Template Corruption

PROCEED WITH THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK!

Though it's not very hard to do, it may be like killing flies with a shotgun. Be aware that it may correct or change, not only the "broken" or missing item you're concerned about, but some other things you have forgotten that you changed or added! When the post template is "reset", some items you added in the post area (not content) may disappear and you'll have to do some work to put it back.

This procedure surprised me when it eliminated the coding I'd done that placed one cartoon image near the end of each post and another "divider" image at the very bottom of the post. Also, the image signature (my initials in script) in the "Posted by" will have to be replaced in one of my other blogs. I'm in no hurry.

[The same sort of warning may apply to the link you find below the "Edit Html" box that says "Revert widget templates to default". I have not yet used this button, mostly because I have a lot of gadgets that I've edited and I worry that the revert (like this one) might fix too much! But certainly I have read where some people said it had worked for them.]

Missing Post Template Components

Nitecruzr has already done a good job, I think, on explaining this little fixit, so I've added notes and direct you to his post also called Template Corruption The only significant addition I can make is to show the code line in another way so that you can be certain of what you're intended to delete and then replace in his directions. [More below...] In my own code (for this blog) I located the following: <div id='main-wrap1'><div id='main-wrap2'> <b:section class='main' id='main' showaddelement='no'> <b:widget id='HTML9' locked='false' title='' type='HTML'/> <b:widget id='HTML6' locked='false' title='' type='HTML'/> <b:widget id='HTML8' locked='false' title='EMERGENCY STEPS' type='HTML'/> <b:widget id='Blog1' locked='true' title='Blog Posts' type='Blog'/> </b:section> </div></div> It is the line of code in red that I removed and later replaced. (See further important details at Chuck's post.) Make sure that you made a note of where in your code you removed the red line of code! If you can't put it back in the right place, you may beat your head against the wall trying to remember (ouch!). If you were really familiar with this blog, you'd notice the Email envelope icon has returned below each post for the first time in ages!

Add Line or Divider Between Posts

Directions, for white or black minima: Make a safety copy of your template as per the instructions on the "Edit html" page. I can't guarantee that all blog codes are going to look the same, but I did this on several of the Minima templates. I've done it on a couple of other template styles and they varied a little. So it might work right away or you might have to tinker! (Note: You can see the blue divider I talk about here at the end of all my posts.) Go to the template. Expand the widget templates. Locate the line of code in red below. add line or divider image like the .gif that I added before "post-footer-line-3". <center><img src='http://bp2.blogger.com/_AVxLoZ0mR_0/R3-8aw3SxjI/ AAAAAAAAAnM/Z3AlnL1FsMY/s400/bluedivider-b.gif'/></center> <div class='post-footer-line post-footer-line-3'>

[More below...Harbor example, etc.]

In a Harbor template I placed the same blue-divider gif in the footer as above, just before the (almost) same red line of code about "post-footer-line-3". <p class='post-footer-line post-footer-line-2'> <span class='post-labels'> <b:if cond='data:post.labels'> <data:postLabelsLabel/> <b:loop values='data:post.labels' var='label'> <a expr:href='data:label.url' rel='tag'><data:label.name/></a><b:if cond='data:label.isLast != &quot;true&quot;'>,</b:if> </b:loop> </b:if> </span> </p> <center><img src='http://bp2.blogger.com/_AVxLoZ0mR_0/R3-8aw3SxjI/AAAAAA AAAnM/Z3AlnL1FsMY/s400/bluedivider-b.gif'/></center> <p class='post-footer-line post-footer-line-3'/> </div>

When you make the change or addition, use Preview to see if it's what you think it's going to be. Wait until you're satisfied to save it. You can always "clear edits" and back out if you're not confident.


Bla bla bla, says the post!

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LAZY WAY TO ADD A LINE:
I used to include <hr color=crimson> in my post template code so that a crimson line would be drawn during creation of the blank post and I'd then write my post above the crimson line. This was easier than adding a line or image to the footer widget, so a beginner might be attracted to it just for the ease of it. Some day all beginners stop being nervous about getting into the template, but it doesn't have to be today! I remember the feeling.

