://productforums.google.com/d/topic/blogger/oUYseDHCerU/discussion

Blogger Magic - The Custom Domain Root Redirect

2016-04-24T16:06:00.001-07:00

When you setup a custom domain, for a Blogger blog, the DNS addresses are the most important issue.

A close second in importance, to righteous DNS addressing, is redirecting the domain root to the published URL. We see frequent problem reports, in Blogger Help Forum: Get Help with an Issue.

Why does my domain only work, with the "www" in the address?

The domain root provides a backup to the published URL, in many domain setups. If the domain root is not redirected, and DNS for the "www" or other published alias is down, the domain is down.

With the proper DNS addresses in place, redirecting the domain root is a very simple process.

Start from Settings - Basic.

Start from the dashboard Settings - Basic page.

Click on "Edit" in the Publishing "Blog Address" wizard.

With this blog, I have the option to select "Redirect nitecruzr.net to blogging.nitecruzr.net."

You can only redirect the domain root - no virtual hosts.

Generally, you would publish to "www.mydomain.com" - then you would have the option to "Redirect mydomain.com to www.mydomain.com".

Note that you can only redirect the domain root - even if you publish to a virtual host, such as "www.blog.mydomain.com". "blog.mydomain.com" and www.blog.mydomain.com" are separate hosts - and cannot be aliased.

Whatever you have, the option will work best, when you start with righteous DNS addresses.

Given righteous DNS addresses, publishing a #Blogger blog to a custom domain will produce a more stable blog, with the domain root redirected to the published URL. As the blog owner, you need to be sure to select the redirect option.

Blogger Magic - Enabling Scripts, In Your Browser

2016-04-20T12:20:00.001-07:00

Similar to the need to properly filter cookies in the browser, we have the need to properly filter scripts.

Cookies and scripts are completely different elements - but proper filtering of each is essential, to making many Blogger features operate properly.

If you have a problem with Blogger - either accessing / using the dashboard, or using / viewing a blog - one of the simplest things to check, complementing cookie filter settings, is the browser script filter settings.

The browser is the most important component, when setting up security - and scripts, like cookies, are a common challenge.

Script filters are adjusted differently, for each browser. Consider the multiple domains used by Blogger / Google - and layered security, on any computer, used by the owner and readers of any blog.

Chrome.
Firefox.
Edge / Internet Explorer.
Opera.
Safari.

Setting the script filters in Chrome.

With Chrome, you enable scripts, using Settings ("Customize and control Google Chrome") - aka the 3 dot toolbar icon.

In Settings, if necessary, click on "Advanced" at the very bottom of the page.

Under "Privacy and security", click on "Content settings", which gives you the "Content Settings" wizard. Select "JavaScript". Here, you have settings for JavaScript - including "Block" and "Allow". Select the recommendation, "Allowed". Close the Settings tab.

Select the recommendation, "Allowed".

Alternately, you may select "Do not allow any site to run JavaScript" - then use "Manage exceptions", and allow all blog(s) that you publish, and the many Blogger and Google domains, to run JavaScript. Make your exceptions complete, for best results.

Setting the script filters in Firefox.

Firefox does not contain any native script filters. The most popular add-on for Firefox is NoScript - and this is how most Firefox users filter scripts.

You'll need to designate "blogger.com", "google.com", and any Google domain excepting "blogspot.com", as trusted - when you load any display for the domain in question. An untrusted domain will show a "NoScript Untrusted" icon in the status area at the bottom of the window. To enable each domain, you position the cursor over the NoScript icon and select "Allow (domain URL)" in the popup menu.

Setting the script filters in Edge / Internet Explorer.

With Internet Explorer, you enable security settings - both cookies and scripts - from the browser menu, using Tools - Internet Options. Optionally, you may access the "Internet Options" applet directly from the Windows Control Panel.

