Still Learning

John Scalzi gives us some tips on how to add pictures to your journal.  I have copied the entry in its entirety in the event it should be lost in the future via the link.

Thank you, John!

I've gotten recent e-mail from some AIM bloggers wanting to know how to put big pictures (which to say, pictures not on You've Got Pictures/ AOL Pictures) on their AIM Blogs. The answer is that you can do it the same way as AOL Journalers, which is by uploading your pictures into your AOL Hometown space. Here's what to do.

1. First, take the picture you want to show off and prepare it for Web display by making it a reasonable size both in physical dimensions -- no more than 500 pixels in width -- and in file size (try to keep it under 75kb for those folks on dial up). Save the picture in a place you can find it easily: a pictures folder or the desktop of your computer.

2. Once you've done that, go to AOL Hometown's main page. Sign in if you need to by entering your AIM screenname and password.

3. Once you've signed in, click on the AOL Hometown: File Manager link (currently located just below the "Editor's Weekly Picks." This will whisk you away to the File Manager page.

4. Click the "Add New Files" button, and when the new page has opened, add your picture by clicking on one of the "Browse" buttons and then locating your picture file on your computer. Once you've added your picture (or pictures -- you can upload up to four at a time) click "OK." Your picture will be uploaded.

5. Once you've finished, go ahead and write up an entry. When you get to th "Add an Entry" page, click on the "Add Pictures From Hometown" link. You'll see a listing of the pictures you've uploaded. Select the one you want. You can also add pictures to the body of your text by using the "Add Image" button (the one that looks like a camera) and typing in the picture's URL.

And that's how it's done. The picture you see above (the birdbath in the front yard with a scrim of ice on it -- it was cold overnight around here) is one I uploaded into my AIM Blog hometown space, so I can tell you it works. Enjoy your pictures!

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Joe, from MagicSmoke, offers some advice on what not to do when adding pictures.

I personally have found that it is easiest to use PhotoBucket instead of FTP space for long-term storage of my graphics, photos, tags, blinkies, etc.    

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Thanks to Kathy, onestrangecat, for steering me in the direction of her journal with tons of tips on how to create and improve your journal experience.  I have not had a chance to look through each of the entries, but it looks like a lot of wonderful advice!!

This ought to keep all of us busy for a while.

Donna

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When I do not know the answer, I always know I will be able to find help by asking around.  I found several suggestions on how to add a background.  Go here.  Thanks to Vivian for steering us in the right direction.

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It suddenly dawned on me that one of the things this journal may do is provide a place for us to identify what we would like to see from AOL in J-land.  If there is a certain place on AOL where we can specifically make a request, let me know and I will gladly kill this entry.  I only know to write to Joe at MagicSmoke to make my requests.  I try to avoid complaining to Joe since there are so many of us and only one of him. And, frankly, I think the positive in J-land outweighs the negative.

I will start the list and I look forward to you adding your thoughts.  And, every so often, I will ask Joe to come check out the feedback.

1.  Spellcheck in the Blog section "Add an Entry."

2.  More variety in journal Moods.  I sent a suggested list to Joe a while back and AOL is already a step a head of us.  They are planning a free text option like the Music I'm Listening To field.  It will be in a future enhancement.  No time table given.

3.  Greater choice of fonts in Text of Entry drop down box.

4.  When we get a AOL Journals New Entry Alert, it would be helpful to see the screen name of originator or the name of the Journal included with the alert.  (Suggested by suzypwr) 

5.  A preview button and screen view of the journal entry before it is saved.  This will help cut back on the edits that we have to do after our intial alert goes out.  (Suggested by deslily)

5.  Why not give us the ability to save a journal entry in "draft" in the event we can't finish it in one sitting?

6.  We need an increase in the number of characters allowable in the About Me section.  (Suggested by sieblonde)

7.  It would be nice to have the ability to go to your own journal and not take a "hit" on your counter.  (Editor Note: If SiteMeter can do it, AOL should be able to add that functionality.)  (Suggested by deslily)

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When you are in the Add an Entry text box, there are three drop down menus and then six buttons.  To create a link for your readers, you will use the button with the little globe on it. 

