Updating A Text Gadget, On Your Blog? Be Careful!

The schizophrenic nature of the HTML / Text gadget continues to confuse some blog owners.

Recently, we're seeing claims about broken Text gadgets, in Blogger Help Forum: Something Is Broken.

I hit the Save button, and nothing happens! Why is my Text gadget not working??

Too many blog owners are causing their own problem, because of confusion about the caption in the gadget update wizard.

The header of the HTML / Text wizard is the only visible difference, between the "HTML" and "Text" gadgets.

You'll see "Configure HTML/JavaScript" (for an HTML gadget) or "Configure Text" (for a Text gadget), as the gadget header. The rest of the gadget will be the same, for both gadgets - and this is why some gadgets, being updated, appear to be broken.

The difference between entering HTML, and Text - using either the "HTML" or the "Text" gadget - will be seen in the caption, to the far right of "Content".

The difference between entering HTML, and Text, is not relevant to the actual gadget being added or updated. This problem exists for both "Configure HTML/JavaScript" (for an HTML gadget) and "Configure Text" (for a Text gadget).

The caption will read either "Edit Html", or "Rich Text" - for both "Configure HTML/JavaScript" (for an HTML gadget) and "Configure Text" (for a Text gadget).

• If you want to add / update code (HTML / JavaScript), you will want the caption to read "Rich Text".
• If you want to add / update text (Rich Text), you will want the caption to read "Edit Html".

Examine the formatting toolbar, to the left of the caption, as you click on the caption, to understand this.

Here are 4 views, showing the same gadget:


This is the HTML gadget, in HTML mode.

This is the HTML gadget, in Text mode.

This is the Text gadget, in Text mode.

This is the HTML gadget, in HTML mode.


Why is this relevant to the problem, being discussed? Just this - HTML is simply fancy text, with tags (special keywords and symbols). The tags make the difference, between HTML and text.

When you enter HTML, the tags have to be entered properly, in pairs and in the right sequence. If HTML tags are not entered properly, you can have various problems with the blog, as displayed. One of the possible problems is the long known dropped posts / sidebar section.

When you enter HTML improperly, in "HTML" mode in post editor, you get various diagnostic error messages - and you are instructed to fix your tags. When you enter HTML improperly, in "HTML" mode in the HTML / Text gadget, the "Save" button becomes in operative - and you think that the gadget is broken.

When you enter Text, which contains HTML, and you enter the HTML improperly - and you are accidentally in HTML mode - you have a problem. Remember.

• If you want to add / update code (HTML / JavaScript), you will want the caption to read "Rich Text".
• If you want to add / update text (Rich Text), you will want the caption to read "Edit Html".

This is how the "HTML" and "Text" gadgets work.

If you add a Text gadget to your blog, the caption will read "Edit Html" when you are adding text. If you click on "Edit Html", you will see "Rich Text" - and you will then be in HTML mode.

If you enter rich text, in HTML mode, and the rich text includes HTML keywords and symbols, you will have broken HTML - and the "Save" button will be inoperative. And, you will have a "broken" Text gadget. This is one of several possible causes of problems seen when adding / updating the HTML / JavaScript / Text gadgets.

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The Text Gadget Is Broken

For over a week, we've had anxious blog owners unable to create or update the Text gadgets on their blogs.

The "Save" button is not working, on my Text gadget!

or maybe

I see Javascript void(0) when hitting Save!

Blogger actually fixed this problem, earlier this month - and it broke again, shortly afterwards. Not everybody understands that seeing "javascript:void(0);" is a symptom of the problem - not the problem itself.

This problem, fortunately, has a reasonably effective workaround.

The HTML / JavaScript gadget, and the Text gadget, are virtually the same gadget.

If you add an HTML gadget, using "Add a Gadget" - and you select "Rich Text", when setting the gadget up, - you will have a Text gadget.

Just be careful - when you have a Text gadget, the place where you selected "Rich Text" will read "Edit Html". If you click on "Edit Html", you'll have an HTML / JavaScript gadget, which will then read "Rich Text".

If you want a Text gadget, make sure that the gadget label reads "Edit Html". It's that simple.

This will not resolve every problem.

• The inability to update existing Text gadgets continues to be a problem.
• The similar inability to update Linklists has no workaround.