IE uses a zone defense setting, where you designate "blogger.com" and "google.com", in Security, as being in the Trusted zone. Please note that "blogspot.com", in general should not be in the Trusted zone - .
You will want the published URL of your blog(s) - including any country local domain URLs, in the Trusted zone.
Default settings for the Trusted zone will allow proper filtering of scripts.
Verify proper settings, with "Trusted sites" selected, and the Security level slider control set to "Medium". Hit "Custom level", and examine the Settings list.
Look for the "Scripting" section, 3/4 of the way to the bottom of the list.
You will observe 6 options under "Scripting". Default settings will have all options Enabled, except "Allow Programmatic clipboard access"; you may wish to Enable this to allow easy use of Post Editor.
Hit "OK", and "Yes" if necessary, then "OK" again.

Setting the script filters in Opera.

With Opera, you enable cookies and scripts from the Advanced tab, in the Preferences wizard. The Content menu contains selections for scripting.

Setting the script filters in Safari.

With Safari, you enable scripts, using the Preferences wizard. The Privacy wizard, in Preferences, contains selections for scripts ("Cookies and website data”).

Script filters cause problems with Stats "Don't track ..." and other Blogger features.

Many problems, reported in Blogger Help Forum: Get Help with an Issue, with various Blogger features - and the Blogger dashboard - involve script filters.

Stats and the "Don't track ..." option used to involve third party cookies, for many years. In March 2016, the "Don't track" wizard was rewritten to run under the URL of the blog, when being set - and now requires enabling scripts from the blog URL.

Consider how your blog is published.

If your blog is published to "blogspot.com", consider the non "blogspot.com" alias that may be relevant to your country. If your blog is published to a custom domain, consider the custom domain URL.

Many computers have other relevant settings, which block scripts.

Many blog owners and readers will have computers, and networks, with additional protection. Scripts, in the browser, may not be the only filter that needs to be checked - but this is a start, to learning how to control the script filters.

Having checked and corrected your script filters, continue by checking browser cookie filters - then check cookie and script filters, outside the browser. Also check settings on any ad blocker add-on - which may be an app, or a browser extension.

Be aware that many settings may not be obvious - and that both obvious and obscure settings may be updated, without your intention or knowledge.

Many #Blogger problems are cause by overly restrictive script filters. If you, a blog owner or reader, are going to use Blogger successfully, you need to configure your browser properly - for both cookies and scripts.

Blogger Magic - Set Main Page Size

2016-04-17T11:31:00.002-07:00

One of the most visible changes, to the blog display, involves properly setting main page size.

You change the posts count using "Show at most" on the dashboard Settings - "Posts, comments and sharing" page - or "Number of posts on main page" in the "Configure Blog Posts" wizard. Both let you set the main page display limit.

You can limit main page size by days with posts, or by total post count.

Main page size is your choice, for your blog - but think of your readers, waiting for a typical main page display to download.

Many don't have extreme bandwidth, nor are the Blogger servers overly robust. When your blog, or even a single post, takes 2 or 3 minutes to load, your blog may need tuning.

Main page size is one key setting, in encouraging reader activity, and in improving search engine relationships.

"Show at most" on the dashboard Settings - "Posts, comments and sharing" page.
"Number of posts on main page" in the "Configure Blog Posts" wizard.

"Show at most" on the dashboard Settings - "Posts, comments and sharing" page.

"Number of posts on main page" in the "Configure Blog Posts" wizard.

There are alternate techniques, for changing main page size - use of a dynamic template, with endless scrolling - and segmenting the blog using pages. And adding Jump Break, to the posts, lets you make the individual posts smaller.

Also, note that only main page size can be limited. Archive retrievals and label searches use a fixed 20 posts / display page.

But for a simple blog setup, just limiting main page size is the first step to showing your readers that you respect their need to view your blog, without excessive waiting.

One of the simplest changes that you can make to a #Blogger blog, to make it easier to view, involves setting a reasonable main page size. This helps your readers view the blog, in main page view, without a lot of waiting.