Let's say you want to reference another website or perhaps a specific entry in someone else's journal.  The first thing you want to do is go get that URL. (The URL is the web address.  You know ... http:// etc.)  If you want to use the AOL journal entry you will need to use the archive function to locate the the specific entry in the journal.  (If you use only the journal address, it will not include the entry number.) Highlight the web address and right click and choose copy.  This saves the highlighted address to your clipboard.  Once you highlight the address you could also hit CTRL C to copy.  Now you are ready to rock and roll.

Type the text for your entry and decide what words you want to use to indicate the link.  Highlight those words and right click on the little globe button. 

You will get a pop up box titled Explorer User Prompt.  In the text field the http:// is already typed in for you.  Since you just copied the entire web address/URL, you do not need that extra http:// so back space to delete it.  

Now right click and choose Paste.  You can also use CTRL-V to paste.  The complete URL address will appear on that text line.  Click OK. 

You are now back in the entry and instead of an entire http:// web address, you will see the words you highlighted have taken on a life of their own. 

Note:  If you have highlighted and changed the color of the text after you entered a link, the reader may not be able to detect which words in your entry are links.  I go back and edit the color of the link words to make it easier on the reader.  How many of us read along with the cursor like following our finger on a page?  Okay, maybe more that I want to know! 

[I wish I could remember who taught me this function.  I would love to give them credit.  If you are reading this entry, please remind me.  I went for an embarrassingly long time before I learned how to use the Insert Link button.]

Any questions? 

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I hope this is a place that is so helpful to the new journaler that you will share it with others and link it in your Other Journals.  Blogging can be a frustrating journey if you continue to run into roadblocks or potholes and maybe this will make it easier.

If you have a question, either include it in the comments or send me an email.  The answer will be edited into an existing entry or a new entry will be posted and your comment/ question will then be deleted.  If you do not see a response within three days, fire me an email.  I may not have gotten your comment alert. If I know it may take some research/more time to get your answer, I will leave a reply comment. 

There is no reason to be embarrassed about asking a question, but if you are not comfortable with being identified, please send me your question via email and tell me you wish to remain anonymous.  If you do not specifically tell me you do not want to be identified, I will assume it is okay to include your screen name. 

If you do not include your journal's link with your comments or questions I may not be able to include it in the entry.  Time just does not allow me the luxury to go search for every person's journal to complete the link. When I have time, I will be glad to do a search.

Experienced bloggers needed.  If you have been the owner of a journal for any extended period of time, please stay connected to this site.  I want your advice and we can all benefit from your experience.  If you have a new, different or better way to do something, please share it with the rest of us.  I will update the post with your information and give you full credit.  I'm the first to admit I have to get help, probably more than I care to admit but then I still consider myself a "young" journaler.  Too bad that adjective does not apply to more things in my life!!

There is one entry that will continue to be edited until we max out the space available.  Watch Short and Sweet Q&A for new bits of information. 

Enjoy!
Donna

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When you get an alert from AOL letting you know there is a new journal entry, there are four ways you can choose to read the new post.

1.  There is the thumbnail view contained within the pop-up alert notification.  No way to tell if there are graphics or photographs included.  But, it is a down and dirty way to see who posted and the subject.

2.  From this pop-up notification, click on the Subject line and the entry will pop up in full screen for your viewing pleasure.  You will only be able to see that single post.  No way to tell if the blogger has also posted a newer entry.  But, you can click on the Back to Journal choice in the upper left hand corner, and it will take you to the home/front page of the journal.