This is simply a small workaround - but a useful one, where applicable.
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Layout: Add A Gadget

Occasionally, we see concerned bloggers asking about their inability to add page elements to their blog.

Besides several key settings in the template, there's a naming problem, which surfaces occasionally.

When I go to the dashboard Layout wizard, I'm given the option to "add a gadget" but not to "add a page element." The Add a Page Element button has never been displayed since I started the blog, so it's not something I broke myself.

Long ago, "gadgets" were called "page elements" - and the "Layout" display was named similarly.

Now, we add gadgets using the dashboard "Layout" wizard.


From the "Layout" wizard, find any link to "Add a Gadget".

Choose any one of dozens of interesting and useful accessories, from the Blogger gadgets library.
You might want to note two details.

1. Some sections of the screen may not allow gadgets to be added.
2. When you find an interesting gadget, be picky! Gadgets listed as "by Blogger" will be more reliable, in the long run.

Long ago, we used the "Page Elements" wizard.


What everybody may not realise is that what Blogger used to call "widgets" are now called "gadgets", and adding a "widget" (weird term) / "page element" (boring term) is now called adding a "gadget" (descriptive term).

What we used to call the "Page Elements" wizard may be found as the "Layout" link in the dashboard. If you publish the blog using a dynamic template, layout customisations may not be supported - and you may not have "Settings - Layout".

Of course, there could still be cases where the "Add a Gadget" link doesn't appear, doesn't appear where you need it, or doesn't work for you. You still need to be aware of template restrictions, whether intentional or non-intentional.

When you look at the selections in "Add a Gadget", note the author names, carefully. The gadgets that are not attributed as "By Blogger" are provided by third parties, and should be selected with care.

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The Mysterious Pages Index Gadget

We get occasional reports, in Blogger Help Forum: Something Is Broken, about a broken Pages gadget.

I created a new page - but when you click on the link, you get bounced back to the Home page!

When you look at the blog with the problem, it's easy enough to verify the report - just look at the URL behind the link, for the most recent page created. Indeed, it points straight to the Home page (base URL for the blog).

When this happens, there is a very simple workaround. Just create another page, identical to the problem entry.

Thinking of the past 4 years since the Static Pages feature was added to Blogger, I am betting that I have seen this report maybe 2 dozen times. That is, just enough to know that this is a problem - but nowhere enough to detect any pattern.

• BlogSpot vs custom domain.
• Template Name.
• Template type ("designer" / "layout" vs "dynamic").
• Position of Pages gadget ("Tabs" vs "Sidebar").
• Geographical location of owner.
• Dynamic vs Static page entry.
• Number of pages.

I have not yet seen any obvious affinity, with this problem - mainly because it's reported too infrequently.

If your blog is affected by this oddity - and you feel like taking the time, I'd like for you to first try resetting the "Pages1" gadget, similar to resetting the Post Template aka "Blog1". If that does not produce an improvement, then try the workaround - add an additional page, identical to the broken one. See if that solves the problem.

If the additional page works better, then you can delete or hide the previously created (broken) page. My apologies to you, if the problem page is the 19th (or possibly the 20th) static page.

If you're here, looking for help with this problem, and it is now 2016 (or later), my congratulations to you for finding your way here.

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Unfold Widgets Selectively, Instead Of All At Once

The new Template HTML Editor has been with us for just under 2 weeks.

Not every blog owner sees the new editor as an improvement. Some folks don't understand how to find the code sections, where they need to apply changes - and would probably be happier if "Expand All Widgets" were an option.

Like the old saying goes, you just cannot please everybody.

Fortunately, with this change, it's not difficult to find the code sections that need changing - you just do a little bit of research, before using "Edit HTML".

With the old editor, finding a section that needed changing could be a bit frustrating - though simple, given enough time.

1. Hit "Expand Widget Templates".
2. Search for a recognisable section of code.
3. Try very carefully, to find the right section of code.
4. Be careful, and don't select the wrong section of code.

With the new editor, you have a bit more work to do - and what you have to do appears to be simply repetitive.

1. Find a folded code section.
2. Unfold the section that's folded.
3. Repeat, until everything is visible.
4. Search for a recognisable section of code.
5. Try very carefully, to find the right section of code.
6. Be careful, and don't select the wrong section of code.