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Blogger Magic - Reading A Dig Log

2016-04-15T11:57:00.001-07:00

Whether you're setting up or troubleshooting a custom domain, knowing how to read a Dig log is a useful skill.

There are hundreds of registrars, serving the Internet community, each with their own dashboard. Blog owners, setting up their domains for their Blogger blogs, must deal with the syntax and terminology used by each different dashboard.

A Dig log lets the blog owner identify the DNS addresses for the domain, using a consistent display.

By identifying the DNS addresses used in a given domain, a blog owner or an experienced forum helper can diagnose many custom domain DNS related problems.

Here is an example of Dig log use, showing an excerpted Dig log, in a typical forum topic. For more detail, see my earlier post, Diagnosing Problems With Custom Domains: Dig.

I have a domain (www.rockchickenz.com) - and want to link my blog (rockchickenz.blogspot.com).

Start by verifying URLs involved.
Continue with Dig Web Interface.
A full screen print of the Dig log.
The relevant portion of the Dig log, from the screen print.
The relevant portion of the Dig log, as text.
The advice provided, to the blog owner.
Alternate / complementary tools used.

Start by verifying URLs involved.

Whenever possible, make a screen print, and a text copy, of the Blogger dashboard Publishing wizard, at Settings - Basic. Knowing the status of the blog and domain - and the exact URLs involved - can go a long way to diagnosing many custom domain publishing problems.

Continue with a Dig Web Interface log.

The best tool for generating a Dig log is Dig Web Interface. Alternate / complementary tools are listed below.

I use DWI, for this purpose, by preference. DWI lets you:

Package the URLs in the Dig target, in the reference URL.
Include multiple target URLs, in one reference URL.
Both capabilities are very useful, in diagnosing Blogger custom domain publishing problems.

Start from the Dig Web Interface page.

Add the domain root and "www" alias, under "Hostnames or IP addresses:".

I select Type: "A", and Nameservers: "Authoritative", for my actual diagnoses.

Click "Dig".

The Dig Log reference URL, for "rockchickenz.com", generated from DWI. Target URLs are "rockchickenz.com" and "www.rockchickenz.com".

http://www.digwebinterface.com/?hostnames=rockchickenz.com%0D%0Awww.rockchickenz.com&type=A&ns=resolver&useresolver=8.8.4.4&nameservers=

A full screen print of the Dig log.

This is the complete Dig log, resulting from the Dig Log URL (above), and containing the relevant portion (below).

This is the Dig log, for "rockchickenz.com".

The relevant portion of the Dig log, from the screen print.

This is the important portion of the screen print (above), and showing the text (below).

This is the relevant portion of the Dig log, for "rockchickenz.com".

Note the TTL value of "14399" - which is a typical Dig log display for TTL set as "14400" (14400 seconds or 4 hours), in the registrar's zone editor. TTL is a setting which is used to adjust name server performance.

Unless you are experienced with DNS setup (and probably don't need to read this advice), you should use the default TTL provided by the registrar, for your domain. Your registrar wants to provide a stable domain for you - and the TTL value affects domain stability.

The relevant portion of the Dig log, as text.

These are the important details from the screen print (above), with colour highlights corresponding to domain specific details (below).

rockchickenz.com@8.8.4.4 (Default):
rockchickenz.com. 14399 IN A 78.137.164.51

www.rockchickenz.com@8.8.4.4 (Default):
www.rockchickenz.com. 14399 IN CNAME ghs.google.com.
ghs.google.com.  21392 IN CNAME ghs.l.google.com.
ghs.l.google.com. 92 IN A 64.233.183.121

The latter is typically seen, with a blog owner having received bogus advice - and reporting an inconsistently accessible blog.

The advice provided, to the blog owner.

The typical advice, provided to the blog owner, would include domain specific details - accompanied by a link to Setting Up DNS Addresses For Custom Domains.