3.  From this pop-up notification, click on the name of the journal.  This will open up the front page of the journal.  You may have seen in the thumbnail alert the topic of that particular entry but when you open the journal, you see a totally different topic.  Reason?  You are behind in your reading of alerts. (Join the crowd!)  The keeper of this journal is moving on, adding new entries. When opening to the front page of the journal, you are seeing the most recent entry but from this vantage point, you have the ability to easily scroll through the last ten entries and catch up on anything you missed recently.

Note: There are times when you will get a pop-up alert with no subject line to choose - only the name of the journal.  You can only open by way of the journal's front page, but when you see the entry, there is a subject line.  Know why?  The blogger went in and updated their post after they first saved the entry.  Alerts will reflect the verbiage as it was when the entry was saved.  If you open the entry, it will reflect any subsequent changes.

4.  Thanks to szypwr for this one:  You can read the entry from the email.  Same limitations as #1 and the only wayto tell if there have been any changes to the entry since it was saved the first time is by opening the post.

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CHECK BACK HERE FOR ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS THAT ARE SHORT AND SWEET

 Question: I just started my journal and I cannot see my first entry any more.  Is there a limit to how many are on the front page?  Answer:  Yes, only ten entries are available for viewing from your journal's front/home page.  Those same ten entries are listed in the Recent Entries section in the side bar.  The rest can be viewed through Archives.  At the bottom of the Archive box is a quick link to your first Journal post.

Question: What are the differences between viewing a post from the main journal page and through archives? Answer: When scrolling through the first ten entries the comments are not all visible.  You have the choice as to whether or not you want to open comments.  If you open an entry through Archive (even if it is one of the ten most recent entries), all of the comments are presented at the end of the entry.  But, you cannot just scroll on to the next one. In Archives, you can search through the Recent Entries list for what you want to read or you can go to the next sequential entry by clicking on the >> link at the top of the sidebar.  This way you will not miss any in the series.

Question:  How come I cannot see the pictures in my journal that were there before?  Two possible answers:  You have moved the picture within your file management and that broke the connection.  Go back and reload the picture.  Or, you were using a graphic linked to another site and they broke your connection.  Always do a Save As into your own files for any photo, graphic or animation.  Otherwise you are potentially stealing bandwidth from the original site.  Thanks to vortexgirl for the question.  Anyone else have other ideas on why this may be happening?

Question:  When I go into my own journal to edit, read a comment or post a new entry, does the counter count my visit?  Answer:  Yes, it does which gives a false read to your journalvisits.  You can go in and edit your counter through File Manager.  (I am going to find the instructions and include those in a new entry.  No time at this moment.) 

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I have been giving this journal a lot of thought for a while now and finally decided I would start compiling some entries.  I have been in no great hurry.  I actually had written an entire piece on adding graphics but when I went to save it, for some reason it froze and I had to eventually reboot with no hope of saving the work.  That set me back and I just was not moving off of dead center.  (I have found it is so much harder to re-write something.)  My procrastination was my secret, or so I thought. 

Then this evening I had a conversation with DesLily who was asking me about an entry on my other journal and before long we were walking through a process, step by step.  I mentioned the idea of this blog to Pat and told her that I had just started this effort and had not even rolled it out yet.  My plan was to have at least five entries and then send the word out through my other journal's readers. 

What a shock when I just now came over to work on this site, only to find people have already been here and left comments!  (Note to self:  Click on the Alert Me as Comments are Posted button for Still Learning journal)  I'm glad but also a little embarrassed.  If I had known company was coming I would have vacuumed!  And, I would have picked up the items of clothing that lead from the front door to the computer like a modern day Hansel and Gretel.  Oh, my!

So ... here we go.  I will pull out the notes I have been gathering from various sources and we're off and running!

Remember:  I am merely the conduit of the information. Very little of what you read on these pages will be original with me.  I do not profess to know much.  I have found a lot of great sources for assistance but I wanted to take a step back and offer some basic guides to the beginning journaler. 

If what you read does not make sense, then say so.  We will break it down further.  The main goal is to enjoy what we are doing!

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