NOTE: additional graphics at http://www.graphics-4free.com/

Where To Find 3 or 4 Column Templates

If You Want More Than 1 Sidebar!
This is just a place-holder for me for now in case I someday have something to say about the damn three and four column templates. At present, I haven't even read all of the posts that our friend Peter has written about it, listed below in these template posts by Peter.

When Reverting to Classic Template Was A Big Mistake

Oops!

Now you want to revert back to the New Blogger (Layout) version, but Blogger only allows for part of that; unless you had not yet created any page elements, you can't switch back with a single button-push or without some busy work! 1. locate and click on "Customize Design", 2. then click on "Upgrade Your Template ", 3. choose a new template. 4. click "Save the template" [More below...] You will be returned to an upgraded version of Blogger (with the layout) in which you will find some aspects of the Layout version, but not the elements that you added previously. You can create new Page Elements, but all the elements that disappeared when you reverted to the Classic template will remain lost. The only way to have kept a "backup" of the page elements would have been to have "expanded" the widget templates and to have made "copy and paste" copies of the text data and kept them in plain-text files (such as Notepad). I've switched back and forth like this numerous times, but only in a test blog, not in an important blog with things too important for me to lose all the elements, so I may not have noticed every detail of what's possible and what's not. I just know that some things will be possible. Never discount the possibility of being able to view "cached" versions of your blog in Google or other search engines and possibly being able to "copy and paste" some of your code or info from there. Maybe you can recuperate a goodly portion of it by using your Internet Options to get to the "View Source Code" feature. But do be careful not to copy any parts of the posts out of the Source Code into your actual template; it will cause great damage if you do!

Post Template

Adding code or text to every post

If adding a bit of code to every post is sufficient to do a certain job, why bother with Copy and Paste? Why not use the Post Template? You can use CSS for some things, but it's more difficult in some cases. If you're new to Blogger, it's easier to wrap your brain around the Post Template! Go to Dashboard, click on Settings. click Formatting. Go almost to the bottom of the page. Post Template is the eleventh item, I believe. Place any code or text that you wish to have in every post. Every time you create a new post, that template will take effect. If you start your post above the code, then that code will be at the bottom of each. As far as that goes, any code you wish could also be at the top of your post, as long as you're careful to put your post between the top template code and the bottom template code. You are already at the bottom of the Formatting List, but be sure to "Save Changes" before you exit.

[More below...Examples]

Below are items of code or text you might want in every post and can put it in every new post with the Post Template. These are only examples, not meant as literal recommendations—after all, I don't know you well enough! I used to put a colored line at the bottom of each post with <hr color=crimson> a <br /> (or 2 or 3 of them) would add a small blank space. You might add the codes needed in each post for your Expandable post hack or some other item of code (font size or font colors, perhaps) that you like, but hate to type in each time. You can either use it a little or a lot, depending on how comfortable you can get with it or how often you wish to have some of the same formatting in each post. The Post Template will not help you with existing (old) posts, only with ones you create after the Template has been created.

Where Is "Style" In New Blogger?

When you open the template, move to the Edit Html tab and click it. Search for "Body" and other Style (CSS) items that you might already be familiar with from Classic Blogger, though they are not called "Style" any more in New Blogger templates! (Note: CSS stands for Cascading Style Sheets). You might see something like this: body { background:oldlace; url("http://www.blogblog.com/harbor/rocks.jpg") no-repeat right bottom; background-attachment:fixed; margin:0; padding:0; font:x-small Georgia, Serif; color:$textcolor; font-size/* */:/**/small; font-size: /**/small; } At that point you are in the Style (or CSS) section.

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Edit The Template

How to edit or add to the template
Old Blogger; 1. From the Dashboard, click on Template. New Blogger: 1. From the Dashboard, click on Layout. OR 1. From the Navbar, click on Customize. 2. Then click on Edit HTML to edit the template. Now you have to know what you're doing. If you are in New Blogger, you may wish to place the code in a page element instead.