First, generic advice:

Remove the addresses highlighted in red - and add the addresses highlighted in green - and keep the addresses highlighted in yellow.

Then, specific advice:

This is what you have:

rockchickenz.com. 14400 IN A 78.137.164.51
www.rockchickenz.com. 14400 IN CNAME ghs.google.com.

This is what you need:

rockchickenz.com. 14400    IN    A    216.239.32.21
rockchickenz.com. 14400    IN    A    216.239.34.21
rockchickenz.com. 14400    IN    A    216.239.36.21
rockchickenz.com. 14400    IN    A    216.239.38.21
www.rockchickenz.com. 14400    IN    CNAME    ghs.google.com.

The advice references a typical ASymmetrical DNS custom domain setup - the address set used in 99% of all custom domain setups. Note here, the specified TTL of "14400" (4 hours).

Using the above advice, the blog owner can then, if necessary, research the syntax used by the registrar's dashboard (aka "zone editor") - and make the necessary changes.

Alternate / complementary tools used.

Alternate tools, which can be used to generate a Dig log, are the Kloth.Net Dig DNS Lookup, and the Who.Is DNS display. Neither alternate is as compact and complete - but they can be used to verify results.

Complementary tools include the Global DNS Propagation Checker, the intoDNS domain DNS health checker, the Rex Swain HTTP Viewer, and the Whois Lookup.

In some cases, my 12 link affinity / differential connectivity test may be useful.

For more information.

See WikiPedia: dig (command).

One of the most useful tools, for diagnosing #Blogger custom domain problems, is a Dig Log. Learning how to read a Dig Log is a useful skill, for any blog owner wishing to publish a blog to a custom domain.

Blogger Magic - Changing The Blog Title

2016-04-13T16:23:00.001-07:00

Some blog owners start a blog - then discover that they gave the blog the wrong name - or description.

Unlike changing the Blog Name (Address), changing the Blog Description or Name (Title) is not complicated.

You can change the description or title of a blog, any time you wish.

The blog name (title) is an important blog component. Changing the description or title is not difficult.

Use the Blogger dashboard Settings - Basic page.
Click the "Edit" link, next to "Title" or "Description", as necessary.
Make the changes needed.
Click "Save changes".

Go to the dashboard Settings - Basic page.

Click on "Edit", for "Title" or "Description".

Make the change, as necessary. Click "Save changes".

The next post you publish will display the right description or title, in any search engine lists, and shares. If the blog uses FeedBurner, to distribute by email or provide improved newsfeed subscriptions, you may want to check the feed title also.

What effect will this have, on search engine content?

When you change the title, all of the existing posts will still be indexed, under the old title. All of the SERP entries will show the old title - and the blog will be searchable using the old title.

As the blog is re indexed, the search engines will pick up the new title. This won't happen completely or immediately, though.

And the people who find the blog, when searching on the old title - and click on a SERP entry referencing the blog - will see the blog with the new title.

The #Blogger blog title is a key blog component, which can be changed any time convenient. This is a very simple change - and can be done without planning.

Blogger Magic - Enabling Cookies, In Your Browser

2016-04-12T13:33:00.001-07:00

The Blogger dashboard, and blog displays, is less of a pair of websites - and more of an application with code that runs on our computers.

The Blogger code on our computers requires cookies and scripts, which are installed as we use the various Blogger dashboard pages. The cookies and scripts are susceptible to interference, from overly restrictive layered security.

If you have a problem with Blogger - either accessing / using the dashboard, or using / viewing a blog - one of the simplest things to check, complementing script filter settings, is the browser cookie filter settings.

The browser is the most important component, when setting up security - and cookies are a common challenge.

Cookie filters are adjusted differently, for each browser. Consider the multiple domains used by Blogger / Google - and layered security, on any computer, used by the owner and readers of any blog.

Chrome.
Firefox.
Edge / Internet Explorer.
Opera.
Safari.

Setting the cookie filters in Chrome.

