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Choosing The Right Blog-Tools

by: Gunnar Berglund

Choosing The Right Blog-Tools

Bloggers are constantly discovering new ways to express
their ideas through new markup.
There are bloggers who are using the latest
state-of-the-art "visual" web design programs, but few
others consider using HTML code is not a bad idea
altogether.

The XHTML family can accommodate extensions through XHTML
modules and techniques to develop new XHTML-conforming
modules. These modules permit the combination of existing
and new feature sets when developing content and when
designing new user agents.

With so many different ways to access the Internet, the
XHTML family is designed keeping in mind the general user
agent interoperability. Through document profiling
mechanism, servers, proxies, and user agents are able to
create best effort content transformation. This language is
both RSS and XML conforming. The content can be readily
viewed, edited, and validated with standard XML tools.
XHTML documents can utilize applications (e.g. scripts and
applets) that rely upon either the HTML Document Object
Model or the XML Document Object Model.

Bloggers may also use Movable Type for the weblog. Movable
Type is a powerful, customizable publishing system, which
installs on web servers to enable bloggers to manage and
update weblogs. This enables a blogger to hand edit the
other parts and pages, including the Daily Links, in
TextPad. Bloggers may use a date format string for the
individual entries, and for monthlies.

Movable Type Installation is followed by Plugins. There are
many to choose from. MT Plugin Directory and the Movable
Type Support Forums are two resources that can be referred
to. Most of the plugins make users typographically correct
and enables them to properly use curly-quotes, ellipses,
em-dashes, and en-dashes. A feature of pluggins combines
trackbacks (comments on other articles from other blogs)
and comments into one page. Another use is to create author
comments and addendums in the comments engine. Few plugins
may allow bloggers to add additional fields, example: using
keywords field to create additional fields. Few others
create a collection of links at the bottom of each
individual entry page. Title attributes can be used with
all the links. Movable Type includes a default RSS Feed.
Bloggers may set up individual feeds for each thread and
comments feed by following the naming convention of
individual archives - changing it to an .xml ending.
Bloggers may even add a Subscription Field.

Also, bloggers may consider using a WebDrive in place of a
FTP client. This tool is used to map FTP and WebDAV servers
to a network drive letter in Windows using remote files
like local ones in any application. Blogger may also
consider using validated HTML 4.01 Transitional code with a
validated stylesheet.

Blogs demand more than graphic design and HTML proficiency.
They demand extensive interaction with visitors. So,
installing a Discussion Forum is a must, as it allows
communities to exchange ideas and opinions. Tools that
could be considered are database programming, CGI/Perl
scripting, Flash animation etc.

In addition to this, bloggers may consider having an
Accessory Sideblog - another blog that stores ancillary
information and tools for the existing blog.

Accessory Sideblog allows:

? Easy updation

? Changes in entries/ information from within
Movable Type interface

? Availability of comments and trackbacks

Bloggers may consider buying opensource weblogging
softwares. These easily installable softwares offer
features like: fully-integrated comments, searching, file
uploading and image handling, completely customizable
output through dozens of templates and variables, multiple
author support, etc. For example: few blogs allow bloggers
to provide a template of their page that indicates where
they want your posts to appear. Clicking the "Publish"
button automatically sends their new page to the website
where they want their blogs to appear. Similarly, there are
sites that enable bloggers to place the RSS feed of their
blog onto any html page. For example: bloggers can copy the
completed JavaScript and paste it on any web page they
would like to distribute.

Bloggers can host their blog on their own as well with any
good web-hosting company. They can choose a good web host,
buy space on their server and host their blogs with them.

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? 2003 - 2004 Gunnar Berglund

About the Author

Gunnar Berglund
has been a "internet- hardworker"
for the last four years
He publishes The meonit Gazette
http://gazette.meonit.com and run
http://www.emarketingprofit.com