END.

Where To Place A Graphic For The Header

New Blogger method, easier for most

1. In Dashboard go to Layout. 2. Click Header in the Layout. 3. Have the url of the image you want to use handy. 4. Type or paste or Browse for the url into one of the two Image boxes, 5. Either an image on your computer or one already hosted on the Web. 6. You can choose to add the photo Behind the Title and Description or 7. You can Replace the Title and Description with the photo. 8. Be sure to Save Changes.

I can't emphasize how much easier the method above is!

Below is the old (Classic) method

This method still useable and ultimately more flexible (but you may be well satisfied with the first method above):

The code you'd look for to put a graphic into the header seems to come from a variety of locations in your template. It might go in the #header or #header-wrapper. The method I usually use is to locate a background url that already exists like these:

#header {
margin: 0 2%;
background-color: $headerBgColor; background:url("
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AVxLoZ0mR_0/Rb_W1nLeYQI/AAAAAAAAAIg/
qCR5JYhLf6o/s1600/dgblues.jpg") no-repeat bottom 10px;
color: $headerTextColor;
padding: 0;
font: $headerFont;
position: relative;
}

or

#wrap2
{background:url("xxxhttp://4.bp.blogspot.com/_AVxLoZ0mR_0/
RcNxJHiGO3I/AAAAAAAAAKA/5GfVtiwhGRE/s1600/jg2.jpg")
no-repeat center top; }

If this doesn't make anything more clear, ask again. I won't mind. But I don't know everything!

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It also worked for me to place an extra html/javascript page element above the header, with code like below:


<a href="http://jgblues.blogspot.com/"><img top
src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_AVxLoZ0mR_0/RcNxJHiGO3I/AAAAAAAAAKA/
5GfVtiwhGRE/s1600/jg2.jpg" no-repeat center/></a>

but first you'll have to go into the header widget in the template and change it so that the extra header is allowed, like this:

1. Go to Template.
2. Click on Edit Html
3. Click on Expand widget templates.
4. Locate the header widget.
5. It might look like this:
<b:section class='header' id='header' maxwidgets='1'>
6. Change the maxwidgets number to 2 or more.
7. If there's a showaddelement='no', change it to say 'yes'.
8. I don't advise removing the old header entirely unless you can otherwise preserve the title for the search engines, but if you mean to try, I understand that you'll have to change locked='yes' to 'no'.
9. Save your new template.

Some have remarked that they have no header at all, and I don't know what that's about. In new blogger, you might find a section like this, which reflects the fact above that I have the mentioned html/javascript page element added to that header.

<b:section class='header' id='header' maxwidgets='4'><b:widget id='HTML6' locked='false' title='' type='HTML'/><b:widget id='Header1' locked='true' title='JUDY GARLAND BLUES (Header)' type='Header'/></b:section>

Various statements of fact and warnings on this subject may be missing or careless at present, so beware.

Changing Templates In New Blogger

You have to change, but you don't have to change!

At some point soon, most of you who have held back will be forced to make the change to New Blogger. When you get there (are Migrated), you may not have to change your template immediately or even for a long while.

Those of you with a heavily customized template can (sorta) keep it!

However, you can't quite keep your own--not if you upgrade! Sadly, if the time comes when you have to or want to change to a new template so that you can utilize the full range of new features in New Blogger, then you may as well realize going in that the template choices are few. You may find them all dull and boring.

Cheer up if you're dumping an attractive customized template! It will take work, but just choose one and let the system Upgrade your template. Later, as time goes by and you learn how things work in the new set-up, you can begin to make the changes in your new template so that it will resemble your old one.

Keep a copy of your old template for reference. You will be able to Copy and Paste portions of it into the new template, as well as restore the additions you made to your old css code that are not in your new template.