With Chrome, you enable cookies, using Settings ("Customize and control Google Chrome") - aka the 3 dot toolbar icon.

In Settings, if necessary, click on "Advanced" at the very bottom of the page.

Under "Privacy and security", click on "Content settings", which gives you the "Content Settings" wizard. Select "Cookies". Here, you have selections for Cookies, including "Block", "Clear on exit", and "Allow". Select the recommendation, "Allow sites to save and read cookie data". Disable

Keep local data only until you quit your browser
Block third-party cookies

Close the Settings tab.

Under "Cookies", select "Allow sites to save and read cookie data".

If you want to enable cookies selectively, select "Block third-party cookies and site data". Then use "Manage exceptions", and add "blogger.com", "google.com", and any addresses which apply to your blog.

Setting the cookie filters in Firefox.

With Firefox, you enable cookies, from the browser menu - aka the 3 bar toolbar icon, using Preferences - Privacy.

Under History, select that "Firefox will:" is set to "Remember history" then "Use custom settings for history". That will give you an array of settings.
Check "Accept cookies from sites".
Close Preferences. Settings will be saved.
Note that any Firefox add-ons which filter cookies, and offer more detailed options, will have to be dealt with, separately.

Select "Remember history", then "Use custom settings for history".

Check "Accept cookies from sites".

If you want to enable cookies selectively, change "Always" to "Never". Then use "Exceptions", and add "blogger.com", "google.com", and any addresses which apply to your blog.

Setting the cookie filters in Edge / Internet Explorer.

With Edge / Internet Explorer, you enable cookies, using the browser menu, selecting Tools - Internet Options. Optionally, you may access the "Internet Options" applet directly from the Windows Control Panel.

Edge / IE uses a zone defense setting, where you designate "blogger.com" and "google.com", in Security, as being in the Trusted zone. Please note that "blogspot.com" should not be in the Trusted zone.
Default settings for the Trusted zone will allow proper filtering of scripts.
Verify proper settings, with "Trusted sites" selected, and the Security level slider control set to "Medium". Hit "Custom level", and examine the Settings list.
You enable Cookies under the "Privacy" tab.
Move the Privacy slider to the bottom, to allow all cookies.
Click "OK".

Setting the cookie filters in Opera.

With Opera, you enable cookies, using the Advanced tab, in the Preferences wizard. Select "Accept", to accept cookies from all sites.

Setting the cookie filters in Safari.

With Safari, you enable cookies, using the Preferences wizard. The Privacy wizard, in Preferences, contains selections for cookies ("Cookies and website data”). Select "Always allow", to enable third party cookie access.

Cookie filters cause half of the problems reported, with many Blogger features.

Maybe 50% of the problems, reported in Blogger Help Forum: Get Help with an Issue, with many Blogger features involve cookie filters.

Comments.
The Cookie Advice Banner.
Post/Page/Template Preview.
Reading List.
Template Designer.

Stats and the "Don't track ..." option used to involve third party cookies, for many years. In March 2016, "Don't track" was rewritten to run under the URL of the blog, when being set - and now requires enabling scripts from the blog URL.

Consider how your blog is published.

If your blog is published to "blogspot.com", consider the non "blogspot.com" alias that may be relevant to your country. If your blog is published to a custom domain, consider the custom domain URL.

Many computers have other relevant settings, which block cookies.

Many blog owners and readers will have computers, and networks, with additional protection. Cookies, in the browser, may not be the only filter that needs to be checked - but this is a start, to learning how to control the cookie filters.

Having checked and corrected your cookie filters, continue by checking browser script filters - then check cookie and script filters, outside the browser. Be aware that many settings may not be obvious - and that both obvious and obscure settings may be updated, without your intention or knowledge.

Learn more.

Google Accounts Help: Enable or disable cookies.

Many #Blogger problems are cause by overly restrictive cookie filters. If you, a blog owner or reader, are going to use Blogger successfully, you need to configure your browser properly.