Cool blog writer (Live Writer)
This really cool bit of software is excellent for posting blog entries to dirteam.com. I have always been looking for a better interface than the web interface. You can write your blog entries here and save them into drafts as well.
I had a few complaints about long posts going missing while the web session timeout. With this cool piece of software you can write and save to drafts, and then post when you ready.
You can download it here and its free. It is in beta but todate I have not had any issues. Below are some screen shots on how to set it up (It can be tricky). I went through the pain so you don't have to ;).
I will be creating a help blog with all the little topics for the bloggers on this community. I will also include these screen shots there.
The unfortunate part is that they still haven't hooked the CS image model in to the writer but I have found a work around for it.
Upload your photos as you usually do, once the image has been uploaded click on the image. If you look on the address bar you will see a URL to the image. Copy that URL. In Live Writer use: Insert > Picture From Web > Paste the Image URL into the dialog and press ok.
Step 1 Upload photo
Step 2 View Photo
Step 3 Select Photo
Step 4 Copy Url
Step 5 Insert URL into Live Writer
This then links the image to your blog post :) this is what CS does in the background in any case :)
Now to setup Live Writer:
Step 1 Login Details
Step 2 Select the Type of blogging engine
Step 3 Specify the metablog name
Step 4 Allow it to download blogs and select your blog
Step 5 It will attempt to login and you are finished
Enjoy, I will mail the Live Writer team and ask them if there are plans to integrate the CS image model into live writer.
Live Writer (And yes i did take into account that it is still in beta)
Likes
- Simple interface
- Can save drafts
- Nice looking interface
- Supports a wide range of blog engines (check step 2 in the live writer setup)
- Small install footprint
Dislikes
- If you insert a large image it does not expand the writting page i.e. the image flows off the writting surface
- CS image model not intergrated so you have to use my workaround above. This can be slow and irritating!
Carlos Magalhaes