Instead of spending so much time unfolding, searching, and rechecking everything, why not do some research? Figure out what needs changing. Look at the display on the dashboard Layout wizard (previously called "Page Elements"). Identify the widget to be changed, using both the relative position on the page, and the title.

Find the widget id, by looking at the widget to be changed, then at the URL behind the "Edit" link. If you're editing the post template, you'll be looking at "Blog Posts", which has the widgetID of "Blog1". Click here, for instructions on determining the widget id.

Once you have the widgetID, for the specific widget that you need to modify, go to the Template "Edit HTML" wizard, use the "Jump to widget" pull down list, select the widget by widgetID, and there it is. Now, unfold that widget, and do what you have to do.

Isn't that simpler, when you think about it?

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Blogger Magic - Managing The Pages In Your Blog

Some blog owners are never quite sure how to manage all characteristics of the Pages, in their blog.

From time to time, in Blogger Help Forum: How Do I?, we see evidence of the confusion.

How do I hide the Home tab?

or

I can't rename my pages!

Some blog owners may know of one Pages management wizard, but not another. To the untrained, it may all seem like one big magic show.

There are actually 3 wizards, which let us manage the pages.

• The Configure Page List wizard (aka Pages gadget).
• The Layout wizard.
• The Pages wizard.

The Configure Page List wizard is accessed from the Layout wizard, by Editing the Pages gadget - or can be accessed from the blog face, using the QuickEdit icon, if QuickEdit is enabled. It has several functions, in managing pages.

• Change the Title of the Pages gadget, in the Layout wizard display.
• Hide / Show specific pages.
• Reorder specific pages, by dragging and dropping in the Page order wizard.

The Layout wizard is accessed from the dashboard. It has two functions, in managing pages.

• Provide access to the "Configure Page List" wizard, by Editing the Pages gadget.
• Relocate / restructure the pages list, by dragging and dropping the Pages gadget.
  • Drag the Pages gadget to the top of the blog layout, and it morphs into the tabs gadget.
  • Drag the Pages gadget into the sidebar, and it morphs into a linklist.

The Pages wizard is accessed from the dashboard. It has various functions, in managing pages.

• Hide / relocate / restructure the pages list, by changing the "Show pages as" selection.
  • Selected as "Top tabs", it relocates to the top of the blog layout, and morphs to the tabs gadget.
  • Selected as "Side links", it relocates to the top of the sidebar, and morphs into a linklist.
  • Selected as "Don't show", it disappears, and lets you develop your own page list gadget (or not).
• Reorder specific pages, by dragging and dropping in the Pages order wizard.
• Add pages, using the "New page" selection.
  • Selecting "Blank page", you can create a new static page.
  • Selecting "Web address", you can create a new dynamic page.
• Selecting "Edit" or "Delete" for a specific page beneath "Pages", you can
  • Edit the Title of a page.
  • Edit the content of a static page.
  • Edit the URL of a dynamic page.
  • Delete a page.

None of this is magic - though the differing abilities of the several different wizards may bring to mind the different members in a typical MMORPG team.

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Be Aware When You Install Third Party Code On Your Blog

We've been seeing a few problem reports, in Blogger Help Forum: Something Is Broken, from blog owners who are not aware of the risks from installing third party code, on their blog.

Some blog owners are not even aware that the code being installed is not supplied by Blogger - and is not subject to the same coding standards as code supplied by Blogger.

Third party accessories and code - from simple JavaScript that installs in the blog template, to attractive XML gadgets installed using the "Add a Gadget" wizard - has always been a challenge, to Blogger blogs. Knowing when you are installing code provided by someone other than Blogger / Google, and taking appropriate precautions, is your responsibility.

Blogger provides a large library of XML coded accessories, installed using the Layout "Add a Gadget" wizard.

As we have learned in the past, however, the "Add a Gadget" accessory library is also used for distribution of non Blogger supplied gadgets. Gadgets supplied by Blogger are available using "Add a Gadget", and are labeled "By Blogger". Google does have other accessory libraries - the late "iGoogle" library is one well known one. That aside, most Blogger blogs - and all non Google websites, which are used for distribution of Blogger accessories and gadgets - are non Blogger products.

Be aware of what you are about to install, on your blog.