Backup The Template

FOR CLASSIC BLOGGER: If you never made a backup of the template and stored it somewhere safe like in Notepad or some other plain text editor, you can reload (select again) one of Blogger's standard templates. It will merely overwrite the one that's gotten damaged. It will not damage your posts. If you have customizations (such as links, etc. in the sidebar) in your current template, copy all that so that later you can Copy just those bits and Paste it into the new template to bring it up to par with how it was supposed to be.

If this works out, then you can make a new Safety Copy of the template! You know, right-click your mouse, then Select All, then right click again, and Copy. Keep it in memory and go straight to where you're placing the copy so that you can Paste it in there and save that file. Call it SafetyTemplate.txt or anything else you won't forget!

Attach date to filename:

Later you may want to keep several copies at a time, so you can attach a number or the date of the save to the file. Name it something you can remember.

Today is 09/04/06.

A saved template file might therefore be SafetyTemplate090406.txt

FOR NEW BLOGGER: The new system lets you download copies of the template to your hard disk, but since it's XML instead of HTML, you can't do as much with it. You can keep it safe, you can keep copies from different days. The Widgets are not there; they are evidently stored on the servers along with the posts. It's a different situation now.

Recover Your Template

Rote Advice For Recovering From Damaged Template

Is your blog showing as a blank screen or as incomplete? First of all, in Classic take the easy path and Republish. See if it clears up. Then check your template and see if it's truncated. You may not have caused the damage, but it happens! You have probably not lost any posts. Proceed.

If you don't have a safety copy of it, you could select a new or the same template over again and it might straighten out. If the template sidebar wasn't too changed, it might be a small loss to be repaired. Even better might be Googling for a cached version of the blog.

For that purpose, see if you can find a cached copy of your blog in Google or other search engine. If posts are missing, you might copy and paste a still-correct post. You can also go into Source code to copy the parts of the template you may be in danger of losing and yet absolutely need to preserve.

Be sure NOT to get in the View Source and copy any of the posts into your template later; they are not supposed to be there and the template will malfunction!

Selecting a new (or the same) template will not destroy your posts, only your current template (including the sidebar information).

If you are in New Blogger, you can go to the Edit Html box, look at the bottom of it, and locate the lines Revert to Classic Template. View Classic Template. Click on one of the lines. If you don't revert, you can copy and paste the old template and then use parts of it to sort out your current version. Remember that the code parts that were in your Classic template will go instead into some of the Page Elements that you create in New Blogger.

END.

Scribe--additional words for links

If you're using the scribe template, thE script for the various titles is NOT a font, but each word is an graphic. You may want to know the following for further heading titles:

p.s. Every time I click on it, there's a glitch, a pause of a couple of seconds, that claims an "Internal Error" and then it goes on to the site. Be patient and it'll come up.

SCRIBE FONT, ADDITIONAL WORDS

How To See The Template

And Edit The Template

Go to your Dashboard. Make sure you're logged in. Click on your blog name. "Template" should appear up above. Click on the word Template. Now you see it. Is it complete? Or Truncated? It should be quite long and should end in most cases with </html> If it's short or ends in the middle of a line, that's probably wrong. If you find damage in the template, see this post, Recover Your Template. If the template looks all right, you can proceed to edit it in the Blogger Post Editor. Good luck!

Hide Navbar?

FOR CLASSIC (OLD) BLOGGER
How to hide the Blogger Navbar at the top and why not to: Hide Navbar! http://blogger-tricks.blogspot.com/2006/04/tip-hiding-navbar.html

OR FOR NEW BLOGGER

The css is defined between <b:skin><![CDATA[/* and ]]></b:skin> </head> So put the following 5 lines of code in the css: #navbar-iframe { height:0px; visibility:hidden; display:none } before: ]]></b:skin> Despite references above or arguments against it, I no longer recommend caution about hiding the Navbar because Blogger has no right to inflict the violence or pornography that Next Blog sometimes inflicts on users. They should make that aspect of the Navbar optional for us so that schools, churches, and old ladies of every kind can choose not to play if they don't want to. Blogger has finally admitted that IT IS PERMISSIBLE to get rid of the Navbar--see nitecruzr's post about Navbar.

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