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Where do I turn for help? August 9, 2007

Posted by Dave Lowe in : Help , add a comment

To continue on your quest for information on how to create your SFI Labs website, I took a page from WordPress Dot Com. They use a custom version of the same software we use here, just on a much larger scale.

Check this link for Frequently Asked Questions about WordPress.

There is also a great tutorial video for the free service on YouTube. It’s bout 45 minutes long, it discusses, literally, “how to blog” using WordPress Dot Com.

The best way to learn WordPress is to just jump in and start messing ith it. If you are on the hosted service, there is nothing really hat you can break. And if you do “break” something, you can always elete it and start over. You can select your theme from the available hoices. Post a few test posts, see how things look. Drag and drop different sidebar widgets in place. Don’t be afraid to experiment.

One thing to remember is there is a difference between “posts” and pages” in WordPress. A “page” is treated as a static web page and it s included in the navigation menu. I have built whole websites in WordPress with no “blog” at all. The “posts” are presented in a
newest-on-top manner on your main page.

You can also contact our staff if you have any specific questions. There is even a “WordPress for Dummies” book out there, and other “quick start guide” books.

But the best way, as I said, is to roll up your sleeves and get dirty.

Uploading Images July 21, 2007

Posted by Dave Lowe in : Help , add a comment

I got this question today from an SFI Labs user. Thought I would pass it along in case it helps anyone else.

> I created a site  and I am trying to upload some pictures to add to it.
> Is that possible, or do I need to change them to link to another location?

What you need to do is upload them via the post editor. In the Dashboard, go to Write -> Write Post. Just under the editor, in the very next section, is a section for uploading. Browse to the file you want to upload and follow the prompts.

Once the file is in the system, you can browse to it and select how you want to display the images in your post or page. Choose, and click “send to editor” and the picture will appear in your page or post.

If you use the rich editor (default) you can drag and drop the picture into your post, manipulate the image’s position and size right there without typing any HTML code.

I hope this helps. I have also included a link to the FAQ on WordPress Dot Com, they run a custom version of WordPress MU and have thousands of users. Their FAQ is good reading.

http://faq.wordpress.com/2006/07/16/how-do-i-upload-pictures/

What is a Blog? July 13, 2007

Posted by Dave Lowe in : Help , add a comment

Editor’s Note: This is the first in a series of articles explaining this whole “blogging” phenomenon and how it affects your site here on SFI Labs. Watch this category for more articles in the coming weeks.

“Blog” is an abbreviated version of “weblog,” which is a term used to describe web sites that maintain an ongoing chronicle of information. A blog is a frequently updated, personal website featuring diary-type commentary and links to articles or other Web sites. Blogs range from the personal to the political, and can focus on one narrow subject or a whole range of subjects.

Many blogs focus on a particular topic, such as web design, politics, sports, or mobile technology. Some are more eclectic, presenting links to all manner of other sites. And others are more like personal journals, presenting the author’s daily life and thoughts.

Generally speaking (though there are exceptions), blogs tend to have a few things in common:

Some blogs may have additional features beyond these.

For more information, check out this article.