• A gadget provided using "Add a Gadget", and labeled "By Blogger" is a Blogger provided gadget.
• A gadget provided using "Add a Gadget", but not labeled "By Blogger", is not a Blogger provided gadget.
• A gadget provided using a Blogger blog, which is not published by Blogger, is not a Blogger provided gadget.
• A gadget provided using a non Google website is not a Blogger provided gadget.

These are examples of Blogger supplied gadgets. Anything different is not a Blogger supplied gadget.

If you install non Blogger code in the template, and later see

Your blog has been deleted because of MALICIOUS JAVASCRIPT

this is a risk which you take.

Do not install non Blogger code on your blog, without knowing the risks.

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Remove The "Next Blog" Link From The Navbar

Ever since Blogger added the "Next Blog" link to the Blogger Navbar, blog owner and readers alike have periodically asked one question, in Blogger Help Forum: How Do I?.

How do I remove the "Next Blog" link, from the Navbar?

The "Next Blog" link, long ago added to generate random traffic for new blogs, is occasionally perceived as leading unwary readers to blogs where they should not wish to go. Some "adults" of various intention have asked this question, quite seriously, in fear of their blogs being inadvertently linked to blogs with unsavoury content.

The navbar coded as it is, there is no known ability to customise it, and to remove specific elements such as the "Next Blog" link. Generally, we simply advise people, when they have the need, to remove the Navbar.

Use the Layout wizard, Edit the "Navbar" gadget, and select "Off".

That noted, it is possible to remove the "Next Blog" link (and all buttons and links to its left), with a bit of CSS - for blogs with the owner able and comfortable with using the Template Designer. For a simple way to remove the "Next Blog" link, use the "Add CSS" menu option in the Template Designer, and add one snippet of code.

#navbar-iframe {
margin-left:-510px;
}

When you do this, you will lose 5 other buttons and links.

• The dashboard icon.
• The Blog Search window.
• The "G+ Share" icon.
• The share count display.
• The multi-function share / "Report Abuse" menu.

So hackers / spammers will appreciate the last menu being unavailable, on their blogs.

You may see this tweak demonstrated, in my New Template Laboratory. It's an ugly solution - but for blog owners who truly don't want their blogs linking to "Next Blog", it may be useful.

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Setting Options In The Post Template

Every person who maintains a Blogger blog (or other web site) has his or her own idea about what features she or he wants to present, on his or her blog / web site. Under Classic Template Blogger, this need was provided only by editing the blog template, using HTML.

With a Layouts / Designer template, besides letting us add and move template objects all over the display page, Blogger also provides us the ability to add and move objects all over the post layout. This, too, is done without even opening the "Edit HTML" Template wizard.

The Layout wizard lets you add and re locate objects on the blog page, and maintains the blog template.



From the Layout wizard, you can edit the Blog Posts gadget, and configure or re locate the various blog post components, in the post template. In the Classic Blogger GUI, the Layout wizard was called "Page Elements", and was the first tab that you see when you clicked "Design" in the dashboard or navbar. In the New Blogger GUI, it's the Settings menu entry on the Dashboard.

Find the "Blog Posts" gadget, which is the only gadget that will probably never be found in the footer, header, or sidebar, in the Layout GUI. Just like any other gadget in Layout, Blog Posts has an "Edit" link. So click on the link, which gives you "Configure Blog Posts".

There are useful options here.

• Disable / Enable Post header elements like the date.
• Disable / Enable post footer elements (and change captions) like Poster Name, Date and Time, Comments, Backlinks, and Labels (I call my labels "Topics").
• Disable / Enable Quick Editing and Email Post Links.

You can change captions / formats, include or exclude altogether, and / or reposition the various elements in the post template.

• Date / time stamp.
• Author attribution.
• Author date / time stamp.
• Comments.
• Backlinks.
• Labels.
• Quick Editing pencil icon.
• Reactions buttons.
• Email Post Link envelope icon.
• Share Buttons.
• Per post location captions.
• Per post author profile links.
• Ads Between Posts.

Change the captions, carefully. If you change the caption of a given option, and later cannot find that option because you obscurely changed the caption (and this documentation does not help), you may have to refresh the post template.

You can rearrange various post elements into the order that pleases you. Do this carefully though.



Whenever you add, change, remove, or rearrange, any of these features, always clear browser cache, then restart the browser, before testing for success. If your changes are unsuccessful, or the settings are not persistent, you may have to refresh the post template.

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